Chapter One: The Meeting

[backinthsaddle]

Homework, the bane of nearly every student's existence.

Cole's sitting on the couch, surrounded by a modest stack of textbooks, a notebook balanced on his thigh as he takes notes. He's deeply involved in his studies, and has been ever since he got home from class an hour ago. It gives him something to do when he's not out running, or at track practice, although he's still not so sure about his major. But then, what guy his age is? It's not like he's had a long time to focus on what he wants to do as a career.

Comments

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He goes and gets an extra blanket from the linen closet, bringing it back to her, but a little too shy to tuck her in or anything. "Uh, we should probably let you sleep," he says, looking a little pointedly at his brother.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

Liam rolls his eyes and leaves the room. "Sleep tight, kiddo."

"Thank you." She takes the blanket gingerly, avoiding contact with his hands. "I'll see you in the morning?"

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He thinks about saying something like Well, we do live here, but settles on just saying, "Sure."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"G'night." She lies down, and after a moment everything she's been choking back since her escape comes pouring out in the form of water from her eyeballs and sobby sounds.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, now that's awkward, and he's torn between shyness and wanting to just let her know she's not alone in the universe.

"It's okay, you're safe now."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," she says, voice reedy and high and full of going-to-cry-moreness. "I'm sorry for crying, I-I'm sorry."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Don't be sorry."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"I've made such a b-bad first impression."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"Don't worry about it." He reaches over to pat her shoulder, a little awkwardly.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

She's prepared for it so she doesn't flinch, just touches his fingers back gently, and covers her face with her other hand because she's crying and she's an ugly crier.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"We have tissues if you want some." He'd hate for her to fall asleep all wet with tears, or with a stuffed-up nose from crying too hard.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"Th-thanks. I'm just, I... I, I'd felt...." There's no way she can explain the pain of it, how each nerve, each sinew, each muscle, felt like they were vibrating apart. How he kicked her until her ribs cracked and kept going. How she struggled so hard she made herself bleed against the ropes. It's beyond sensing, beyond words, and she doesn't think she can live through it happening again. If not physically, then emotionally.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, the nearest box of tissues is not too far, so he doesn't have to leave her for long. And this time he sits on the floor next to the couch, not caring that he's probably wrecking some of his textbooks. "It's over now. I promise."

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

She blows her nose, wipes her eyes, and blows her nose again before tucking the tissue into her pocket. She curls onto her side, facing him. "You must think I'm awful, huh? Really weak and stuff. I swear, I was so brave for a while."

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"No, I think whoever did this to you is awful, and I hate him for doing this," he answers honestly.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"That's... oh, that's awful sweet of you." And it makes her start crying again.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"It shouldn't be," he says, and puts his hand on her shoulder again. He doesn't want her to cry. And part of him hopes the sleeping pills kick in soon, although he hopes she doesn't fall asleep sad.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

She's too exhausted to be freaked out by contact, and she curls another tissue into her hand, and cries, and yawns, and it takes a little while but then she's just so tired, she feels like she's melting into the cushions, and it's disorienting and warm and she's out.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He checks to make sure she's asleep, then carefully pulls the blanket up so she's covered. Somehow, it seems less awkward to do than when she's awake. And he really hopes she feels at least a little better when she wakes up.