The Blind and the Scarred
Summary: That girl is immensely gorgeous, there's something soft and delicate about her face which makes you want to take care of her forever. As I get closer I realise something. That girl is blind. TxG Three-Shot
Part 1
Ever since I was young people used to say I looked like Prince Charming; that I would have tons of girls swooning over me when I would be older. I used to roll my eyes, in fake modesty, when in fact, it flattered me deeply. I always knew I was good looking and truthfully I really thought girls falling at my feet were just something inevitable. Yes, I got to admit, I've always been a cocky guy. I couldn't help myself, after all, if all your life you would've been called Prince Charming, your head would be pretty big too.
Unfortunately, every thing that goes up must come down one way or another, just like the law of gravity describes.
And that's exactly what happened when I got into an ugly car accident at only 16 years of age. Long story short, me and my best friend were pretty wasted, it was night, we were escaping a party and we crashed into a tree. The vehicle exploded on impact, because there have been a leak. My best friend died, I survived. And I feel guilty everyday because of that. However, as fate would have it, I have pretty ugly scars on the left side of my face and arm. Only the left side though. My face might be half ruined, but I guess I deserve it.
I've lived 16 years with a beautiful flawless face and took it too much for granted. I've hurt people with my arrogance, broke hearts, humiliated people and my best friend is gone. Yeah, karma really is a bitch. I used to cry in despair for the first few months whenever I would see my face in the mirror. I used to be angry at the world for doing this to me. But now, I've come to terms with it. For a whole year, I did not go out of the house and pushed my friends away. I'm done with this now. For my birthday my parents gave me this beautiful black mask that covers all the scars on my face.
I'm gonna put it on and redeem myself. I'm done hiding. But as soon as I open to door, wind hitting my face, I chicken out when I share eye contact with one of my neighbour. I close the door, and close my eyes. There was something I hadn't thought of; the pity I would be getting from people.
It took me a week to cross the street with running back inside. It took me a month to get to the park nearby. It took me 3 month to walk to my old school (I'm taking online courses ever since the accident). It took me 6 month to stop caring about the way people looked at me and my mask.
Today, I decide to go to the library. It gets so boring in this house sometimes and I'm tired of watching videos and movies on the computer. I could always read my mom's books, but they look boring.
Crossing the street, I see a girl my age staring at me openly. She would've fall for the old me, but now, she just looks at me with disdain. Not many people know that I have scars under there; some people think I wear it for fun. I continue walking and finally, I am inside the library. I sigh in relief when I realise there isn't many people and they're all caught up in their books.
I walk along the aisles, trying to spot the comic book section or at least, the teen section. And that's when I spot her. There, sitting at one of the empty tables.
That girl is immensely gorgeous, there's something soft and delicate about her face that just makes you want to take care of her forever. I take a step toward her, not at all afraid. Hoping she wouldn't get scared away. As I get closer I realise something. Her hands are not just resting on the table, but they are moving along the pages of a book. A book where words are made of Braille. I look down and spot a white cane.
She is blind.
"Hey, can I sit here?" I inquire.
I feel really guilty for feeling this but, I am relieved that she can't see me. Her eyes snap in my direction, her eyes not really on mines.
"Sure, as long as there's not already someone sitting there," she answers softly.
I pull the chair a little and settle in front of her. She just continue to look forward, like before but I realise her hands are not moving which means she isn't reading.
"So, what's your name?" I ask.
"Why should I tell you? What if you're an asshole who just wants to mess with the blind girl?"
By the tone of her voice I realise this had happen in the past.
"I get it. You don't have to tell me. My name's Troy, by the way. And I'm not that kind of guy. You know, the one who takes pleasure out of making fun of you."
Her expression softens.
"It's nice to meet you Troy. I'm sorry if I was rude, it's just, it happened quite a few times already and… I'm just kind of fed up with it," she replies dejectedly.
"Don't worry, I get it."
"You? Really? Are you blind too?"
"No. But I do have something that makes people turn and stare at me openly."
"What?"
I see this caught her interest.
"I'm only gonna tell you if you tell me your name," I bargain.
"It's Gabriella," she declares.
"That's a really nice name," I compliment.
"Thank you, now what do you have?"
"I think it would be better if you checked for yourself," I declare.
"I'm blind, remember?"
"I know, um, do you mind if?" I touch her hand hesitantly and she let me. "'Kay, just feel this."
I bring it on my face and let her explore for herself. She brings her other hand up also and finally it comes in contact with my mask. She frowns.
"What is that on your face?" Gabriella questions.
"A mask," I answer.
"Why do you have a mask?"
"Because I have ugly scars."
"Can I touch them?"
I just stay silent. I haven't let anyone touch them, not even my mom.
"Oh come on, it's not as if I can laugh at them. That would be really hypocritical given my situation don't you think?"
I nod. Only to remember that she could not see me.
"Okay."
I take the mask off and close my eyes waiting for the disgusted gasp, but I remember she can not see me. I grab her hand and place it on my cheek where there are two big scars. The tip of her fingers is soft against the rough marks. Her fingers trail along my face, touching my eyebrow, my lip, my cheek. If she's disgusted, she doesn't show it.
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking," she questions, dropping her hand.
Should I tell her? Do I trust her enough to reveal this part of myself?
"Two years ago, me and my best friend went to this party," I start slowly. "We had a couple of drinks and were pretty wasted."
Even if her eyes are empty, I know she's listening to every one of my words.
"Eventually we grew bored and decided to leave the party."
Gosh, this is harder than I thought. Ever since the incident, I've never fully told anyone the story, since they already knew.
"We took his car and I remember him driving really fast. Too fast. And then, I don't really remember anything, but one minute I was laughing my head off and the next I was in a hospital bed. The doctors told me we crashed into a tree, the car exploded on impact because there was a leak. They told me I was pretty lucky to have survived because my best friend hadn't."
Just telling this story all over again, makes me want to cry. But I won't. I'm done crying.
"So there you go. Because of my scars, everyday I am reminded that the crash really did happen and that my best friend is gone."
She reaches out on the table until she touches my hand. She holds it.
"I'm sorry," she whispers.
"Me too, everyday."
"So tell me, what do you look like?" Gabriella changes the subject.
Thank God for that.
"Like a guy with a mask," I shrug, knowing this is not what she's asking.
"No really. Like, give me a description of yourself so I can try to picture it."
"Well, I have brown hair, a tan skin, blue eyes, I'm Caucasian, and if you could see me, you'd fall for me," I say in a fake cocky manner.
"Oh really?" she replies, smiling a little.
"Yep. Head over heels."
"Who says, I'm not already falling for you?" she jokes.
I know she's teasing, but somehow the concept of her falling for me really wouldn't be so bad. My heart beats faster just imagining it. Maybe it's because I haven't talk to girls in two years, but either way, I actually can imagine myself falling in love with her too.
I try not to appear affected by the fact that our hands are still entwined.
The next day I walk in the library, eager to be with Gabriella again. All night, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I actually was excited for the next day to arrive. Something I haven't felt in two years.
As I reach her table, I notice something. First, there are guys surrounding her, talking to her. Two, I know these guys. I stay behind, my heart beating in nervousness. These guys were my friends; I haven't talk to them ever since the funeral. I don't know if I'm ready to face them again.
"You know, blind girl, you really have quite the pretty face," Chris declares, sitting across from her, with Greg and Tony on either side of him.
I see her ignoring them, trying to appear as uninterested as she can, and continuing to read.
"What? Are you deaf also?" he questions.
"No, I just choose not to pay attention to you," Gabriella retorts plainly.
I smile. You get them Gab.
"Why not? Babe, I'm sure you and I could have a good time, don't you think?" he says, making his friends laugh.
She clenches her jaw, I don't know if it's because she's scared or because she's mad. I guess it's a little bit of both.
"You know what? I think that instead of feeling this book, you could feel something else that would be even more pleasurable," he smirks, grabbing her hand.
"Don't touch me," she hisses, trying to yank her hand from his grip.
Chris stood up, still holding onto her hand and brings her close to him. She winces.
"You're fierce for someone who's blind. I like that," he whispers, his face close to hers.
I've seen enough. Gabriella may be braver than many of the seeing people, but she is still blind. And, she can deny it all she wants; right now she needs someone to take care of them.
"Let her go, Christopher," I order, marching over to them.
All of their attentions snap to me.
"Bolton! I haven't seen you in years, man. Where have you been?" Chris announces, ignoring me.
"Let go of her," I repeat.
"Isn't she hot? I mean, look at that body! Damn, I've never wanted to fuck a cripple but now I may be changing my mind."
I clench my fist. Saying he wants to have sex with her is one thing, saying she's a cripple is another.
"Shut the fuck up, Walker."
"Oh, I see, she's already yours isn't she? How was it? Good I bet, I mean, the way her fingers touches those books for cripples is just…"
I punch him in the face. His friends tries to hit me back but I manage to knock them out too. What can I say? I didn't spend the last two years doing nothing locked inside my house. I wrap an arm around Gabriella who looks alarmed, not really knowing what happened.
"Wanna get out of here?" I inquire, seeing as the librarian really does not look happy with me.
She nods and we walk out.
"Does this happen often?" I question gently. "Be careful, there are steps here," I say.
"I wouldn't say often. But I wouldn't say this is out of the ordinary," she sighs.
Still holding onto her, I sit down, bringing her with me. We are now sitting under a tree beside the library.
"Are you serious? Assholes just grab you like that?" I'm getting mad now.
"Usually it's worst," she shrugs. "Sometime they would go as far as grabbing me fully."
Those jerks. How could they be doing this to someone like her? Someone who is vulnerable and without sight? Who can't denounce her attacker because she wouldn't recognise him?
"This won't happen again, you can count on it," I declare.
She smiles. She lifts her hands and rests them on my chest. I'm amused. What is she up to now? She trails higher until they're on my face. She then leans forward and kisses me on my cheek. The one that is not covered with a mask.
"Thank you," she says sincerely.
"No problem," I answer, in a daze.
The spot where her lips touched my skin is still tingling.
"Is that guy bothering you Gabriella?"
I confusedly look up to see a big man with a hard face.
"No, it's okay dad, he's not doing me any harm," she replies. "Troy, meet my dad. Dad, this is Troy."
"So uh, is he your uh boyfriend?"
I see he looks kind of embarrassed to ask this. I'm glad to see he is protective of Gabriella.
"No, dad. He's just a friend."
"Can you really trust him?"
I try not to be too offended that he speaks about me as if I'm not there.
"Yeah. He helped me against mean guys today. He's my knight in shining armour."
"From the way I see it, he's more like the beast to your beauty," his dad retorts, winking at me, jokingly. "What's with the mask anyway?"
"It hides the beast I am," I shrug, joking also.
I like this. I've never thought of myself like this but ya, I guess, that's what I am, the beast to Gabriella's beauty. And like him, I'm gonna protect her no matter what.
-HSM-
So, this was the first part to three. Hope you liked it. I don't know when I'll be able to update because exams are coming up and I'm buried in projects.
Review?