I was just bored and suffering "Jelsi didn't happen and I need to read/write fluff for it" syndrome…if that even exists…so this came out of it. I know it sucks, I wrote it in 10 minutes.
Kelsi was bent over her paper when she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't look up, not wanting whoever it was to see her tear-streaked face.
"Hey," said a soft voice behind her. A hand lightly touched her shoulder. Kelsi turned around and found herself staring into Jason Cross's brown eyes. "What's up?"
Kelsi shook her head. "Nothing," she muttered, tugging at her sleeve, trying to hide the bruise from the night before. Jason saw it anyway.
"What happened?" he questioned.
"Nothing." Kelsi replied again. "Really. It's no big deal."
"Was it Chris again?" he asked. Kelsi nodded, bowing her head.
"Kelsi, if he does this to you so much, why don't you tell someone?" Kelsi shrugged.
"Who can I tell?" she asked. "No one cares. Not enough to do anything, anyway."
"I care." Jason said. It was out of his mouth before he could stop it. He hated seeing Kelsi being hurt like this, when she had done nothing wrong.
Kelsi looked up at him, panic flickering in her brown eyes. "Please don't tell anyone." she begged. "The last time he got arrested, my mom got him out on bail, and it got really bad when he came back."
Jason thought back to the time she had come to school with the bruise on her cheek, saying she had fallen down the stairs whenever someone asked about it. He had almost believed her, until he found her crying behind the school later that day. She had been afraid to go home. Jason had stayed with her for two hours, and brought her to his house. She had stayed there until her mother had called her home.
"Thank you for being here." she had said when she left.
He wished he could be there for her more. He wished he could take her away from the house where her wounds were reopened whenever she stepped through the door.
Jason nodded. "I won't tell." he said. "But I wish I could do something for you.""You being here is enough." she said quietly. "That probably sounds really cheesy, but you don't know how much it means to me, knowing you care."
Jason pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry that you have to go through this, Kelsi." he said. "You deserve so much better."
Kelsi pulled herself away slightly and smiled up at him. Her cell phone rang, causing her to pull away from him completely to answer it.
"Hello?" she said.
"Kelsi, get home now." Jason could hear her mother saying. He could hear shouts in the background.
"I'm coming." Jason heard a voice shouting, "Where the hell is that damn girl?"
"Kelsi, hurry." her mother said, hanging up. Kelsi sighed and hung up as well.
"I have to go." she said. "Bye, Jason." She stood up.
Jason stood up too. "Wait!" he said quickly. "I'll walk you home if you want."
Kelsi smiled. "Thanks." she said.
They were now standing a few houses away from Kelsi's. "Thanks again, Jason." she said. "For everything."
"It's no problem. It's the least I can do, Kelsi." he responded.
"Why do you care about me so much?" Kelsi questioned.
By way of answer, Jason leaned toward her and gave her a quick kiss. "That's why." he said. "If you need somewhere to come, to get away, call me. I'm here." He started to walk away.
"Jason, wait!" Kelsi called. She hurried up to him and gave him another, longer kiss. "Thank you." she turned away and ran to her house.
Jason watched her go, then turned away, back down the street. A few minutes later, he heard his phone ring. He answered it, and Kelsi's voice said, "Can I meet you soon? I need to get away."
"Of course." he said. "I'm always here."
Blech, lame, but I had to. Whatever. Please review even if this is the suckiest oneshot ever!