When I got back to my place all the lights were turned off. "April?" I asked, setting her stuff down next to my front door. "April? Are you around?" From the bathroom I heard a whimper, and it was just… I don' know. It was just about the most heartbreaking thing I'd ever heard in my life. Before I knew what I was doing I was in there.
The lights were off in there too. She was cowering in the corner, her head buried under her arms. I hadn't seen her like that since I found her in the hospital.
"April" I said. "Hey, it's just me. It's Ann."
She didn't look up.
I moved closer to her. "April, everything's okay. I'm right here. I got your stuff from your parents' house."
Silence.
"April, hey. What's going on? You're kind of freaking me out"
"He was here" she said.
"What? What are you talking about?
"He was here. At your house."
All of the color drained from my face. "You mean the man who… who hurt you?"
She nodded.
"Oh my God! Did you call the police?"
"No" she sniffled. "He left. Don't worry."
"Don't worry? How could I not worry? This guy is coming after you again, and he knows you're here."
She lifted her head, but still wouldn't look at me. "He won't come back."
"April, we need to call the police."
"No" she said. "It's okay."
"It isn't okay, April. I'm scared!"
She stood up then and walked over to me. Put her hand on my arm. Looked me dead in the eye. "Ann, I would never let him hurt you."
"April, I-"
"I mean it. I'd die before I'd let him hurt you like he hurt me. I'd die."
I didn't know what to say. I hadn't even thought to worry about myself. It was her I was thinking of. She was covered in bruises, and shaking she was so scared. And yet, she was willing to fight. For me.
I kissed her.
It wasn't something I thought through very much, or at all really, but it felt so good when it was happening. I'd never kissed a girl before, and it was different. Softer. Her lips felt so nice against mine. Then I pulled away, and she had the most freaked out look on her face.
"Oh God, April I'm sorry."
She backed up. "What was that?"
"I didn't think."
"Ann, I'm not-"
"I know" I said. "I know. That was so, so stupid. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. I promise that will never happen again."
She nodded. "Do you want to watch a movie now?"
"Yeah" I said. "Yeah, okay."
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