Chapter 15: Explaining

Gosh my heart was pounding. Here I was standing at the front door of the Dalmatian household stuck on whether I should knock or not. I threw away the slip that had Dana's number on it before I came here.

Taking a deep breath I gave the door a good couple of knocks. It creaked open and Dylan looked far from pleased to see my face.

"Oh, it's you.", Dylan hissed with spite in his voice and crossed his arms.

"Hey Dylan. Is Dolly here?", I asked.

"Yeah, but I doubt you're the last person she wants to see right now.", He retorted in annoyance. What's he talking about? Why wouldn't she want to see me. Wait...does she?

"Please Dylan, let me talk to her.", I begged. "There's something really important I need to tell her before she gets the wrong idea."

He rolled his eyes at me, "Well you're already too late, but if you insist." He opened the door all the way and I came in. I went upstairs and stopped at the door of Dolly's room.

I put my ear up against the door. The sound of soft cries and sniffles could be heard from the other side. I grabbed the doorknob silently entering the room.

The room was dark and bleak. The only source of light coming from the open windows. Dolly was on the bed with her face covered by a pillow. I noticed she had a small cast encased around her left foot.

"Dolly you ok?-OUCH!", She chucked her pillow at my face upon hearing my voice. I was able to see her face. Her eyes were sore and red and she looked like she'd been crying for hours. "Dolly, What was that for?"

"Oh you're gonna act like you don't know!?", She groaned glaring at me. I came next to her bed and shrugged in confusion which made she growl. She handed me her phone.

Her phone displayed an image of the selfie Dana took of her kissing me on the cheek from earlier. Underneath was the caption "Me and Bae".

This infuriated me to an extent. She had the nerve to post this on social media and make it seem like we've been dating. Now Dolly thinks I've been dating someone else besides her the whole time.

"Dolly I swear I didn't mean for this to happen!", I cried.

"What you didn't mean to get caught with another girl?", She asked. I got on the bed sitting infront of her. She was trying not to look me in the eyes. I took her hands into mine.

"Dolly if I tell you something private, Can you promise me that it stays just between us?", I asked.

She thought about it for a moment, "Fine."

I sighed and said, "I was abused as a child."

"What?"

"Before I moved here I used to live in Arizona with my Mother and Grandmother. They were the most horrible people I've ever had the pleasure of living with. They'd treated me like a slave and not one of their own. I was never allowed to leave the house and go play with the other kids the neighborhood. Whenever I'd do something wrong I was either beaten or locked in the basement for god knows how long and they barely fed me.", I was trying not choke on my own words while recalling my tragic past.

"A-Aaron I didn't know.", Dolly spoke with regret.

"It's fine.", I told her. "One day I couldn't take it anymore. I tried sneaking out and running away, but unfortunately my mom had caught me in the act. We had a disagreement and the next thing I know she goes into a blind rage and cuts me across the face with a knife. That's how I got this..."

I grabbed my eyepatch and pulled it back revealing the laceration that ran down my left eye and cheek.

"Afterwards she realized nobody could see me like this or she'd get arrested. So she did what any guilty person would do. She tried to hide me in the basement and wouldn't let me out no matter what.", I could see sadness in Dolly's eyes. "I was stuck down there for days. Luckily one particular day some kids were playing nearby my house and spotted me through the basement window. I flagged them down for help and they went to the authorities and my mom and grandma were arrested for child abuse and neglect. My Dad had found out and volunteered to take care of me than have me sent off to some orphanage where I most likely would've been bullied or abused there as well."

"Then I came here and met you.", I finished looking at Dolly who had tears staining the fur on her cheeks. "Something about you drew me to you. I didn't know whether if it was your high spirited attitude, your amazing family, or how you were able to put a smile on my face everytime I was around you. I loved you and you loved me.", I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. "You were the first person to ever show me what love is truly like. Nobody, and I mean Nobody could ever replace you and the love we share."

I could tell she felt horrible. I brought her into a loving embrace. We cried into each other's shirts before gaining eye contact once again. "I'm sorry Aaron.", She sobbed into my shirt.

"You have nothing to apolgize for.", I reassured her. "You're my everything Dolly." We shared an affectionate kiss before separating and wiping each other's tears.

The door creaked open and Dylan stood in the doorway nervously rubbing his arm looking at me. "Aaron could I...talk to you for a second?"

"Sure.", I nodded before smiling at Dolly. "I'll be right back ok?" She nodded and I followed Dylan into the hallway.

"What is it?", I asked.

"I...I heard everything you said. I'm sorry if I've been acting kinda shady towards you.", He apologized. "I was just trying to look out for Dolly ya know?"

"It's ok Dylan I understand. If I had an outstanding sister like Dolly I'd protect her with my life.", I stated. "She's lucky to have a brother who cares about her as much as you do. There's no bad blood between us at all my friend. We cool?"

I held out my fist for a fist bump. Dylan smiled and we bumped fists. Now we just gotta figure out how to deal with her.