Edgar opened the window of his room after hearing a crashing sound. He was home alone because Emma, his mother, was a nurse and most of the time worked at night and his 15-year old sister, Lis, had gone to sleep at a friend's house. The figure waiting for him outside reminded him a few years earlier when they were younger. She always did that, especially when she was in trouble and didn't want to worry about her grandparents, and even if she didn't want to say anything, she would come to him just for company. He always welcomed her, often without asking why, and he just welcomed her. Edgar helped her up and they both sat on the bed. Natasha had a tired countenance that made him feel a twinge of concern.
"It's all right?" The girl shook her head no. "Are you want to talk?"
Edgar watched in silence as Natasha unzipped and removed her sweter from the cold. The boy was startled by what he saw because he did not expect anything so shocking.
"Tasha..." He felt his voice crack and didn't know what to do. The girl had several bruises on both arms and part of her neck, and the rest was hidden under her t-shirt. "What happened?" He looked at her that remained silent and he knew. Ricky.
"Last night he was different and I didn't want to, because I got scared and he forced me, and..." Natasha couldn't talk about it with anyone, but she couldn't take it anymore.
"Did you go to the police? It can't be like this. We have to stop this guy. This is very serious." Edgar got very nervous and felt his blood boil. Someone had to stop Ricky.
"Not worth it. I won't see him anymore. Complaining will only expose me and I don't want that." At some point he will get what he deserves.
Edgar didn't agree, he knew something had to be done, but showing his anger and nervousness now wouldn't help her, that wasn't why she came to him. She came because she needed someone she trusted, and he was there for her, always. The boy took her hand and gently touched the bruises along her arm. A lonely tear rolled down Natasha's cheek.
"It hurts?" Edgar asked and the girl shook her head.
"It hurt yesterday, but now I'm used to it."
"You don't have to get used to feeling pain. Come here." Edgar took her in his arms and comforted her and Natasha broke into sobs. Both remained in this position for long minutes until she calmed down and they lay on the bed. The boy just chose to give her his company and if she wanted to say anything else he would be there.
He watched her until she fell asleep. When he saw that she wouldn't wake up, he covered her with a blanket and brushed the hairs off her face. Her countenance showed the suffering she was bringing, perhaps for some time, and he felt terrible realizing that she hadn't told him before what was happening because she didn't want to worry him and that he was involved in other things and he wasn't there for her. He wouldn't let that happen anymore. He promised himself that he would pay more attention and try to be closer. She looked so small and fragile lying there in his bed that the looker couldn't imagine the suffering inside her.
Edgar left the room and did what he needed.
"Mrs Amelia?"
"Hi, Edgar? It's all right?"
'Yes, don't worry. Natasha is here at my home. She slept, I just called to let her know. I don't want to wake her up because she looked so tired."
"Is she okay, my son? I didn't see her leave."
"Now she's fine. She slept a little."
"Thanks for warning me. Just take care of her."
"I'm taking care her, Mrs Amelia."
Edgar hung up the phone and went back to the bedroom. He took an extra mattress from under the bed and made it to sleep because she wanted to make room for her. When they were kids Natasha always did that and often they just watched a movie or played video games. When it was late, Edgar's mother came to his son room and if they were sleeping she would call Natasha's grandmother and let her know that the girl was at her house. Over time they grew and the visits decreased more and more. It had been a while since a few years, so Edgar was surprised to see her.
"Dad!? What was it this time?" Kurt addressed his father who was drinking coffee in the kitchen.
'What are you talking about, son?"
"You must have gotten drunk again and bumped into my car when you went to put your car in the garage." Kurt wasn't a futile young man attached to material goods, but he was full of his father's drunkenness.
It was this life since her mother left years ago. Kurt was careful that his sister wouldn't be harmed in all this situation, so he did his best to be a good influence on the 16-year-old sister who had always been a good girl. Now the boy was preparing to pursue a military career, he thought he would make it and would join next year.
Kurt pulled the car out of the garage and stopped for a minute to look home ahead. He could see the little girl running down the ever-cheerful stairs. And he remembered the night she was killed the victim of a brutal killer who was never caught. It was the worst moment of his life when he found her body in the woods, so he remembered Remi, the girl in his class, he didn't know why but Remi reminded him of Taylor, perhaps by the gentleness and the soft look.
The school was busy because it was game day and early on the cheerleaders were getting ready. Kurt had even risked playing for a while, but he didn't want to go, preferring to keep his fitness running, which he did almost daily. Then he saw her entering the school with her brother. She looked toward him and nodded, Kurt grinning at her as he disappeared along with the crowd of students.
When she got to the gym for the game Kurt saw her in the distance sitting with Patty and dared to sit beside them.
"Hello! Can I sit with you."
The two nodded and prepared for the start of the game. Allie was in the crowd by the field. Kurt and she dated for a while, but they had few things in common and the relationship was getting cold, they still met sometimes but lately he felt less and less like seeing her. He looked at the girl beside him and returned her smile. She was truly beautiful and her bright green eyes seemed to mesmerize him.
Natasha joined them in the stands and was very excited to see Edgar in a great move, she didn't contain and shouted to the friend who managed to score the touchdown giving the team victory. He was the best person she had ever met and she was very grateful to have him beside her. She had never thought of him as anything but friendship, but sometimes she felt her heart speed up depending on the way he looked at her. The way he welcomed her with his problems was different. Last night he let her sleep in his bed and even warned his grandmother. Her heart filled with his actions.
She didn't hold back and waited for him to leave the locker room after changing and greeted him with a hug. He didn't care because she had always been hugging her friends, but something seemed different and Edgar couldn't decipher what it was. Natasha saw him look sideways and followed her gaze. Sarah The girl was leaving the locker room with another player and she saw Edgar sadden.
"Let's get out of here." Natasha said through gritted teeth and felt very angry at her friend. How can Sarah do this in front of him?
As they left school she had been approached.
"Natasha, I came for you." Ricky had addressed her as if he owned it.
"I'm not going anywhere with you. Go away!" The girl tried not to change the tone of voice, because she didn't want to get anyone's attention.
"I will only if you come with me."
"She already said she won't go with you!" Edgar couldn't hold back and intervened.
"And who will stop me? You, you brat? When will you get out of her foot and realize it's me she wants and you'll always be just the little friend?" Ricky scorned their friendship. Edgar lunged at him and the boy shoved him, knocking him to the floor.
"Go away, man, you're not welcome here!" Roman arrived and decided that he should take sides in the situation.
"Now you have many defenders, Natasha! Increased your little group of friends?"
"I won't talk again. If you don't leave I'll hit you." Roman was already pushing the edge of irritation.
"She has a lot of friends, yes. Get out of here!" Edgar got up and went to the other boy's side.
"I'm leaving, but it won't be like this. They will not always be around." Ricky got on his motorcycle and sped off.
Natasha felt so much hatred and humiliation, because she hated drawing attention. She went to her friends who were already there, Edgar, Kurt, Patty, the rookie girl, Remi and her brother, and they all went home without much comment.