Chapter 7
I got up, limbs aching, oh joy I can't wait to see my face...
I walked (or hobbled, maybe even dragged is a better word, then again it was more of a stumble but moving on) into my en suite and looked in the mirror and cursed, the cream had taken away some of the soreness but made it look 10 times worse. Under my left eye was a huge black and blue hand print mark my lip was slightly cut and under my chin was bruised and cut, must have done that when I passed out. I looked down ,feeling the sharp pain fly through my foot, it was swollen , badly and it was so covered in black and blue it looked mutated ,I couldn't even recognise my own foot.
I actually hate my life again. I went back into my room, trying but failing to ignore the sharp excruciating pains from my ankle. I found my second pair of black favourite jeans and awkwardly put them on, along with the school shirt and my cardy.
Once I had covered my face in makeup I looked pretty normal. No one would notice I just hoped it didn't rain, or I didn't cry, it would wash it all off. I ignored my mum, walking straight pass her and headed for the door, and I got a lift with my neighbour who obviously knew something was wrong because I usually walk or get the bus. But I knew if I didn't I would mess up my ankle even more, thank the gods there's no P.e this week. I thanked Ryan and got out, I put on my blank face so I didn't show any pain and tried my hardest to walk normally and it worked, no one even glanced my way.
I got to my locker trying with all my will not to want to sit down or have a break and that's how the day continued. Until just after last period (well mine as I had a free lesson after that then it was home anyways) Tala saw me he practically ran towards me and smiled , I returned it and hugged him he put a hand on my face and pulled me in for a kiss, I also returned it secretly hoping that it didn't come off on his hands , which it didn't.
"Hey, haven't seen you all day, you ok?"
"Yeah fine, just glad its free period next, I was dying in history, I hate this new teacher, I only had miss A for one lesson, but this new one is shit!"
I seemed to keep him fooled and we walked towards the exit doors that led to the car park , we were talking away with him starting all the topics thankfully, we just got to the door when my ankle just had to give out , I paled and stopped catching my breath, he noticed and questioned me.
"You alright?",
"Yeah just got a headache, it kills."
I tried to laugh it off but I took another step and collapsed, unfortunately I landed on my injured foot making the fall even worse, just before I hit my head Tala's arms wrapped around my waist pulling me towards him.I couldn't stop the tears falling down my face, I am so pathetic, I couldn't even manage a day.
"Sha? what the hell look at me."
I realised that in crying my makeup and indeed come off slightly blowing my cover, even though I knew it was pointless I still tried to cover it up. I looked down so my fringe covered my whole face but he was too smart for something as mediocre as that, he gently pulled my face up with his hand turning it towards him. He gasped slightly and wiped my tears, and my remaining make up, his hand travelled down my face to reveal all the bruising. He frowned each time he found a new one , the anger in his eyes clearly visible scared me.
I pulled away sharply and sank to my knees , my voice seemed to be lost , I whispered.
"Don't hate me."
I felt him crouch down and go to put his arms around me, I wasn't expecting this so I flinched ever so slightly.
"I'm not going to hurt you , I would never hurt you."
I relaxed into his touch and buried myself into his chest.
"Why didn't you tell me?, I'm such an idiot, I should have noticed you were hardly talking hell now I think about it you have a slight limp, which reminds me-"
He went to pull up my trouser leg but I begged him.
"Please don't , you'll only be disgusted."
He carried on regardless, his eyes widened.
"You've been walking on this all day?"
He looked at me with amazed eyes.
"I didn't want anyone to know, to know how weak I am, how pathetic I am."
My voice trailed off , I was so pitiable I hated myself.
"So let me get this straight, you thought, by walking round on a clearly, broken ankle, people would call you pathetic?"
He shook his head,
"Come on if you don't want to go to yours , I'm taking you straight to mine."
He pulled me to my feet and proceeded to pick me up , but I started protesting.
"No Tala , one everyone will see and I can't go through that , and two I'm way to heavy."
He looked at me like I was mad, he put my arm round his shoulders and his arm round my waist so it looked casual, but he was carrying most of my weight I don't know how, god he must be so strong. We got to his car and he lifted me into my seat and closed my door, he got in and looked at me with a smile.
"Ok first off, I don't care what you say I'm carrying you into my house, and second you are not heavy don't think that you are."
I smiled slightly but in my head I knew he was just trying to make me feel better. We finally got to his house and it was normal in size probably had about 4/5 bedrooms couple of bathrooms, it looked nice and got out and opened my door. He persisted to carry me, he even said that if I didn't let him I'd stay in the car and he would lock me in.
Eventually after I gave in, he took me inside and sat me on the kitchen counter; his mum wasn't in till later. He came back in with some hot/warm water and towels and some bandages. He gently lifted my leg up slightly and rolled my trouser leg up, he softly dabbed the warm flannel on my ankle and I twitched at the change in temperature, he carried on in his work then put on some sort of cream on after he had dried coldness felt good against my skin and when he got up I hugged him.
"Thank you."
He hugged me back.
"No problem , If he is there next time I'm not leaving you I should have stayed I'm such an idiot I could have stopped this and-"
"Shh."
I hushed him.
"Don't. I knew what I would get when I walked in there, and I knew I could get you to go. The only thing I promised was to ring you after wards, I'm sorry for not saying anything, but If I had it would have been a lot worse."
"Its fine, what's done is done, all I know Is it's never going to happen again, not if I can help it." I pulled out of the hug.
"So where did you learn to do that." I gestured towards my foot. He shrugged
"My mum taught me"
"She's a nurse?"
"No she works in her school, so she had to learn first aid."
"Oh I see."
"Wanna watch some TV?"
"Sure" he grabbed my hand and lifted me off the table. He sat on the sofa with me still in his arms and I sat imbetween his legs with my back leaning on his chest. We lay there for ages just chatting and watching crappie soaps then his cat came in and sat on my lap, seems he likes me. I was so comfortable here, lying in his arms, I felt so safe and secure. I drifted into a peaceful slumber without a care in the world.
When I woke up, I felt soft satin sheets around me, they felt good against my skin and the sun rays warmed my arms, wait a second in a bed? I sat upright and was confused , Tala must have put me in his bed after I feel asleep , I checked the clock on the bedside table , 9:30 am, I could smell what I assumed would be Tala's breakfast I got up and fixed my appearance a bit then headed downstairs.
He was sitting at the brekie-bar, his mum behind him cooking. She was a bit larger than my "mum" but about the same as my real mother, god how I miss her and my little bro, he annoys the hell out of me but I love them both so much. Still there back in a few weeks, now back to Tala's mum , she has dark brown/red hair, nearly the exact shade of Tala's, her bright icey blue eyes fit perfectly on her soft face. I've known her for years. Tala looked up at me and smiled.
"Had a good sleep?"
"Yeah thanks." "Glad to hear it."
I smiled his way and sat down
"So, am I going to just sit here rudely like a lemon?" His mum turned around and smiled at me then looked at Tala.
"Ok you two I'm off out , then to work so see you later. I hope I'll be seeing more of you Trish, we've missed having you round."
"You too Anne , thank you for your hospitality , I really am grateful."
"Oh nonsense , any time."
She waved and walked out the house , shutting the door behind her.
"You ok, hows that ankle?"
He pulled me onto his lap and I rested my head on his chest.
"Thank you."
He laughed
"No I'm serious , I'm so grateful I don't know how to repay you I don't think I could have handled going back there last night, I miss my mum so much, I hate this."
"You know your more than welcome here, my mum loves you and we have loads of spare rooms."
"You might regret that offer."
I smirked at him and he did so back.
"Wanna go see a movie tonight? The guys are coming over later so I have all day free."
"Sure, you mind dropping me at Alicia's after the film? She's in my Ict class, the only one that can have a decent conversation with me, and plus that way I'm not wasting space at yours and you can concentrate."
"You wouldn't be in the way; I'd actually prefer you to be there rather than Michael and Ian."
"Ian? That annoying twat in English?"
" The very one."
"Ew , how do you stand being near him."
"Believe me, I don't."
We laughed
"No but seriously , don't go out just because you think you're in the way, cause you're not , I wouldn't have mentioned it if I hadn't wanted you to come."
"No its fine, anyhow Alicia wanted me to go to hers, see her house and stuff, I might drop by afterwards."
"Sure, ring me on the way back, weather its dark or not."
"Come on, let's go." we linked hands and walked (not much effort on my part) to the car.
It was a good film; I hardly saw any of it but still a good film none the less. He dropped me and Alicia's and kissed me goodbye, he even walked me to her door, she thought that was "adorable" and he smirked at my embarrassment.