Max sat on the sofa, the sitting room seemed smaller this evening. The walls crowded with CD's, DVD's, posters, the table cluttered with Robyn's magazines and dirty plates that hadn't yet made it to the kitchen.
He sat, staring at the light on the CD player, watching it blink on and off, on and off...
He remembered sitting here a month ago, playing David Bowie and drinking chocolate with her, feeling his heart tremble as he realised she was there in his house, he had a chance.
Now he sat, wondering how a month had dissolved so quickly into something like this.
Lofty emerged, standing in the door frame.
"Alright...?"
He shifted his gaze, looking anywhere but at Max.
"Do you want to go up?"
He asked, pushing his hands into the tight pockets of his jeans, only his fingers fitting.
He stood slowly, his joints aching, his knees clicking as he stood. Without a word he passed Lofty by, climbing the stairs, still his body seeming to feel nothing but emptiness, the shock still coursing through him, blinding him.
He climbed the second set of stairs, the door to his room was open, a pile of stained bedding piled outside on the landing.
Robyn glanced around the door frame, smiling an anxious smile. She reached out to touch his arm as he entered the room.
He stood for a moment, just looking.
Zoe was sat, back against the headboard of his bed, her knees curled up to her chest, arms wrapped around them, her chin resting on her forearms, her eyebrows were slightly raised and her eyes stared into the middle distance.
His arms felt awkward hanging by his sides.
"Is she ok?"
He asked, his voice gravelly. He hadn't spoken a word during the hour that Robyn had been upstairs with Zoe.
"She wont go to hospital."
She said under her breath, glancing at Zoe who remained motionless.
"Does she need to?"
He asked.
"The bleedings slowed, I've cleaned her up and she's on some towels. Just make sure she changes the pad...and check she's not bleeding too heavily..."
She paused, looking up at her brother who's eyes remained on Zoe.
"Or I can do that...sorry."
She wrung her hands in front of her chest, he looked down at her.
"I can do it."
He said softly.
"Thanks..."
He looked again at Zoe, the rims of her eyes pink, the glimmer of tears sparkling in the dim light.
"I'm just downstairs if you need me."
Robyn squeezed his arm gently, stepping out of the room and pulling the door closed.
He made his way slowly over to the bed, pausing next to it.
"Can I sit?"
He asked, his voice so soft and gentle.
She blinked and a tear tumbled down her cheek. She nodded faintly.
He sat on the very edge of the bed, his body skewed to look at her. He ran his tongue across his lips.
"Did you know?"
He asked, scratching at the dried blood on his trouser leg.
She shook her head ever so slightly, reaching out a hand across the duvet to him.
"I've got to get changed."
He stood up, feeling how stiff his clothes were with dried blood, the smell too much.
He stripped off, feeling the cold, his skin prickling against it. His legs and arms were tinged orange with the faint smears of blood. He walked, naked to the wardrobe, every movement slowed and awkward. He pulled on a fresh pair of boxers and a clean T-shirt, closing the wardrobe door, pausing, his back to her, his hand against the wood.
"Are you ok?"
He heard her whisper. He turned to find her looking at him, her face swollen from crying, her hair flat against her scalp.
"Are you ok?"
He asked, standing at the foot of the bed.
She bit the inside of her lip, shaking her head just the tiniest bit, smiling a half-nervous smile that wobbled on her lips.
"Will you hold me?"
She gasped, sucking in a breath of air involuntarily as she spoke, choking against the tears she held back.
He knelt forward onto the bed, crawling up to where she sat, straightening his legs out and leaning against the headboard, lifting his arm so that she could rest against him.
She closed her eyes, the smell of him comforting her.
"I'm so sorry."
She whispered against him, her voice so quiet, so hopeless.
He wrapped both arms around her, pressing his lips down on the top of her head , a solid aching lump forming deep in his throat.
"Don't be."
He murmured, his voice tight against the lump.
"I didn't think it was possible..."
She began, sucking in another deep faltering breath.
"Shhh..."
He whispered into her hair, she still smelled of coconut, of perfume.
He stroked her cheek with his hand, drawing his thumb across her jaw, pushing the hair away from her mouth and tucking it behind her ear.
"Zoe"
He nudged her chin with his fingers so that she looked up at him.
"I love you you know."
He whispered, hurriedly wiping away the tears that escaped his eyes, pressing his lips against her forehead.
"I love you too."
She breathed, lifting her face to kiss his lips, tasting the salt of his tears against them.
"I love you so much."
Hopefully I haven't terrified anyone! Reviews welcome as always. Hope you're all still enjoying it :) x