Luc clears his throat. "Uhhh, I've got some more bandages for you. Just, um, come to my room when you're dressed and I'll wrap your ribs for you."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing at how awkward he sounds. "Thanks, Luci," I say softly and I hear him walk away.
I get dressed and groan at my jeans.Why do I only have jeans?!I walk past a few closed doors before I find Luc’s room closer to the front of the house.
Apparently, Luc thinks the same as I do about my denim situation because it's his first comment when I walk in the door to his bedroom.
“You can’t sleep in that,” he frowns, looking up from the first aid box on his bed.
“I have shorts in the car but they’re denim too,” I say aimlessly, looking around.
His room is pretty empty of personal stuff but there's a few half full boxes at the door. It mainly looks like textbooks and clothes haphazardly thrown into boxes.
He throws me a pair of sweatpants and I hold them up.
"Thanks, Luc, but these are huge." He looks over and chuckles like that hadn't occurred to him.
"Hang on a sec." He disappears for a second and returns with a slightly smaller pair.
"Thank you," I tell him. He waves it off and grabs a bandage from the overflowing box of first aid stuff.
I lift my shirt up and Luc stares at my black and purple bruising for a moment before he snaps out of it.
He wraps the bandage around my middle a lot tighter than I did this morning. It causes me to wince.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs as he uses a clasp to hold the bandage in place.
I take a deep breath. "It's okay." I breathe through the initial pain. When he's finished, I drop my shirt and it falls over the bandages. "Thank you," I murmur. I wish I could say tears don’t prick my eyes, threatening to spill for the second time today.
He pulls me in for a brief hug. "Try to sleep. Okay? It'll help with your head."
I nod and place a hand on his forearm. "You too. You look exhausted," I note the bags under his eyes and the redness around them.Shit, was that rude?
"Yeah, Butterfly." Luc smiles softly, seeming unoffended and I return it before walking back to my room.
I close the door and turn the fan on. I change into the sweatpants Luc gave me and pull the drawstring as tight as it goes before rolling them a few times. Either I’m small or all his friends are a lot bigger than me. Probably both.
I shut the blinds and lay in my new bed, pulling up the sheet and doona. Closing my eyes, I revel in the warmth and comfort of my cocoon.
Thank you, Luci,is the last thing I think before I drift off.
Chapter 5~
Rory ~
My father stands over me.
I didn't clean up—slap.
I was five minutes late—slap.
I didn't put the dishwasher on—punch.
My injuries blur together. A bang sounds.
I jolt awake, my eyes flying around the room.
Someone curses loudly. I look around at the room in Hannah's house and I sigh.I'm okay, I'm not there,I tell myself.
