Javier was the last person I wanted to see right then. I sighed as I turned on my feet and began walking again. I was embarrassed enough as it is, I didn’t need his presence adding to that. However, I was stopped when he grabbed my arm.
"Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern laced in his voice.
His lips parted slightly and his eyes went wide. That was when I realized just how worried he actually was. I knew he could see the black eye accompanied by the drained look on my face, yet I still replied, "Of course."
He reached to touch my arm, but I backed up. Javier blinked a couple of times and then muttered, "This isn’t the way to your house."
I nodded. "I’m aware."
I could see the pity all over his face, and it was the absolute last thing that I wanted. I did not need anyone pitying me for any reason. When people felt bad for me, it made me feel worse. It made me feel like there was something seriously wrong because people only feel bad for you when there is something wrong in your life. Something that shouldn’t have happened did happen, so people felt the need to give their condolences. I wanted to forget about the bad, not relive it by hearing empty apologies.
Javier tapped his foot against the ground continuously."Come home with me?"
I was surprised by his offer. It was unexpected, especially considering I never directly made known that I had nowhere to go. Driving me to my house in the middle of the night was one thing but letting me stay athishome was a whole different ballpark.
"I'm fine.”
"You clearly aren’t."
“It’s none of your concern.”
“I’m making it my concern.”
"I don't need help from the perfect Javier Cortez," I said bitterly. I hadn’t meant for it to come out so snippy, I was just pissed. As rude as I constantly was to Javier, why did he have to be so kind to me?
Javier pressed his lips together and they formed into a straight, thin line. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I won’t leave you out here with nowhere to go."
“How do you know that I don’t have anywhere to go?”
“Because the look in your eyes says otherwise,” he stated.“And you would have already said so.”
I fidgeted with my fingers subconsciously and dragged my foot on the ground, awkward and uncomfortable. He was right, and he knew it.
"Come home with me." He was not asking anymore.
So, I gave in.
The ride to his house did not take long. I got to ride on his motorcycle again, so that was something good that came out of the traumatic night. Though, as much as I enjoyed the adrenaline high that came with riding it, there was still the nervousness that came with it. Motorcycles were not the safest choice of vehicle, after all.
Once we made it to his house, Javier immediately sat me down on his living room couch. He rushed to pour me some fruit punch and gave me a blanket. Fruit punch wasn’t my first choiceof a drink, but I was not complaining. It was so abnormally cold in his house that my teeth were chattering, and he noticed it. He apologized and told me that his parents liked the house cold.
He was now sitting next to me and tending to the cut on my right arm. When he wiped over it with an alcohol wipe, I flinched. He gave me a sympathetic smile, gripping my arm tighter but wiping it a little more gently. He then pulled a band-aid out of the first aid kit that he had next to him. He put it over the cut.
I was still sniffling, but at least I wasn’t crying anymore. He hadn't asked me any more questions since we had been at his house. We were just sitting in silence, and I was thankful for it because I didn’t know how to respond to any of the questions he may have started asking. Not only did I not know how to, I also did not want to.
A girl whom I assumed to be his little sister stared at me with wide eyes. I assumed it was because of the state of my face, which I still hadn't looked at yet. She seemed to be the only one besides Javier and I in the house.
After a long while of silence, Javier decided to question me. He made a ‘tch’ sound before shifting awkwardly on the couch. He looked conflicted on whether or not to speak to me. Nevertheless, he did.
"Why were you out alone at ten o'clock at night?" he asked softly.
"Why wereyouout alone at ten o'clock at night?" I deflected.
"Fair enough."
And silence again.
Javier leaned closer to me, his eyes focused on my hurt one. He reached and gently touched it, causing me to wince. I could see the pity all over his face. I hated it.
