by Abbie Lynn
I moved so I was on my back and I could look over at him.
“Good morning.” He smiled.
I yawned and sat up.
“Did you sleep okay?” I nodded and tried to hold in my laugh.
“Don't do that.” I looked at him questioningly.
“Don't stop yourself from laughing.” I grabbed my notepad from the nightstand and pointed to the word sorry.
“Yeah, I know,” he replied, getting up to grab some jeans and a brown t-shirt.
“I'm going to get in the shower,” he said, walking into the bathroom.
“Don't go anywhere,” he added, shutting the door.
I shook my head and then took out my clothes for the day and put them on. I then used the mirror in his room to comb my hair. Ty walked out of the bathroom, looking incredibly good, and smiled when he saw me.
“Are you ready?” I nodded, grabbing my backpack. We headed downstairs where we stopped in the kitchen. He pulled out a cereal labeled “Lucky Charms” and poured some into a bowl.
“What kind of cereal do you like?”
Are we going to eat again? I was honestly still full from last night, but Lucky Charms sound really good right now. I remember my mom and I sitting at the kitchen table on Saturday mornings eating them together. I think that stopped happening when I turned six.
'I'm not hungry,' I wrote.
“Will you eat at least a few bites of something?” 'Fine.' I wrote.
He smiled and then poured some more into his bowl. He then put two spoons into his bowl. I raised my eyebrows at him.
“Why waste another bowl?” I laughed at that. He smiled at me knowing I didn't hide it or cough to cover it. I just laughed, and it felt pretty good. He then sat down next to me. I had a few bites and remembered just how much I love Lucky Charms.
After we finished, Ty drove me to school. We got some pretty weird looks when I stepped out of his car. We walked into English together and sat down in our usual seats.
I can't say I'm not a little scared right now. In fact, I kind of expect my father to come barging into the classroom. When English was over, Ty and I walked out to break.
“Aria please calm down. Your dad's not going to come.” He soothed, sounding sure at the same time.
I took a deep breath and nodded.
“So about your arm,” he started to say.
I grabbed my notepad and pointed to the word Dad.
“Your dad broke it again,” he almost screamed.
'What did you think happened?' I wrote.
“I don't know. You fell off a swing again,” he said it like he was teasing me but I think it was all that was keeping him from destroying another lamp, or whatever he decided to throw this time.
'Why didn't I think of that?' I wrote and smiled to try and lighten the mood.
“Never defend him. You can tell me anything.” I nodded and then hugged him. He finally relaxed and then break was over so we headed inside. Wait a minute. Ty isn't in my next class with me. What if my dad comes in and takes me?
“Aria nothing is going to happen to you. I will meet you here after class okay?” He once again soothed me.
I nodded and then walked into the class. I looked back after I walked to my seat and waved at Ty. I was a nervous wreck the whole class period. The bell finally rang after three lifetimes and I sprinted out of the room. Ty was waiting outside like he promised. I smiled and ran up to him. We then walked to chemistry together.
We watched a movie and I was about to fall asleep when luckily the bell rang. Ty and I headed to lunch. Ty must have been starving because he grabbed a lot of food. We then sat down by my tree and he handed me the pizza on his tray. I looked at him, confused.
“What? Did you think this was all for me?” he mocked.
I smiled but then nodded.
“Do you like pizza?” I nodded again even though I couldn't even remember the last time I had pizza. The day went by pretty fast after that.
“Let's go.” Ty smiled, leading me to his car.
I got in and he drove us to his house. We walked in and he grabbed my backpack and set it in his room. He then came back downstairs and headed to the kitchen. I followed him and then sat down on the stool.
“Are you hungry?”
I shook my head.
“No?”
I nodded.
“I think you are.”
I rolled my eyes and then grabbed my notepad.
'You eat too much.' I wrote.
“Are you calling me fat?” He laughed.
I smiled and then sighed.
'When are you going to take me home?’ I wrote.
“That is not your home.” He dismissed.
'He will come for me.' I wrote.
“And I will deal with it,” he confidently replied.
'Why did you get yourself into this?' I asked.
“I'm in this for you.”
'Why?' I asked.
“Do you want to go back there?”
I shook my head. Ugh! It's more complicated than that!
“Listen Aria I like you okay, and I just want to keep you safe,” he added.
He likes me? He barely knows me. I nodded.
'You're not bad yourself.' I wrote, grinning like an idiot.
“Not bad?” He snorted.
I shrugged.
We then walked upstairs. Ty was carrying a bag of chips in his arms, and we headed into his bedroom and sat on his bed.
“So do you want to try talking?”
I shook my head.
“Practice makes perfect, come on,” he encouraged.
'I don't want to.' I wrote.
“So you can talk?” 'Physically, it's complicated Ty.' I wrote.
“Try me.”
'I JUST CAN'T!' I wrote, throwing the paper at him.
“No Aria, you can.”
I sighed and wrote 'You don't get it.'
“So explain it to me.”
I closed my eyes and thought back to the last time I had talked, besides the incident a few days ago when my dad told me too. I wiped the tear that had fallen and then opened my eyes.
'He wouldn't let me.' I wrote.
“Your dad wouldn't let you?”
I nodded.
“But he can't keep you from talking at school.” 'Ty that's not the point.' I wrote.
“What is the point?”
'He abused me. I've been traumatized since I was little. My mom picked my brother over me and left.' I wrote, tears were streaming down my face now.
“Aria,” was all he said. He grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap.
“It's okay, I'm here.” He soothed.
“No one will ever hurt you again.” I hugged him and breathed in his scent it smelled like home.
“I want you to beat him Aria. Prove to him that you are better than him and he can't win.” He sighed.
'I want to win too.' I wrote.
“Good you don't have to talk today or tomorrow or next week, but we are going to work on this.” I grinned and then hugged him again. He hugged me back and then lay me down on his bed.
“Can I see how your bruises are doing?” he asked.
I nodded.
He lifted up my shirt just a little past my belly button and ran his hands softly over them. It didn't hurt at all; it actually felt like Ty’s hands were healing them.
“Where else?” I pointed to my neck. He sat me up and then ran his hands over my neck.
“Is that it?” I shook my head.
I pointed to my shoulders, rib cage, and thighs. He sucked in a breath.
“It will take time for them to heal, but if they look discolored or odd tell me and the doctor can check them out.” I nodded.
“And your arm will hopefully heal soon.” He sighed, looking at my cast.
I nodded again.
“Okay, so write done something positive about yourself,” he encouraged.
I looked to see if he was being serious. I then laughed out loud.
“Aria,” h
e chuckled.
I peeked up at him.
“I'm being serious.” 'You do it too.' I wrote.
“Fine we will both do it,” he replied, rolling his eyes.
'Smart,' I wrote down.
“Okay what did you write?” I showed him my paper.
“Okay good, this is mine.” He showed me and I rolled my eyes when I read 'Sexy as hell' written on his paper.
'How sexy is hell?' I wrote.
“Pretty damn sexy.” He laughed.
“Write something you want to say to me.” 'This is stupid.’ I wrote.
“It's not stupid. I want you to feel comfortable with me but judging by that, you already are starting to.” He chuckled.
I slapped his arm and pointed to the door because someone was knocking. He ninja rolled off the bed and answered it. It was Carter. I got off the bed and waved to him.
“Hey Aria um dinner is here. We ordered Chinese and your parents won't be home this weekend. They are staying a little longer,” he said.
“Okay thanks for the update,” he replied but he seemed frustrated.
We walked downstairs and ate Chinese; it was the first time I've ever had it and it was pretty good.
“That's all you're going to eat?” Ty complained.
'I'm full.' I wrote.
“One more bite,” he teased.
I smacked his arm.
“Please,” he pouted.
I shook my head smiling.
“Pretty please.” I laughed a little.
“Pretty please with cherry on top.” That time I laughed.
Carter came into the kitchen, looking shocked and happy at the same time.
“You've got a great laugh.” He complimented, grabbing a soda and leaving.
“Pllleeaaassseeeeee,” Ty drew out.
I rolled my eyes, eating one more piece of orange chicken.
“Thanks,” he sang, giving me a cheeky grin.
After we were done eating, we went back upstairs.
“Do you want to take a shower?”
I nodded, grabbing my things and heading into the bathroom. After about a ten-minute shower I walked out to find Ty eating the chips he brought up earlier. Seriously this boy should weigh like five hundred pounds. He was actually really fit; he most likely had an eight pack, not to mention his really toned arms.
Ugh what am I thinking?
'PIG!' I wrote in big letters.
“Hey I'm a growing boy.” He smirked.
I squinted at him.
He laughed and then pulled me onto his lap so I was straddling him. I pushed at his chest but he pulled me in closer. He then sniffed my hair?
“Did you use my shampoo?” I grabbed his pillow and smacked him in the head.
“Hey now, I didn’t say I minded.” That earned him another whack with the pillow. He then pushed me off of him and lay me down, hovering on top of me.
“Don't start something you can't finish,” he said in a husky voice.
He then rolled off of me and sat back down with a smirk on his face.
I rolled my eyes; this is going to be a long night.
Chapter 9
Dear Diary,
I got out of Ty's grip once again to write to you.
UGH!
For once I can't put his feeling to words...maybe it's because having someone here for me is a foreign feeling.
I really thought Ty would have given up on me by now but he hasn't. In fact, we keep building a stronger bond every day and every day I feel more and more comfortable with him. Every day I want to talk to him even more.
~Aria
I climbed back into bed and looked over at the clock.
It was only 2:00 am.
I sighed in content; I still have four more hours of sleep.
The next couple of days went by about the same. Every day Ty and I went to school together and then came home and he had these things for me to do. Friday finally came! It's weird because my dad hasn't even tried to get a hold of me since I left.
“Come on please.” Ty pouted.
'I can't think of one.' I admitted.
He asked me to draw my favorite memory.
I then drew language class with him and I sitting in it.
'Meeting you.' I wrote under the picture.
He looked confused for a second and then really happy.
“Aw I'm flattered,” he said in honesty but he was mocking me at the same time.
I rolled my eyes.
“What's your favorite number?”
'13' I wrote.
“Isn't that an unlucky number?” he teased.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
“Favorite season?”
'Fall' I wrote.
“When's your birthday?”
I thought about it for a moment. Oh yeah, I remember.
'June 2nd,’ I wrote.
“Where is your diary?”
'What?' I asked.
“I want to read it.” He laughed.
'NO!' I wrote.
“Where is it?”
'At my dad's,’ I lied.
He didn't even catch the lie; he just sat there half stunned half about to pee himself over happiness.
'Care to share why you look like you're about to pee yourself?' I wrote.
He chuckled.
“You didn't call it home,” he explained.
I shrugged that place wasn't home.
“But seriously where is it?” he asked, jumping off the bed.
'TY STOP!' I wrote, standing in front of him and holding it up.
“Aw did you write about me?” he teased.
I blushed and avoided eye contact.
“YOU DID!” He laughed.
I punched him.
“Come on Aria, I'm just teasing,” he mocked.
I pointed at the bed.
“No. I really want to read it now.”
'Too bad it's at my dad's.' I wrote.
“Too bad it's not.” He snorted.
I groaned and pushed him.
“Fine.” He pouted.
I yawned and looked over at the clock. It was almost midnight!
“Wow we lost track of time.” He chuckled.
I nodded and set my notebook on the side table. Ty turned out the lights and climbed into bed. I climbed in after him and sighed in content.
“Did you just sigh?”
I nodded even though he probably couldn't see me. The bed shifted and I reached out my hand that came in contact with his face. I giggled and then squinted. My eyes were already adjusting and I could now tell that he had propped himself up on his elbow. I turned my head more to look at him.
“You're beautiful,” he said, stroking my cheek.
Could he even see me right now? My stomach dropped a little: a little in happiness but also a little in fright.
“Well good night.” He sighed and lay back down.
Well that was weird. I rolled over to my stomach and closed my eyes. I can finally go to the place where I can talk.
* * *
“NO DADDY,” I screamed while he looked at Ty murderously.
“Shut up!” He screamed.
“TY!” I shouted.
He disappeared in the forest.
My dad started to come towards me.
“TY!” I screamed. Where is he?
A wolf came out of the forest. Wait a wolf?
“No,” I sobbed.
My dad was suddenly gone.
My mom was standing, motioning for me to come closer. Is she crazy? There is a giant wolf about ten feet from her!
“LEAVE ME ALONE!” I screamed.
“Come on Aria.” Ty called. Wait where is he?
“TY!” I screamed.
I felt shaking. Was there an earthquake?
“ARIA!” a voice screamed.
“NO, TY HELP!” I pleaded as tears streamed down my face. Ugh, I don't cry. Stop it Aria!
“WAKE UP!”
Wake up?
“Ty,” I sobbed.
“I'm right here. Come on open your eyes,” he pleaded.
I squeezed my eyes shut and let the blackness take over.
“Come on. Try,” I groaned, opening my eyes. I saw Ty's concerned face. We were in his room. I wiped my face to realize I had actually been crying. Wait if I was actually crying does that mean I was actually screaming? I froze at that thought. My throat started closing up.
“HUH!” I gasped for air.
“Aria?”
“Huh!” I tried again.
He ripped me from the bed and ran downstairs.
“HELP!” he demanded.
A light in the doctor’s room went on and the nurse came out.
“She can't breathe!” he shouted.
He lay me on the bed while the nurse put a mask on me. It made it easier to breathe; it also made me really tired. I mean seriously what time is it?
* * *
“She is mentally traumatized,” a female voice concluded.
“Traumatized?” Ty asked. TY! Where is he?
“When she talks, it triggers something in her brain that makes her go into a panic attack.”
“How do I fix it?” he questioned.
“She needs to realize that it's okay to talk and nothing will happen when she does,” the female voice answered.
Oh shit they were talking about me. So I was actually screaming? Ty is going to make me talk.
Well maybe this will actually help. Maybe I will get my voice back.
“Aria?” he asked.
I groaned.
“Open your eyes baby.”
Baby?
“Aria.”
“Arrabella.”
I opened them and realized I was back in Ty's room and the nurse was gone. I went to sit up but he pushed me down.
“Nope today we are staying in bed.” He smiled.
I rested my head on his shoulder and nodded.
“Do you know what happened last night?”
I nodded.
“You screamed for me in your sleep.” I nodded.
“You know that?”
'It's safe to talk in my dreams.' I wrote.
“You know it's safe to talk now too?” I shrugged.
“What happens when you talk?” 'Can't breathe.' I wrote.
“Why not?”
I lifted my head off him and sat up. He watched me carefully as I angled myself towards him.
'You don't have to do this.' I wrote.
“Do what?”
'THIS! I know it's okay to talk Ty. You don't need to play therapist.' I scribbled down.
