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#Chapter 19 Break Yours Back
It takes a long while for me to calm down.
Alex’s hug helps, but we still spend the rest of our practice time huddled under the table. He only backs off once I first start pulling away from him.
“You alright?”
Still unable to speak, I just nod and crawl out from under the table. We both leave its shade, standing still in the room.
Alex stares at me for a good minute before he murmurs, scratching at the back of his head.
“…If you, uh, want to practice some other time, I’m cool with that.””
I nod, feeling too tired to think too much.
I turn and stumble over to my phone. Thankfully, I got a sturdy one after the pool incident with my phone insurance. Only some cosmetic scratches….phew..
When I check for technical issues, my screen shows more messages from that mystery number. I quickly block it, deleting all the messages.
“Rrr–raincheck”
“Yeah… Later.”
Without much of a response, I leave the room and head home.
I never got any good sleep last night, so maybe I can get some at home now..
….I’ll need to apologize to Alex somehow. And thank him. Maybe with some sports tape or
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#Chapter 19 Break Yours Back
something.
Maybe later, though. I’m simply too tired for it now.
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My exhaustion only worsens as I stop on the street near my home. There’s a familiar car in
the driveway, a familiar person at the front door.
I…really don’t want to deal with this today.
So, I turn, parking at a neighbor’s house.
Over here, some houses, especially the ones near the woods, have more yard space. As such, the distance between our house and others nearby is bigger than you’d sometimes see in
other communities.
I write up a quick note, leaving one on my windshield and shoving another into the
neighbor’s door mail slot. I’ll come back and stop taking their space ASAP.
I just…need a nap first. Maybe a few hours so I can stop being too tired to think.
Then, I sneak to the back and head home from there. Oliver should still be watching the front and miss me entirely.
The back door is just a few feet away, and it doesn’t seem like Oliver notices anything.
With a few quiet steps, I make it to the door, sticking the key into the lock and twisting it. It opens outward, and I start to slink into my house.
But a pale hand smacks against the door, forcing it shut.
“Cynthia…you’re still not answering my calls.”
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My throat starts to close. I try to tug the back door open again, but Oliver’s hand keeps it in
place.
“Not answering my texts either… Do you think we’re not friends anymore? I’ve been worried about you and everything. But it’s okay. We can talk once we get inside, yeah?”
Stay away from my room. Don’t speak to me anymore.
I want to say these things to him…
But resisting right now feels so pointless. Maybe if I let him in this once, he’ll finally…
I shut my eyes tightly, knowing he won’t do that. He’ll keep bothering me forever until he
gets…whatever it is he wants.
Oliver reaches down and grabs the doorknob, opening it to make his way inside with me. I let the hot panic in my chest get smoothed over into resignation.
Suddenly, the weight of his presence gets ripped from behind me.
I startle, then quickly turn around when I hear Oliver grunt as though he fell.
A tanned fist wrenches Oliver’s head to the side with the force of his punch.
Alex crouches over him like a wolf to prey. And he’s beating the shit out of him.
“A–Ale–gh!”
He doesn’t listen. Alex keeps whaling on him, his left fist followed by his right, smacking his face to each side.
Oliver holds up his arms to protect himself, scratching at Alex. But he’s relentless. Alex’s steely expression doesn’t flinch as he easily maneuvers Oliver how he wants him.
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I stand there, my vision swimming with unshed tears.
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Alex seems to always appear when I need help. I don’t understand how he can. But the fact he does overwhelms my tired heart.
I blink, and the tears start trailing down my cheeks.
A moment later, the door behind me bangs open, and Alex finally looks up. Oliver takes the time to scramble from under Alex and immediately start babbling.
“A–Alex! Why are you-”
“Cynthia!”
My mom rushes over to me. Her pale auburn hair, loose and smooth from her messy bun, tickles against my face when she hugs me. I immediately hug her back, my hands curling
into the back of her shirt.
“M–Miss Liz, please! Help! This guy just-”
“You be quiet.”
There’s fury in her voice.
It’s rare. She lost her ability to be angry when we were with Dad. But the therapy she’s been going to has helped her regain some of her power and former self.
Mom hugs me tighter.
“Cynthia…oh, my baby, I’m so sorry.” She leans my head back and wipes her thumbs against my cheeks, taking tears with them. “I should’ve told you I noticed you two broke up. Seeing your room cleared of all his things… I just…I wanted to give you space. But not like this. I’m so sorry…”
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I can’t stop my tears even if I want to. Mom lets me hide my face against her. She smells like maple syrup, like I’ve always thought she has.
“Oliver…I heard what you said to Cynthia last night.”
He chokes on his own spit, and I hear someone get up. The undertone of pinecones gets stronger…so it must be Alex.
Mom’s fingers curl into my hair.
“If Cynthia tells me that you have ever approached her again, I will not let this go down easily. Do you understand me?”
Oliver doesn’t say anything.
“I asked a question, Mr. Oakley.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
“Now leave.”
I don’t watch him go. I don’t care to. Instead, I peek out from my mom’s hold to look at
Alex.
He stands so tall, moving to follow Oliver and make sure he leaves. But Mom stops him.
“And you are?”
He flinches a bit, but then he stands straight.
“Alex Hewlett, Uhm…Cynth’s boyfriend.”
“…I see.” She hums, suspicious. “Your fists are pretty banged up. Come get those cleaned.”
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Once inside, Mom’s combative nature melts away and she returns to the soft person she’s always been. She frets over me nervously, getting me a cup of water and sitting us both down in the kitchen.
Mom makes small talk with Alex as she brings over our first aid kit. It’s a bit heftier than what other families have, but we’ve learned how to patch our wounds.
“I’ll do it,” I murmur, both Mom and Alex looking over to me.
“Ah, of course, baby.” She gives me a wobbly smile, reaching over and holding my cheeks. “Then… I’m going to get some groceries for tonight… Will you be okay here with him?”
I nod in reply, and the darkness in her eyes fades away, glancing at Alex with more trust than before.
“…I’ll be back in just a bit. Help yourself to the turkey salad in the fridge, Alex.”
“Ah, thank you very much.”
There’s no hint of his usually snarky and kidding nature, all respect. Mom gives him a smile before grabbing her bag, leaving to the garage.
Once she’s gone, I wipe my face with my sleeves and open the kit. I know where everything from habit, getting the alcohol wipes and bandages. I start cleaning him up silently, watching as he doesn’t flinch with the wipes against his scratched and bruised fists.
“…How did you. Uhm… Why?”
I keep my eyes on his fingers as he replies quietly.
“Uhm… You looked really bad earlier. I wanted to know what was up, so I talked with your
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friend, Hailey. Told me she saw someone at your house. Once she described car, I knew who it was.” He clears his throat. “So, I…decided to drive by.”
His hand closes softly around one of mine as I wrap his bandages, so I glance up. He stares back at me, wary and curious.
“I don’t know what he did, but it seems bad.”
“…Isss…what he’sss done important?”
He shakes his head.
“He made you cry. That’s enough.”
I look back down at his fist and finish wrapping the first one, the resignation crumbling and warmth returning to my chest. The room smells strongly of pine to me, a smell that’s quickly become very comforting
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“…Thank you.”
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