Friday 31st May, 2019
I spotted the black car shining under the streetlight. A classic.
His classic.
I pointed to it in question; he looked at me, saw my egg-like lip and nodded. "Yes, we're driving somewhere."
When we reached the car, he pulled the door open for me. That's when I stopped - what the hell was I doing? Why was I getting into a car with someone who literally said it'd be funny to watch me die a couple of days ago?
But that wasn't true anymore, was it? I reminded myself of the fear in his eyes as he watched me getting kicked and slapped.
Deciding he was reasonably safe, I ducked inside, the leather seats stuck to my legs. It was perfect inside, shining. Julian strode around the front, slamming the door behind him.
"Bwhere are be gwoing?" I tried to say, the words coming out garbled. A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"A convenience store." He answered flatly, starting the engine and pulling onto the road.
"Bhere's one down bhe sbtreet."
He smiled now, amused.
"Dwon't laugh." I warned.
"Put your seatbelt on."
I wanted to tell him not to go far, but it was too embarrassing to speak. Also, the fury was still in his face, in the set of his jaw, dark brows furrowed.
It was quiet. I knew he could see me looking at him, but I didn't really care. The pain was making me stupid. But he was so beautiful, black curls shining as we passed under a streetlight. Right then, I wanted nothing more than to touch them, to stroke them back from his eyes.
"Have I got something on my face?" He asked, "apart from astoundingly handsome looks?"
"N-no. . ." I stuttered, looking away.
"Just the good looks, then?"
I snorted - at least that didn't hurt my lip. "I don't think so."
"Really?" In his car, the spiced wood smell of him was strong. Heavenly. "You still think I'm hideous, then?"
"Yep," I lied.
"Well," his hands tightened around the steering wheel. "You're not so hot yourself."
I remembered what Brendan said about me being pretty. I knew it was ridiculous. "Bit's all bhe blood."
His laugh filled the car, loud and warm. I looked at him in shock - surely that lovely sound hadn't just come out of Julian's mouth?
When I looked, his mouth was clamped together. He didn't look happy now - maybe I imagined it.
"I don't think it is."
Turning to look out the window, I found myself wishing he'd seen me before. When I hadn't been crying, when my hair was perfect. Maybe he would have thought I looked pretty then.
But I pushed the thought away. Someone like him could never find me even remotely attractive. Just then, I caught my reflection in the rear view mirror.
"Shib!" I yelped.
"What?"
"You're bright! I'm bnot hot at all! Look bat me!"
He was looking, amusement bright in his eyes.
"Ugh! Do you bhave a brush?"
Julian stared at me, then looked up. I saw his hair, a tangled mess. Of course he didn't brush it.
"Bright," I mumbled. "Of courbse."
He shook his head, still staring. "Don't talk so much. That's got to be killing your mouth."
"Bsnot's so bad." It was.
"We're nearly there. Get that swelling down." The car sped up slightly, the quiet meaning all I had to focus on was the pain.
He pulled into a car park minutes later, a huge super store bright in the darkness. The place was empty - relief flooded me. At least Julian was the only person around to witness my hideousness.
Julian came to open my door, but I was already out. He rolled his eyes, walking next to me. I pointed to a trolley, a question in my eyes.
"Don't need one. Come on, it looks like you're growing a second head."
All I could do was glare, but he couldn't see. I was frustrated; Julian had stared at me all week, said the other day that he had a question for me, and now I was here he barely spoke.
Inside the store, it was warm and empty. Following Julian's curly head like a lost puppy, I found him in the freezer section. He leaned inside, grabbed a packet of frozen peas.
Julian turned to me. "Put this on your mouth." He demanded, then his mouth curled into a smile. "And take your t-shirt off."
My mouth dropped open. "Bwhat?"
"Take it off."
"Bno! Bno way!" I eyed him. "Always bnew you bwere a bad egg! Perbert!"
He rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm not doing this for the sake of my own pleasure, believe me." Those words hurt more than the busted lip. "Bleu got a good kick in back there. Doesn't it hurt at all?"
Now that he said it, pain prickled down my side. Wincing, I tried to mask the pain. There was barely concealed anger in his eyes as I struggled. "See," he said tightly, "I need to look at it."
"Bno." I said, face heating.
"Take it off."
"Bno!"
"Now, Brooke."
"Bno chance!"
"Brooke, you're acting like I'm going to assault you right here in the freezer section."
"You mighbt."
"I won't. Now, before it gets worse or I waste my money on peas we don't need, let me take a goddamn look."
My eyes flew wide. He was paying. I poked my side, knees wobbling with the pain. "It's bine."
"No, it's not," he said, and his mouth twisted like he was the one in pain. "Why do you have to be so righteous?"
I just scowled at him, pointed at the packet of peas on my mouth and shooed him out of the section. Hurrying to catch up, he darted into the sweet section, grabbing chocolate bars off the shelves.
He ignored me, setting off in another direction. I found him in the first-aid aisle, scanning rows. Taking plasters, cloths, creams and some other stuff, he marched past me.
I'd have to pay him back.
He stood at the till - the woman was staring at him, wide-eyed. She seemed only a couple of years older than me, and pretty with big blue eyes and platinum blonde hair.
She looked briefly at me, and stopped short. Her hand froze on the box of plasters. She stuttered, before turning now-frosty eyes on Julian.
He put his hands up. "It wasn't me."
"Are you okay?" She asked me.
"Bine," I replied, smiling with my eyes.
"Take better care of your girlfriend."
My eyes widened. "I'm bnot--"
"Fine," he cut me off, shrugging, before reaching out and snatching the bag of peas out of my hand, swiping it across the till himself, and handing it back. "Keep the pressure on."
Once everything was bagged, Julian paid quickly and swiped it all, rushing outside like a bat out of hell.