23. Sean
TWENTY-THREE
sean
17 YEARS OLD
BLAIR (16 YEARS OLD)
Valentine’s day was exhausting when it fell on a weekday.
It turned into a competition more than an expression of love.
And by next week when the girls started to compare who sent them a rose and realized the person they thought liked them, sent and accepted roses from multiple, the drama started.
“Here you go, Sean…”
I looked up from the book I wasn’t supposed to be reading during class and frowned.
The girl staring back at me with her hand pushed out and five roses, one of them white, started to fidget when I didn’t reach for them right away.
“Take ‘em back,” I mumbled, dropping my gaze while flipping a page.
Blair hadn’t come to school today and she wasn’t answering my texts either.
Flowers from anybody but her would be a waste.
“But, they’re from Blair,” she whispered, laying them gently on the desk. “I’m sure you want them now.”
She walked away before I could respond but my gaze had already fixed itself on the roses bound together by a black ribbon with a little note rolled inside.
I pulled it out and read what she wrote four times.
Always thinking of you, little deer. Happy Valentine’s day. I love you.
— Your beautiful goddess
Setting the note aside, I flipped my phone over, checked to see if the teacher was paying attention, and sent another text.
Thank you for the roses, Amoy
Do I have to show up at your door to see if you’re okay?
Because I will
I worried about her, especially when she missed school.
Thankfully, I got a response this time.
Sorry, Oisin
I was sleeping. It’s been a long night.
Come to my nana’s after school? Please.
You don’t have to beg. I’ll be there.
I love you.
“Mr. O’Sullivan, if you don’t want me to take the phone then put it away.”
I sent my reply first.
I love you too.
For the rest of the day, all I could think about was putting eyes on her to make sure she was good. And wasn’t hurt like all the other times her mother pulled her from bed in the middle of the night.
My heart didn’t get the answer it’d hoped for, when she opened the door an hour after school let out, with a busted lip and deep purple bruises around her neck.
She pulled me inside without saying a word and led us to the bedroom she’d made her own over the years. There wasn’t much inside of it but a full-sized bed and dresser, plus the clothes spilling from two duffle bags near the closet door.
“My nana is sleep,” she whispered through a cough that made my frown deepen.
I flipped the lock and pulled her into me, taking a much needed breath to calm myself down.
“Who did this to you?” I asked, never fucking sure anymore.
She tried looking away but I gently gripped her chin to keep our gazes connected.
“I’m okay, Oisin.”
“No…” I shook my head. “You aren’t. Look at your fuck— look at your face, baby…” I tipped her head back further and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Let me kill him.”
“You can’t kill my father.”
So, it was him.
“Don’t underestimate what my father will allow,” I told her, brushing my fingers over the neck bruises. “You suffering like this is really breaking my fucking heart, Amoy.”
Blair sighed.
“All I care about right now is you being here with me…” she pressed her lips to my neck then stepped back. “About the white rose.”
I crossed my arms and leaned against the door, taking in the one piece bodysuit hugging her slim frame.
“I’m listening.”
She turned away and slowly sat on the edge of the bed; I could tell she was in pain.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this…” she pointed between us. “Our first valentine’s day.”
I nodded slowly and walked toward her, leaning in her personal space until she slid back on the bed and let me between her legs.
“How was it supposed to be?” I asked, kissing her forehead.
“I want to give myself to you…” her voice shook as she wound her arms around my neck, flinching at little when my fingers met her rib cage. “It hurts…”
She dropped her head against my chest.
I heard her sniffle, felt the dampness on my shirt where she hid her face.
“Don’t cry,” I murmured, sitting back and gently pulling her with me. “Did you see a doctor?”
Blair shook her head and gazed up, those pretty browns swimming with tears.
“Can I see, baby?”
I needed to assess the damage, irritated her mother hadn’t taken her to see someone.
“It isn’t that bad, really.”
She shifted off me and stood, pulling the thick straps from her shoulders and rolling them down until her abdomen was visible to me.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath, shutting my eyes for a second before sitting at the edge of the bed.
Her voice was a whisper and un fucking convincing. “It looks worse than it feels.”
I traced the bruises with my eyes, each mark a stab to my chest.
“I’m going to get you checked out.”
She shook her head again, biting her lip as she moved back into my arms. “We can’t.” Her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt. “They’ll take me away.”
“Did you forget who I am?” I asked, much more base in my voice than I meant. “I’ll take you to the family doctor. She’ll be discreet, I promise.”
Blair didn’t respond. She just pushed herself closer to me, her body trembling against mine.
“Come on,” I urged, rubbing her back with enough pressure to ease the tension we both felt. “Let me take you.”
Her nod was slow, still slightly hesitant but I was glad she agreed.
“Thank you.”
I pressed my lips to her forehead and breathed her in, relief coating the rage.
“I’ll always be here, Amoy. You know that and if you don’t, time will prove it.”
I helped her roll the straps back over her shoulders and watched as she grabbed a sweater from one of her bags.
My hands shook as I texted my da, while her attention was on something else.
I need you to do something about Nathaniel putting his hands on Blair or I will.
His response was quick.
Is that an order?
A request.
Now wasn’t the time to argue with him.
What if it was ma?
I’ll see what I can do. Don’t break curfew.
“Why are you smiling?”
I tucked my phone away and stood.
“Nothing,” I lied, not wanting to worry her more than she already was. “Other than arguing with my da about curfew. You ready?”
She nodded and I pulled the door open to find her mother standing there.
“Ma,” Blair said, slipping in front of me. “I thought you were at work.”
Kendra had her eyes on me though, not a bruise in sight as I searched for them.
Nathaniel took his anger out on her through Blair.
“You two going somewhere?”
“To see a doctor,” I told her, tipping my head. “Something you should’ve done instead of letting her suffer.”
Blair tugged on my hand and I looked down at her, frowning at the shake of her head.
Sparing her mother was the last thing I wanted to do but my ma would have my head if she learned I was anything but respectful, no matter the circumstances.
“You don’t mind, right?” I asked, pulling my gaze from Blair’s. “I’ll have her back before curfew.”
She stepped aside and let us pass without verbally agreeing.
The urge to protect gnawed at me.
Blair wouldn’t end up like my grandmother.
She couldn’t.