Roses and Honey

Depressing. ish. Not really. Draco's a d****e...

"What happened to you?" he growled, his jaw clenched tight as he forced the words out in an attempt not to shout. He was speaking of the gapping bruise that blanketed the creamy pale skin on my cheek. To be honest, I was surprised he hadn't noticed earlier.

I had gotten the bruise when I tried running from Draco. As he had preceded to rape me, I dug my teeth into his shoulder, removing a massive, bloody chunk of flesh. Infuriated by the pain and my attempts of escape, he had punched me, knocking me clear out.

I thought back to the night. To him. To that crazed look in his eyes. To the way his sweet, caring side had vanished almost instantly, leaving behind a monster I never knew existed. 

"I…I…I ran into a…pole." I knew my hesitation had ruined any hope I had of deceiving him, but it didn't hurt to try.

  "That's pathetic. What really happened?" he demanded.

"Look, I'm really tired of your cold-a*s superior attitude! I don't know what the f**k your problem is, but it's getting real old! Just get the f**k away from me! I'm sick of this! I'm sick of everything! I hate this! I hate my life!"

I wasn't sure what had sparked such a strong reaction within me, but I assumed it was the same thing that had caused me to break into a waterfall of tears. All those times I had fought against dad's violent attacks, all the nights mom watched me from the side as I cried out for her help, all the times I had to clean my own blood from the carpet and bandage my own cuts…all those long, miserable times…it all came crashing down on me. 

My throat ached from fruitless attempts to hold back the sobs and my eyes stung and burned to fight off the tears. But it was all in vain. They just kept coming. They wouldn't stop. I could feel them washing away the mask I had worked so hard to build. 

On a normal day, I would have pushed him away, but when Dev-er…Romeo-wrapped his arms around me, I allowed them to stay. I welcomed the gesture, no matter how awkward it would later make things. Right now was enough…I…I didn't want it end. 

What's this? I thought in surprise. This…feeling? It…feels good but it also hurts. It hurts so much. It wasn't the pain I was used to. Beat the living s**t out of me, call me a worthless w***e, even take away my f*****g weed…do it all…and none of it would equal this pain. This new, unbearable pain. 

Sobbing so hard that no noise came out, I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and buried my face in his shirt. He smelt good. Almost like….roses and honey. 

"God…" he whispered into my hair, "What happened to you? What have you been through?" I knew he was saying it more to himself than to me, so I ignored it. Instead, I just held myself closer to him. Such undying comfort emitted from him like the sun, his rays wrapping around me and keeping me safe. 

"Please…" I begged. "Don't leave me." Right now the words held no regret, but I knew that if I made it so tomorrow, I would feel so foolish for saying such stupid cheesy things. 

He hesitated. I could feel his group loosening. No! I thought. Please, don't go! I drew in a sharp breath…waiting…waiting for him to let go and run away from me, taking with him what little comfort I had. I didn't have to wait long. He pulled me even closer, wrapping his arms so tightly around me I thought he was about break my rib.

"I will never leave you, Elissa. Never."