Annabelle's POV:

Being in my room alone gave me a feeling of privacy I enjoyed. Carter had just left and I was finally realising just how much he had done for me - he had saved me. I stood up and walked to the bathroom and got undressed and decided to have a shower. I pulled out a towel from the cupboards and turned the water on. I always had it hot, I enjoyed the steam and humidity that engulfed the room and my lungs. It gave a sense of warmth to the inside and outside of my body. I stood leaning against the wall and felt as the water dripped slowly. Everything was quiet and I was relaxed it was just me. KNOCK.

I jumped and had to hold onto the switch that turned on the shower to stop myself from falling over. KNOCK. I quickly jumped out the shower and threw on jogging bottoms and a hoodie. Whilst leaving my room I grabbed my hairband and began tying my hair in a ponytail as I reached downstairs. I opened the door and felt every muscle in my body freeze - it was Rhydian. He looked scruffy yet casual and looked at me sincerely. I stood back to close the door but he pushed it open. I ran upstairs into my room and slammed the door shut then sat against it. He was back and I was all alone. I began looking for my phone. Crap. Where was my phone?

I heard slow thumping steps as he was coming up the stairs and I cried out, "please leave". I could feel the tears coming into my eyes and I kept having to blink them away. I felt the door thud and realised he was sitting against the door like me. "I didn't mean it", he said and then without another word I heard sobbing coming from the other side. I sat still for a moment contemplating what to do, I wanted to talk to him but just thinking about being near him made my body freeze up. "It still happened Rhydian and nothing you can do can take that back", I said remorsefully. I heard him breathe shakily and stop crying. "I never wanted to hurt you Anna, I could never hurt you" he spoke quietly but from the silence in the house it echoed powerfully.

The words 'I could never hurt you' rung in my ears like a bell tolling. I didn't know whether I could trust or if I should even believe him. I appealed to my better nature and I slowly opened the door. He had now turned to face me and I could see the redness and puffiness in his face where he had been crying. I felt my body shiver just seeing him standing there. As he stepped forward I stepped back, making sure I kept my distance. He walked in, sat on the bed and placed his elbows on his knees then his head in his hands. His fingers were tangled in his hair and I could sense the sadness in that room. "I shouldn't have done what I did to you Anna and I know you may never forgive me" he said this solemnly. I said nothing and did nothing as I listened to every word coming out of his mouth. "I was drunk and I took it too far" he spoke quietly and softly, "not that that's an excuse". I nodded in agreement. He sniffled and for some unknown reason I edged closer to him.

He looked at me and I saw his face screw up and look away. "I keep seeing your scared face" he whispered, "I'm so sorry I didn't stop". At this he began crying, I had never been in the presence of a boy who had been crying out of sadness and I found it uncomfortable. I looked away from him trying to hold back my tears, he slowly stood and wiped his eyes. "I've known so much pain and I've always seen drink and girls as an escape route but with you I went to far and I understand if you'd never talk to me again", he nodded and began to walk out the room. Before I could even think I called out to him, "wait" and he automatically turned. I didn't know what I was going to say next, I hadn't planned anything. "Pain?" I asked him inquisitively, he looked away for a moment. He turned back to me with tear filled eyes and said, "you don't need to worry yourself with that". In that moment I saw a reflection of a scared little boy. I felt sorry for him, even after all he'd done and I walked over to right in front of him.

He was standing right in front of me and I gave him a smile, it was small but it was all I could muster. Rhydian looked at me with tired eyes and hugged me, I was frozen for a moment, "Rhydian" I said unsure of how to react. I didn't even have time to as at that moment Carter burst through the door and put his arms between us pushing us apart. Then without warning threw a fist straight into Rhydian's stomach.

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A/N

Hey guys I'm back! So obviously Carter's protective but he doesn't see Rhydian's sadness. Do you guys think Rhydian deserved it?

Comment what you think and vote guys. Every little helps.

TaTa for now

xx