107. The Past II

Raven

Killian had promised not to get in trouble, right? Well, he did, over and over again, and each time I’ll sneak out late at night to bring him food and treat his wounds.

At first, it was minor injuries, then slowly it started becoming alarming. He was coming out with deep cuts and I’m just sixteen. I don’t know how to treat these kinds of cuts, so I was forced to start reading textbooks. And then I made up my mind to go into the medical field. If I don’t get into med school, then I’ll get into nursing school.

I don’t think his parents were the ones giving him these injuries. I had seen him fight in the front yard with his brothers.

It was a serious fight, and his older brother had used a plank to hit him while his second brother held him down.

They were yelling something about how he was disrespectful and had tried to hurt their father.

I hate his brothers.

I spent every night cursing them while I prayed to my rosary. Killain was a nice kid … he had done nothing wrong from my point of view, so why do they treat him like that?

Today, I was packing up leftover dinner for him. I grabbed the first aid box that I had to lie to my mother so she could get it for me.

I had to lie and say it was for my project at school. She never lets me get anything. According to her, as long as I have food, clothes and a roof over my head, then I’m good . She doesn’t want me to get spoiled like the Markovs’ sons.

Pathetic!

I’m a girl but I don’t even own a lip gloss. I have to wait till the day I have my period before my mother gets me tampons.

Sigh.

I went over the fence as usual,careful not to make any sounds as I ran over to the shed.

He was tapping his hands on the log, waiting for me and as soon as he saw me, his face lit up. “ Please don’t tell me you brought more sandwiches. “ He joked, and I hit him on his side.

He groaned out in pain, and I immediately regretted my actions. “ I’m so sorry… .”

I rushed over to him, wanting to take a look at his ribs, when he chuckled.“ Just kidding…I didn’t get bruised up today.” He spread his arms out, grinning at me.

I frowned.“ Do you think this is funny?” I pouted at him.

He pulled me into his chest, ruffling my hair.“ I didn’t know you cared about me that much.”

I inhaled his scent, my heart beating erratically with how close we were.“ If I didn’t care, would I be coming here almost every night?”

I rolled my eyes at him, and he smiled at me. He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him.“ Thanks for everything.”

I gulped, all my senses getting knocked out of my dumb brain as I stared at him. Apart from the small bruise on his lips, he was handsome and so close.

I remained still, and he didn’t let go of my chin. I was still in his embrace, curled up on his lap and entangled in his arms. His gaze fell to my lips, and I blushed hard.

Gosh! I’m not eighteen yet. I shouldn’t be thinking about kissing a boy.

It’s wrong.

It’s so wrong.

But heavens! The way he was staring at me? Inch by inch, he leaned in, and I did too. Till we were just a finger apart. Our lips were close to brushing against each other, and I could literally hear my heart beat in my ears.

Then suddenly, he snorted, tapping his index finger on my lips.“ You’re sixteen and already having lewd thoughts. You’re still a child. I can’t kiss you till you turn eighteen.”

I was embarrassed.

I scooted away from his hold as he laughed at me. I felt like I should crawl under a tree and never come out.

But the next second, he pulled me close again and placed a kiss on my forehead.“ That’ll do for now.” He said, and heat rose in my chest.

I wanted to ask him something that had been dangling in my chest for a while, but I overheard the girls in class saying it’s not girly to confess your feelings to a guy, and it makes you a slot. So I kept my mouth shut.

I know I have a crush on Killian. I know I do, and I’m really not sure if he feels the same, even if he just kissed my head. I racked my head to think of a way to bring up the topic, and finally, I got an idea.

I pressed my face to his chest, listening to his heartbeat as we remained in that intimate position.“ You know, since I’m not eighteen yet. I don’t think it’s right for us to be this close, especially if nothing is going on between us.”

I held my breath, waiting to hear his response, and it came.

“You’re not eighteen, that doesn’t mean I don’t like you. So yeah, this amount of closeness is accepted.” He phrased.

I gasped, pulling away to look into his eyes.“ Did you just say that…you…you…like me?”

He grazed his fingers on my chin.“ Yeah.

…I like you. I like you a lot. Too bad you’re not an adult yet.” He said, pulling me back to lie on his chest.

" And once I’m eighteen?” I dared ask, my heart hammering loudly against my chest.

I could feel his heart beat too. They were beating so fast I couldn’t count them.

" Once you’re eighteen, we will become a couple.”

A bright smile spread along my lips as I pressed my face against his chest

He held me tighter, and we remained like that for some time.

At one point, I think we both fell asleep because in the distance I could hear hushed footsteps, but I was too tired to open my eyes until a bright light shone on my face.

I flinched, so did Killian. We both jumped as the torchlight was being pointed at us.“ What the hell!” The man with the torchlight chuckled.

I squinted my eyes to see through the bright light, and I recognised him. He was Killian’s brother.

I stiffened, panic rising low in my chest. Killian held me close, his face twisted in a bitter frown.

” So this is where you hide? Huh, Killian?” His brother went round the shed and stopped at the entrance.

He walked up to us, lowering the torchlight. He was staring at me intently, a terrifying smile on his face.

He looked just like Killian. The only difference was the hair colour. Killian was slightly blonde while he had dyed his hair red.“ Who’s this pretty girl you got to keep yourself company ?”

“ None of your fucking business! ” Killian shielded me with his body, hissing at his brother.

I was shaking so bad…I don’t like the way he was looking at me. We’ve gotten caught….I only hope his parents don’t find out or mine.

“ Dad said no women till you find something meaningful to do with your life, Killian. You’re already as useless as it stands.” His brother sneered at him.

I noted that Killian’s hands were trembling slightly and that his pupils had dilated.

" He’s not useless.” I retorted sharply, and he fixed his eyes on me again.

" Oh…she talks!” He chortled, then he creased his brows as he stared at me.“ Aren’t you from next door? Your mother is that lousy talkative?”

I hissed at him.“ Don’t insult my mother!”

Killian’s grip tightened around me, and he looked down at me.“ Go home, Raven….Now!”

I hesitated but eventually walked out of the shed slowly. His brother was watching me intently, and then all of a sudden, he grabbed my wrist.“Come on, you’re pretty … .don’t go just yet!”

A small cry left my lips, and Killian rushed forward, punching his brother on the face.

I screamed as they both stumbled to the ground, and another fight broke out. I didn’t know how to stop them…I kept screaming at Killian to stop and at his brother to leave me alone, but it was like they had both gone deaf.

I was crying. Not knowing what to do to stop the fight. They were throwing punches at each other, breaking their skin.

I let out another scream when his brother picked up a rock from the floor and attempted to throw it at Killian.

Torch lights started flashing both from my house and theirs, and I heard my mother’s voice.

Oh no…..

She must have heard me scream. Even Killian’s father, too, because I started hearing rushed footsteps heading towards the backyard.

Oh no …..

No

No

No

They were heading this way.