[discontinued] I'm Listening... (Book 4 of the Can't Say series.)

Late. About 9 or so in the night. Kevin had been out with some friends he hadn't seen in a while. Avi was up in their shared room. Dim lights, Curtains closed. The only source of light he had was the lamp on his bedside table and the lighter in his hand. Every so often, he was lighting it and staring into the flame as if it was showing it something.

Avi:

I lit the flame and stared into it, every time I did, I could see a fragment of my past in it. I lit it again and this time, I saw the time where I finally had the guts to tell my friends about Daniel.

---7 years ago---

I had dragged my friends round to the back of the school during period 5, it was maths and none of us liked it so it was fine, we didn't learn in that class anyway. I had been waiting impatiently for them to arrive, before long. Jordan, Avery and Mira came up behind the school.

"Hey bro, where ya been these past two years?"

"You stopped talking to us."

"I bet it was Daniel!!"

Avery still didn't like him... she was right to...

"Avery! look at his face, he looks sad..."

"I can hear you, Mira."

"S-sorry... what did you want to tell us?"

"Well... I learnt a thing or two about Daniel... Avery as much as I hate to admit it... you were right."

"He is a bad man! I told you so!"

"A little worse than you think."

"Huh?"

"How come, man?"

They sat next to me. Now or never.

"He's abusive, a rapist, a user, an extorter..."

"Please tell me you didn't learn that the hard way..."

"... if it helps you sleep at night..."

"oh, dude i'm so sorry..."

"oh well. i didn't listen... this is what i get in response... so much for 'giving people a chance'..."

"yeah but... no one should have to go through--... you know... what you did..."

"what can i do...?"

"tell the cops?"

"NO! He'll hurt everyone I love and care about he said it himself I can't tell the cops..."

"Avi, people like him just say stuff like that to scare you... he can't do jackshit."

"I'm not taking any chances."

"If you say so, just know you can talk to us when you need to..."

"Thanks, guys... means a lot. Hug?"

"C'mere yer lil' dragon!"

Avery pounced on me and soon Mira and Jordan joined the hug too. I felt safe in their arms. Knowing people have my back. It gave me a sense of security. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

---Present day---

I felt so much better after telling them that... I lit the flame again and this time, saw the time he as arrested.

---6 years ago---

"Avi!!! Come here!!!"

I practically threw myself down the stairs, if I had done something wrong, I didn't want mum to be even madder than what she already was. I found them all on the couch watching FOX News. All heads turned to me.

"what happened?"

"Look."

'And our top story today, A man named Daniel Rindler has been arrested for running the biggest sex trade and scandal in Minneapolis today...'

I watched the screen, Daniel was being dragged away by police into a van. I couldn't believe it. I wasn't even listening.

"Avi baby..."

I ran straight back up to my room, not wanting to watch anymore... I didn't know what to do... I slammed my bedroom door and threw myself onto my bed face down. Crying into my pillow... I still felt like he was mine... A knock sounded at my door.

"Avriel? Do you wanna come out, son?"

"*sniffle* n-no..."

"Alright, take your time, son."

He left my bedroom door and I stayed face down on my bed. I didn't know what to think...

--- Present day---

I don't know what was going on with younger me... I should've been glad he was gone for that time. Instead, I went spiralling into a wild world of depression and suicidal thoughts. I placed my finger on the little thing you push down to activate the lighter---

"Hey."

I dropped the lighter but caught it in my hands not wanting it to burn the carpet or the bedsheets... Wish I didn't though.

"AAAAAAHHH!"

I dropped it. That burned!

"Avi, oh my god!"

He ran over and took my wrist in his hands and dragged me to the bathroom, me stumbling as he did. He didn't even let me stand up! He opened one of the taps and put my hand under it. I hissed at the pain.

"Sorry, baby."

He turned off the tap and picked me up by the waist sitting me down on the countertop and ran to the cabinet and pulled out a tube of ointment and a bandage. I noticed his face, he looked confused.

"Penny for your thoughts, good sir?"

"What were you doing with the lighter?"

"Nothing really... Just lighting it and watching the flame appear and disappear.

"Ok... may I ask why?"

"... I dunno..."

He finished applying the ointment and wrapped my hand in the bandage.

"Passing the time I guess... Getting lost in my thoughts."

He finished wrapping my hand and looked me in the eye.

"You can always talk to me ok?"

"Ok."

He kissed me and left me on the counter.

"Lemonade?"

He shouted from the staircase, making his way into the kitchen as it seemed.

"Pink, Lemonade."

"Ok, madam."

I jumped down and ran downstairs to find him pouring a glass of pink lemonade and regular lemonade. He came over and handed me the glass.

"Thank you."

I sat down on the couch with him next to me.

"Are we just going to sit in silence?"

"Seems so."

"Mkay..."

So we did. We sat in silence drinking lemonade until the night slipped away.