The First Fight [2]

(Kyle)

Olivia gets out of the front seat to open the back door where Malory is lying with her head on my lap. She’s fast asleep, thankfully able to breathe on her own. Olivia gently pulls Malory up a bit so I can get out of the car. Then she rests her head back onto the seat while I reach other to the other side of the vehicle and take her out.

Never in a million years would I ever have thought I’d be holding Malory Lloyd bridal style and taking her into her house while she’s asleep. Never in a million years would I have ever believed I would feel comfortable doing it, either. Something about having her this close makes me feel as though she’s protected. Something about having her this close makes me feel like I want to continue protecting her.

Olivia unzips Malory’s bag and takes out the house keys, rushing over to the front door and opening it so I can take Malory inside.

Malory’s house seems plain from the outside –with its pale blue paint and circular stone tiles leading up to the door. There are flowers growing on each side of the pathway –a variety of species- and I realise that Malory does way more than people care to notice. Who else would take care of the flowers while her mom is away? It makes me admire her ambition even more. These little things add up and make her more herself.

We walk in and there’s the faint scent of lavender tickling my nose. Her house is neat. I suppose since her mother’s away and there’s no one else living here, she’s not one to have a big mess anyway. The shelves are neatly stacked, the floor is clean, there’s nothing on the table but a jar of flowers that I’m certain were picked from the garden outside.

“Where do I put her?” I ask.

Olivia points towards the staircase, “Her bedroom’s upstairs. She’s got all the stuff she’ll ever need in there. The medicine is on her drawer. Let’s go,” she says, beginning to walk off, “I’ll open the door.”

I follow her up the stairs and around a bend and she opens a door that leads us right into Malory’s bedroom. She turns on the light –even though everything was still clearly visible in the passing evening. It’s everything I expected it to be for a girl like Malory. The walls, furniture, décor… everything was a standard shade of black or white. There were some greys in between and some shades of blue, too . I spot her bed, and I walk over to it to rest her gently on the mattress. She’s got a blanket just like mine, I notice; a giant, fluffy, grey one. She shifts when she realises where she is.

Yes.

She finally moves.

She forces her eyes open, blinking a few times and squinting at the light.

“K-Kyle? Olive?” She manages to say.

I look down at her and frown as she acknowledges me. I turn away just as Olivia rushes to stop beside the bed to talk to her.

“Thank God, you’re okay...” Olivia says.

I’m facing the door.

Now that Malory is awake, I’m afraid of what might happen. I know that she’s probably going to be upset about what happened. I know she’ll feel frustrated with me around.

I just wanted to know that she was home safely. I just wanted to know that she would wake up okay. It doesn’t seem like I have any other excuse to remain here, though, so maybe it’s time I leave.

I stare at the open door. I shove my hands into my pockets to stop myself from gripping my hair in frustration at my own inner conflicts. I take a step forward when-

“-Wait...” Malory stops me.

I freeze. I don’t turn to look at her. I don’t budge at all.

“Kyle... will you stay?”

My brows lift slightly. My eyes widen at her words.

She wants me to stay?

Her voice is soft and pleading and weak as she says it, and something inside me is thankful that she’s asked.

I inhale deeply and turn to her.

“Please?” she asks, in a whisper.

I turn to Olivia –who’s looking at me in some sort of sorrowful anticipation. She doesn’t know what to think or say. I don’t know what to think or say. Malory surprised us both. I exhale roughly, stepping forward and stooping beside her as she rests on the bed –almost immobile, save for a few subtle shifts.

“Okay,” I whisper.

She offers me a small smile before her eyes slowly shut. I look at her for a moment –or two –maybe three –and then I take the folded grey blanket from beside her and I drape it over her so she’s warm.

An hour passes. Olivia and I have found things to do while we wait around in Malory’s room for who knows what; For Malory to wake up and yell at me –for Malory to tell Olivia I’m an absolute idiot again –for Malory to explain why she wanted me to stay.

I’m sitting on the floor in front of her bookshelf, skimming through a book about the Europe in the 1800s. Maybe some reading would do me some good for this dumb play. It’s not that I can’t act –I can. It’s just… they can’t know that. I can’t let them know that.

Olivia is reading a magazine she found on Malory’s desk.

I’ve thoroughly observed what Malory’s room is made up of, and I’m done skimming through the book. I look up at Malory –still asleep.

There’s a knock on the open door, and Olivia and I turn to find Mrs Prescott standing with her arms folded and a gentle expression on her face. She leans against the door frame.

“Is she okay?” she asks.

“Yea. She’ll be fine,” Olivia confirms.

“It’s almost seven, Olive. Are you going to the youth meeting tonight, or will you skip church this once?”

Seriously?

Her best friend almost fucking died.

I can see Olivia contemplating over the idea. She walks over to Malory’s drawer and pulls out two inhalers. She checks the expiry dates and realises that they’re still useable. She walks over to me and opens my hand, putting them both in it. My eyes fix on the objects, my hands closing around them. A worried expression covers my face. Olivia knows I’m concerned about what she’s doing –about what I’m supposed to do. She gives me a comforting smile.

“I don’t need to stay,” she says, softly, reassuringly. “She’ll be fine with you.”

I want to reply but I can’t form words and I don’t know how to respond to that, anyway. Olivia turns to her friend and sighs.

“The rest of her medicine is on the top of the drawer,” she informs me. “If she needs anything, just look for it, okay?” She turns to look me in the eyes. “I trust you, Kyle.” She turns to her mom and begins walking towards her. “We should go. It is getting late.”

Mrs Prescott watches as Olivia makes her way downstairs, but she stays at the door frame for a few moments. I don’t turn to look at her. Instead, I’m staring at the inhalers in my hand. I frown.

I’m worried I’ll mess up again.

I’m worried Malory will wake up just to have another headache because of me.

I’m worried about being here alone with her.

I’m worried.