“No,” Eden found herself answering quietly, the honest words tumbling out of her mouth. “It always does. I’ve built myself around it—the pain. It doesn’t really matter whether I’m doubling over in it, or barely hurt. The result is always the same.”
"I meant that it doesn't hurt for me to ask you if I can help, but… Eden, you should at least ask Lucas for help. He's your twin. I'm sure he'd want to," Sterling said softly.
“That’s exactly why I don’t,” Eden responded, her voice bitter. “He would do anything to ensure that nothing happens to me, but I can stand on my own just fine. I don’t need anyone. Not their help, not their words. I’m enough for myself.”
Sterling's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked over at her. While the expression would normally have made him look upset, his gaze was too soft for that. Instead, he simply looked curious.
"If you're sure, Eden," he sighed.
Though Eden felt his eyes on her, she didn’t remover hers from in front of her. There was nothing else she wanted to talk about. That much about herself was enough.
“Are you convinced I won’t fall over now, Ainsley?”
"No, actually, I'm not. I won't be convinced until you are at your house," Sterling answered.
Eden merely clicked her tongue in frustration, but continued to walk. It wasn’t like she was going to let him walk with her all the way to her apartment.
But she walked in silence, her harsh breathing the only thing betraying her calm expression. Eden knew that if she had been alone and safe from prying eyes, she would have just dropped to the floor and never stand up again.
Finally, when she entered her neighborhood, she turned towards Sterling.
“I suppose it’s time for you to head back,” she said flatly. “I can get from here on my own.”
(beep)
(Sorry, I was getting to it, promise.)
Sterling shook his head, fixing his gaze on her determinedly. “No, I want to make sure you make it inside. If you collapse out here, who’s going to help you?”
(Shoot, I just saw this. Omg.)
Eden stared at him for a couple of seconds before she turned her head away, swallowing thickly. He wanted to make sure she was inside before he left. Why? What benefit would that give him? Why was he doing this? Why was she so conflicted about this in the first place?
“Why are you so adamant about helping me?”
(Lol. Dw about it.)
“Because I like to help people,” Sterling murmured. “And you might not need it or want it, but… Here I am.”
“I hurt people every day,” Eden furrowed her eyebows. “I enjoy it. It’s a life that gives me something to look forward to. Do you still think someone like that is worth helping?”
Sterling turned his gaze toward her, regarding her carefully. “Yes. I do. Because I know that there’s something behind that. No matter how much you pretend otherwise.”
“Then you’re an idiot,” Eden said softly, folding her arms over her chest. “Not everyone pretends. Thank you for walking with me this far. I can make the rest of the walk by myself. Have a good day, Ainsley.”
“I meant what I said about making sure you get inside. Let me at least walk you to the door,” Sterling murmured, his eyes slightly softer.
Eden sighed, running a hand through her hair and instantly regretting it due to the pain exploding. “Okay,” she muttered begrudgingly and started walking away. “Do what you want.”
Sterling smiled a tiny bit and followed after her. He was wearing her down. Good. That hopefully meant that she would take to letting him help her soon.
Eden bit her lip. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all. She was getting far too comfortable. His smile made it easy to forget she carved for herself.
Finally, they reached her apartment. She turned around to face him.
“There,” she muttered tiredly. “That good enough for you?”
Sterling nodded slowly and took a step back from the door. “Have a better rest of your day, Eden. Put some ice on those bruises.”
Eden blinked when she felt a wave of diziness crash on to her. Thankfulky, she didn’t stumble, but she didn’t put it past Sterling to not notice.
“Yeah,” she replied quietly, not knowing why she continued to speak, but not stopping herself, either. “During P.E, watch yourself. They target new kids a lot, more so when I’m not around. And if you tell anyone what you saw today, Ainsley…”
“I would never,” Sterling assured her with a shake of his head. “As for PE… I can handle myself. Trust me.”
Eden didn’t respond. She didn’t nod, either. Didn’t trust herself to make a move and not fall over. So she simply looked at him for a few seconds before turning around, taking out her keys and unlocking her apartment door.
When she was inside, she threw her bag aside, removed her lenses and practically fell on her bed, and it only then did she let her mask crumble and let the pain take her to sleep. She barely remembered getting the ice pack.
(Poke.)
When Sterling got home after school that after noon — he'd gone back after taking Eden home — he stepped into the kitchen for a quick snack. His mom was cleaning the counters, which wasn't surprising since she did it at least once a week. What was odd about it was that she'd just cleaned them the other day.
"Mom? What're you doing?" Sterling wondered, giving her an odd look as he grabbed an apple.
His mother looked up from what she was cleaning and gave him a small smile before looking back down at the counter. "Cleaning up a bit for the guests we're going to have over tomorrow night."
Eden was glad it was a Friday. No school tomorrow. The only thing was… her parents. She always went home for the weekend. How would she face them and let them see her like this? The bruise on her cheek was dark. She had a split lip. Even makeup wouldn't hide it very well.
She heaved a tired sigh. It wouldn't be the first time, though. Although she kept her lifestyle a secret from them, injuries were always hard to conceal. They knew what type of girl she had become. They knew she what she did to keep herself from falling. They didn't know she was Crystal. They didn't know she did this just to keep her position at school.
Finally, she unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of her car, hoping her parents wouldn't think of anyone other than the bruises on her face. Lucas wouldn't be home. He had a dance class scheduled, and he offered to take Ashley, his girlfriend and her best friend, along with him. At least, she was her best friend. Eden had pushed everyone away when she had fallen.
She made her way to the house, unlocked the door with the key, and stepped inside.
Her father was not there. Her mother was not pleased.
As much as Eden wanted otherwise, she had to go to her father’s friend’s place. She tried covering her bruise as best as she could, but there were still a bit visible on her face. Now here she was, hands stuffed in her pockets, standing at their door while her father knocked.
And waited.
(I edited it.)
Marie Ainsley shot up in her chair at the sound of knocking, causing her husband to chuckle at her.
“I’m sure it’s just the McArthurs, love. No need to get so excited,” Daniel Ainsley teased his wife with a grin.
She shot him a playful glare and made her way to the front door. “If you haven’t seen one of your friends in years, you’d be exited, too,” she reminded him as she opened the door to reveal the family, grinning at McKenzie.
(Daniel McArthur? :o)
Eden shifted on her right leg, not in nervousness but more in anxiety. She disliked occasions like these. She was always quiet and her words where always formal, so she came off as rude. God knows how many times she had offended her father’s business partners because of it.
Finally, the door opened and a woman came into view, grinning brightly at her mother.
(My kind was on Huntzie. Lol. Whoops.)
“McKenzie! It’s so good to see you again! And Hunter, too,” Marie welcomes them, stepping aside to let them in. “This must be Eden, then. Where is Lucas? I was thinking it might be good for all of our children to meet.”
Kenzie chuckled softly, gently pulling her hand from Hunter’s to embrace her old friend. “It’s good to see you, too, Marie. Lucas was busy, unfortunately. He couldn’t make it tonight.”
Eden slowly entered, wrapping her arms around her middle. No, it wasn’t good for all of the children to meet. Eden wished she was the one who was busy and not Lucas.
“It’s great seeing you look so well, Marie,” Hunter smiled brightly, nodding his head in acknowledgment before his eyes went to the other male. “Daniel. It’s been a long time. I was hoping to invite you over at ours as a welcome, but you beat us to it.”