--Andy's POV--

I let her sleep, blood still covering my hands from cleaning her up. I needed to talk to her about going to the hospital, even if she doesn't want to go just yet. I'm no doctor, and although I could do a set of stitches I wanted to make sure she hadn't broken any bones.

I finally took a moment to sit down and have a beer. If I knew Joan, things with her were not over. She wanted her way and she'd be sure to get it. We poked the bear, and now it was coming after us.
Atleast Oli didn't extensively touch her. It still hurt my heart to see her choking and begging and throwing up, but I was slightly relieved he hadn't really broken the ice. Suddenly,my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket. It was Ricky. I slid the lime-green call button across the screen and set it against my head.

"Hey Ricky."

"Andy, hi. Did you find her?"

"Yeah, yeah...she's okay. She's damaged but...okay."

"Can I come over?"

"Now?"

"Yeah I...I want to make sure she's...okay..."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Thanks man, I'll be there in 10."

"Okay, see you then."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I shoved my phone back in my back pocket and tiptoed upstairs to check on Baylie. To my surprise, she was awake. "Hey," I said softly, sitting next to her. "My mouth tastes disgusting." She said. I almost laughed at this, forgetting the reason behind it. "Do you want something to eat?" I asked. She shook her head. "No...but...can I have some water?" She asked shyly. "Of course." I said, getting up.

I don't know why I showed such compassion towards her. I shouldn't, really. She's just a girl. Just a girl. There was nothing impaticular that attracted me to her, no specific reason or rhyme to my care for her, I just...liked her.

I handed her the floral-printed paper cup of water. "Here." I said. "Thanks." She said, her voice numbed. "Ricky's coming over." I said, sitting next to her. "Oh Andy..." She said quietly. "I don't want him to see me like this, I don't want him to know..." Her eyes raised to meet mine. "I won't tell him anything. He justs wants to check on you." She nodded, although I knew she was upset about it.

Suddenly, as we sat there, she just sort of...broke. She let out one, high-pitched yelp that led to a stream of tears and a few words I couldn't make out. I didn't know how to comfort her. I've never comforted someone before. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to comfort her. Was this all worth it? I hushed myself, my emotions conflicting with my usual set of I-work-alone attitude. So she cried, and I let her put her head on my shoulder, and at one poitn I think my arm was wrapped around her. And then the doorbell went,

Ding dong.

Notes

Hey! Enjoy!