forum Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

Started March 18, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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Sterling's eyes warmed slightly at the sight of her pain, and he wished he could help her more. If she would only let him…

"Good. Let's get going, then," he murmured.

Eden nodded, pretending she hadn’t seen his eyes lose the sadness to welcome the warmth. She wanted to believe it was an illusion, a lie like the ones spoken to her when she believed like a fool. It was easy to believe.

She turned away and took the first step, her knees nearly buckling. She gritted her teeth and took the next step, forcing the pain out of her features. If anyone saw the Crystal like this, they would never see her as someone threatening again.

When she didn’t feel him walking next to her, she turned around to look at him.

“Well?”

Sterling snapped out of his thoughts and met Eden's eyes. His own were widened just a touch, evidence that he'd been caught in another world inside his head.

"Sorry," he muttered, catching up to her quickly. "Are you sure you don't want any help walking?"

Eden walked slowly, her pace fitting her position. “I have a bruised middle, Ainsley,” she couldn’t bring herself to say his name. To say it would mean she was acknowledging him. Acknowledging it would mean she was getting comfortable. Getting comfortable was not an option. “Not broken legs.”

"But it's obviously still causing you pain. I didn't think you'd let me, but it never hurts to ask, right?" Sterling mused, glancing over at her.

“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.”

(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…”