!TWs/CWs - Child abuse, angst
It was definitely going bruise. It was her fault, really. She shouldn't have yelled back at him. But he didn't need to hit her. Then again, he was drunk.
Andie ran up to her room, across the hallway from Beccas. Becca. Becca couldn't know about this. Becca couldn't see her weak. No one could.
She had this purple teddy bear she kept under her pillow. She's had it since she was 4. It was stained, ripped, and worn out. She told Jason she'd thrown it away years ago, but she just couldn't.
Andie climbed on her bed, not bothering to get under the blanket, and grabbed the teddy. She hugged it tight to her chest, taking slow breaths while crying, trying not to let anyone hear her.
It only took 7 minutes before she texted Sal, who said it was okay for her to come over. Her hands were shakey and her spelling was bad, but he knew what she meant. She waited a bit, to make sure she wouldn't get caught. Once she was in the clear and opened the window and carefully popped out the screen.
She stumbled out, thankfully the window was close to the ground. She snuck around the house and started down the road. She had a small pink bag with her. It had the teddy, her phone, charger, and some random painting she'd made for Sal during art class.
She knocked on Sals window after not too long of walking. Her crying had stopped by then, but the moment Sal opened the window and pulled her in, it started again.
Andie metled into his arms, her legs weak under her. He held her up and dragged her to his bed.
Sal held Andie up against him. She held onto his shirt with one hand and the teddy with her other hand. Sal had seen the teddy bear enough times to a point where it was normal to him; it was part of Andie.
Andie didn't let herself cry much. 'The tears are gonna stain your face. They're all gonna know that you're a mess.' Is what she always told herself. But that probably won't even happen. And if it does, she has makeup. So for once, in the safety of Sals arms, she let herself cry.
The crying lasted 10 minutes, maybe 15, then she calmed down. Sal was still holding her close to him, a hand running through her hair. They sat in a comfortable silence for a couple minutes before Sal broke it.
"Does she have a name?" Sal asked. Andie didn't know what he was talking about until he used his chin to gesture at the teddy bear. Andie looked up at him with a little smile. He used his thumb to wipe the tears off of her face as she started to speak.
"Bendi," Andie said with a bigger smile. Sal thought about it for a second, then smiled back at her.
"A mix of yours and Beccas names?" He asked, chuckling. Andie just nodded proudly.
And just like other nights similar to this, Andie snuck home a couple hours before school, and just used concealer to hide any redness around her eyes. Then at school, Andie didn't speak of the night before but gave Sal greatful smiles. Sal just smiled back.
(THIS WAS REQUESTED/MADE BECUASE OF @pippafitzamobisleftblueconverse SO GO GIVE THEM LOVE!! ALSO IM SORRY IF THIS IS SHORT/BAD, ILL BE MAKING MORE💕💕)
