And suddenly he could hear everything down to the beat of her hear against the snow. His senses kicked into high gear as he ran to her, he kept going until he could smell her, the air around him smelled only of her. She was his only focus even as he stood above her, "Belle," he knelt down, "Belle what happened to you?"
She looked up slightly, her right eye bruised darkly, a growing red handprint growing on her left cheek.
Both of his hands gripped her cheeks, "Who did this?" He cried as he looked around frantically like they might still be here,"
She shook her head lightly. "I can't say."
He sighed, taking a mental note to press on that matter later, "Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine." She curled in on herself, pulling herself into a ball.
He sat down next to her, he was confused and terrified to the point where his head spun and his hands shook. It was like a round of vertigo had taken over his vision. It was everything he had just to hold himself up.
She shivered, her tears slowing down slightly. "I'm fine." She whispered, more saying it to calm herself down than to tell him.
He pulled her closer to him, just enough to be in his lap, the least he could do was warm her up.
She curled into him desperately. She didn't want to leave him. She wasn't sure that she could.
"Belle? He whimpered, "Can we go home now?" He felt this was enough exertion for one day.
She nodded quickly. She didn't want to stay out here longer than she had to.
He snapped and they were home, it wasn't worth staying in a snow storm for any longer than he had to.
She drew her hands inside her ball and sobbed.
He rubbed her back slowly, "I love you,"
She pressed her hand over her mouth to muffle her cries. I love you too. Always have, always will.
All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her, pull her close and never let her go. It hurt so much to see her cry.
She didn't want him to get hurt by her refusal to leave but she didn't want him to be hurt by her protecting him by her leaving either.
He had no idea what was going on and he didn't know what to make of todays events either.
"I don't want to leave you." She sobbed out quietly.
He felt his heart drop, "What? You don't have to leave me,"
She gasped quietly, realizing what she'd said. She wasn't sure she could explain right now.
"Belle," he knew he'd regret this, "What's happening?"
"It's a long story…"
"And I think now is the time we need to talk about that long story,"
"I can't." She whispered, curling up tighter. "Not now."
Ryan ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay fine,"
"Please don't be mad." She whimpered.
"I'm not!…. Sorry, I'm not mad, I'm just confused," He sighed, "Can you… Can you come out of the ball?"
She uncurled enough to look at him, her bruises only inhanced.
