Unlikely Place of Comfort

Ch.5: Understanding

Simon sat up, flinching as he did and I was immediately at his side to help him up. “I-I’m not a hero.” I blushed at my own stuttering as I helped him off the table.

Instead of walking or moving away from me, like he should have, Simon leaned against me and wrapped his arms around me in a light hug. “You’re my hero, Elenore.”

I frowned, he kept saying my name so sweetly, constantly, and it was odd. It made my butterflies act up. I blushed and there was a lump in my throat full of emotion, my heart skipped a beat. I never, ever, felt this way around him, so why now? I shook it off, “Come on, I need to get you home.”

I wrapped my arm around his waist and his arm went around my shoulders, as I helped him walk I noticed how he limped on his left leg and I wondered if they had broken it. We were almost to the door when the intercom came to life, making us both jump in fear of being found out.

“Elle?” My dad asked from the intercom.

I went over and pushed the button, “Yes?” I hoped he wasn’t on to us.

“If you need to go back upstairs, there is an elevator across from the room you’re currently in.”

“Okay.” I responded before opening the door. Maybe I could help Simon get home safely after all. There I went again, thinking like a hero. I pushed the button on the elevator once we exited the torture chamber, and quickly rushed in once the doors opened. As the elevator closed I noticed that Simon was leaning on me, his head resting against mine. It might have been a pleasant situation if he hadn’t been hurt.

“Are you okay, Simon?” I asked with concern, which was a new thing for me.

“No.” he said with a whimper that made me frown. “I don’t think I can walk any further.”

The elevator door opened, reveling to us the kitchen. “I’ll carry you once we get outside of the house.” I pointed to the door at the end of the room.

We slowly made our way to the back door when he asked, “How are you going to carry me, I’m too heavy?”

I chuckled, “I’m stronger than I look, Simon.” I watched him blush as I said his name almost as sweetly as he had been saying mine.

I opened the door and closed it behind us. I had Simon get on my back so I could carry him. He gasped in surprise when my hands ended up on his rear, and I couldn’t help but squeeze just a little bit. “What are you doing!”

I laughed, “Holding you, remember your leg is injured so I can’t hold on to them.”

Simon shifted on my back, trying to get comfortable I suppose, before wrapping his arms around my shoulders and laying his head next to mine. I began to walk down the hill when I felt tears run down my cheek, and they weren’t mine.
“Simon, are you crying?” I asked with shock and worry.

“Yes.” He said in a whisper.

“Why, is it because your leg hurts?” I could understand if that was the reason.

“No, its because I’m happy.” Simon hugged me loosely and I couldn’t help but smile a little.

We were finally at the base of the hill when I noticed we were not far from his house and mine. Had dad always been this close to me?

“I think I can walk now, Elenore.” Simon said and I stopped walking to let him slide gently off my back.

“Are you sure?” I asked as I put my arm around his waist again to help him walk. I couldn’t help but wipe away his tears that stained his cheeks. He blushed, that was cute.
“Yeah, it’s just a few houses down.”

We were silent the rest of the way to his house, both of us were too shocked, hurt, and bewildered to think about small talk. I became nervous when we reached the door to his home, would his parents jump to some horrible conclusion that I had harmed him?

I knocked on the door as I felt Simon lean on me once again, but this time he felt heavier. I turned to him to notice his eyes fluttering shut. “Simon?”

I tried to wake him, but he was out cold. It was then that the door opened to revile Mrs. Hallomen, boy was I screwed.

I was about to say something to wipe the anger and worry off her face, but she stopped me, “You can explain inside.”