Seeing Sense (Kira)

[Lotus]

Rae heard the words but she didn't respond. She felt the touch and she flinched from it, squeezing her eyes tight shut. Who would touch her? Who would even go near here? Who were these people? Her eyes flickered open again and she looked to the left to see Patrick looking over her with worry and anger in his eyes. She looked right and saw Grey looking over her with hurt, anger and worry in his eyes. Why were they here? She couldn't quite wrap her head around it all.

She drew her gaze away from them and looked back up to the ceiling. Nothing interesting was up there, but it meant she didn't have to think or move. She didn't have to do anything other than stare at the ceiling. She felt to lowly, weak and disgusting to do anything else other than whither away.

She felt the two of them drawing nearer to her, and she shrunk into her dirt ridden bed, trying to distance herself from them. She shied away from every attempt they made with her. She didn't want to be touch and they sure as hell shouldn't want to touch her.

[Deleted]

Grey looked down at Rae with so much worry. She kept moving away. She wasn't responding. It was as if she was trying to make herself disappear. That made him worried. Very worried actually. He wasn't going to let her just whither away into nothing and one glance at Patrick showed that he felt the same. Grey looked down at Rae again. He ran a hand over his face. He didn't want to have to do this but he was going to.


He glanced up at Patrick, maybe he was thinking the same thing. "Rae... I'm so sorry... but I'm... we're... not going to let you die... do you understand me?" He said as gently as he could. There was no response. Grey gently lifted up the glass of water and tried to bring it to Rae's lips. She needed to eat or drink. Last time this had worked but now she seemed so far away. Grey still tried to get her to drink. Even though it resulted in water dripping down her chin.

He put the glass back down on the side and sighed. "Rae... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry for saying those things to you at the party, I didn't mean them... I know you won't believe me but I was drunk and very stupid... I do want you around, I need you around... you're my best friend and the only person who has stood by me always... Rae, I don't know what to do without you...I'm so sorry..."

There was still no response. He ran a hand over his face. "I broke it off with Fontanna... I was so stupid to not see what she thought of you, to see how she treated her... I was a fool for ever wanting her... I'm sorry..."

[Lotus]

She felt the cold water dribbling down her chin and she wanted it moved away. It was like magic, as soon as she'd thought that it disappeared, but she knew one of them had just taken it away from her knowing it was futile attempt. She didn't want to listen to the words being spoken, she wanted them both to go far away. She wanted to be alone and she wanted them to forget her. All she ever caused was trouble.

Despite her trying to block out what Grey was saying she still heard it all. Tears sprang to her eyes and she rolled onto her side, bring her knees up to her chin and hiding her face. She really did reek and she felt nauseous all over again. Tears streaked down her face, mixed in with sobs and whimpers of pain. He'd broken it off with Fontanna because of her. She'd been the cause of it again. How could she keep doiing this?

Her body started shaking as her crying picked up momentum. She remembered being like this all too well and she knew what was coming next. She didn't want that part to come again. It had scared Grey last time and now she'd scare him again, along with Patrick. But she couldn't help it. She grabbed at the bedding, not really caring how dirty it was and bunched it in her mouth to muffle her sounds. She screamed. She squeezed her eyes tight closed as she curled into a tighter ball and she carried on screaming. She carried on until her voice died in her throat and she finally felt hands on her, trying to make her stop. She couldn't carry on though, she was too tired.

She knew what would happen know. She felt the same heavy feeling in her head. She felt her muscles relaxing as she let her eyes close again and the darkness overcame her again. This time it was fitful though and all she could think was that she wanted out.

[Deleted]

Grey's stomach twisted into a knot and his heart sank. He chewed his lip. Watching Rae as if he was frozen. He felt awful. She was acting just how she had done after Tristan and Grey had hated seeing her like that. He had tried to help but even then it had been hard, and she hadn't even been upset with him at that point. This was worse, it was his fault. The screams and the crying and the starvation. That was all his fault. He needed to fix it but he didn't know how.

He watched as she fell asleep again. He wanted to reach out and hold her but he couldn't. He glanced up at Patrick. "When she wakes up... we need to get her out of the bed..." Patrick looked at him oddly. "Else she'll never come out, just like last time..." Grey trailed off and swallowed the lump in his throat. He had to stay in control and strong right now.

"Patrick, you need to run her a bath... make it warm, then get her some food... something light and easy... when she wakes up we're going to clean her up and make her eat." Grey said, he suddenly felt more determined as Patrick got up to leave. He knew she was still mad, that she was still locked away. But there was nothing he could do about that. Yet.

But he could stop her from dying.

[Lotus]

Rae jolted awake this time and whimpered from the pain is caused her. She didn't want to uncurl herself though. She wanted to stay like that and then it'd all be over. She'd be gone and she wouldn't hurt her best friend any more. She wouldn't ruin his life any more and he could be happy with the woman he loved; even if she loved him. She could let him go, she needed to let him go.

She felt hands pulling her arms away from where they grasped her legs and she fought against them. She didn't want to be hurt any more. "N-oo..." She moaned as they finally broke her grasp and scooped her up of the bed. Her heart was racing, where were they taking her now. Now more interrogation, surely they had everything they needed. She thrashed about, only to whimper and hiss in pain. Finally she opened her eyes properly to find herself in Grey's arms. She looked up to him as her brow furrowed together. What was he doing? She wanted her bed.

His grip was tight and she knew she wasn't going anywhere and when they walked past Patrick holding a tray she felt even more confused. She turned her head to the other side and saw them heading to her bathroom. "P-please..."

[Deleted]

Grey hated himself for doing this. The way she thrashed about and tried to stop him. That made him feel awful. But he had to, he wasn't going to let Rae just fade away. He couldn't sit by and let that happen. She meant too much to him. But it still broke his heart to hear her. He didn't want to be hurting her but it was for her own good. She needed to get better.

Patrick followed them into the bathroom. Grey rested Rae on the side of the bathtub. "Rae... I'm sorry but I'm not letting you fade away..." He said gently. He looked at her, she was so gaunt and pale. He needed to make her better but he was worried that he wouldn't be able to and then he might lose her and he couldn't do that. He couldn't hurt her that way.

He glanced up at Patrick and then back at Rae. He bit his lip. "Rae... are you going in the bath in your clothes or underwear? I'll send Patrick out?" He said to her gently, as if he was talking to a child. He found himself flushing slightly but he didn't know why. He had done this before. They had grown up together. But he was scared of how she may react to him. of the fact that he had hurt her.

[Lotus]

Rae watched the floor as she was set down on the side of her bath. She shook her head. He was stupid and crazy if he thought she was actually getting in there. Not with either of those to here. She didn't want this any more, couldn't they both see that? Couldn't they see how much she'd messed her life up in such a short space of time? She slowly lifted her gaze to Patrick and then cast it over to Grey; he still made her heart flutter and her cheeks to warm slightly. "I'm no-ot going in th-ere." She hated how her voice kept cracking, but it was hoarse and she couldn't remember the last time she actually had a proper drink.

She looked back down at the floor, remembering this process far too well. Grey was only trying to do what he thought was best for her, but he didn't realise that by doing that he was making his own happiness suffer. She'd made him break it off with Fontanna again and Patrick was standing in the bathroom looking shell-shocked and like he'd bolt any minute. It wasn't fair for her to keep doing these things to them.

She saw Grey moving closer though and she saw his hands moving out to touch her. She flinched away from him, and then whimpered from the pain it brought. She didn't even know what injuries she had but she knew there was something; she just couldn't remember properly. Her clothes were soiled and she was starting to make the bathroom smell. She suddenly remembered something as he moved closer to her again and it made him stop dead in his tracks, "Wha-t if I wan-t to fade away? Wha-t if I ca-are about your life more than my own... You broke up with F-Fon-tanna..." Then tears started streaming down her face. "I'm sorry..."

[Deleted]

Grey chewed his lip. He felt awful. Rae was blaming herself when this was all his fault and he couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let her think that this was her fault. It wasn't. This was all him. All because he had been too stupid and shallow to see Fontanna as she truly was. To put her before his best friend. Before the person who had been by his side through everything. He had been so stupid and that was going to stop now.

"No." He said firmly. He had to make her believe him. "Rae listen to me. You're not apologising. I am. I'm sorry for treating you how I did at the party. I am.... I care about you so much, that's why I'm here because I care... I broke it off with Fontanna because I finally stopped being stupid and realised that she was a bitch. That's why. ... but you are not going to fade away, do you hear me? I am not going to let that happen. Because I can't lose you Rae..." His voice softened towards the end and he gently reached out to wipe away the tears from her cheek. A small smile formed on his lips.

"Now. You are going in that bath Rae because you need to get better and the first step to that is to get rid of the smell and make you eat!" He said, trying to be playful. Wanting to make her smile.

[Lotus]

Rae still shook her head at everything he said and she slumped even lower when he mentioned the smell. She was already crying, and now she felt embarrassed along with that. She hadn't needed it pointed out to her, she knew. She sighed and gripped the edge of the bath tub, swinging one leg in and then the other. She sat the other way round with her feet in the water and she felt more tears roll down her cheeks. Who knew moving like that could hurt so much? And in such odd places as well. Her ankles hurt, along with her back and sides. What had happened to her in that dingy place? She shuddered and slowly lowered herself into the steaming water.

She couldn't relax though. Silent tears still cascaded down her cheeks and she couldn't see a thing. She felt her body slump, rather than relax, and she rested her head against the wall at her side. She didn't want this. She didn't want any of this. She didn't want Grey apologising when everything had actually been down to her, he had only spoken the truth. She'd always thought of Fontanna as a bitch, but that could've always been because she was always rude towards Rae and the fact that Rae had feelings for Grey. She sighed and closed her eyes, but her shoulder was gently shaken; keeping her awake.

She wiped vigourously at her eyes and looked back to see Grey even more worried than before and her eyebrows furrowed together. She looked to the corner to find Patrick slumping down to the floor. In truth, Rae was terrified of what was going to happen next and as her gaze flickered back to Grey her fear intensified.

[Deleted]

Grey bit his lip as Rae didn't respond. He was happy that she getting in the bath but the fact that she wasn't saying anything was worrying him. He hated to imagine what she was thinking. He felt so bad for everything that had happened. It was all his fault and he knew that. He wanted to reach out and hug Rae but she kept moving away from him.

He looked at her and began to worry even more. He couldn't let her fall asleep in the bath. She was so weak and small. He just wanted to make everything better for her but he didn't know if he could. He looked down at his hands that were resting at the edge of the bath. That was when he noticed the water. It was a murky grey, the dirt that had been on Rae. But it was more then that. There was blood in the water. She had been bleeding but hadn't said anything. He began to feel panicky. How badly hurt was she? What had happened to her? Would she be alright? He just didn't know and it was making him feel sick with worry.

Grey looked at Rae but he didn't know what to do or to say. He glanced over at Patrick who looked just as worried as he had. "Rae?..." Grey began but he didn't know what to say next. He was lost.

[Lotus]

She took in the tone of his voice and cowered back a little. What was wrong now? Her eyes grew wider in terror and she shook her head softly. "Y-eah? I'm in the bath... What more do you want?" She shifted in the water and whimpered slightly. Something was really starting to hurt now, but she couldn't remember where she'd been hit. She just knew she hurt.

She saw Grey's eyes flicker to the water and her own eyes travelled down. Her eyes opened wider in shock. "I really was dirty..." She trailed off as she saw the red in the water. She didn't want to think it but she had a pretty good idea as to what it was. Blood, and her blood at that. Maybe it was old, rather than new. She stayed staring at the water and she began to shake, "G-Grey..." She didn't know what to do, she wanted to get out and she started trying to sit up but it wasn't helping. She was too weak and she was in far too much pain to try anything more.

She felt shuffling and another presence by the side of the bath. They were both here now. Tears streamed down her face again and she couldn't stop the tremors that racked through her body. "I-I'm so-orry..."

[Deleted]

Grey chewed his lip. He didn't know what to do. She seemed so scared and upset. He hated seeing her that way. It made him feel even worse. How could he fix this? What could he do to make everything better? He didn't know. He was lost. But he knew he had to help. He needed to be there for Rae and make things better. She was still his best friend.

He looked up at Patrick then back at Rae. She was shaking and he knew she couldn't cope with this much longer. He reached out a hand and gently took hold of hers. "Hey... it's alright Rae... I promise, you don't need to apologise...I'm going to help you out of the water now and then I'll help you change into some clean clothes ok? You can have another bath and wash your hair tomorrow, how does that sound? For now, I'm going to help you change why Patrick gets you some clean bedding." Grey looked at patrick as he said this so he knew to leave the room. "Then we're going to sit down and eat.." Grey said soothingly. He felt awful.

He reached out and grabbed the clean towel. He then gently reach out his arms and helped Rae up as Patrick left the room. He carefully wrapped the towel around her body and helped her out of the bath. He stopped and looked into her eyes. She seemed so hurt and he was so worried.

[Lotus]

Rae cried out when she was lifted from the bath. She really didn't know what was going on so she just nodded her head slowly. She gripped onto the towel, but she felt heavier from the way her wet clothes encompassed her skinny body. She felt her knees wanting to buckle from the sheer weight of them, but she tried to cope. Gripping onto the towel, her shaking slowly stopped and she finally looked back at Grey. It was strange to properly look into his eyes after such a long time and felt a twinge in her heart as she realised how much she missed him. But she still thought he just felt sorry for her and would go back to Fontanna when she was back up on her feet again.

She sighed and ducked her head down, staring as she made a dirty, bloody pool of water on the white tiled floor. She looked away and tried to concentrate on something else. "I don't want to eat..." Again, that sounded too familiar to her, and she knew she'd be forced to and she knew it was for her own good but she didn't care. She felt light-headed all of a sudden and she felt herself swaying before hands grips her shoulders.

[Deleted]

Grey didn't know what to say. He knew what to think though. This was just what had happened last time. Last time Rae had refused to eat no matter what he had said to her.She kept saying she didn't want to despite the fact that she couldn't even stand up because of how hungry she was. But Grey couldn't let this get any worse then it already had. He couldn't let her die. He couldn't.

"Rae I know... but you have to because I can't lose my best friend again, it was bad enough losing you the first time and I am so unbelievably sorry for what I did to you... but I can't lose you again... you have to eat. Please?" His hands were resting on her shoulders as he looked into her beautiful blue eyes. Something in his heart twinged but he didn't understand what it was.

He lifted a hand to tuck a piece of hair from her face but dropped his hand at the last minute. He couldn't do that. "Come on... lets get you changed before you freeze..." He whispered, pulling away from her slightly.

[Lotus]

She swallowed hard as she looked back into his eyes. She felt her cheeks warming and her pain disappearing by just being close to him. But the thing was she knew she couldn't be like this with him. It would never work and she'd only ruin things between them, even though she'd done a pretty good job of that already. She watched his hand closely and flinched as it came nearer to her face, but it wasn't the fact that he dropped his hand because of her flinch it was the look on his face. The look that told her he'd wanted to touch her like that. She shook her head softly to clear the thoughts and pay attention to the obvious. She wasn't eating and that was final.

She nodded her head slowly and turned to walk out of the bathroom, stumbling before grabbing onto the door frame. She felt Grey behind her though and she managed to make it to her room with the knowledge he'd catch her. She stumbled over to her closet, ignoring the pile on the floor of her design and looked over everything she had to wear. She couldn't be bothered as she rested her head against the door jamb. She hurt and she slowly felt herself slipping down the door frame to crumble in pieces on the floor.

[Deleted]

Grey was annoyed at himself. How could he have been so stupid to have acted like that? What did she think of him? The way she had flinched away from his touch. He should have known better then that. He had been so stupid. It was unbelievable that he had even done something like that. Grey tried to focus on the task in hand. He was so worried about Rae and that grew with the way she was walking. The way she was slumped on the floor.

He approached her gently. Reaching into her wardrobe and pulling an old t-shirt and some clean track suit bottoms. Comfortable clothes were what she needed right now. Grey bent down in front of Rae and held up the clothes. "Rae?" He said gently, trying to get her attention. He looked into her eyes, they seemed so big set back far into her gaunt face. He hated seeing her like this. So weak.

He held the clothes out to her gently. He didn't know if she would take them or not. If she would accept his help.

[Lotus]

Rae looked at the clothes held in front of her and grunted. At least she could wallow away in clean clothes she thought darkly. This wasn't fair on anyone to keep her at this. If she just faded away like Grey said she was doing then things would get better; she didn't want to hurt him any more. Yes his words had stung her the night of the party, but they had been the truth and she had broken him and Fontanna up again. Everything was her fault.

She reached for the hem of her t-shirt and raised it up, slipping it up over her body slowly. She whimpered when she had to lift her arms up and she took a deep breath before trying to take it the rest of the way. Once she'd finally yanked the t-shirt up and over her head she rested back against the door frame, breathing deeply to ignore the pain.

"What the-" She heard from behind and she turned her head slowly to see Patrick staring at her. She didn't understand why he'd just said that or why he looked so disgusting. She wasn't that repulsive was she? Maybe she was and she'd just tried to fool herself into thinking she was actually okay. She knew she had terrible self-confidence when it came to it, but she didn't realise people would have that reaction to her.

She turned her attention back to Grey and saw the same look on his face. "W-what...?" She really was a turn off then. She whimpered and turned back around, reaching for the clean t-shirt but Grey snatched it out of her way.

[Deleted]

Grey didn't understand why but he felt embarrassed as rae started to undress. He turned his head away to give her some privacy. He didn't understand it, but his face was flushing a little. Why was he getting so embarrassed all of a sudden? He had known her forever so why was he acting like this? His heart had sped up a little bit. He bit his lip. But then he heard Patrick say something. Grey didn't understand and he glanced at Patrick who was staring at Rae. Grey turned his eyes towards her.

His mouth dropped open slightly. A terrible pain filled his chest as he looked at her. What had happened? Why one earth? She had never been like that before. What had they done to her? He didn't want her to get changed yet, he wanted to know how bad this was. She was skinny, skinnier then ever before. Her ribs were prominent beneath her gaunt and grey skin. But it wasn't just that that was shocking him. Her body was web of red marks and welts. He didn't know their cause or how bad it was. But he was worried. Her body looked as if it should be in pain. Grey prayed that she wasn't. This was all his fault. This pain that she must be in. The hurt that had been caused to her. He had caused that, he knew he had. It was all him. He had hurt his best friend so badly. It might not have been by his hand but he started this. A heavy weight pressed down on his chest. He wanted to make this better but he had no idea how. Or even if he could.

Grey blinked and suddenly realised what he was doing. He was shocked at himself but he didn't stop. His fingertips were lightly brushing against her skin. Skimming the marks on her pale and delicate body. He brushed them as lightly as he could, he couldn't stop himself. He tried to be as gentle as possible but she let out a small whimper in pain.

Grey chewed his lip and drew back his hand. He had hurt her more. He saw the pained look on Rae's face and instinctively moved forward, wrapping his arms around her gently, letting her lean into his chest. Just like he used to.

[Lotus]

Rae felt as if they were staring at her for a good few hours, when it fact it had only been a few minutes. She felt like hiding away, but she couldn't. She felt like running away, but she couldn't do that either. All she could do was sit there and let them stare at her like she was some new-discovered object. Her head ducked down lower and lower and she felt two people moving closer to her. What were they going to do now?

Then she felt it. She felt something moving across her back, but she couldn't quite make out what it was. All she knew was that it was hurting. She bit her lip and tried to hold her whimpers in, but they let lose as tears streamed down her face. She remembered. She remembered how this had happened. Soon she was wrapped in the embrace of one of them, and she instantly relaxing as she fell back into the arms of the person she cared most for in the world. Despite everything she still cared for him and the way he was acting was making her start to think that he had never stopped caring about her. It was just a big hurdle to overcome.

She heard a mumbled, "I'll get something to clean that all up with." from behind her and she knew it was Patrick. But she didn't want that, it would hurt too much. It would bring back all those memories. She sobbed into Grey's chest, wetting his t-shirt with her tears. She was starting to properly feel the agony her body was in now and if it wasn't for Grey she'd be writhing in pain. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as another whimper escaped her lips as her mind brought back every lash. Every lash when those torturers had told her she was lying. Sure, she hated the Games and sure she'd drawn those designs but she had wanted to see if she could make something like that and she had never intended them to be shown to anyone.

Rae shifted her weight and whimpered again as she buried her face further into his chest. She felt her trousers riding up to just under her knees and she wondered why the cold air was stinging around her feet. What was down there? She tried to peep out, but she was too scared; especially when she heard the two sharp intakes of breath.

[Deleted]

Grey could feel Rae crying and it made his heart hurt more. She was in pain, so much pain. And it was all his fault. If he hadn't been selfish, if he hadn't been so stupid and blind then he would never have said those things. He should've thought that if Fontanna wanted him to say those things to Rae then she wasn't worth it. Rae was his best friend, she was the most important person to him. She was his practically his family. And he had hurt her and pushed her away. He had been insolent and not tried harder to make things better. She had been hurt and injured and broken but the Capitol all because he hadn't been there to help her. He knew who had caused this, it had been Tristan. Tristan and Fontanna.

Grey looked up as Patrick left the room. He was glad he had gone because they needed to bandage her up. Try to ease the pain. He looked down and over her body as she sobbed into his chest. It was bad, she was covered in lashes and welts. But then he saw her feet. He breathed in sharply. He was appalled and felt awful. Her ankles were rubbed raw, they had dried blood on them and the gauges looked so deep that Grey was worried they had reached bone. Her feet were all cut up. Someone had bound her by her ankles and then rubbed. Grey hated whoever had done this to her. Whoever had hurt Rae like this, he wanted them punished. But that wasn't going to happen.

"Ohh Rae..." He breathed out, leaning his head forward and kissing her forehead as Patrick came back in.

[Lotus]

Rae couldn't stop her body writhing as she sobbed. She wanted to stop because the more she moved the more pain she started to feel. She brought her hands up and gripped his shirt, tightening her grip with every wave of agony that washed over her. She felt the kiss on the top of her head but she didn't understand it. She didn't feel anything about it, even when he had just kissed her.

She heard the door open and close and then she sensed someone kneeling behind her. They were going to touch her back. Touch her back in the places that caused her pain. She tried to move away but Grey's arms held her still. "N-Noo... P-Pleasee..." She moaned into his chest, gripping his shirt tighter and she chocked back a scream when she felt something on her back that made it sting like a scolding hot iron was being placed on her. She writhed around, but Grey's arm only tightened. She wanted this over with. Why couldn't they let her be?

The stinging started to ebb a little bit, but then something else touched her back and brought it all back again. She screamed and writhed and this time Grey's grip loosed, only for him to lie her flat on her stomach on the floor and hold her down in places it didn't hurt. She kicked her legs, but she felt someone sitting on top of her thighs. She managed to hit her foot on the floor at an awkward angle and a gargled scream came out of her parched mouth at the pain that shot to her ankle. Slowly though all the pain together was becoming far too much. She couldn't keep up the screaming and she couldn't keep up the writhing; she was too exhausted.

The last thing she heard was a murmured conversation between the two men, but she wasn't sure who said the last thing she heard, "Of course I care about her. I'm nothing without her and I've been blin-"

[Deleted]

It had been awful. The way she had kicked and screamed. They were only hurting her more and if it hadn't been for the fact that he knew that in the long run this would help her injuries then Grey would have stopped Patrick from trying to patch her up. But it would help. So he had just gritted his teeth and tried to soothe her through the pain but very scream was like an arrow through his heart. He was only causing her more pain and he hated that.

Slowly she started to move less. Grey glanced at her face to see her eyes closed. She had passed out. That made him feel awful but relieved at the same time. Maybe she would feel less pain like that. He looked up to see Patrick giving her a cold glare. "Why are you even here?" He hissed, Grey was taken aback. "I mean, do you even care about her? Because if you did then surely you would have been here when they took her." He said accusingly. Grey was hurt.

"Of course I care about her." He hissed back. Trying to defend himself. "I'm nothing without her and I've been blind in how important she is to me. I hate myself for not seeing that bitch Fontanna for who she truly was, for hurting Rae like that... I never should have said those things, no matter how much I wanted to be with Fontanna... and she's paid the price for that, for my mistake... I hate myself for doing this to her..." He trailed off and glanced back down at Rae.

"You sure as hell have a funny way of showing it. Cause to me it doesn't seem like you care until it's too late. If she really was your best friend then you would never have said those things... you're not good enough for her." He said coldly.

Grey stared at the guy. Who did he think he was? How long had he known her? A few weeks? Grey had known her a life time. He didn't have any right to say those things and he was going to tell him so. Why was he even here? Grey knew nothing about him. He could just be out to hurt Rae like Tristan had done. "Why are you even here? I mean, she doesn't know you. I don't know you! For all I know you could be here to hurt her the same Tristan did!" Grey spat back at him.

Patrick watched him with a steady gaze. "I'm her friend... a better one then you are... and as for hurting her, I have no intention of doing that. She's not my type..."

Grey stared at him in disbelief. He snorted. "Not you type?! That doesn't mean you won't hurt her!"

"I would never hurt her! Not in the way that Tristan did... I would never even think of her like that... ever..."

Grey was confused. "What do you mean?!" He spat back out.

"She's too... too girly for me.." Patrick said slowly. Grey was about to retort back when it dawned on him what Patrick was trying to say.

"ohh..." He breathed out. Patrick nodded his head and stood up. "Lets get her into bed." He said, trying to shake off what had just happened.

Grey still didn't know if he could trust him. But he was right. He stood up also and gently, between the two of them, they put Rae's emaciated frame into the bed and tucked her in. Grey resumed his previous position on the edge of the bed.

[Lotus]

Rae felt a close presence around her and as her eyes slowly opened she saw Grey sitting in the same place as last time, but this time Patrick was lounging on the floor, staring up at the bed. She twisted slightly and whimpered, but then she realised she was still shirtless. She needed to change; she wanted to feel clean, and for some reason she wanted to make everything right. She didn't want to put these two people through this any more. She wanted them to be happy.

"C-an I ch-ange now?" She croaked out, her voice hoarse from her screaming and sobbing. Instantly, two heads snapped in her direction and Patrick got up to fetch the clothes she was supposed to have got changed into before. She reached out for them, but Grey took them out of his hands instead.

"We'll help." Grey murmured as Patrick rounded the other side of thee bed. Terror filled her eyes and she shook her head, trying to move away from them. She didn't want them touching her move than they needed to. She just needed to be up and running again and then they'd be happy. That's all she needed to do. She heard a soft chuckle and recognised it as Grey's. It was a sound that instantly calmed her and her frazzled nerves. "We won't look Rae if that's what you're thinking..."

He was trying to cheer her up, but she couldn't smile. She could only relax slightly as she nodded her head. "C-an I have my shirt then...?" Her eyes flickered between the two sets and she really started to wonder why these people were so worked up over her well-being.

[Deleted]

Grey smiled gently down at her as he handed the shirt over. He was so worried about her, he had tried to make her smile but it hand't worked. He turned his back away from her but stayed on the bed. A million thoughts were running through his mind. About how he had hurt this girl, the one who was his best friend. How she was so ill and weak. How she was going to let herself starve to death. That he should have been able to save her and he hadn't. He had let her go, he had done what she had wanted when he should have fought back harder. Maybe she would be alright if he had.

After a while when Rae hadn't said anything Grey turned back round cautiously in case she was still getting changed. He didn't want to spook her or anything. When he saw that she was fully dressed he turned round properly. Looking at her gaunt frame he knew he had to get her to eat something.

Grey lent across to the table which had the plate of crackers and the glass fo water. He picked them both up and turned back to her. "Please try and eat something?"

[Lotus]

Rae had struggled getting changed, but even though she didn't want their help Patrick was on hand; seeing as Grey had turned away from her. Could he really not look at her any more? She sighed and pushed herself up onto her elbows slowly when he turned back round to her properly. Soon a pillow was propped behind her back and felt far more comfortable.

She suddenly felt awkward about Patrick helping so before she answered Grey she turned to him, "Th-anks for he-elping." She saw Grey's shoulders tense out of the corner of her eye and her brow furrowed together as she turned to look at him. She watched his actions as he slowly relaxed, but she didn't understand. What was he so worked up about? He was the one that couldn't stand to look at her.

She looked down to the glass of water and plate in his hands and looked back up to him with worry in her eyes. She didn't want to eat, she really didn't. She had no appetite any more, so instead she reached out a shaking hand and took the glass from him. Bringing it to her lips she greedily drunk the water as it soothed her fiery throat and she closed her eyes, taking in the moment. At least that was one less pain she had to think about. The plate was moved closer towards her, as Patrick slipped his hand into one of hers to give her a little courage. It was as if Grey was playing with him though and he laid a gentle hand on her knee, giving her the same encouragement. She looked between the two of them as she reached out for a cracker and a sign of hope shone on Grey's face. That made her feel better, even if it was only a little.

She slowly brought the cracked to her mouth, but took it away again before breathing deeply. She was able to do this. He'd got her to eat before so she could do it again. She opened her mouth and bit down, hearing the crunch but it only tasted like cardboard in her mouth; a mouth deprived of food for such a long time that she seemed to have forgotten taste.