I Like Me Better When I'm With You | Ackley Bridge

31|'Bedtime Story'

I'm walking through the halls of our school looking for Cory after rugby practice because he didn't turn up. 

My eyes fall upon a pacing figure at the end of the hallway, and I recognize the patch on the back of his backpack. "Cor?" His head snaps up in my direction. "Hey, I were looking for ya. Where've you... been? Cory, you alright?"

Cory shakes his head, letting out a choked sob before running into my arms. My best friend shakes in my arms, muttering things to himself. "I didn't... I didn't do anything. Why didn't I do anything?!"

"Cory, calm down." I softly rub his back. "Just breathe.  Breathe... Everything will be okay..."

"I'm sorry." He repeats. "I don't wanna hurt him. I don't know what to do anymore, Belly. I don't know what to do!"

"It's alright. It's alright, Cor."

"Please! Help me! Help us! Help me!" Cory begs, trying to break free from my hold. "Help me."

"I will. Just calm down. I will always help you." I soothe, running my fingers through his hair as he stops resisting my hold.

After a few minutes pass, Cory slowly pulls away, wiping away any stray tears on his face and avoiding eye contact with me. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." I give him a small comforting smile. "Just talk to me. Let me help ya."

He slumps down on the few steps next to us, and I sit next to him with my hand held out. He cautiously interlocks our fingers and places our hands in his lap to fiddle with. "What happened?"

"It's me dad." Cory swallows a lump in his throat. "Yesterday, when he found out about what we did, he... was just so mad. And I... I didn't - " His hands start to shake, so I draw small, comforting circles on his knuckle with my thumb to soothe him.

"What didn't you do?" I ask softly.

"Anything. I didn't do anything." He hesitates, opening his mouth and closing it twice as he thinks about what to say next. "I-I just... stood there an-and watched him do it."

"Do what?" My eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"I'm sorry. I should've stopped him." Cory leans into me, putting his head on my chest as he starts shaking again. "I'm meant to protect him..."

"Who?" I ask, but he stays quiet. "Cory, you need to tell me what happened if you want my help. Now, what did your dad do?"

"It's Jordan." Cory speaks up, and it all clicks.

"No." I shake my head in denial.

"Dad, he um, he-"

I cut him off, "No, he couldn't. No..."

Cory lifts his head to look at me, "I'm sorry. I-I just... didn't know what to do. I couldn't stop him."

"Just, how...?" I blink, confused, my breath hitching in my throat. "H-how could you hurt your own kid? I mean... what?"

A small silence falls between us before I break it, "Who else knows?"

"Mr Bell." 

"O-okay." I nod slightly.

"I'm done... I can't do it anymore." He admits sadly, and I turn to look at him.

"You shouldn't have to." I stand up.

"Where you going?" Cory asks, gripping my hand to stop me.

"I were -"

He cuts me off, "Please, don't... don't go."

"Never." I give him a small smile and stand between his legs, where he then places his head on my stomach and hugs my waist while I run my fingers through his hair. "Everything is gonna be okay... I promise."