AN: This is much different from my other stories, I wanted to try something new and I hope you like it. This story will include series of flashbacks that are all italicized. I hope this doesn't become too confusing though...
This will be a story full of drama and angst...
Trigger Warnings for Abuse
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 1
"Godric sweetie, why don't you go play outside for a little while," my mom calls to me as I sit on my bed with my favorite book held open on my lap. I groan softly. She's always encouraging me to play outside more, but I'd much rather spend my time with my nose in a good book.
"But Mom," I whine as she comes to my door with a stern look. I sigh, knowing I won't be able to argue with her. Once Mom makes up her mind about something, fighting against it is pointless. I begrudgingly stand, putting my book back on my small bookshelf with the many others as she grins down at me.
"Oh, it's not so bad, honey. Some fresh air will do you good," she tells me as I shuffle past her, making my way to the front door to slip on my tennis shoes. "Maybe you can get that little neighbor girl to play with you," she says, looking out the window above me.
I look out to see Sookie sitting on the curb curled up in a ball with her head resting on her drawn up knees. "Mom, I don't wanna play with a girl." I tell her, wrinkling up my nose as she chuckles softly. "Can't you call Eric's mom to see if he can come over and play?"
"I think Sookie could really use a friend right now, Godric," she says, looking back out the window with a sorrowful expression. "Poor thing," she says softly.
"Oh fine, but I won't like it," I tell her defiantly as she leans down, kissing the top of my head and smiling down to me.
"You're a good boy, Godric, now go play. Maybe you can make a new friend too," she says as she opens the door, letting in the bright afternoon sun. I walk outside, taking in the sweet smell of fresh cut grass. I love summer time and the warm sunshine feels nice warming my skin as I raise my face to the sky.
I look over to see Sookie still sitting on the curb as I make my way over to her, looking both ways before I jog across the dirt road to where she's crouched. I know Sookie from school. We're in the same grade together, but we've never really talked before. I can't believe Mom is making me play with a girl, I'd much rather be playing with Eric right now I think to myself with a sigh.
"Hey, Sookie," I say as she looks up to me in surprise. "Did you want to come over and play with me?" I ask as she grins up at me, her blue eyes sparkling in the bright summer sun.
"Sure," she says as she stands, wiping off the dirt from the back of her jeans. We look for cars once more before making our way back across the dirt road together back towards my house.
"I'm not playing with dolls or anything stupid like that," I warn her as she giggles, following me back into my yard.
"That's fine," she answers sweetly as I open my trunk of toys. "Oh! Can we play with these?" she asks as she picks up a set of play swords. I grin widely. Those are one of my favorite toys to play with.
"Cool," I answer as I pick up one of the swords and race to the jungle gym set up in the backyard. "Come on Sookie!" I call back as she runs to me with her own sword in hand, her blonde hair flying behind her as she smiles broadly at me. Maybe this won't be so bad after all; anyone who plays swords with me is alright in my book.
"Prepare to die!" she calls loudly as she swings her sword through the air towards me, laughing loudly. I block her swing easily and the two of us clash at one another, climbing up the jungle gym and moving our epic battle to higher ground.
I plunge my plastic sword into her armpit as she lets out a loud groan, dropping to her knees before me. "Take that!" I call out triumphantly as she falls flat against the wooden floor of the play equipment, closing her eyes and rolling her tongue out to play dead. I giggle and she struggles to keep a straight face now that I've managed to strike a killing blow. She finally loses the fight though as she soon joins me in laughter.
"You're not so bad for a girl," I tell her as she sits up with a smile.
"Yeah, well you're not so bad for a boy," she quips back with a giggle. "Why did you invite me to play?" she asks curiously.
"My mom asked me to," I explain as I drop down to sit beside her. "She said you looked like you could use a friend."
"Yeah," she says quietly as she stares back at her house with her face pinched in sorrow. She rubs her arm then and I glance down to see a set of bruises blooming on her pale skin.
"What happened?" I ask her curiously, reaching out to touch the purple splotches on her arm. She tenses up then as she looks to me with a sad expression. Tears form in her blue eyes and I instantly feel bad for asking about them.
"Daddy got mad at me," she tells me softly as my jaw drops in surprise. Her dad did this to her? What kind of dad does something like that? Tears start trailing down her cheeks and she wipes them away quickly with the back of her hand. "Sorry," she says, shaking her head. "Let's play some more," she tells me with a forced smile.
I decide then and there that Sookie really does need a friend. I could be that for her, besides, she really isn't so bad, for a girl. "Friends?" I ask her holding out my pinky with a wide grin. Her smile turns genuine then as she hooks her pinky around my own.
"Friends," she states firmly with a bright smile.
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"Goddy," a soft voice calls, pulling me from my slumber. "Are you awake?" Sookie asks me softly as I nod to her, wiping the sleep from my eyes.
"Am now," I tell her, rolling over and lifting the covers for her. "Have another nightmare?" I ask as she climbs onto my bed and curls her small body against me under the fluffy blankets.
"Yeah, it was a bad one," she says softly as she snuggles her face against my chest and wraps her arms around me tightly. I run my fingers through her silken hair to soothe her fears.
"Shh… It's okay, I'm right here," I console her softly as her small form trembles lightly against me. Her night terrors aren't nearly as bad as they used to be, but every once and a while she still gets like this. I've spent many nights consoling her just like this and I do it readily because that's just what good friends do for one another.
"Sorry I woke you up," she mumbles against my chest as I grin.
"You know I don't mind," I tell her earnestly as I pull her tightly against me. She lets out a contented sigh as her tense muscles slowly begin to relax against me. "Wanna tell me about it?" I ask softly as I continue to stroke her golden tresses.
"I dreamt about him again," she says softly as she squeezes my waist tightly. "He was chasing me through our old house and I was so scared, Goddy," she whispers into the dark. "He was yelling so loudly and I ran and ran, trying to get away. I kept calling for you, but you weren't there. I was looking all around but I just couldn't find you anywhere," she says as I feel her warm tears soaking my shirt.
I once more curse her father for the hell he's put her through. These awful nightmares of hers are a result of his explosive temper that lead to him abusing Sookie for years. I only wish I had known about it sooner, that I was somehow able to protect her from the years of suffering. But I'm here for her now and no one will ever treat her like that again so long as I'm around.
"Hey," I say, taking her face in my hands gently and lifting her tear stained face to look at me. "I'm right here, you know that. He's gone now, Sookie, he can never hurt you ever again," I remind her as she nods to me with a weak smile. I wipe away her tears from her face with my thumbs as my heart breaks for her once more. It kills me to see her like this, to see her in any kind of pain.
"You're right," she agrees softly.
"That's my girl," I tell her, pulling her into a tight hug. "My brave Sookie," I tell her as she chuckles lightly.
"You're the brave one, I'm too neurotic to be brave," she says as she pulls away with a smirk. I grin at her knowing I really can't argue with her logic. She has a cabinet full of anxiety medication just to prove her point in the room right across the hall.
"I guess maybe you're right" I concede with a small chuckle. "But you know I'm always here for you, forever and always, right?" I ask as she grins at me.
"Forever and always," she agrees holding out her pinky I hook my own pinky around hers with a soft chuckle. "I love you, Goddy," she whispers softly.
"Love you too, Sookie," I tell her softly, pulling her head to me and placing a soft kiss to the top of her head. I lay back down and she settles herself over me, rubbing her face against my chest and wrapping her limbs around me tightly. I pull the covers up over us and wait to see if she'll be able to sleep once more tonight.
Soon her breathing becomes shallow, evening out smoothly and I let out a small sigh, grateful this was one of her easier nights as I hold her sleeping body against me. I run my hand over her warm back, caressing her softly as I become lost in my thoughts now that I've been woken from my sleep.
It all started that bright summer day when my mom encouraged me to play with the little blonde neighbor girl and we've been practically inseparable ever since. Sookie and I have been through a lot together and life certainly hasn't been easy for my friend, but I've always been here for her and I always will be.
We were just kids, only seven years old when our friendship started and throughout the years we've only become closer. We spent plenty of afternoons playing together just like that first day as kids and as we got older, our choice in activities may have changed, but we were always together, always side by side in whatever we did.
Once we graduated high school, we started renting this little house together in our home town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. We applied for work down at the local watering hole together, which is where we spend a majority of our time now, working long hours for our mutual friend, Sam. Our lives aren't remotely glamorous, quite the opposite actually, but we get by just fine and we still spend most our time together, which is exactly the way we prefer to spend it.
We aren't hermits or anything, we have other friends, some are even pretty close to us, but none of my other friendships compare to the one I have with Sookie. We have something unique between us that could never be duplicated with anyone else and I'm grateful to have her in my life. Her friendship means the world to me and I honestly don't know what I'd do without her.
We aren't romantically involved or anything, I mean we do love each other, just not like that. We've both dated other people over the years, but nothing's ever become serious for either of us; and once whatever relationship we're involved with comes to its inevitable end, we've always had each other to lean on. It may seem strange to others, but it's just the way of things between us. It works for Sookie and I, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Finally, I feel my eyelids growing heavy and the feel of Sookie's soft breathing against my chest is enough to finally lull me back into sleep. I pull her close and close my eyes soon falling back into my slumber with Sookie held tightly in my arms.