Xavier

She had this radiant energy about her. She had this ability to make everything better.

She denied her own beauty, but I saw it both inside and out.

Her gorgeous tall body, naturally skinny. She didn't need anything added to make her perfect in my eyes. Her sky blue orbs captivated me from the first look.

Delaney is the strongest person I know. She's been through more shit than anyone else I know, and still managed to smile.

Seeing her again today, for the first time in weeks, took me back to when we first met.

Flashback: 4 years ago

I was crouched down in a ball crying my eyes out because my father had just died of cancer.

I was in a hallway alone, or so I thought.

I listened as light footsteps approached me carefully. I looked up and saw a gorgeous girl with long blonde hair. She looked around my age, maybe younger.

It was like a movie... not.

She had bruises covering her face and neck. Her arm was in a cast and she held her side as she walked as if she was in pain.

To me, though, she was still gorgeous.

"Are you okay?" The mystery girl questioned hesitantly as she took ad seat beside me slowly.

"Oh, that was stupid. You're crying alone in a hospital. Of course you're not okay. Sorry. Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" She rambled adorably.

"My dad died a few minutes ago." I don't know why I told her, but it felt good to talk to someone.

"Oh. That's rough. Do you have any other family to help you?"

"Yeah my mom and siblings." I answered honestly.

"I've always wanted a real sibling. Tell me about them." She commanded.

So I did. I told her about my mom. About my older twin siblings, Maddy and Zander, and my little sister Maxine.

When I finished laughing at a story I had told, I noticed I was no longer crying.

We sat there for hours talking about everything and nothing. Sometimes there was nothing to be said, so we just sat there. She never left.

"Thank you. How'd you know how to make it easier?" I asked.

"I just did what I wished someone would have done for me."

"Your dad died?" I asked simply.

"Yeah, when I was six. He was a soldier. Killed in action."

"But your family is doing good now, right? Your mom is happy?" I asked, hopeful.

"I'm my own family. My own support system. At least I know I won't leave."

"Who do you live with than?" I asked.

"I'm in the foster system. I'm currently living with the Mitchell's. It's not going well, as you can see." She explained, gesturing to her bruised body.

That lit a fire in me. How could anyone hurt her? She's precious.

"Listen, i know this is weird, feel free to say no. I was wondering if we could be friends. See, I've never had one and it can be pretty lonely out in the world without anyone but yourself." She whispered, hopeful.

"Of course."

We switched phones. Her's was an old flip phone. I didn't say anything about it. It didn't really matter.

"Ok, great. Thanks, friend!" She chirped happy, skipping down the hall until she was out of sight.

Ends of flashback

That's what I loved about my girl. She never gave up.

She always gave off the love she hasn't received in so long.

I promised I'd give her everything I could. I'd spend my whole life doing that for her. She deserved the world.

...

My friends all knew about Delaney. Even the ones who had never met her. I talk about my girl constantly.

Who wouldn't, she's adorable.

Finding out she moved back into town was the best thing. I planned to have a future with her, a long one.

She was the one person, besides Jacob, who saw potential in me. This town, and everyone in it, saw me as a jock. Just the star quarterback. I didn't want to be that. I wanted to go to college and find a good career for me to help people.

Delaney believed in me. She stood by my side during everything. Even while her life was falling apart, I knew she'd put it all aside to comfort me about something meaningless. That was just the type of person she was.

And I was so lucky that she was all mine.

I wanted the world to know she was mine. First, though, I'd settle for the school.

I didn't want anyone bothering her. She didn't trust people and was jumpy.

I knew she'd been getting better, but I wanted her to feel safe. That was something that would probably be a bigger struggle than anything else.

I loved her more than anything. She deserved to feel safe.

Everyone deserved to feel safe.

I hoped she was safe in this new foster house. Some of her past ones had been decent, but lots were awful. Places no child should live.

The bad families overwhelm the good ones because, even though she only lasted a few months or so in each, the bad ones left trauma that carried on in her mind.

I had seen her have panic attacks in her sleep. It was terrifying. I couldn't do anything but tried to help her calm down.

I had held her when she cried over memories.

I stayed by her side while she got better for the past year. After seeing her at the lowest point in her life, I ain't let her get that bad ever again.

If I had to go to jail to so that, I would.

Anything for my girl.