Chapter Text
It’s only six months.
Something happened in the system and they had no choice but to let him go. He’s got that kind of luck ya know? Beat within an inch of his life and no feeling in his left arm, but hey. At least he won’t rot in prison.
It’s only six months.
Six months, an old toothbrush, the name of a group home and an ankle bracelet that he has off of himself exactly fourteen minutes after leaving Juvie. He’s got nowhere to go, he half expects them to know that he won’t be stepping foot in that group home so it leaves him with really no place to sleep, he burnt down his house and his mom wants nothing to do with him.
He’s got that kind of luck.
Del.
He thought about her every single day, nearly every minute. Was she okay? She took the brunt of the crash. He wasn’t allowed visitors but Orlando had been writing him and he was sure he would have mentioned if Del was hurt. Her father and her brothers were worse than any car crash ever had been, she could take care of herself, she had been for most of her life and that thought alone made him feel nauseous. She didn’t need him but he sure needed her.
He needed her laugh, that ,always somewhat annoyed giggle that broke the silence in any room. He needed her eyes, deep and warm, that made him feel like he wasn’t so damn cold all the time. And her hair, so soft he could put his face in it and fall right asleep, it smelt like flowers and honey and her skin smelt like laundry detergent and peaches. It was cliche and far too normal for someone like him to want her as badly as he did but those six months he swore it almost hurt to want her so terribly.
He was halfway to her house before he noticed a familiar figure waiting by high school, a curly haired dog sleeping at it’s feet.
“She’s not home.” The figure stepped closer, the dog perking up and yawning alongside its owner.
Wayne’s back stiffened, he rolled his fingers into his palms and glanced around for something on the floor, anything harder than his fists.
“It’s just me. Relax Wayne. It’s just me.” Principal Cole stepped within his view and Held his hands up in surrender. “I knew you were getting out today and I knew where you were going. I thought I’d catch you halfway.” The dog came over to sniff at Wayne’s feet and he shook his head, continuing in towards Del. Principle Cole was immediately at his heels.
“I know you want to see her but I’m not lying to you son, she isn’t at her house. She doesn’t live there anymore.” The principals words were quick and scrambled but Wayne stopped abruptly and ripped his head towards the older man.
“What?”
“I’ll take you to her but you have to listen to me. You have to try and understand without going off the handle. If you can do that I can take you to her Alright?”
His mind was racing a mile a minute. Where was she? Why did his high school principle know and why should he believe him? Should he? This was Del. It wasn’t a game or something to play with. Cautiously he shook his head and fell into step with the principle.
“When you went away, things around here went off the wall.” He started “It’s been a long time coming that these men got what they deserved. Things started changing when you went away, the cops started really looking into their case load, trying to actually help. Unfortunately because you were arrested and Del was back home with her father recovering she slipped through the cracks.” He sighed “she didn’t wake up for a few weeks, they started to think she never would.”
Wayne swallowed the lump in his throat and squeezed his eyes shut.
“But she did, she woke up no brain damage, no internal injuries. She was okay. A strong girl that one. So she went home. Now..now I don’t know the details but I know it was horrific, the abuse, wounds and neglect. She was healing but the damage they were inflicting on her in that home was more consequential than the car crash. Two months later a wellness check was called by the neighbors and they found her practically comatose in her own filth covered in scars and bruises. The state took her away.”
A brown and White House came into view and Wayne did everything he could to keep the vomit in the back of his throat. He wanted to kill someone, dels family preferably but right now anyone would do. He wasn’t there, he’d dedicated all of his time to protecting her and when she really needed him he wasn’t there. And after everything she had done for him.
“Well, she was sent to a home that would help her rehabilitate. Someone who would take care of her, give her stability. She isn’t okay, not by a long shot but she’s getting there, she hardly speaks but it’s getting better. She isn’t so scared anymore.” Principal cole unlocked the front door to the home and gently led him inside. He motioned toward the sleeping figure on the couch in his living room.
Wayne’s breath left his body. Tears filling his eyes
“Del?” He whispered.