Love's a Rollercoaster

Idyllic light poured through the open blinds, forgotten to be closed by either one of you. The soft whirr of white nose funneled through the fans, bodies starting to stir as the melodic sound of Liz's alarm went through the room. She woke up first, but had no reason to wake you up. The alarm being forgotten about and not turned off.

Unfortunately you joined her quickly, being pulled from the dream that was instantly emptied from your brain. Eyes heavy and struggling to keep open, well rested like every night you spent with her. Which these days was every day. Liz was your saviour, from those first days of the academic year where everything seemed bleak. Pulling you to her arms and not letting your worries rise up.

"Morning honey." You said, your hands laid on her shoulders. Hers on your back, she wore a thin pajama shirt. It's silky material comfortable to rub in a sleepy trance, bare legs wrapped against each other. You and Liz were wearing matching pairs, pastel at her suggestion and there was no reason to complain.

"Mmmh, morning." She replied, voice soft but carrying sleep. Adjusting her body as she got comfy, paying no mind to the ray of sun landing on her cheek. The weight of her blanket trapping the combined body heat in, warm, very warm, but not too much so.

"Do we have to get up?" You groaned, hands pulling her deeper into your arms. Not wanting this moment to end, Liz held you closer in response.

"No, but I'm hungry..." She said, kissing your forehead. "I need to go to the store, let me get up." She wiggled below you, body connecting with the Liz's plush bed. Soft but incomparable to your girlfriend, you whined at the sudden loss of contact.

Your body shifted to face her, she looked so pretty. Always trying new hair-colours, this one blonde. Rummaging through her drawers. Everything about her house was measured and nearly ordered, knowing where each and every outfit was. Pulling out her favourite cardigan, grey and snug, putting it by your feet while she continued to pull out the other pieces. "Hmm, yeah this is the one," She smiled, "Let me pick yours aswell." She said, always liking to take care of you. One of those was picking your outfits, your style merging with hers as she bought your entire wardrobe.

You two quickly changed, you sat on the bottom of the stairs as Liz got ready to go out. You rarely left the house unless needed, but today felt different. The urge to go outside strong, "Liz?" your voice was meek, barely catching her attention. "Can I come with?" She looked down, thinking.

Liz was hard to read, always giving you reassurance, never making you do anything. All you had to do was follow her lead, after a few seconds too long she approached you. Crouching down to face you. "Alright, but we'll have to go over the rules again. Repeat after me." The rules. You knew them so well, when she took you in she repeated them over and over. They weren't anything hard.

"Don't talk to anybody before I do." She started.

"Dont talk to anybody before you do." You repeated.

"Dont let go of my hand." She continued.

"Dont let go of your hand." You continued.

"Always listen to me." She said.

"Always listen to you." You said.

"I have your best interests in heart." She concluded her rules.

"You have my best interests in heart." You concluded her rules.

"That's right! Good, you can come with." She smiled, ruffling your hair. Warmth filling your cheeks, every touch felt light and dreamy. Like you were being cradled by clouds.

The market wasn't far, 5 minutes walk if you took the shortcut. Which Liz was a huge fan of, the sky was blue and clear. Sun beaming down it's grace while you two walked, she held your hand tight. "Hey, ain't this nice?" She prompted you to speak, swinging your arm in hers.

"Yeah, it's really nice." You didn't have many words, you never did. She said all your thoughts long before you thought of them. You two dipped through the alleyway, ending up right in front of the store. A small little convenience store, surrounded by various homes.

A sudden chill hit you as you went inside, "What do you want for breakfast baby?" She asked you, squeezing your hand. Walking forward, she looked around at all the options. Various vegetables, breads, cheeses and meats. The amount of choices filled you with discomfort, opting not to pick.

"You can pick, I think you'll pick better." You said, Liz agreed, walking through the tiny store and grabbing various little things. Each ingredient being posed with a little "This?" She giggled at your quietness, you were perfect for her.

She let you help her scan, putting the ingredients in a flimsy plastic bag. The summer warmth hitting you suddenly as the store was now a memory.

There was someone by the alleyway, familiar. Worryingly familiar, dressed in all black and smoking a cigarette. Eyes suddenly looking at you, a sinister glint. You couldn't voice any worry to Liz, words blocking in your throat. You two got closer, then it happened. He stood in front of you, why? You'd never know. It wasn't like you did anything to incur the bullying in the first place.

Just, let Liz handle it. Her disappointment stings more than anything, she knows best.

"Who the fuck is this girl? Holding hands with her like you aren't a freak." His voice was craggy, deep but only because cigarettes had forced it so. Liz took your defence, shielding you.

"I'm his girlfriend, now can you move?" She remained polite, like always. She was an angel without wings.

The guy sneered, "Taking pity on this loser? Jesus, that's truly pathetic."

Liz took a deep breath. "He's perfect, unlike you. Who's smoking alone, so how about you move." She remained composed, tension growing with every passing second.

"Fine princess, I'll leave." He said.

It came quick, no time to process, hand flying through the air as it connected with your head. Force rippling suddenly while the shock sent you down to the ground, Liz's hand still firmly holding on.

Liz was pissed. Beyond angry, a bloodhungry gaze flickering for a second as she watched the guy enter the home. Logging it, but you couldn't see that rage. Quickly helping you up, gaze softening "Let's get you home, it's not safe out here."

Since that moment it felt like a catalyst, Liz stayed closer. Not suffocating, but hugging. Every moment you could spend was spent, outside was no longer appealing. Only going when you had class, which by some coincidences were closely intertwined with her.

Liz didn't shake that anger off, in fact it built up and up. Seeing the visions of his smug face whenever her thoughts let it. She didn't let it show, if anything she acted softer. Which was seemingly impossible.

You sat in her lap, where she liked you most. Hands holding you close while her lips murmured soft whispers into your ear. Breath softly lingering like mist. "Honey, you trust me right?"

The question was soft, barely even registering, she asked you it several times a week. Like always you nodded, enjoying the warmth of her body holding yours. Thoughts blending into a blur as drowsiness took hold.

She smiled, she was taking care of you so well. "So, sweetie. There's something, big I need to take care of. So I need to leave for a bit, you can lay here, won't be long." Her voice was sticky, each word lingering like it was encased in honey.

"Take care of what?" You asked, yawning into her neck.

"Just, someone." She muttered, but your ears picked it up. Dread filling you with the implications, looking up. Expression still as smiley as always.

"What? Liz, what do you mean?" You asked, tightening around her.

She wasn't deterred, keeping you there. "I just, need to get rid of something bothering me. Let me up honey." She said sweetly, like it was swatting a fly. She never raised her voice, so even her commands felt like candy.

But you could not let her leave, couldn't let her hurt someone. So you didn't move. You sat there.

"Baby? Why are you disobeying? I'm just trying to keep you safe." She said, of course she was. That was her promise.

"I, can't let you hurt anyone! Don't leave, its okay..." You reasoned, her expression didn't change. Still as warm as ever, contrasting with the threat of her action.

"Tut, I'm trying to protect you. Breaking two of my rules, it stings. But I won't hold it against you, I never have. I never will, because you are perfect. But, I need you to trust me. I set those rules for a reason, so I'm going to ask you again. Let me up." She said, Liz was controlled and her words are so syrupy.

"No, forgive me please. But I just can't let you hurt anyone, nobody needs to be injured." This was the first time you've ever challenged her, the rules were so simple. Weren't they? You thought so, but she was asking so much of you now.

"I understand, but. I need you to know this. I can't let anyone who hurts you roam this world. If you don't let me go out, I'll have to handcuff you. And you don't want me to be disappointed right?" She still smiled, this was a battle unwinnable. And the realisation hurt, you couldn't stand her feeling disappointed. A knife digging in your chest, so you decided to let her up.

"Good, good. I'm so, so proud you've realised what's best. I'll buy you a plush next time I'm out. I'll be back soon." And she was gone. You let her go.