Her Protector

The Pledge

**Back to Adalines pov**

I woke up early to workout with mother as usual only to find she isn't home. She decided to see Joseph off at the airport then she's meeting up with friends for breakfast and a spa day and they may just turn the week into a girls trip, fine by me, it means she won't take whatever got her in this mood out on me. I was left with instructions that Johnathan is in charge until they get back and if I need anything just ask him. I'm already awake so I might as well stick to routine but no yoga, I only do that for mother. Instead I opt for a light jog on the treadmill, some stretches, and work a little on my upper body strength. I grab a bottled water from the mini fridge and sit for a bit after working up a good sweat when suddenly I feel eyes on me and look around to see Johnathan in the doorway. "Good morning" I say a little nervously wondering how long he's been standing there with that strange look in his eyes. "Morning kiddo" he replies, I really hate when he calls me that, I'm no child.

I get up and make way for the kitchen "What are you doing up so early" I ask but he just stares at me as we walk down the hall. He looks like he wants to say something. I hear a sigh and feel his hand wrap around my wrist as he spins me and pushes me against the wall. He touches his forehead to mine looking into my eyes and I forget how to breathe. With a not so quiet gulp I ask what's wrong. He continues looking into my eyes as his free hand reaches to my side and slides down. Internally I'm screaming OH MY GOD!! Is he fixing to give me my first real kiss I wonder and then I freeze. He laces his fingers into the top of my shorts and yanks, not hard enough to completely expose me, just part of my hip, the part I don't want anybody seeing. The look in his eyes is a mix of anger and confusion.

"W...wh...what are you doing Johnathan" "I could you ask the same thing" he says through clenched teeth and I'm caught off guard. "What do you mean?" I say. He looks down at my hip his fingers gently sliding over the bandage to grab the tape and rip it off. "Why the hell did you do that to yourself?"

I look down ashamed, my face turning red, a single tear slips down my cheek. What the hell, I don't cry in front of people! What is he doing to me? "I...I...I...." I'm choking on my words as I tearfully try to answer. He lifts my chin, his eyes are soft again and he says "I'm sorry I was rough, it just upset me so much seeing you do that to yourself, please tell me why" I wipe away the few tears that fell "I don't know Johnathan, it just helps, and I can control it" I can't believe I just said that out loud. I see what looks like understanding staring back at me as he says "There are better ways, other things, if you'll allow me to show you" I just nod unsure of what I'm getting myself into but oddly enough I trust him completely. This is a weird feeling. He covers my hip back up, takes my hand, and says "Come on kiddo, let's get breakfast" dammit, I'm kiddo again. I roll my eyes and follow as I hear him chuckle "I saw that" he says and I smile.

He asks Sylvia, our maid, to let him take care of breakfast today and she reluctantly agrees. He promises her it's their little secret. The spread he makes us is huge, I could never eat all this, but I love watching him work. There's eggs, bacon, waffles, some mixed fruit, and hash browns. It smells absolutely divine. I plop a couple green grapes from the fruit in my mouth and try to think of how to get out of this. It's much harder pretending to eat in front of one person. I swear I hear Johnathan growl and look up. "Eat!" he says and I jump at the force of it. He pinches between his brows and says "Please Adaline, eat you must be hungry after that workout" I wonder how long he was watching me as I reply "Yeah I kinda am I guess" I scoop some eggs on my plate and grab some bacon. He's still grimacing but he doesn't say anything as I dig in. I'm not used to eating like this and I feel full after a few bites but I force myself to finish to keep him happy. I excuse myself and watch to make sure nobody is around as I make my way to the bathroom upstairs. I have to get all these greasy calories out of me. With one last glance down the hallway I lock the bathroom door behind me, shove my tongue to the back of my throat, and let it all out. I've been doing this so long it only takes me a second these days. I brush my teeth and hop in the shower to wash away the morning workout. I never blow dry my hair so I give it a quick pat down, wrap the towel around my body, and open the door to go to my room only to be met with Johnathans very angry eyes staring me down. "Are you trying to kill yourself" he roars and I shrink back. "N..no, of course not" I whimper. He's so angry, how did he hear me, I made sure no one was around. "God dammit Adaline the things you are doing to yourself aren't healthy" he says with gritted teeth "and it's driving me crazy because I care about you" Our eyes meet and I feel so guilty from the worry staring back at me. "I can't help it" I say "I have to" tears are slipping out again "she'll know" I whisper and if it weren't for the sudden flash of anger I would think he didn't hear that part. He looks away sighing and says "go get dressed kiddo, we're going out" and as he walks away I shout "I'm not a kid" and I think I hear him laugh again. Ugh, when will he not look at me like a kid? I will make him see me as a woman one of these days.