Three weeks.

It had been exactly three weeks since Austin had seen or spoken with Ava, the beautiful stranger he had found hanging off of a bridge. It shouldn't have bothered Austin as much as it did, but he couldn't stop the constant worry that lingered over him every time he thought of those sad grey eyes. He thought about all of her injuries and he immediately knew that someone was either abusing her or she had just gotten in a fight with someone before attempting suicide; Austin prayed it wasn't the first option.

Austin wished he would have asked for her number so he could at least call her and make sure she's still alive.

"What's up with you today, man?" Phil sat next to Austin on the couch and gave his friend a worried glance. Alan was currently hosting a kickback at his house but Austin just wasn't into it at all; if anything, he was still somewhat bitter towards the ginger for scaring off Ava.

Austin stared at the beer bottle in his hand and shook his head, "I don't know."

Phil frowned at his sad friend, "Do you want to talk or something?"

Though his band could be quite crazy at times, Austin admired Phil and his laid back personality. He was probably the quietest and most mature guy in the band and was always willing to listen to whatever everyone had to say. He also gave the best advice and Austin knew him as the most trustworthy guy in the band.

"I met this lady a few weeks ago," Austin spoke hesitantly, watching as Phil raised his eyebrows and an amused smirk played at the corners of his lips.

"So what's the problem then?"

He sighed, "I-I don't know... I really like her and she was so beautiful. I mean, she's got this long dark hair and these bluish grey eyes and she was just so fucking gorgeous, but..."

"But what?"

"She's kind of," Austin groaned as he tried to think of the right thing to say without sounding like a total dick, "She's not right in the head."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she's suicidal," He said before he could stop himself, "I was walking through the park and saw her practically hanging off that old wooden bridge, she was going to kill herself if I didn't show up. Someone had hurt her before because her eye was totally fucked up and her lip was all busted and she had this huge cut on her forehead and now I'm worried because what if the same person who did that to her is the reason why she wants to kill herself?"

"Do you think it was like, her boyfriend or something?"

Austin shrugged, "No fucking clue."

Phil's frown intensified, "That's awful, you haven't spoken to her since then?"

"No, I gave her my number but it has been three weeks and I haven't heard a word from her. I mean, I know that I shouldn't care so much since I only got to see her for less than a day, but I can't help but to worry, y'know? What if the person who is hurting her only hurts her even more? What if she tries to kill herself again?"

"I don't know what to say," Phil spoke truthfully, "All I can really say is to just wait it out and let her contact you. I imagine if things got too bad for her she would call you in a heartbeat."

"I hope so," Austin mumbled.

Phil shrugged, "Don't worry about it man, she'll call you."

"How do you know?"

"Because you're Austin Carlile," Phil scoffed playfully and nudged him, "You were kind to this girl and I can assure you that someone who goes through that kind of pain doesn't forget the kindness of a stranger. You saved this girl from killing herself and I doubt she will ever forget that, y'know? You cared about her when no one else did."

Austin nodded, "Thanks Phil."

"That's what I'm here for," He grinned, "Lord knows Alan and most of the other guys can't give good advice for shit. Now come on, everyone wants to go to the beach and you can't go if you're going to be all mopey."

Of course Phil had been right.

****

Ava stared at herself in the bathroom mirror.

She had just received quite possibly one of the worst beatings of her life and she could barely look at herself without throwing up. Her torso was black and blue and an excruciating pain shocked her body every time she inhaled or exhaled. Her back was covered in scratches and bruises, she could taste the coppery blood on the inside of her mouth, her cheek was a bright shade of red from being slapped, and the wound on her forehead that had previously only been a scratch was now a gash that she couldn't get to stop bleeding. She wrapped her arm around her torso as she exhaled deeply; there was no doubt in her mind that Zack had broken some of her ribs.

She pulled down the hem of her white t-shirt and hobbled out of the bathroom; she had to get out of this house. Zack was sleeping on the couch, passed out from all of the alcohol he had consumed and Ava took this as her chance to escape. She wasn't sure how far she could make it in the cold rain, barefoot nonetheless, but she was determined to get as far as she could from that atrocious house.

Ava headed towards the bridge, even though she knew a certain tattooed man wasn't going to be there. She still had Austin's number though, Ava had finally entered the number in her cell phone just in case things got bad enough to the point where she needed him.

Ava needed Austin Carlile.

With trembling hands, she pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and searched through her contacts. She wondered if it was a good idea, what if he had forgotten her after a month of not talking to him?

"Fuck it," She mumbled and dialed his number, pressing her phone up to her ear.

It didn't take long for him to answer with a cheerful, "Hello! This is Austin, may I ask who this is?"

Ava smiled weakly at his happy tone, "It's Ava."

"Ava!" He shouted and she pulled the phone away from her ear for a second, "What's up?"

"I-I need to ask for a favour."

"Sure! What do you need?"

"Can you take me to the hospital?" She mumbled, playing with the hem of her wet shirt nervously. She wiped at the blood on her forehead, but she knew she had probably only made it worse and smeared it everywhere.

"Of course," He spoke gently and Ava almost cried at his generosity, "Where are you?"

"The bridge."

"I'll be there in like... fifteen minutes, okay?"

"Okay," She replied, sitting down on the wooden planks as she was overcome by a wave of dizziness.

The phone went dead and she had never felt more lonely in her entire life.

She pulled her knees up to her chest despite the burning pain it caused.

Then she cried.

Ava didn't know why she cried so hard, it's not like it was the first time that Zack had to beat her and teach her a lesson the hard way, or the first time he had forced her into having sex with him. She had suffered through Zack's shit for nearly five years now; she should be used to it. Ava should have been used to the endless amount of bruises, broken bones, and gaping wounds. She was used to people looking down on her, like she was some pathetic creature. Ava had grown accustomed to the harsh reality that is known as life and all of the bullshit that got tossed her way.

So why was she crying?

She was so used to being strong and fixing her own wounds and broken bones, so why was she making Austin drive out here just to take her to the hospital? Ava sobbed as her head started to pound with all of these overwhelming questions.

She wanted a place where she could rest her head and not have to worry about being hurt.

Ava wanted a home.

"Shh," A pair of arms wrapped around her body carefully, "It's okay, I'm here now."

Then she realized why she was crying.

Ava cried because she had never experienced the kind and gentle nature of another man. She had never been held the way Austin was currently holding her. No one had ever kissed her forehead like he was doing nor had anyone ever let Ava just cry onto their shoulder like Austin did. Never had anyone comforted her and rubbed her back while she cried, or whispered sweet things into her ear like how everything was going to be okay someday and that he was going to keep her safe.

Ava needed Austin more than he would ever be able to comprehend.

Notes

Chapter title is from Bring me the Horizon's song Hospital for Souls :)