I smiled at the scene in front of me. That was exactly where Aubry belonged, with me . . . and my family.
“Okay, then it’s settled. Aubry, welcome to the family!” my mom said, getting up and kissing her on the cheek.
***
Aubry
My breathing hitched as my fear increased. Fear. My fear was what always got to me. The thing that would make me paralyzed and breathless deeming me useless. I felt frozen in place as the dark figure sauntered over to me.
Move Aubry! Do something! Get out!
The smell of cigarette smoke clang to his clothes, making me gag as bile rose to my throat. I knew who it was even though his face was covered in a dark shadow. He got on top of me as I tried to wiggle away. It didn’t work, I was stuck underneath him, suffocating.
“You think you have a family now, little bitch?” he asked, laughing and taunting me. “You’ll never have a family. No one wants you. No one will ever want you.”
I was pinned under him as his weight crushed me. It felt like he weighed five thousand pounds as he was on top of me. The more I struggled, the heavier he got. My breath was being taken from me, and I was stuck.
This was it.
Without cause, the hidden face morphed into an unexpected one . . . Ronnie. I screamed loudly, trying to swat at him. I wanted to beat him, however, my arms were pinned down without anyone even touching them. I tried to move, but my whole body was paralyzed. I couldn’t move!
Get up! Wake up! Wake up! I kept chanting it to myself as I was crying hysterically. It was a dream, it had to be a dream! Wake up!
“Do you think that he’ll want you?! After he finds out what you did? Do you think anyone will want you?! Look at you. You’re damaged and unusable. No one wants you! You’re nothing, absolutely nothing,” Ronnie said as his face inched closer to mine. The vomit rose to my mouth, almost spewing out completely. Still, I couldn’t move.
I tried to focus my mind to try and control this; to try and change the dream. I couldn’t, the harder I tried, the heavier Ronnie got to crushing my bones.
“I wouldn’t mind having you though. I never did get to finish what we started in that alleyway.” His hands started going closer to my hips, and I felt like I was about to projectile vomit everywhere.
I began shaking violently as I was trying to decide how to get out of this dammed dream. I was crying hysterically as he was fumbling with his pants. I needed to move!
I was jolted awake with Dana standing over me. “Are you okay honey? You were whimpering.”
I tried to answer, but my mouth wouldn’t move. Nothing would move. I couldn’t move!
“Aubry?”
Nothing.
“Okay Aub, just try to relax. It’s okay . . .” Dana said gently. “Your body will wake up in just a moment. Sleep paralysis is common especially with nightmares.
Soon enough, I was able to move despite the panic attack that was oncoming. I sat up abruptly and whined at the pain in my ribs.
“Oh sweetheart, it’s okay,” Dana said while helping me up. “Come on, you can go back to sleep in my room. Everyone will be up and about in a few minutes, and you need some more sleep.” She led me into her room and put the blanket over me with another on top of that. “You’re shivering. It’s okay. It was just a dream.”
I tried not to think about it. I tried not let it bother me, but I knew that it was my subconscious telling me that I was an awful person. I already knew that, though.
***
The bed dipped beside me, and I found myself nearing closer to the large figure that was the cause of that dip. I didn’t open my eyes to see who or what it was. I just let myself curl around it like an idiot.
I had no idea what it was. Did I even care, though? I kind of just hoped that whatever it was would kill me. My common sense told me that I wasn’t supposed to think like that, but I also didn’t care.
“Aubry,” I heard the voice that always made me weak in the knees whisper into my ear. “Come on, wake up sleeping beauty.”
He nudged me slightly. His hands were so hot as they slid softly against my arms and neck. I liked the feel of his hot hands on my body. I pushed myself harder against him. feeling as if I was too far away, and he was so warm. I was so cold.
I figured that it was just another dream. No harm in indulging, right? But then, I realized that assumption was stupid, I never had good dreams.
I opened my eyes automatically, realizing that I was cuddled up on Aiden, actual Aiden!
My eyes were met with the striking blue ones that I had come to like so much. I couldn’t look away; I was completely mesmerized by him. I realized the position we were in and pulled away quickly. I could feel the blush creep up from my neck, making my cheeks hot.
Aiden looked at me with amusement in his eyes. “Well . . . I could get used to this,” he said, making my blush even worse. “Come on sleepy head, it’s time to get up and get dressed. We have to be at the hospital by two,” he told me while pulling the blankets off of me.
I groaned but accepted his hand as he gently pulled me from the bed. I grabbed my duffel bag and made my way into the bathroom. I got dressed in a pair of not-too-dirty sweatpants and kept Aiden’s big sweatshirt on. I glanced at all of the clothes that I owned and shook my head; they were all so dirty and gross, definitely could all use a very deep wash.
I walked out with my duffel bag in hand and stopped next to Aiden. “I . . . I really need to wash these,” I said slowly and embarrassed.
Aiden was at complete ease with my embarrassing request. He showed me to the laundry room and told me to put it in there until we got home to wash them. “Aubry, you don’t have to be embarrassed. I want to help you.”
I just looked down in response.
He sighed and gently rubbed my shoulder. “You ready?”
I nodded slowly. I really wasn’t. I was tired, hurting, and I didn’t really know if I even wanted to know about how awful my ribs were.
***
Aiden and I were sitting in the hospital room silently. I was wearing a hospital gown with my sweatpants under that and Aiden’s coat on top of that. I was freezing. I had just come back from getting X-rays on my ribs. I was hurting.
“Aubry, are you okay?” he asked, stroking my hair.
“I-I I’m just cold,” I said, opening one eye to look at Aiden and my teeth chattered violently.
“It is kind of cold in here,” he said, nodding. “Scoot over,” Aiden said as he stood up.
I furrowed my eyebrows but obliged his request. He slowly lowered himself on my bed while trying not to jostle me at all. I breathed out a sigh of relief when he grabbed my hands and began blowing his hot breath on them. My hands instantly began to warm up. I nuzzled my head into his warm chest and pressed my body to his. His body was like a heat lamp and my body was ice.
It reflected our personalities, I thought.
We laid like that for a while before the door of the room finally opened, revealing an older-looking man and Dana.
“Well . . . We can come back later,” the man said, clearly amused.
Aiden quickly got up like he was on fire.
“Hello there Aiden, it’s nice to see you again,” the doctor said politely.
“Doctor Reed. How are you?” he asked, shaking his hand.
“Well, thanks,” he said, coming forward and standing in front of me as I was laying down. “And you must be Aubry. I’m Doctor Reed,” he said, holding out his hand for me to shake.
I took his hand and shook it gently, though I was still shaking and shivering.
“You’re cold, Aubry,” he commented as he felt my hand in his.
I nodded and snuggled deeper into Aiden’s jacket.
He took a thermometer out and stuck it under my tongue. When the temperature beeped, he frowned and looked at Dana.
“Dana can you go grab a few of the heated blankets for her, please? She’s extremely cold.”
He showed her the thermometer, and Dana walked ou
t of the room quickly. “When was the last time you ate, Aubry?”
“L-Last night . . . I just woke up an hour ago.” Dana put the blankets on me when she returned, and I gave her a grateful smile.
“And . . . before that? Before the symptoms of hypothermia occured . . . When had you eaten before that?” he asked slowly.
I looked down and shrugged. “I’m not too sure,” I said as I subconsciously rubbed my face, but flinched when I touched a bruise too hard.
“So, it’s pretty safe to say that it had been a while and not much, if you can’t remember,” the doctor said softly.
I nodded, feeling ashamed.
“Well then, we need to get your blood sugar up,” he told us quickly. “Dana would you mind going and getting her a hot chocolate and a candy bar or two from the vending? Her body has seemingly depleted all of the sugar in it, trying to regulate her temperate back to normal, since she is malnourished, it never quite got back to normal, so now it’s struggling.”
He took my other vitals as Dana was off getting me my snacks. Apparently, my blood pressure was low as well—another side effect from not eating.
Dana returned, and I instantly sipped on the amazing hot chocolate and then stuffed a piece of Reese’s into my mouth in a very unladylike fashion.
“Okay, while we let the sugar do it’s magic, we can start on your ribs,” Doctor Reed said, motioning for me to sit up. I reluctantly and slowly sat up with Aiden helping me. Dr. Reed looked over at Aiden and then to me.
“Do you want him to stay in here?” he asked, looking at me and then over to Dana.
Dana looked at me and then to Aiden. “Aiden, honey, maybe you should go ahead and go. wait ou—”
“No!” I cut her off rudely. “Sorry, I mean . . . no, I’d prefer him to stay with me.” I paused and she still looked skeptical. “He’s . . . He’s the one that has been helping me with them this whole time . . .” I could hear the tremble in my own voice at the prospect of him leaving. “He can . . . He can just sit right there.”
“I’ll be right here,” Aiden confirmed and sat down in the chair which was right next to my bed.
Dr. Reed began looking at my back thoroughly. He touched it every so often and listened to my lungs quite a bit, but he was quite gentle so it barley hurt. He then pulled up the X-rays on the computer and turned the screen to us.
“Okay, you can go ahead and relax now, Aubry.”
I let myself sag instantly.
“There are several that are broken or had been broken,” he said and pointed out the obvious fractures. “There are three that have multiple fractures on one rib.” He pointed those out as well. “The good news is that none of them are shattered, so none of them will need any surgery. However, they are bruised and swollen. They have obviously been being neglected.”
I felt called out and averted my eyes.
“Also, if you look right here.” He pointed to another greyish area. “This is a bit of damage to your lungs. It’s not too bad, but you might find yourself feeling more out of breath than usual. That is due to the pain when breathing, so you breath more shallowly. I am going to give you some painkillers and breathing treatments and exercises. The chest wall also looks a little damaged, so your lungs might be just a bit more susceptible to trauma. I wouldn’t worry about it too much, though . . .” He paused and smiled at me. “You are healing.Very slowly, but you are healing. You need rest, food, and to do your breathing exercises. You’ll be better with time.”
I smiled at that good news.
“Alright, Aiden. My advice is to take her out on a date and get some food in her then go pick up her pills and treatments and take her home for some rest.” He laughed kindly. “Aubry, it was very nice to meet you. Aiden, I’m glad you finally have a steady girlfriend.”
Both of us just looked at each other. There wasn’t even a point in correcting people anymore, they never listened anyways. “Stay out of trouble and remember, no kids until after college.”
I felt my cheeks heat up as I sipped on the warming hot chocolate. I waved at him as he left the room, still laughing at our reactions.
“Well, that’s great news! I was so worried,” Dana said, smiling. “Go get y’all some lunch, and by the time you’re done, school should be out. Brandon said that he’d help with the couch today.” She paused and gave me a stern look. “Aubry, no gym today. You too, Aid. I know that you both love the gym, but you can go back tomorrow. Aiden, I am trusting you to work on light training. You heard the doctor . . . rest.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“So, I’m assuming you’re still going to be fighting,” Aiden said in a serious voice once his mom left the room.
I nodded. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“Aubry I just don’t want you to be hurt. Just please take it easy until the tournament that starts in March,” he said.
“I won’t go quite as hard, I promise. I’ll be okay, Aiden.”
He rolled his eyes but accepted the answer anyway.
I got changed, and we went to the diner that we both liked so much. Tommy met us there as well. To say that he was baffled by my truth was an understatement.
“I just can’t believe you were homeless! Wait until Brandon finds out!” he said with wide eyes.
I rolled my eyes at the boys and shook my head. We ate in comfortable chatter as I answered questions asked by Tommy about my ribs and lungs. I didn’t even understand half of what he was asking.
A little while later, we were met by Bri and Brandon outside of the gym where we had waited for them. We didn’t go inside, so I feel like we didn’t really break Dana’s request. I didn’t want to break her trust on my first official day of living with them, though, that ship has already sailed.
“I’ll follow you to the house and then we can go drop it off at your house. I was specifically told by your mom that you were not allowed to go into the gym. Otherwise, I would leave my car, and we could all ride in the truck and then we’d all come back here. Dana is scary when riled up.”
“Whatever,” Aiden said, amused. “Bri, hop in,” Aiden said, motioning for her to get in.
“Actually . . . I’m going to ride with Brandon, okay?” she asked shyly.
Aiden nodded, looking confused. They got into Brandon’s car and pulled around to follow us.
“There’s something going on with them. I can see the change,” Aiden said, narrowing his eyes.
“Let them be, Aid. Briana deserves happiness. If Brandon gives her that, well then who are you to stand in the way?”
“You do realize that my last friend who tried to date Bri was Ronnie, right?!” he asked defensively as he began driving.
“You do realize that this is Brandon that we’re talking about, right? I could tell he liked her the moment I first went to your house. He would never do anything to hurt her. He’s a good guy. Don’t get mad at him for giving her what she needs.” I smiled at him and poked his cheek, making him try not to smile. “It would be like her telling you not to date me because of Amber . . . totally different people. You can’t shut out an experience because you’ve had one bad one. You’ve known B for your whole life. You know that he’s a good man. He wouldn’t hurt her.”
“It’s weird though . . . my best friend and sister.” He shuddered as I laughed.
“Brandon is a good guy, he won’t hurt her,” I assured him. If he did, then I’d hurt him.
“I guess,” Aiden finally relented when we got to the lady’s house where the couch was.
I smiled at him and patted his cheek affectionately. “Good, they both deserve to be happy.”
“So do you, Aub,” he said while tucking my hair behind my ear. “So do you.”
Chapter Thirty
People Hurt People
Aiden
I looked at the clock, and it read 4:15 AM. I was exhausted. My body just seemed to just never catch up on sleep. Granted that it was also partially due to the nightmares that popped up weekly, but I always tried
to ignore those.
I was going to go back to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw her unmoving and bloody body, that was too much to handle for me.
I also just wanted to see Aubry, as creepy as that sounded. I wanted to see my Aubry; the Aubry who was asleep on the new couch bed just down the hall from me. I loved the idea of that: her being so close to me.
I made my way into the living room very quietly, so as not to wake her up. I slowly rounded the new couch and took a glance at Aubry who was asleep. Instead of her looking peaceful, like I thought she would, her face was contorted in pain, and she was mumbling incoherently. She was squirming around, but it looked like she was tangled up or stuck. I knew she had to be having a bad dream or something of the sort.
“Aubry,” I said loud enough for her to stir, but she didn’t wake up. I sat down on the queen-sized bed, put my hand on her still bruised face and got close to her. “Aubry, wake up.”
Her eyelids immediately fluttered open, and she was breathing hard.
“Aiden.” Her voice cracked, sounding desperate. It made her sound sexy. I shook the thought out of my head; I should not be thinking like that! She obviously just had a bad dream.
“Are you okay?” I whispered, leaning down closer to her, looking into her eyes.
She looked into my eyes as well, keeping hers unguarded. It was the most open that she probably had ever been with me, and she wasn’t even saying a single word. Her bright green eyes were full of fear and sadness, but then those emotions were replaced with something that suited her much better . . . fire.
There was a fire burning deep in her eyes. It had been there ever since I had met her. It was part of what made me want to train her. Although, right then at that moment, it was bright; not just an ember hidden by everything else like it had been. The sadness, the worry, the fear; it all seemed to vanish—right then, the fire was bright, and it consumed her. It consumed me.
“I’m better than okay,” she stated, pulling me down next to her suddenly. The bold move surprised me, but I quickly recovered, and I wrapped my arm around her. “I woke up on a bed in a warm house, I can barely even feel my ribs, and for the first time in years, I wasn’t afraid to fall asleep. I didn’t have to worry about locking a door, or being half asleep to be aware of my surroundings.” She smiled with a breathtaking smile at me. “I could sleep, actually sleep, and I woke up to you. Yeah, I had a bad dream, but I woke up, and it didn’t feel like reality this time. I’m great!”
Fighting For Life Page 33