Taking a few moments stuck in his own head, Ayden’s eyes go distant. I don’t interrupt, knowing he is remembering a past that he’s tried to forget.
“We’d been together for nearly a year when it happened. We’d gone out to yet another party, but I left early because we kinda’ got in a fight. It was a stupid fight. I was jealous of the attention she’d been getting from this older guy. The right thing to do would have been to stay and keep an eye on her, especially since she’d started taking her partying to the next level. It was the Coke she was using…” he takes a slow breath, “or I should say, we were using.”
Ayden’s intense blue eyes flick up through his dark lashes seeking my reaction, but when he sees my unchanged expression, he continues.
“Long story short, she died that night of an overdose. She’d been with the guy who I’d been jealous of, and now he still walks this earth while she’s gone from it forever.”
Clearing his throat, Ayden takes a deep breath, struggling to control his emotions. I don’t miss the way his hand trembles slightly in mine, and I feel bad for asking him to tell me about his heartbreaking past. I squeeze his hand to offer some comfort.
“Ayden, you don’t need to tell me any more details. I’m sorry for prying. It’s none of my business.”
His eyes shoot up to mine, glassy from unshed tears, and my heart breaks a little more in that moment.
“No, I do need to tell you, Lex. I want you to know, I do. I can’t explain why I need that, but I just do.” Sounding about as confused as I am, I give his hand another gentle squeeze to let him know that I’m here for him. If telling me is what he wants, I won’t stop him, even though I feel like I forced him to speak up.
“It filled me with so much anger after Dani died. I stopped turning up to school and spent my days with some mates that I met through her. I was high 24/7 and only went home to wash and sleep every few days. My parents didn’t know what to do with me and weren’t able to control me. A few months later, I ran into the guy who was with Dani when she overdosed, and I saw red.”
Not able to continue, Ayden looks over to the window above his bed, his face contorting into an angry frown, his nostrils flaring.
“I put him in the hospital Lex,” his eyes find mine again filled with regret, “He nearly died from his injuries. Injuries that I inflicted!”
My eyes soften, watching him battle with his internal pain. Reaching up, I cup his face, wanting him to know that despite what he’d just told me, I still care for him. Leaning into my hand, he shuts his eyes, taking a few deep breaths. We sit like this for a few minutes, me stroking the pad of my thumb over his stubble while he leans into my hand like it’s a lifeline. When his eyes flutter open again, he appears to have pushed away his pain, the blue in his eyes looking a little brighter.
“I ended up going to Juvi for six weeks and then to rehab. My parents struck a deal with the guy’s brother and got my charges reduced. They were there for me the entire time, giving me the support I didn’t think I deserved. When I left rehab, I went back home and helped dad in the studio for the rest of the school year because mum was too afraid to send me back to my old school. She knew if I saw the friends I made through Dani, I would end up back in the party scene and all screwed up again. That’s when she came up with the plan to move to my Aunty’s place, and she quit her job in the city when she got a job at the hospital in Fox Pines. My parents have rented out our Prahran house, and dad moved into this apartment because it’s in the same building as his recording studio. Their plan is to get me through high school and then see where to go after that. So here I am, repeating year 11, trying to start over.”
Remorse fills me for dragging him into my drama. He doesn’t need this shit. He doesn’t need to worry about a helpless girl with a fucked up family when he should be trying to heal himself. Like so many times over the last few days, my eyes glass over with hot tears before I have time to stop them.
“Hey, what's wrong, beautiful?” Ayden encloses my face between his hands, cupping it gently, concern splashed across his face.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“What for?”
“You’re mum is right. You don’t need my drama in your life. You don’t deserve to be dragged into my bullshit.”
He shakes his head, his thumb gently stroking my cheeks, taking care where the bruising is.
“Lexi, don’t be silly. This isn’t the same situation, and you didn’t drag me, remember? I didn’t really give you any other option.”
“Can you do me a favour, please?” I push past the lump that has formed in my throat, commanding my inner strength to bury my pain and appear like I have my shit together. When Ayden nods, I continue, “If at any stage, my drama gets too much, I want you to tell me. I won’t hold it against you, I will understand, and I will give you space.”
“Lex, that’s not going to be a problem.”
“Promise me.” I practically beg.
He shakes his head, “No, Lex, I don’t need to. I will never ask you to give me space.”
“Damn it, Ayden, I need you to promise me, please!”
He is silent as he studies me, his eyes searching mine. I can see he wants to refuse me again, but then his face softens.
“Fine, I promise.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ayden’s mum, Andrea, spends the rest of the morning fussing over me. After making sure I’d eaten, she took me into her room, and we talked. I reluctantly told her the same information I had given to Peter the night before and managed not to vomit this time. She then checked over my body, and knowing she is a nurse, I felt comfortable letting her examine the damage my brother inflicted.
“Lexi, I think we should get some photos of this bruising, just in case you need them for legal reasons down the track.”
“Uh- yeah. I already got some pictures last night on Ayden’s phone.” I hope she doesn’t insist on taking more. I don’t think I can handle going through that process again.
“Oh, good thinking. Do you mind if I ask Ayden to send me copies? I won’t use them without your permission, I promise. I think it would be a good idea for me to have them as well just to be safe so I can help you if you need me to.” Andrea sounds sincere, so I agree and nod. I don’t bother telling her that I sent copies to Abbey as well. I trust them both.
Andrea clears her throat, looking a little uneasy as she sits next to me on her bed, “Look, Lexi, I need to tell you something.”
Nervous at her statement, I wait patiently, sitting on the edge of the bed for her to continue, “I called one of my co-workers at the Fox Pines Hospital so I could get an update on your mum. Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell me much as your mum has been transferred to a hospital here in the city. The records say she should have arrived at the Lady Anne Clinic yesterday, however, they have no record of her arriving.”
I frown. That doesn’t make sense.
“My co-worker said your mum’s injuries weren’t very bad, so it’s strange that she has been transferred to a hospital in Melbourne. Do you have any idea why she would have been moved?”
It’s a common confusion with my mum, as her drug and alcohol use is a well-kept secret. She would rather the few friends she has, think she is having some sort of cosmetic surgery than admitting to her addiction.
I blow out a frustrated breath wishing for the millionth time that my life was more simple.
“My mum has trouble with drugs and alcohol. Dad told me once that she is depressed, and while I’m sure that’s probably true and would explain why she uses substances, I’m beginning to think there may be more to it. She’s been in rehab a few times. I don’t ask her any questions about it, and she’s happy not telling me anything.”
“So maybe she’s been taken to a rehab facility in the city instead? Do you remember the names of any of the facilities she’s been at previously?”
I guess this is where I should have been a better daughter. I should have been taking notice of her hospital sta
ys over the years, but I gave up when my parents continually danced around the truth. My mum has rarely been present for me. Even when she was physically there, her mind was far away. I usually feel angry when I think of this, but now I’m just worried. Why isn’t she at the hospital that is listed on her record? My dad had said he pulled some strings to get her transferred to Lady Anne’s, so why isn’t she there?
“I’m sorry, I should know some of the names, shouldn’t I?” I frown in frustration.
“It’s okay, Lexi,” Andrea gently pulls me in for a hug, being careful not to hurt my bruised body. “I’ll see if I can get a hold of the ambulance transporter who drove your mum, and we’ll soon find out where she is.”
“Thank you so much.” The support that Ayden and his parents are giving me is so overwhelming. I’ve never known such generosity, especially when they don’t expect anything in return. Reluctantly, I let go of her hug as Andrea pulls away.
“I’d better let you get back to Ayden before he barges in here like a possessive caveman.” Her tone is amused, and I smile as I walk out of her room and back to the living area where I left Ayden earlier.
Seeing me enter the room, he is immediately by my side, taking my hand and leading me to the cozy living room we were in last night.
“Are you okay?” His concern is evident in his tone, and he pulls me down to the couch, keeping me close to his side. I nod, enjoying the instant calm his nearness brings.
“That’s a stupid thing to ask, sorry. Of course, you aren’t okay. I guess I meant, are you coping okay given the situation?”
I giggle, which hurts my ribs but feels good all the same.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh, but you are just so adorable.”
“Oh, I see,” he says playfully, “You think my concern is adorable?”
“Well… yeah,” I smile, and he returns my smile with his own.
Shaking his head, he leans in to kiss my temple, like he did last night. I close my eyes at his gentle touch and breathe in his scent, finding extreme comfort in it. When he pulls away, our faces are mere inches apart, and his eyes study mine, not breaking the moment. I can’t seem to force myself to look away, lost deep in his gaze, feeling so intensely drawn to him that I struggle to hold myself back. It’s a foreign feeling for me, having never been so taken by another person in my life. It’s like he can see inside my soul, the idea of which would normally scare me, but right now, it doesn’t. I want him to… no, it’s more like I need him to see inside my soul, to know who Lexi West is.
The irritating buzz of a phone ringing on silent breaks our bubble, and Ayden moves to pull his phone from his back pocket, looking at the screen.
“I don’t know this number.” He doesn’t show me the screen and answers the call instead.
I hear a panicked voice, practically yelling through the phone's speaker, and immediately know who it is. Abbey.
Frowning, Ayden holds his phone out to me, “It's Abbey. She got my number from Marcus, apparently.”
I smile, knowing Abbey would have broken into the school to steal Ayden’s student file just to get the number if she had to. Taking the phone, I brace myself for a long conversation.
Once I am able to calm Abbey down, I fill her in with the same information I told Ayden’s parents. When I finish that painful task, I get nothing but silence down the line, and for a moment, I think our connection has been lost. Then I hear her crying.
“It’s okay, Abs. I’m alright.” I try to reassure her.
“I know, but this could have been avoided, Lex. I tried to tell my parents about what happened with your family, but they fucking rang your dad. He told them you are suffering from mental health issues and that you need medical help. And the idiots believed him.” Abbey’s distraught sobs come through the phone, “When rumours started flying around about you being taken from school by your dad... Ahh!” She growls, and I hear something crash in the background, “No, taken is the wrong word, more like kidnapped! Tony Anders told Simon, who told me that Tony saw your dad carrying you out of the school unconscious. I tried to get a hold of you when I found out, and then I tried to get the teachers to listen to me. The only one who seemed concerned was Miss Dice, and she gave me her mobile number to keep in contact with her about the situation.”
“You can’t tell her, Abbey!”
“She should know Lexi. She can help.”
“No! No one else needs to know anything! I don’t want people knowing. I just want to forget about it and move on.”
Abbey sighs, “Fine, but if things escalate, I’m telling her, Lexi. I know you don’t want anyone to know, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t know. This is fucking serious stuff.”
“Don’t you think I know that, Abbey? Each cut and bruise on my body reminds me every time I try to move just how serious this is!”
“I’m so sorry, Lexi. What can I do to help you?” Abbey is sobbing again, and guilt squeezes my heart, making me feel like shit for saying those things to her.
“Nothing Abs. Just be here for me, okay? And please keep this information to yourself.”
“Fine, but only if things don’t get worse. If that happens, Lex, then all bets are off.”
I have to be happy with that answer since I know it’s as good as I’m going to get from her.
“Fine,” I agree.
“I love you, Lex.” Her words bring me more of those pesky tears, and Ayden, having sat next to me the entire time listening to our conversation, pulls me closer to his side.
“I love you too, Abs,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry. I made you cry. Please don’t cry.”
“Okay, I’ll try,” I say as I cry even more.
Abbey, knowing the secret ingredients to turn my sour mood happy, manages to make me stop crying with ridiculous sex jokes, and I end up in a fit of laughter at a stupid story she tells me about an awkward moment between her and Daniel. I’m glad she found a nice guy, and I hate that I’d been feeling jealous about him taking her away from me. Even if she spends some of her time with him and not me, we will always be sisters from another mister.
By the time I end the call with Abbey, my mood is lighter than it’s been in days, and Ayden quickly helps me settle in for a Friday of binge-watching Netflix. We spend the time in comfortable silence, in between my dramatic overreactions to comical scenes, making Ayden laugh harder at me than at the movies, and Ayden’s need to keep asking me if I’m okay every other minute.
Andrea brings me ice packs throughout the day, while Peter serves us chicken and salad rolls for lunch and a platter of cheese and crackers mid-afternoon. It’s around this time that Ayden gets an incoming SnapChat call and he rolls his eyes showing me the screen. It’s the boy's chat group. They must have added Ayden to it.
“You should answer it. As long as it’s only a voice call.” I don’t want the guys from school to see the damage Mike did, or even know what happened. Obviously, Marcus knows, but hopefully he’s kept that information to himself.
Ayden shoots me a small smile before answering the call, and Jared’s concerned voice immediately fills the room.
“Is Lexi there with you?” He sounds pissed and demanding. Something I’m not used to hearing from Jared.
“I’m here, Jar.” I roll my eyes this time making Ayden smile.
“Lex,” He sighs, sounding relieved, “What’s going on? Tony Anders saw your dad carry you out of school yesterday, and fucking Marcus knows what's going on but won’t tell us anything.”
“That’s because it’s none of your business.” Marcus snaps.
“Marcus is right man, it’s none of your business.” Ayden backs his cousin up, and I look up at his face now red with anger. His eyes jump to mine, and I raise a questioning brow, but he doesn’t falter.
“Fuck that! Who the fuck are you to come in and claim her? You’ve been here for five fucking minutes!” Jared hisses, and Ayden’s eyes darken with more anger.
“That’s enough!” I snap before Ayden can get another word in. “What I don’t need is my friends at each other's throats.”
I glare at Ayden hoping he gets the point and his face softens before an apology slips past his lips. Jared gives his own apology, but it’s hardly convincing.
“Lex?” Garrett chimes in, “Can you please give us something? Anything? Like are you okay?”
“I’m okay. Just some family drama going on. It’s nothing to worry about.”
Ayden's brows shoot up at my lie, and I shake my head, trying to silently tell him that I’m not going to even hint as to what's really going on.
“That doesn’t really explain why you were carried out of school unconscious Lex.” Shaun, the normally over-energetic playboy of the group, sounds so serious. Shaun Bossier, aka Bossi, is never serious.
“Look I’ve had a crazy week. Mum went to hospital on Wednesday, and I guess I didn’t really eat properly and I must have fainted. I’m okay, though.”
“You’re sure? You’d tell us right if something was going on?” Jared expresses his concern again.
“I’m sure. It’s all good.” Ayden watches the lies slip so easily from my lips, and instead of frowning at me in disapproval, he gives me a sympathetic smile. He understands that I don’t want to share my vile truth with the guys.
“So tell me about school today. Any tea?” I steer the conversation in another direction, hoping they will follow, using the “in” word we use in place of gossip.
“Well, since you’ve run off with another man Lexi, I have had to let all the girls know that I’m back on the market.” Simon jokes.
Everyone laughs except for Ayden. If only Simon could see the daggers Ayden is shooting him through the phone. It’s cute in a caveman kind of way.
Heavy (Heavy Hearts Book 1) Page 18