Beyond the Pack’s Law: My stepsister or nobody else

Hayley’s POV

I stared at my phone and waited. I had no idea what I was expecting to happen, but somehow I found myself seeking comfort beneath my blanket and staring at my phone, which was on my bedside table.

My eyelids felt really heavy, like magnets calling out to each other; all they wanted to do was close. That was the effect of all the crying I had done, as much as I wanted to sleep and act like none of it ever happened.

The moment I closed my eyes, the still-quiet pool of darkness my subconscious mind was supposed to be in transformed into a faulty projector, repeatedly replaying the moment when Aiden’s dad looked me in the eyes and said Aiden was gone.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I could still hear the sound of my heart shattering in my chest. I couldn’t believe they had gone that far just to pull us apart.

What scared me the most was that they might have succeeded; I hadn’t been able to reach Aiden, and it wasn’t like I could leave home and fly all the way to Australia just to begin looking for him when I had no idea where exactly he was. It was irrational, even though I knew that.

A thousand things crossed my mind in the two hours I had spent snuggled under the sheets and staring into nothingness.

Had Aiden willingly gone?

Why didn’t he even try to say goodbye, maybe with a note or something?

Even if they made him leave, why hadn’t he tried reaching out? His plane should have landed.

Those were pretty much the center of all my thoughts; more than ever, I wanted to see his smile one more time and hear him tease me.

My phone’s screen lit up, and so did my heart. I grabbed it without thinking. Sadly, it was just a message from Mona, telling me to be okay and that if I wanted to take the day off tomorrow, she would explain to the teachers.

At least I had one less thing to worry about, not that it mattered or anything.

I sank back into my bed, and almost immediately the creaking sound from the door being opened drew my attention.

It was Aiden’s dad; he poked his head through the door and just looked at me. I didn’t know what to say, and to be honest, I don’t think he knew either.

The silence was speaking for itself; it seemed like he felt sad to see me like this, but he also had his mind made up. I turned my back to him and closed my eyes, finally letting my eyelids have the rest they craved.

“Hayley, wake up.”

I heard Aiden’s voice call out, and my body sprung to life. I jerked off my bed and opened my eyes.

Sadly, rather than Aiden’s handsome face, I was greeted by my best friends, Mina and Mona, seated on my bed and staring at me with sympathetic eyes.

How did they even get here?

I looked around; I was still in my room. Maybe I was dreaming. I yawned and asked them what they wanted.

“We stopped by to check on you, and your mom told us you were still in bed.”

“Check on me. Thanks, but aren’t you two meant to be in school? We’re going to be in trouble if we all miss school.” I could hear the fatigue in my own voice. My joints felt sore, and I just wanted to stay in bed.

They looked at each other before looking back at me. They were doing that thing we always did, when it was like they were talking to each other telepathically, but they really weren’t.

“What is it? What am I missing?” I was confused.

“Hayley’s school is over; it’s almost evening.”

“Really?” I looked out the window, and the sun wasn’t shining as much as it would if it were still early in the morning, which meant I had been knocked out for hours.

“You okay?” Mona, let me rest my head on her shoulder.

“He’s in Australia; they’re so against us that they moved him all the way to Australia. They took his life away from him.”

“I can’t imagine how devastated he must be feeling right now.” Mina commented; she looked upset at the idea of not being able to see Aiden again.

“I know right, but he’s a grown ass man. It’s kind of hard to imagine his dad was able to just force him into getting on the plane and leaving.”

“What are you insinuating?”

I watched as they talked to each other.

“Well, legally, he’s an adult, so they can’t make him do anything, you know.”

“Then how do you explain him disappearing just like that?”

“I dunno, maybe he wanted to leave.”

The gravity of Mona’s words dawned on me. Aiden wasn’t a child that could just be forced into doing anything; he had a will of fire. But then I assumed he had been forced into leaving; not once had my mind considered the fact that he could have willingly left.

No, he wouldn’t do that. Aiden wasn’t like that. I saw the worry on his face when I told him that they were planning to sever our relationship. That was enough proof to show that he wouldn’t just get up and leave me.

“Hayley, is it possible?”

“Don’t… please.”

I cut her off before she could even ask. I knew what she wanted to ask, and I didn’t want to hear it; I didn’t even want to consider the thought of it. If I started doubting Aiden’s loyalty now, it would only make me feel more miserable.

“Sorry, change of subject. You look really weak; have you even had breakfast?” Mina pulled out an apple from her bag and handed it over.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was until my eyes locked on the apple. I took it from her and sank my teeth into it.

They wrapped their arms around me.

“You’ll get through this; we’re right here with you.”