Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Tori’s Dad was really nice as far as Doctor’s go. While I still hated hospitals, I felt a little more comfortable.
Tori’s Dad had given me half of some little white pill. After about half an hour, the pain in my foot subsided to a dull throb.
“You have a fracture in your foot.” Tori’s Dad pursed his lips, obviously eyeing the bruise on my cheek. “Quite a fall you had.”
“Sure was.” I nodded, fighting to keep my voice relaxed and even. “I’m pretty clumbsy though so it isn’t a surprise.”
“Make sure to be careful next time.” Tori’s Dad nodded, seeming unconvinced.
“Will do.” I murmured, “My folk’s are renovating the house at the moment so it’s been pretty cluttered at the moment.”
I was just burying myself in lies at this point. Lying about my relationship with my family. Lying about my house. Lying about my bruises. I reminded myself it’ll all be worth it once I graduate and move the h**l out. All of the lies would be worth it in the end.
“You’re going to have to wear this boot for a few weeks.” The Doctor informed me, wrapping my foot up tightly.
My heart jumped at the thought of wearing a boot. If Melissa noticed it would be game over. She’d assume Frank hurt me, and would know I went to the hospital. But how the h**l was I going to hide a d**n boot? Tori would flip out if she caught me not wearing it. Either way, I was screwed. It was only a matter of time.
Alec, Kade, and Tori filtered back into the room. Each had a strange look on their face that made the knot in my stomach grow heavy. Tori wasn’t stupid, she knew something was up. Pair that with my crappy lying skills and she was almost half way there to figuring out the truth.
It’s not like Frank constantly abused me. It was few and far between. Mostly verbal abuse, which I could take with ease. It was a mistake on his part that caused my face to bruise, and a mistake on my own that led to my foot injury. I’m sure my torso was covered in bruises, but no one would have the opportunity to see those. The porcelain tub left my ribs feeling tender and painful, but I wasn’t about to bring that up.
“So, how bad is it?” Tori grimaced, her face matching Kade and Alec’s.
“Just a small fracture.” Tori’s Dad nodded, “Nothing a boot won’t fix. Just gotta let the body heal itself.”
My visit to the Doctor’s had taken almost all of the time I had. Hanging out with Tori definitely did not go as planned.
Alec and Kade drove us back to Tori’s house. The ride was silent, something I was thankful for. I refused to let either one of them carry me again, choosing to hobble along at an excruciatingly slow pace.
I was officially declaring myself done with the two of them. I’d have to muster up the willpower and hope they didn’t manage to get me alone again.
Kade could have fun with Grace, and Alec could have fun with whoever else. While my insides burned with jealousy at the thought, I wasn’t sticking around as some toy they could s***w with.
“Do you really have to go?” Tori pouted.
I gave her a small smile, “Mel- My Mom wants me back before dinner.”
Another lie. I just wanted to get home before Frank woke up from his drunken stupor. I’d be safely in my room with the door locked by the time he got up from the recliner.
“Next time you gotta stay for dinner.” Tori scolded me, “My Mom isn’t gonna let me hear the end of it once I take you home.”
“Maybe next time I could sleep over.” I grinned, thankful she forgot her suspicions for the moment.
“Mind if we talk to Aurora for a moment?” Kade stepped forward, and I clenched my teeth together angrily.
Tori bowed her head to the side, a really strange move to make.
“Of course.” She murmured, “I’ll be right back.”
What the h**l was that about? Since when could Tori not stand up for herself. She seemed to do it easily with Grace or anyone else for that matter.
“What do you guys want?” I sighed, leaning against Tori’s car.
I felt antsy with the two of them around. It felt like the two of them were a d**g, and I was just a junkie trying to resist the pull.
“Sweetheart, you can’t truly be mad at us.” Kade gave me a breathtaking smile that made me weak at the knees.
His smile was almost bashful, full of an unspoken apology. my heart lurched at the sight, making it nearly impossible to resist them.
“Don’t sweetheart me.” I growled under my breath, “I can and will be mad at the two of you.”
Goodness. Why was it so hard to stay mad at them? They both looked at me with wide adoring eyes and I had to force my gaze away from theirs.
“Doll, Kade isn’t back with Grace.” Alec shook his head, his hand reaching out to turn my face to theirs, “It was a stupid rumor courtesy of Grace.”
Again, my heart thundered. The two of them looked so sincere. It was a side I had never seen before. But truly, what chance could there be for the tree of us? People didn’t just share other people. Guys didn’t share girls, and twin’s definitely didn’t share a girl.
Within another year I would be gone from this town, and I wanted to do that with as little attachment as possible. I could handle leaving friends behind. I wasn’t sure I could handle leaving someone I was in love with behind. I planned on leaving without any notice, sneaking out in the middle of the night. I wouldn’t be able to do that to the twins, not if this continued.
“Look, whatever this is between us needs to stop.” I forced the words from my mouth, cringing at how weak they sounded. “I’m not a toy you can just play with when you’re bored.” Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“You’ll never be a toy to us, sweetheart.” Kade murmured with his rough voice, his hand reaching out to play with a piece of my hair.
“The second I graduate, I’m gone.” I frowned at the two of them. I could practically feel my heart splitting in two. “I’m not sticking around any longer than necessary.”
“Why would you want to leave, doll?” Alec frowned.
I hesitated, “That’s personal. All that matters is I’m done with this. It’s not…normal to share a girl like this.”
“We’ve never been normal, sweetheart.” Kade’s dark eyes burned into my own, honesty pouring through his words.
Kade and Alec exchanged a meaningful look, one that made me wonder how many times they had this particular conversation before.
“You might be done with us, but we aren’t done with you beautiful.” Alec murmured, something strange glinting in his eyes.
Too many emotions bubbled in my gut, ones that made me question if I was making the right decision.
“You’re ours Aurora.” Kade murmured, his dark eyes flashing with concealed emotions.
“Always will be.” Alec chimed in.
Both of their eyes were locked on my own, and I swore they could hear my hammering heart. That side of me wanted them desperately, as though my life depended on it. They weren’t just two hot guys, they were like a part of me.
Tori chose this moment to come walking back outside. While I was grateful for her interrupting before I did something I regretted, I desperately wanted to reach out and touch the twins.
“We’ll see you in school, sweetheart.” Kade murmured, and I tensed as the two of them did something completely unexpected.
Kade same forward and pressed his lips against my forehead, his rough stubble grazing my skin.
Alec was next, doing the same as his brother.
All of the stress I had felt at the Doctor’s had vanished as their lips met my skin. The move felt strangely intimate, and not in the sexual way I was becoming used to.
I hopped into Tori’s car before they could say another word.
“They seem to really care about you.” Tori murmured as she drove me home.
I frowned at her and her strange behavior.
“What’s up with you lately?” I grimaced, “It’s like you can’t say no to them.”
Tori sighed and rubbed her forehead wearily, “I can’t really explain it but their family kinda owns everything in town. It’s not like you can just say no to them.”
I ignored her flimsy excuse, deciding not to comment.
“Are you coming to school tomorrow?” Tori frowned.
“Probably not.” I gave her a weak smile, “I think I’m just gonna take it easy tomorrow. Maybe get some homework done.”
“And you’ll be at work on Sunday?” Tori raised her eyebrow at me, daring me to flake out.
“Yes ma’am.” I nodded, chuckling as a grin fell on her face.
Tori dropped me off at home and I let out a sigh of relief as Frank was passed out cold in the recliner. I grabbed some cold leftovers from the fridge and hobbled up to my room.
The first thing I did when we moved in was install a new lock on my bedroom door. You needed a key to get into my bedroom, making it easier for me to come and go. Frank and Melissa couldn’t touch any of my stuff while I was gone.
I unlocked my door quickly and stepped inside. I picked at my food whilst laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I went to bed early that night, determined to sleep through as much of the day as possible. Sleep was a peaceful break from the conflicting emotions that haunted my every move.