Chapter 48

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Chapter 48

**

As soon as the phone ended, Tyler made a dash out of my door. "Where are you going?" I shouted behind him.

"To say goodbye to my Mom. I don't think she'll be seeing me anymore." He shouted back a reply.

I rolled my eyes at the drama queen. I removed the file of the Paris trip that I had already prepared. If I tell this plan to my brothers, they won't allow me to carry on with this plan. But I have to. I need to. I thought about it and decided to talk to Dad about letting me carry on with Paris plan with the school. My committee doesn't know about this either, only me and Amber. Once Dad is fine with it, I'll ask this to Principal Ben.

I looked at the file and sighed. I'll talk to him after dinner. Until then, I decided to complete my school work. After completing my homework, I had nothing important to do so I called Ashton. I had to see the situation with Tyler.

"Hello?" A grumpy voice answered.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, falling backward on my bed.

"Stupid Tyler messing with my sister," he muttered.

"He might genuinely like her," I reasoned.

"I don't think so."

"What if Will did the same thing with you?" I asked.

"I would've tried." He sighed.

"Exactly. Give a chance and see how it goes. And I know him, he won't hurt her."

"How can you say that?" He snapped. "Weren't you all angry when he came back? Being all dramatic. What changed? He can hurt her the way he hurt you. I'm not taking any risk. I don't want her to go through whatever you went!"

Hurt. That was what I felt when he said that. I was angry, sad and hurt. But I had a reason. Even if I didn't have answers that time, I have now. I can say I trust Tyler. He had my back before and I can say he has my back now. He doesn't know what I went through or Tyler went through. Saying things like this doesn't make me feel good. Remembering it doesn't make me feel good rather scared that I'm going to open the chapter that was closed years ago. It ended incomplete and I plan on completing it. But if I don't have supported from the person I love, how will I fight?

"You're right. No one deserves to go through what I went." I said, swallowing. I wiped my tears away as I continued. "Don't let him date her."

I waited for his reply. "Yeah, whatever." With that he ended the call.

I dropped my phone to the side as I recalled the awful day. All the hit, punches and kicks. Slaps and pushes. Something you wouldn't dare to do to a 10 years old. Scars, physical as well as mental they leave behind, making you depressed. Scared that it will come back again, not letting you live.

Ashton doesn't know what happened. Maybe if he did, he wouldn't have talked the way he did. But that still doesn't give him the right to say what he did. He hurt me. He hurt me bad.

I picked up the phone and messaged Tyler.

I'm sorry.

I stared at the text. If Ashton didn't allow Tyler anywhere near Ashley, then it would be my fault. My phone ping.

No. I am.

I smiled sadly. Guess, he knows. I don't know why I couldn't let the tears stop from falling. Not long enough, I heard Mary-Ann's voice calling for dinner. I didn't want my brothers to grow suspicious, so I washed my face and applied a light make-up to make sure my face doesn't look all red from crying.

I walked downstairs and had dinner with everyone. Luckily, no one realised as they were busy talking about the prank war. There was the file I wanted to show Dad, but I don't think I can do that without bursting into tears, so I decided to keep that for later.

I walked back to my room and cried myself to sleep. I have work to do tomorrow. I can't let this stupid problem come in my way. Soon enough, exhaustion took over and I fell asleep.

**

"Shut up." A hit. "Come on. I'll show you your place."

He dragged me by my hair towards a room. He pushed me in and then the worst pain started.

"Tell me about your father's recent program in Los Angeles." Mr. Black demanded.

"I don't know." I whispered.

"You know. Or you will found out for me." He said, venom clearly in his voice.

"No." I said, confidently. If Will knew I was weak, he might not like me.

"What did you say?" He said, angrily.

I swallowed and repeated, but a little quietly. Soon the hits and kicks started. He punched me and I cried in pain for someone to save me.

I saw Tyler in the hallway just staring at me. Not doing anything. It broke me. My best friend, who promised me to protect me, never saved me from his father. I hate you, Tyler. All our memories came to me, but I couldn't think as the pain doubled.

Blood was running down my nose and all I could feel was pain. I had so many bruises that I can't even count them.

"Are you dreaming, little child?" His voiced was like venom to my ears.

"No!" I whispered.

Suddenly, I felt a hand connect with my cheeks. I stumbled back. "Speak loud."

Pain. Numb. I didn't like it. I don't like. I want this to stop. "Will." I said.

A scream escaped me as my head started to throb from the memories that were rushing. My hands pulled my hair to stop the pain. But it didn't stop, it became worst. All I could hear was my screams. "Make it stop," I whimpered. I started pulling my hair for it to stop. "No, no!"

Suddenly, the door to my room slammed open. I turned my attention towards it to see who it was. My eyes widen as I saw Mr. Black coming in with two of his men. They came closer to me as I began to move back.

"No! Stay away from me. Don't hurt me!" I shouted, as I pushed myself back. They froze and stared at me wide eyes. My breath began to come in pants. I saw two figures rush inside. When my eyes landed on them, I sighed. It was my Dad and Mom.

"Gwen?" Someone spoke.

I couldn't tell who it was, but they oddly sound like Will. My eyes began to wander here and there. A scream escaped me as I felt the familiar pain in my head. I gripped my hair. "Make it stop!" I thrashed around wanting a relief. A relief from the pain. I felt hands trying to restrict me. No! They are going to hurt me. The logic part of my brain was long gone. All I wanted was to go away.

"Will, we have to take her to the hospital." I heard a voice yell. I paused. Will? He was there.

"Will?" I called, calming down. He was here. I was safe. He won't let anything happen to me. "Will? Where is he? He will save me." I called, frantically. I looked around to see where he is. I saw Mom staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"I'm here." Suddenly, Will was in my sight. I sighed in relief. My head pain didn't​ throb like before.

"You're here!" I cried as I hugged him. "He will hurt me. Please, don't let him take me."

"You're not going anywhere. I'm here. No one is taking you," he said, not letting me go. My tears soaked his t-shirt as I continued crying. I was scared that Mr. Black was here, somewhere. Even though, a logic part of my brain knows that he isn't here. The memories and everything is overwhelming. It's taking away the logical part of my brain. "Shush. Everything is fine. You're fine."

I slumped against him. My eyes droopy. Exhaustion took over my body from all the thrashing and crying. My eyes begin to close on their own. "Don't leave me."

"Never." Was the last thing I heard before darkness took over. I couldn't be any happier.

**

William

Scared. I was scared. Scared as to what happened to my sister. She was fine 'till dinner. And then suddenly, she wasn't here. She wasn't with us. I was afraid. Afraid for Gwen, afraid for what happened, afraid that she wasn't letting us near her. She was scared of us. Something I never wanted.

After dinner, I went to work and later at night I decided to complete the Los Angeles project when suddenly I heard screams. Screams coming from across my room- Gwen's room. I ran out of my room to see Blake coming out of his room. We heard yet another scream. I swallowed and ran towards it. Footsteps following behind me. As soon as I threw the door open, my heart broke at the sight.

Gwen was sobbing, her head in her hand. Blake was standing next to me and soon Nate joined us. When she didn't let us come near her, it was the worst feeling ever. She sighed when she saw Mom and Dad entering her room. She recognised them. When I called her name, her eyes began to search for it before she screamed.

"Gwen!" Mom cried. Soon Ethan, Max and Ryan came running. We tried to calm her, but nothing was working. And then she suddenly asked for me, I sighed in relief. I let her cry on my shoulder 'till she fell asleep from exhaustion. I laid on Gwen's bed next to her in a comfortable position. Her hands never leaving my shirt.

"What was wrong with her?" Ryan suddenly asked. I could see the silent tears running down his cheeks.

"My guess is another nightmare." Max said softly.

"And headache. Something triggered it. She scared me," Blake said, coming and sitting next to Gwen.

"Do something about it. I don't like seeing her like this." Mom sobbed in Dad's chest. Dad looked like he was about to cry too. I looked down at Gwen to see her sleeping peacefully with tear stricken face. I wiped the tears and pulled her close towards me.

"I'm taking her to my room. Everyone should go back to sleep." I said, picking Gwen up and carrying her to my room. Dad nodded and took Mom back to their room.

"Can I stay in your room too?" Ryan asked, walking next to me. I usually don't allow anyone in my room, but tonight I didn't have heart to say no. One by one all came in my room.

I placed Gwen on my bed and slept beside her, pulling her to my chest. She was my baby sister. She's not going anywhere without me. Ryan came to her other side and intertwined their hands. Ethan and Nate sat on the couch, thinking. Max and Blake laid down near the bed.

"She will be fine, right?" Max asked.

"Yeah," Ethan sighed. "She will be."

After that everyone feel asleep. I looked down Gwen. "I love you, princess." I said, kissing her forehead. Adjusting myself, I pulled the cover over the three of us–Gwen, Ryan and me.

**

Gwen

The next morning I woke up beside Will. First, I was confused as to how did I end up here. And then I remembered the night before. I was horrified as to how I behaved. I sat up and tried to pull my hand, but I saw it was in a tight grip. Ryan was next to me, holding my hand tightly with his. Whereas to my other side was Will who was holding me close. Nate and Ethan were sleeping on the couch in an uncomfortable position. Blake and Max were on the ground.

The guilt urged into me. Tears fell from my eyes again. My brothers were sleeping here in an uncomfortable position, all because of me. All because I couldn't hold back a stupid nightmare. I covered my mouth with my other hand to stop them from waking up. I bit my lips to stop the sob. I got up slowly, not wanting to disturb Will or Ryan.

But suddenly, Blake got up from the ground. He looked up at the bed to see me staring at him. He instantly smiled at me. I got up and sat next to him on the ground.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, ashamed.

"Why?" He asked, confuse.

"It's my fault you had to sleep down without a bed."

"It's no big deal," he said, shrugging. "All that matters is that you are fine."

"I didn't mean to scare you guys yesterday. It's just..." I trailed. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat and looked around. This time I couldn't hold back a sob. Arms wrapped around me. "I'm really sorry, Blake."

"Sh.. It wasn't your fault. Don't cry." He whispered. "I don't like it when you cry."

The bed creaked and we turned to see Will and Ryan getting up. They came and sat beside me and Blake. Soon, Nate and Ethan were sitting as well.

"We'll all go through this together. You're not alone. And never will be." Max said with determination. I laughed at his concentrated face.

"Thanks, you guys." I said, giving them a small smile.

"Brother's hug!" Nate exclaimed, loudly.

"I'm a girl," I stated.

"Yeah," he snorted. "Sure!"

"Hey!" I complained. He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. We all hugged and then I pushed everyone out of the room. After pushing Ryan, who was last to get out, I ordered him to get ready for school. He gave me an unsure look, but reluctantly left. I was still in Will's room knowing that he won't let me go without an explanation.

"You want to know?" I asked, sitting on his bed.

"Only if you want to tell."

I sighed. I looked at him and bit my lips. "You won't like it. Just...just don't be angry."

"No promise," he said.

"I had this stupid fight with Ashton, Tyler related. He said some stuff he shouldn't have. I got pretty upset as it was related to Tyler, my past, his sister getting hurt, him being rude. But don't worry that's our problem, we'll solve it. So as I was saying, he said stuff that reminded me of Mr. Black and then I got nightmare and everything was so confusing that when you entered, I interpreted it with Mr. Black and my head was killing me. I'm sorry." I completed softly.

We sat there for a few minutes, neither of us saying anything. I could feel Will's anger rolling off him. His face was turning pretty red. I thought one of his veins might just burst open.

"You promised not to get angry!" I hurriedly said.

"I'm not," he stated, dangerously calm. I eyed him not believing a word that comes out of his mouth. His expression and eyes gives it all.

"Will, please. I want to handle this myself."

"Yeah? But yesterday when I saw you that way, I don't think it was easily handled. You scared everyone. Mom was crying, Dad was worried. Us rest were freaking out, not knowing what's happening to you. Even Blake was completely clueless." He said, angrily.

"I know, but please. Let me do it. I just want you to be by my side. Just let me do it." I pleaded.

"Fine. And you're not going to school today. I want you in my eye sight." He ordered.

"Hey! No ways. Tomorrow is the treasure hunt. We have preparation to do. I can't leave it. I'm going. Whether you like it or not!" I said, crossing my arms.

He let out an irritated groan, running his hands through his hair. "Alright, fine. But I'm coming with you to school."

My eyes bulged out of my socket when he completed his sentence. No way in hell. A 25 year old man coming to school to look after a 16 years is so embarrassing. It'll hurt my reputation. 'The head girl can't look after herself' that sounds so bad.

"Will." I whined.

"I'm not listening. If you want one thing, the other thing goes as I say," he said, giving me a point look. "Do we have a deal?"

I narrowed my eyes. His expression didn't phase a little bit. I knew I lost here and had to let him accompany me. As for Ashton, he has to watch out. I'm pretty upset with his words. I'm not forgiving him so easily. Also I have to talk to Tyler about it.

Today's a long day. Extremely long.

**

Hey guys. It's been a while. This is a long chapter and a little more emotional. How many of you cried while reading it? It literally took me so much time to write this chapter. I wasn't planning on writing a fight between Ashton and Gwen, but what couples don't fight. It looks unrealistic, so I put this. Until then.

Read vote comment. :)

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