Chapter 371: 1-4

“umph-” Kieran groaned slightly, turning his head to the right then, to his left to my face, blinking until I think I came into focus. My hand on my lap was shaking, because well… he wasn’t smiling, or saying anything… My shoulders sagged in defeat when he didn’t say anything or seem to remember me, “Hi… I’m Oakley…” “uhg – I know who you are Oakley – where?” he stopped looking around. “Let me get Gabriel or Chelsea-” his eyes widened and his color drained when I mentioned her name, Gabriel! Come back he’s awake… something is wrong though, I said Chelsea’s name and then its like last night! “What’s wrong?” I asked as he began shaking his head, his eyes the worst part of all of this. They began so empty, just like – like he had given up… “Kieran what’s wrong, you aren’t in trouble, that’s not why you’re here… someone hit you and you had to have surgery after you walked me home…” “Kieran,” I said a bit louder, and waited for him to turn to face me again, I stood, but not close enough to even reach for his hand. “You aren’t in trouble, Chelsea isn’t mad, she didn’t hurt you. That’s not why you’re here,” I repeated the words over and over again, getting worried until finally he blinked and I could see that maybe he was coming back. “She’s – she’s not mad?” he whispered his voice shaking. “No… I’m not mad Kieran it was an accident,” Chelsea said before I could answer him, she slowly came into the room standing near the wall. “It wasn’t done purposely, I have no reason to be angry with you Kieran,” she assured him, and after a few beats, he nodded his head. “So… what do you remember? I mean besides that you accidently bumped into me?” she asked and I was dying to know the answer to that question myself. More than a bit worried that he wouldn’t remember, and majorly concerned that he would remember but think that he should still stay away from me. I didn’t like being away from him though. Hanging out with Kieran, or Chelsea or Ben, or Tera were the best parts of my day. It was different with him; I didn’t have so much worry about if he wanted me around or if I was bothering him. I know he told me to go away or that he doesn’t want to be my friend but at the same time he wasn’t firm on that so I think maybe he liked being around me as well. Then there was the fact that… it wasn’t just about me, I liked being with him but maybe if people saw that I was hanging out with him, they’d give him a chance too. In Middleburg, no one had done that for me, not care what rumors were set and just be there for me. “Oakley!” Chelsea said sharply, my head snapped to her direction, “Are you okay? Is it your head?” “What’s wrong with her head?” Kieran asked before I could answer. I shook my head, “No, I’m fine I was just thinking-” You know what I’m thinking Chelsea- “Did he hit you too?” Kieran asked confused, a slight edge and sadness to his voice, “No, he didn’t hit me too, because you got me home safely Kieran,” he looked at me blinking, before focusing on his hands in his laps. My eyes darted back and forth between Chelsea and Kieran, when no one says anything and the lull becomes stifling – to me at least – I move on, “You’re sister is going to be back in a few minutes,” I told him and watched as he gave me that confused eyebrows knitted together stare. “Why?” with wide eyes, I’m left a bit speechless; because of that one three letter word. . . . Chris POV I trudge along heading home and hoping to catch some sleep but I’m met at the porch by Juliet and Shavon – our children’s’ therapists – their eyes sorrowful. “You heard about last night?” I ask tiredly sitting on one of the outdoor chairs. Nodding, Shavon answered, “Yeah… last night was rough, Kayla seeing what she had, it’s left her a bit confused, as well as jumpier than we’ve seen her Chris,” I nodded expecting that. “She wasn’t ready to talk, and she didn’t sleep at all, I mean she spent most of the night in the bathroom,” I closed my eyes willing myself to relax, holding onto that string of calmness. “Chris… you knew it would happen… she hasn’t been exposed to that since she was found in that basement prison. Seeing it now, it’s bound to be messing with her head.” “She had such a good day yesterday, I mean she had a panic attack and her terrors but, she napped for nearly four hours, cuddled up to that boy and her wolf toy.” The shakiness in my voice grows. “You guys should have seen how she woke up… I – I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wake so peacefully; there was no fear in her eyes. She just sat up, looked around and she – it was so – just so amazing to watch. I want that for all of them, but I – those moments are so fleeting with her.” I was fighting for control of my emotions, as the door was pushed to the side and Kayla came out, her hair loose, striped cotton pants and a thin long sleeve. “Morning,” I greeted her brightly, but my hand is on my lap in a fist, curling and then opening. Nodding she comes out, and I take notice of the items in her hand, two juice boxes, two bags of cereal, her wolf and tablet. “Is all that for you?” I joke. “No papa,” her reply whispered. Silently when I realize whom it’s for, I curse myself. “Honey…” I say not wanting to disappoint her, “I’m not sure that Ben will come today… his sisters friend was hurt last night and he was up until maybe two hours ago,” her shoulders deflate, she nods and crawls inside her pod on the porch without a word.