Oaklynn James only has two dreams: Get into the University of Michigan and be a badass detective like Olivia Benson. Her obession with both of them, are considered a little unhealthy, but it works for her. So far, it's all going as planned, there's...
This is a nightmare come true. She was supposed to watch Rebel graduate, watch both of us walk the stage with our degrees. Meet our kids, and spouses, and tell them how we were growing up. She was supposed to be at my mom's wedding- whenever that was going to be- she was supposed to get drunk with me on my twenty-first birthday, and a whole bunch of other things.
I sob for what feels like hours, eventually tears stop coming out, and I am in a dazed state. A million things run through my mind at once. The main one is that I'm not home when my family needs me the most. My body feels weak- probably from sobbing so much- my head is pounding, and I just want to curl up into a ball.
The front door slams closed, "Oaklynn, we're home. Where are you?" One of the guys calls out. "Oak- Oaklynn, are you okay?" Kane asks, touching the top of my head. "Guys or Holland, come here!" He shouts, and there are footsteps coming closer to me.
I hear things being dropped, and I see people squat next to me. "Baby, what's wrong?" Holland asks, and I shake my head. "Come on, talk to us."
"She- I- they-" My mind won't comprehend enough to say anything. I let out a shaky breath, "She's gone." I whisper. She is really gone, saying it out loud means that it's real.
"What? Who's gone? What are you talking about, Oaklynn?" Bryce asks, and tears start rolling down my cheeks again. "Oaklynn, just talk to us. Let us help you." I shake my head. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"She's gone! What are you not getting? She's gone! And I'm here when I should be there!" I yell. I bang my head against the wall a few times, until someone puts their hand behind my head. "Stop. Get away! I just-I need-" I don't know what I need. What I want is to get away. To go numb, and not feel the loss that I am.
Before I know what's happening, I am being lifted off the ground, there are whispers around me, and then I am moving in someone's arms. The smell is leather, mint, and old spice. I relax into his arms, and when I relax he kisses my head. "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it and I'll fix it baby. I promise, I'll fix whatever it is." Holland whispers against my head.
He walks into my room, and sets me down on my bed, "We're going to take a bath okay? I'll be in the bathroom getting it ready, if you need anything just say my name." He tells me, and I nod. He walks into my bathroom, and I hear the water start to run out of the faucet. After a minute, he walks back into my room, picks me up, and carries me into the bathroom. "I'm going to undress you okay?" I nod, and he starts gently removing my clothes.
When my clothes are off, he starts removing his own. Holland gets into the bath first, "Come on." He waves me in, and I shakenly get up and get in. When my body is fully submerged, he wraps his arms around me, "When you're ready to tell me what's going on, I'll be ready to listen." I nod, and we sit in silence for a long while.
An hour passes, and we relax in the now lukewarm water, "My mom called me when I got home," I start, "she told me that Nana died." He squeezes me tighter, and my tears start flowing once again, "I'm not with them Land, I'm supposed to be with them." I whisper.
He kisses the back of my head, "We'll leave first thing in the morning. We'll wake up at six, pack a few days worth of clothes, and leave," I shake my head no, but he continues, "Yes. you aren't going through this alone, neither are your mom and brother. And you aren't going there right now. I'm going to be there with all three of you okay? We're going to figure it out," he pauses, "together." He adds, and I nod.
When we have turned into prunes and the water is cold, we get out. I feel a little better having been cleaned and soaked in boiling water. As we dry off, I grab new clothes, and change into them, "Can you sleep in here tonight? I don't want to be alone." I ask, and he nods.
I wait for his stupid remark, and when he wraps his towel around his waist, he turns towards me, "If you want me in your bed, you know all you have to do is wink at me." He says, and winks at me. I roll my eyes, a small smile showing itself, and he chuckles. "Let me get clothes on, I'll be back." With that, he walks out of my room.
While I wait for him to return, I turn on my little moonlight, turn my TV on, and get comfortable under the blankets. When he comes back into my room, he shuts the door, turns off the light and literally jumps on to my bed. I laugh, "Okay monkey, make yourself comfortable then." He gives me a cheeky grin, and pulls me into his arms.
"I told the guys what was going on, and how we're leaving in the morning. I hope you don't mind." He adds the last part, having his eyes meet mine. When I shake my head, he gives me a sad smile, "Get some sleep baby, we have an early morning."
With my head against his chest, I nod. Music plays lightly in the background, the other guys are laughing in the distance, and the heater in my room is making a small buzzing sound. "Good night, Land." I say, and drift into a light sleep. ---------------------------
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