Fighting For Life (published)

Hope- Aiden's POV

I stopped punching quickly, "honestly, I don't know what I feel for her. I know that when I told her to stay away from me I wanted to throw up. I know that she has demons in her past... just like me. But... I also know that I want to be the one to help her kill all those demons." I sighed and shook my head in annoyance. "I know that she knows me in a different way than everyone else does... She's different, and what I feel for her is different. And I know that it scares the hell out of me."

He smiled and shook his head at me. "Well... at least you're trying to get yourself out of denial." He laughed at my glare.

"I'm going to get home, I have something that I have to do. You made sure that Brandon didn't go back to try to kill Ronnie by himself, right?"

"Yeah... He's actually at your house. I told him to go check on Bri since she was acting weird at Pawpaw's party."

"Good... you don't mind staying here with her, do you?" I asked as I nodded towards the training room. "She's too beat up to go home tonight."

"Did you honestly think that I was going to let her out of my sight?" He asked incredulously. "She's the type of girl who will cough up blood, completely ignore it, and then help an old lady cross a road while she's the one dying. It's ridiculous... she needs someone to watch over her."

I smiled and nodded at my cousin. "You're a good guy, Tom."

"So are you, Aid... you just don't see it in yourself."

----

When I walked into my house, I heard loud snores coming from the living room. I couldn't help but to laugh at my best friend's ridiculously loud sleep.

I sighed as I made my way down the hall. I was going to wait until the next day, but the shadow moving under Bri and Cece's door caught my attention.

I knew that it was Bri. I knew that she hardly ever slept. She was up at all hours of the night doing God knows what.

I knocked on the door softly after a long moment of bucking up the courage to do so.

"B- I told you-" She stopped immediately when she opened the door and realized that it was me.

"It's not B," I said dumbly.

"Obviously. What?" She asked harshly.

"Can I talk with you?" I whispered as Cece moved in her bed. Briana looked at me weirdly and looked around as if to see if there was someone else around that I was talking to. "Please, Bri?"

She sighed and nodded while tightening the sweater that she was wearing around her and followed me into my room. I gestured for her to sit on my bed while I took the floor.

"She told you?" Bri accused with a whimper.

"Not technically... but I think I already knew." I sighed and tried to hold in the tears that wanted to fall with hers.

"Bri..."

"I know! I'm weak and pathetic... I just- I just can't be strong. I'm not strong."

"No. Briana, no... you are so strong."

She scoffed at my words. "Oh? And that's why you stopped talking to me and began ignoring me?"

"I am so sorry." The tears finally fell down my cheeks. I felt so badly for treating her the way I had been. "I thought that keeping my distance was going to help you. I thought that you hated me and blamed me. I just... I wanted to do right by you." I almost sobbed. "I just wanted to help you, and by trying to help you by cutting me out of your life, I hurt you."

She stayed quiet as she studied me.

"Bri I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you... I love you. I truly thought that you hated me. I love you... I really do."

She sobbed at my words.

"Bri, I only want what's best for you. And this... she let me roll up her sweater sleeves revealing several fresh cuts. This isn't it. We need to get you some help."

"I... I'm too messed up to be helped," She sobbed violently and I wrapped her up in a hug. "I'm broken and scarred in too many ways. No one will ever want me again after everything that happened."

"No. Don't ever say that. You are amazing!" I rocked her gently as she cried. "You are so strong for being able to hang on this long. You went through something so traumatic and scary... I am so proud of you for being so strong, but I'm here now Bri. I know that it's hard to trust me after the ass that I have been, but I promise that I will be there for you. I will hold you together so you can let yourself fall apart. You need help, Bri." I sobbed as I spoke. "Let me help you. Let all of us help you... We're all here. We all love you! I know that we let ourselves get in the way, but I wont let that happen again." I kissed the top of her head as she calmed down.

I pulled away from our hug and stared into her teary eyes. "Will you let me, and everyone else, help you?"

After a few moments of contemplation, she nodded slowly.

"Please... Please help me. I just... I want the pain gone."

She started to cry again and I let her as she laid down on my lap. I let her cry out her heartbreak to me. In the tears that she cried to me, though, I could see her tense shoulders begin to relax, her breathing finally begin to slow. After a few more minutes, she was fast asleep and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I looked at the cuts on her arm. I felt like throwing up at seeing them. I hated what had happened to her. What I had let her become. I just hoped that with mine and my family's help... we could make her whole again. Not back to the way she was because that would be impossible, but whole. Happy, in spite of Ronnie. I hoped that we could get her to love herself and trust others again. I hoped and prayed it to be...

A/N-
Sooo what do you think Aiden feels for Aubry? What about Aubry for Aiden? Tell me what you think! Constructive criticism always welcome! Point out any mistakes! Vote, comment and share please!!!
-KAF❤️