I pull the breathing mask off as i wake up, my eye lids barely open. The drip in my left hand itches as i go to pull it out.
"Don't." Dad orders as he takes my hand away.
"I hate hospitals." I whine.
"No one likes hospitals." He points out.
"What happened to the man?" I ask.
Dad shifts on his feet, i notice a cut on his lip. He sighs and looks over at me, his face flooding with guilt.
"The police took him."
"What about Zeke?"
"He's being checked over by a nurse, he was shaking."
"Is he okay?" I question.
"He's fine, just scared i think."
"Did you give him the memory stick?"
"Of course not." He laughs. I hear a knock on the door and Captain marches in, wearing his suit and his shield on his back.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asks.
"Yeah, just shaken up." I admit, smiling slightly. The pain is small but the drugs are starting to wear off.
"Dad, do you have a mirror?" I ask.
"Yeah, but i need it to touch up my lipstick," He teases. "No, i don't. I'll get one for you." He marches out, followed by Captain.
I sit there, trying to ignore the pain that travels through my body. Zeke appears at the door.
"Is your dad here?" He asks
"No, why?"
"He wouldn't let me see you." He explains, strolling in and closing the door behind him. He comes over to the bed and starts to stroke my hair.
"Are you okay?" He whispers.
"Yeah. Why were you at the house?" I ask, his touch making me tingle and getting rid of the pain.
"You left your phone at the party. I came to bring it to you. Skye, you were so brave, i would have been crying and begging." He admits, putting my phone in my hand.
"Thanks. You're so sweet." I whisper.
"I got the mirror." My dad points out, marching in. Zeke pulls away instantly and i can't help but smile at how scared he is of dad.
I take the mirror from him and raise it to my face. My nose is cut across the top and is crooked but hidden with crocodile strips. There is another cut on the left of my forehead, stitched up and another on my lip with crocodile strips hiding it.
"I thought it was worse." I admit.
"I didn't recognise you because of all the blood." Dad explains.
"Thanks." I sarcastically say.
"Pepper is on her way." He announces.
I hear high heel footsteps coming along the hospital corridor.
"Tony?" Pepper shouts. He steps out of the room and i see Pepper walking past the room window, they argue and point at each other.
"Zeke, are you okay?" I ask.
"Yeah, Im fine."
Pepper marches in and gasps seeing me.
"Skye. Oh my god. Are you okay?" She asks.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
*
Dad fills in the forms for me to leave the hospital, i lean against the reception cabinet and look at the painkillers.
"Can we go now?" I impatiently ask.
"Yeah, hold on." He mutters. I pull on my hoodie and take off the hospital waistband.
"There aren't any photogrophers outside, which is good."
We walk to the car and i climb into my dads red ferari.
When we reach home, i take some more painkillers and then sit on the sofa. Pepper makes me some soup but my lip hurts so much i don't eat much, i lay on the sofa and watch tv. My phone vibrate in my pocket, it's Zeke.
"Hey." I mumble.
"Hey. I just wanted to check you got home safe and that you're okay." He admits, i smile.
"That's sweet. I'm fine, thanks."
"Thanks. I'll speak to you later, you probably want to go fo sleep."
"Yeah, bye." I reply as i put the phone down. Zeke is so sweet.
"Who was that?" Pepper asks.
"Zeke. I met him 3 days ago."
"At the launch party?"
"Yes." I reply. I watch some more tv for about an hour and then the drug sleep takes over.
*
I wake up to the sound of smashing, i sit bolt upright and pull the blanket, that someone put on, off. I race down the stairs to the basement, my bruises and cuts throbbing. My dad is in his Iron Man suit on the floor, a pile of metal around him.
"Dad?" I ask as a tiptoe over to him, pulling off bits of metal. He groans and starts to sit up.
"Jarvis, i didn't want that much thrust." He points out.
"Sorry, sir." Jarvis applogises. I take his hand and help him stand up.
"That's going to leave a bruise." He complains.
"Join the club." I tease.
"Zeke came around early."
"What?"
"He came over to check on you but you was asleep. He left you chocolates."
"Aww."
"He likes you. Just promise me that you'll be careful."
"I can't promise that." I sing, strolling away.
"Skye!"
"Yes?"
"Please, promise me."
"Okay, but as long as you promise me that, next time I'm held hostage you will get here faster." I suggest.
"Sure, i promise."
"I promise too."
I go back upstairs and start to make dinner, pasta in sauce. I then set the table and plate the dishes.
"Jarvis, tell Pepper and my dad that dinner is ready. Please."
We eat dinner and then i start to feel really sleepy. I go to bed but my mind doesn't want to sleep. When i finally do fall asleep, nightmares take over. Cruel, disturbing nightmares. I wake up in a night sweat, i run my hands through my hair and pull on my dressing gown and slippers. I head out of my room and down the stairs to the basement, I unlock the door and lay on the sofa. Having the suits and weapons around me, make me feel safe and protected. Soon the sleep takes over again.
*
"So, have you thought about my offer?" I hear James ask. I keep my eyes tightly shut, making them think i was asleep.
"Shush. Skye's asleep over there." My dad whispers.
"Why is she asleep in here?"
"I don't know." He admits. I sit up, stretching.
"Hey." I whisper.
"Morning." Dad says, smiling.
"What time is it?" I ask.
"Ten o'clock."
"Should i be at school?" I mumble.
"You should be, you can go in late." He points out.
"I'll go get ready." I race upstairs and put my school uniform on, trying to look not like Skye Stark but more like Skye Meyers. Then i walk to the car and wait for my dad.
When we reach school, dad rings Mr. Tennan, the head master.
"Hi, Skye is coming in today, in a couple of minutes. We had a burglary at our house and she got hurt so Skye is a bit on edge at the moment. Okay, yes." He talks.
I climb out and race into school, my lesson is English. I knock on the door, halfway through the lesson, and i enter apologizing. The teacher looks at me, i watch her pupils dilate in shock, obviously at my cuts and stitches. I smile and sit down.
"I have something to ask you." Jacob admits at lunchtime.
"Sure, what is it?" I ask.
"I saw the newspaper Friday. Are you Skye Stark?" He asks.
"What? You think Im a billionaires daughter?" I ask.
"Yes. I think you are."
"Im not Jacob. I just happen to have the same name as her, it's called a coincidence." I point out.
"What happened to your face?" He asks.
"There was a robery at my house and i caught them so they beat me and held a gun to my head." I explain.
"Are you lying?" He asks, shaking his head.
"Of course Im not."
"That's a sick thing to do."
"Jacob, Im not lying." I insist. He gets up and storms away.
"Jacob!" I shout after him, my only friend walking away. I've lost my only friend.