Author's Note: Heyy guys first of all THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to the 90k reads!! Thank may not mean much to some people but it is amazing to me!! I'm actually proud of how quick this update came out! Please vote and comment I LOVE reading your comments !
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Nile's P.O.V
The house was quiet when I got in, I looked out the window to make sure Manny's car was gone. I really did not need her in here because I wouldn't be okay with anything happening to her. Walking further into the house the stale smell of cigarettes assaulted my nose. There were beer bottles smashed on the floor and the television was on, but the sound was off. As I walked further into the house I saw Darren passed out at the bottom of the stairs. He must have been trying to go upstairs and blacked out. Clenching my fist I threw it out stopping just a couple of inches away from his face. I wanted to kill him. I wanted him to feel even a portion of the pain he has caused me throughout my life. The anger I held inside for him went deep down to the very core of my soul.
However, pulling myself away from him, I stepped quietly over his body praying that he would not wake up. Walking up the stairs I made sure I was quiet because I didn't know where my stepmom was and she played a role in this as well. She was just as guilty as he was. Their bedroom door was closed bringing me a little bit of ease. Making my way to Aria's room I hoped that she was okay. I found her laying on her bed her eyes closed, but I knew she was fake sleep. Whenever Darren would be on one of his rampages she would have trouble sleeping, but she would pretend to because she was afraid.
"Hey, hey little lady." I called to her quietly so she wouldn't be afraid. When her eyes popped open I closed her bedroom door behind me. Sitting in front of her bed I examined her tear stained face. She didn't give me much time to do so because she swiftly wrapped her arms around my neck burying her face into my shoulder. Within a few seconds I could feel the wetness of her tears on my shirt. Hugging her tightly I tried to reassure her that I was there. Honest to God I never thought he would hurt her. She was their kid. Lila, her mom didn't divorce my dad, so he had to right to hate her. Pulling her back I examined her face yet again. Her left cheek was bright red and she winced at my touch. " Tell me what happened." I said pulling out my cellphone to text Manny. I needed to get Aria out of this house for a bit.
"He was looking for you." She hiccupped. " I heard him calling your name and he sounded so scary. He was outside and mommy was giving me dinner." Laying her head on my shoulder Aria yawned. Rubbing my hand on her back I tried to stop her from shaking as she continued to cry. Clothed only in sweatpants and a undershirt I knew she was cold, but I didn't want to move her yet until she finished telling me what happened.
"Daddy came in and he was drinking. Mommy had went upstairs after she gave me dinner and I was sitting eating." Hiccup. " Daddy watched TV while I ate. I made a mistake Nile. I made a mistake." She started crying a bit more.
"Its okay. Tell me what happened."
" I spilled my milk on the table and daddy got mad and started yelling. He told me I was bad and he- he." Her body shook and she hid her face in my shoulder. I didn't ask any more questions. Trying to control my anger I held on to her lightly, but tight enough to let her know I was there and that I would protect her. As she cried in my arms I could help, but remember how scared I was when she was born. When Lila got pregnant Darren became a completely different person. He waited on Lila hand and foot and he rarely ever got drunk during those nine months. I remember thinking that things were going to be different. When Aria was born he called her, his second chance. However, that only last about a few months. Then he was right back where he always was passed out with a bottle in his hand. I could feel the rage coursing through my body as I thought about the man who should have been my example of a man. What kind of man put his hand on his daughter? Aria's soft snores calmed me a bit. She was fast asleep. It broke my heart that she cried herself to sleep. I need to get her out of here.
Nile: Come
I knew the one word text message was not fair to Manny, but it was all that I could get out as I went to work. Packing a few pieces of clothes in that stupid frozen backpack I got Aria ready to go. The backpack makes me angry because Darren yelled at her for crying because of how much she wanted the backpack. He scared her so much she was shaken up for days. All she wanted was the stupid backpack. Making sure not to wake her I pulled the sweater over her head and put some sneakers on her feet. Lifting her back in my arms I silently made my way out of the house. Darren was still passed out on the floor so we were in the clear. Standing on the side of the house, I hid us just in case. I just needed Manny to take Aria to her house then I would wait out the outburst and deal with what I should have been here to deal with. It was my fault he would have taken his anger out on me and left her alone. My hold on her tightened, I couldn't protect her. I should have protected her.
When I started this whole process of trying to et myself out, I didn't think about how Aria would be affected. I didn't think about the fact that he would hit her. She was his daughter. The anger coursed through me. What kind of man hits his daughter? It sickened me because he was her first introduction of how a man should treat her. I didn't want her to grow up thinking that it is okay for her to be hit. The dark car pulling up silenced all my thoughts. My feet moved without so much as a command from me.
"Can you take her to your house?" the words came out rushed and without so much as a greeting. I didn't have time to be happy to see her. The puffiness in her eyes and her tear stained cheeks let me know that this hasn't been an easy night for her either. She watched Aria curiously her bottom lip slipping into her mouth. Fear. A look I don't think I have ever seen on Manny's face was currently taking complete and total ownership. Ignoring it the words continue " I haven't gotten the chance to ice her cheek so can you do that for me too." The both of them needed to get out of here.
" I can. Nile what's going on?" Her words contradicted the look on her face. They were strong and held no fear at all. How did she do that? How did she keep her voice so trained when she was clearly afraid. It made me long to know what was going on in her head. However, what I wanted in this moment did not matter. Aria's and Manny's safety was the most important item.
"It's my fault Manny. It's my fault and I have to fix it. If I were here he wouldn't have. How could I do that?" Swallowing I tried to take the words back. I gave her Aria and watched as she stirred a bit before snuggling into Manny. I didn't mean for the words to to come out. Everything in me wanted to swallow up all the blame and handle the situation. I wanted to suck it up and be a man about it. The man Darren always told me I wasn't. I could hear his words clear as day. The words that told me I wasn't that different from him. But what in the hell was his definition of a man? Someone who drinks his feelings away? Someone who uses his damn kid as a stress reliever?
Manny's hold on Aria became protective. Her face no longer held fear, but rather a mixture of anger and worry. Her words came out rambled "I don't know what you're talking about, but whatever it is I promise you it's not your fault. Come to my house. We'll talk to my dad and he will find a way to fix whatever is going on." She pleaded.
"Here's her bag pack it has a couple pieces of clothes in it and a stuffed animal." I replied trying my hardest to ignore what she was saying. I could see her patience wearing thin. Her eyes were intense as she stared at me and tried to figure me out, but damn it if she didn't know me better than most people. I was fighting with myself. There was part of me that wanted her to know everything. I wanted her to see the pain my day to day held. She knew the story, but not the emotion behind them. She didn't know that although I hated Darren, there was part of me that wanted him to be my dad again. I wanted him to look at me and see his son. How stupid was I? "She's asleep right now I finally got her to stop crying. Just put ice on her cheek and-" the words coming out on the their own accord.
"NO!" Her words shocked me. There was no room for argument her eyes mad with frustration. "Nile, I'm not a selfish person. But I am going to be right now. I need you to get in the car and come home with me." Taking a determined step towards me she pulled me down to her. Her eyes probed me and I wanted to know what the hell she was seeing. No. I couldn't go with her. I had to stay here and handle. "Please."
That was my undoing she sounded so small. Squeezing my eyes together I tried to regain control of the situation. However, all control was lost when the tear I have been trying to hide escapes. Wiping it away I hoped she didn't see it. In that moment my mind was made up. Tomorrow would happen no matter what I had to say about it, but right now in this moment the one person who made me feel like I mattered was standing in front of me. Taking Aria from her I walked towards the car. I did so quickly before I had time to change my mind. Once Aria was buckled in I took the passenger's seat. Manny did not realize what was happening, but as soon as she did she was in the car as well. Her body physically relaxed, but she was still very much afraid. Placing my hand on her thigh I closed the gap between us. I needed her close and she needed the coaxing to drive. Within a few moments we were on the road the radio was low and Aria's soft snores filled the car. Drumming lightly on Manny's thigh I let my thoughts sweep me away. Was I a selfish person? Whenever we moved from place to place I didn't allow myself to get involved with anyone because I knew it wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be fear to come into their lives and make memories with them, while never being able to fully be myself. I was not the person they knew. I wasn't a normal teenager. I couldn't just be in high school and enjoy life. I had more scars on me than a boxer. My mind continues to move at hyper speed as I thought about the way I involved Manny in all this crap. Who knows where her life would have been if I didn't come her way a couple of months ago. Maybe I needed to give her an out.
"Hey. We've been here for about five minutes." Manny broke through my mental wall. Squeezing her thigh I watched her. I looked at her heart shaped face and the way her she looked back at me. Each time I looked at her I noticed something new. Tonight I saw the small scar by her left. Her features were soft, but little things like that scar and the way her nose crinkled gave it character. She squirmed under my stare and I smiled slightly knowing I still rattled her a bit. Hell I am a selfish man. This girl deserved the world and so much more. I couldn't even promise that she would be safe. " Lets go inside"
As quickly as the words left her mouth she was out of the car grabbing a still sleeping Aria. I was thankful that she was such a heavy sleeper. Following slowly behind them I took note of the car parked in the driveway. Mr. Axel was home and I didn't want to explain tonight to him. I didn't want to go into the details, but I knew that he was not a man to be lied to. After our dinner he made it his priority to read up on my file. Every note and every suspicious report he read them all. He didn't understand how many caseworkers could have let our case slip through the files, but honestly I didn't blame them. I blamed Darren. The man deserved an Oscar for being able to switch between raging psycho to doting father in one case visit.
"Manny, you're home, have you heard from Nile today?" her dad asked before even looking our direction. When he turned shock covered took over his face. He still had on his jacket letting us know that he was either leaving or he just got home.
"He's right here dad." Manny said laying Aria on the couch. She was careful not to show the bruise forming on her cheek. It weirdly warmed my heart about how protective she was about my sister. "Where were you earlier?" Manny asked pulling a blanket over Aria. Taking a step towards her dad she wrapped her arms around him. He held her close and I could he knew she needed comforting. Throwing me a questioning look he rubbed her back lightly. I just put my head down to avoid his gaze because if I were him I would hate me for getting his daughter caught up in all of this.
" I had some things to handle." He said analyzing his daughters face; she smiled at him before pulling away and making her way to the kitchen. Leaving me with her dad.
"Nile lets go have some coffee and find something to eat. " Mr. Axel said. Following towards him I took one last look at Aria. She was still very much asleep and I was thankful for it because it was one last thing to deal with tonight.
"Nile." Manny called coming out of the kitchen before I could go in. Wrapping her arms around my waist she smiled up at me. Her eyes dazzling and I was beyond confused by her change of emotions.
"What's going on?" I asked. However instead of responding she grabbed my hand intertwining our fingers. She pulled me behind her into the kitchen. Smiling I let her pull me along. How quickly she could change my mood never ceased to amaze me.
"Hey kid." The voice stopped me immediately forcing Manny to be pulled back to me slamming directly into my chest. She stumbled a bit. Letting go of her hand my arm wrapped around her waist instinctively just to make sure she was okay. However, my eyes never left his face.
"Uncle Mike?"