Sorry for not updating in like 3 weeks, I have a serious case of writers block! Sorry if this chapter is a little boring, if anyone has any good ideas for a chapter, please please please let me know. Anyways, enjoy!
— Em🏹💗
A sharp, piercing scream tore through the hallway as Jen and Colin bolted upright, both taking a moment to adjust.
"Lily." Colin sighed, before getting to his feet and heading out of the room, Jen not far behind him.
When they reached Lily's room, they noticed the small girl curled up in a cocoon shape, sat on the edge of the bed with tears staining her little face. They both rushed over to her and crouched down to her level, looking into her broken blue eyes.
"You're okay, we're here." Jen whispered as she took one of her hands in hers, and Colin took the other. Lily let out a loud whimper, before breaking down yet again.
"He was here. He had me. He hurt me. He took me back." She cried, and Jen stood up to climb onto the bed, pulling Lily into her side.
"It's okay, we won't let him hurt you again." Colin assured her, squeezing her hand a little in his.
"What if your friends don't like me? What if they want to hurt me too? Or send me back to him?"
"Oh sweetie," Jen started as she wiped away Lily's tears and held her close. "You don't have to worry about that. They will love you, I promise."
"Now come on. Try and get some more sleep. Jen and I will stay here if you like, to make sure nobody can get to you?" Colin smiled, and Lily nodded slowly.
"Okay, lie down then." Jen nudged her, and she lay down on the left side of the king sized bed. Jen lay next to her as she took her hand, and Colin slid in the other side of Jen. He wrapped his arms around her waist and Jen kissed his forehead, before turning to face Lily. He buried his face into the back of his neck as he slept, and a smile crept across his features.
"Goodnight." They both said before drifting off.
"Goodnight." Lily replied. For once in her life, she had a sense of security. She felt like maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to be afraid. She could be safe.
—
The following morning, Lily was the first to wake. She thought about waking Colin and Jennifer, then considered trying to fall back to sleep, but ultimately decided to get up, and ready for the day. She pondered around her bedroom until she found some suitable clothes - a pair of blue, skinny jeans and a plain, pink shirt - and then walked over to the bathroom. By the time she had washed, cleaned her teeth and combed her hair, Jennifer was awake.
"Morning," she greeted Lily sluggishly when she returned, holding her hand to her forehead and looking around the room with a puzzled expression.
"Morning." Lily returned as she folded her pyjama shorts and placed them into the top draw.
"Here, let me do that." Jen smiled enthusiastically as she bounced off of the bed and skipped over to the young girl. Lily smiled gratefully, stepping back to allow Jennifer some space.
"What would you like for breakfast?" She asked when she had finally finished.
"I'm not really hungry yet."
"You sure?"
Lily nodded, before shrugging slightly. "Do you mind if I go down and watch the tv?"
"Of course you can, would you like me to set it up or are you good?"
"It's okay, I think I remember. Thanks though." She smiled, before turning leaving the room. Jen heard her feet patter excitedly against the wooden steps as she jumped excitedly down them. To her, even tv was a luxury.
After a quick cuddle with a very sleepy Colin, Jennifer headed into the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup. She went for the usual look; a little concealer, mascara, powder and a nude lip.
Colin prepared coffee for himself and Jen, along with juice for Lily, before taking a seat next to her on the couch. Jennifer soon joined him, the three of them enjoying their last few moments of peace.
Before either of them knew it, that time was over and there was a loud knock at the door. Lily's stomach began to flip uncontrollably, and Colin noticed her face growing increasingly paler. Her eyes began to fill as her breathing grew rapid, her whole body vibrating like crazy. He took her hand after Jen leapt up to grab the door, squeezing it in his reassuringly.
"Just stay with me, you'll be fine." He smiled, before standing up off of the couch and helping Lily up with him.
"Hey!" Jen smiled as she opened the door, instantly pulling Jared in for a hug. He was here with Lana, so now they were just waiting for Ginny and Josh. Jennifer took the two into the sitting room, only to see that Colin and Lily were gone.
"You said you wanted to talk to us?" Lana hinted, frowning at the puzzled expression on Jen's face.
"Uh yeah, but we need to wait for the others first."
"Okay."
"Can you two wait here for a second, I need to get Colin." She giggled, Lana and Jared both nodding.
She skipped up the stairs and straight into her bedroom, knowing that's where they'd be. She was right.
Colin was sat on the end of their bed, Lily cuddled under his arms. Her pretty face was stained with tears, and her body was shaking uncontrollably.
"Hey, what's wrong?" She whispered, bending down and taking Lily's hands in hers.
"I'm scared." She sobbed, burying her cheek further into Colin's side.
"You don't have to be sweetheart. You know Colin and I would never put you in any danger. These people are some of our closest ever friends, and I guarantee they'll love you!" Jen promised, a huge grin playing on her lips. "I know, why don't you come down with us and say hello. If you get scared or if you don't like it, you can come back up. Does that sound okay?"
Lily nodded sheepishly, the sudden sound of the door making her flinch.
"That will be Josh and Ginny." Colin sighed, turning to climb off of the bed.
"Don't worry, I got it!" They heard Lana call from downstairs. Colin returned to Lily's side, before taking her hand in his and pulling her off of the bed.
"Okay, let's go." He smiled as he followed Jen out of the room, lingering on the stairs for her to introduce Lily.
"Jennifer!" Josh sang as soon as he saw her, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her in for a tight, air-depriving hug.
"I missed you too, Joshua." She giggled into his shoulder, holding out her arm to take Ginny's hand. She squeezed it tightly, before dropping it down, back to Josh's side.
"Okay, you can let me go now. I need oxygen."
Josh kissed her cheek lightly as he laughed and released her. She quickly embraced Ginny, before ordering the four to take a seat on the couch.
"Okay so—" She started, but Jared instantly cut her off.
"Where's Colin?"
"I'm getting to that." She laughed, hinting for him to be quiet. He got the idea, as he blushed and closed his mouth tightly shut.
"Anyway, I wanted to speak to you guys about this first, before I tell anyone else. I haven't even told my parents yet, actually." She rambled, trying, and failing, to compose a speech in her head. "A few weeks ago, we found a little girl on the streets. She was abused and starving, beaten to the bone."
"That's awful!" Lana sighed, bringing her hands to cover her disgusted expression.
"I know. Colin and I took her into the hospital, but they wanted to send her to a group home. I couldn't let them..." She trailed off.
"What are you saying, Jen?" Josh asked, a confused look in his eyes.
Before she had the chance to answer him, Colin entered the room. Lily was clinging onto his arm, her small torso barely even noticeable against his muscular one. She was cowering behind him, her head buried in the gap between his bicep and his chest.
The other's didn't see her at first, all four of them sitting with blank expressions on their faces. That was until Ginny gasped, her eyes soon filling with tears.
"What's wrong?" Josh asked, instantly rushing to his wife's side. Ginny said nothing, she simply pointed.
"Ginnifer, Josh, Lana and Jared..." She tailed off, smiling proudly at the little girl in front of her as she held out her hand. Colin walked over to her, with Lily still hidden under his arm. She took Jen's hand as Colin traipsed his across her little shoulder, the three standing together as one. As a family.
"I'd like you to meet Lily."