First, let me apologize for the long wait. I have had trouble with this chapter and it is still just kind of thrown together, but I had to get out of the funk. No better way than to just write whatever comes to mind! I hope you enjoy nonetheless and I promise the next chapter won't be such a long wait. Love you thank you for the support! Also HMB has almost reached a MILLION views. What? That's insane! I would love to do something special for you all! Offer me suggestions?
Anyway next chapter will be up soon!
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Bones heal stronger after they break which is sort of like when your mom ties your laces in a double knot. Your body is always prepared for the worst and is incredibly resilient to whatever the world has to throw at it, but what if it weren't? What if your mom had been in a hurry that day and not double knotted your shoelace? Your shoe would betray you and you would fall. I was use to falling, my metaphorical shoe betraying me, my bones breaking, my world shattering. I always managed to pick up the pieces and come back stronger. This time I wasn't sure I could survive anymore trauma. My bones were tired, my bones were weak, my bones were no longer resilient to the hardships the world threw at them. This didn't stop trouble from finding me though. No matter how well I hid myself, no matter how well I pretended things were normal. They weren't, and never could be.
My parents would always be dead, my family would never be able to look at me, my mind would always stay panicked, people would always stare, and I would always be in danger as long as there were people that wanted to harm me. Regardless of the fact I hadn't a clue what I personally had ever done, other than exist. The money wasn't worth my freedom, I thought staring out my window. I'd been cooped up in my small apartment for two entire weeks. Unable to go to school despite the fact Rayner had told me I would be allowed to. I couldn't leave the confounds of these walls. I couldn't even walk my own dog and therefore Rayner had taken responsibility for him for the time being, giving him back to me on the weekends.
I told myself it was because they thought I was a flight risk. I told myself it was because of what I'd done the last time, and the trouble that amounted because of it. I even told myself it was for my own good, but it didn't make anything better. There was a man watching my front door constantly and another man who patrolled 12 hours of the day around my complex. I was losing my mind in here, especially because Jackson hadn't so much as called. He'd promised me he'd be gone for a few days. It had now been weeks. He wasn't coming back, I'd convinced myself.
Rayner had not come to visit me either just to bring Kato. I'd been placed under Officer Barnes care whose name was eerily similar to Burns and despite the fact I'd expressed this made me uncomfortable, nothing had been done about it. He only came inside to sleep as per Chiefs orders. I assumed it was because they didn't want me falling in love with him too despite the fact he was 46 years old. He slept in a sleeping bag beside the front door which properly distressed me even more. Another man was suppose to relieve him tomorrow for two weeks which disturbed me even, even more because it meant I would still be trapped here. They'd decided relocating me wasn't necessary which would be great if I were allowed to leave, the school had been contacted and my professors were sending all my work via email so I was okay in that department. I was however; still incredibly bored and lacking in vitamin D. A small rasp of a knock at my bedroom door disturbed me from my self-loathing-pity-party.
"Miss Manzano may I allow a Jackson inside he is claiming to live here?" I jumped up from my spot rushing to the door but before I could reach it Officer Barnes grabbed my arm gently. "Allow me Miss." I refrained from rolling my eyes and allowed Barnes to open the door nodding his head and then Jackson was pushing his way in with a heavy bag in his hands. He looked exhausted and I could smell the warmth he brought in on his clothing which made me want to go outside. Kato wagged his tail happily beside Jackson who held onto his leash. I crouched down greeting the excited dog I hadn't seen in a few days surprised Rayner had handed him over to the guy he'd tried to fight. Officer Barnes didn't waste time stepping back outside to his post wanting nothing to do with us.
"Jackson where have you been?" I sighed caving in and hugging him even if I was sort of mad at him because he'd been gone for so long. He hugged back rubbing my back before pulling away to see my face. "Home I needed some time... Tori what the fuck is going on? What's with the airport security? He literally had a metal detector." He laughed but his face turned solemn noticing I found no amusement in the guard outside my apartment. I clutched my arm uncomfortably knowing he'd ask this immediately. "What happened?" He demanded to know his eyes were venomous probably assuming the worst.
"Come sit down I'll fill you in." I dragged his bag to the washing machine and tossed some stuff into it before joining him at the kitchen table. He was stuffing his face with a bowl of cereal while listening intently as I told him the entire country club mafia fiasco with Riley and his dad.
"I should have been here." He shook his head annoyed with himself. "Did you and Rayner smooth things over?" He inquired shoveling the last bite of his cereal into his mouth. I sighed avoiding his eyes, "I'll take that as a no?" I shook my head setting my hands on the table. "Why not Tori?" I had no answers for him because Rayner and I hadn't really had much of a chance to talk things over. "It can't be over for real, regardless of my own selfishness and interest in you I know we aren't meant to be. Rayner and you are... good for each other." He choked out making me grin. "Stop." He scolded pointing his ringed pointer finger at me. "Don't make me regret saying anything to make you feel better." I couldn't stop the smile that crossed my face, "I missed you." I cooed refraining from squeezing his cheeks.
"So why do you have Kato?" I wondered seeing my big lug of fur chewing on one of my old shoes I'd given him. Jackson took another big bite before speaking. "Rayner picked me up from the airport..." He trailed off not looking at me. I was overcome with curiosity now egging him to continue with a single glance. "He messaged me a week ago and told me to tell him when I got back into town. I just assumed you were pissed or something." I was dumbfounded. "You are mad aren't you?" I sighed annoyed he was getting in to this so soon in his arrival. Before I could say anything another thought came to mind.
"Wait! You mean to tell me Rayner dropped you off just now and did not even come up to say hi?" Jackson avoided my eyes and I was really pissed off now. Not only pissed, I was hurt. "Tori, don't take it personally." I rolled my eyes leaving with my dog to my room to pout. It was all I could do these days and I was becoming quite the expert. Jackson left me alone for awhile, probably settling in and showering before he had to defuse the bomb I had become. By the time he returned I had not moved from my place on my bed. "Barnes wants to talk to you." Jackson mumbled and there was an uncomfortable tension between us we'd have to mend in time.
I rolled off my bed and met Officer Barnes in my small living room. He looked stressed out and almost as if Kato sensed bad news his ears laid flat on his head. Barnes looked up from his cell phone, "Tori, the chief called and he wants to go over some new protocol. Rayner's been working to get a good schedule so you can safely go to school." I didn't deserve him, he was literally a saint and all this time I'd been painting him as the bad guy. Guilt ate at the pit of my stomach thinking about what he'd been trying to arrange for me these past two weeks while I'd been pissed at him.
Barnes explained the arrangement and the amount of officer's he'd have and where but I couldn't focus on what he was saying, I was still in awe at myself. How could I have thought Rayner had just dropped me off and forgotten about me? I was such a child. "This new rotation should run much more smoothly and will give you some more freedom, yes?" I nodded my head having gotten the gist of the conversation. "Great next week we will work out the kinks and get you back in class." He grinned oblivious to the fact I was having an internal battle with myself. "Thanks so much." I said mindlessly going to find my phone. I had to thank the person who'd really been behind the operation. The person who always had my back even when I was a brat.
As expected he didn't answer but I shot him a message of my gratitude. I stared at the ceiling sighing for the thousandth time today and then sought off to have another uncomfortable conversation with my roommate. Jackson and I had some things to square away and I also was ready to stop being selfish and ask him about his trip. "Hey Ja-" I entered his room finding him snoring soundly under his blankets. Of course he'd be tired from traveling, I was the actual worst. I carefully closed the door and went back to my room with Kato who'd become calmer these days. I cuddled with my dog closing my eyes napping the day away. Waiting for a response, or for Jackson to wake to no avail.
A loud knock on my door startled me from my drowsy state, the knocker intruded and I sat up Kato also sat in attention his ears laid back on his head. "I apologize Miss Manzano but may I ask you to join me in the living room?" Officer Barnes was sweating and looked nervous. "I have been unable to reach the patrolling officer for over two hours. I'm calling back up." My stomach dipped and I had a terrible feeling within me. Not again.