Aw man, I've got a presentation tomorrow yet I'm up till near 1 AM writing this...I have messed up priorities.
Anyways it was either post it unproofread or wait for a few days until I had the time, hoping yall will appreciate this option lol
I say that and there's a hilarious typo that I don't have the time to edit lmao
--
The rest of my time at hospital was pretty uneventful.
Aaron stayed as much as he could, but you could tell as time went on he was less anxious. Probably assuming if something was going to happen it would have happened by now.
Kiba visited a lot, he seemed just as bored as I was.
Aaron didn't seem to like him that much. Which was strange seeing as Kiba seemed almost too friendly towards him.
He really wouldn't talk much when Kiba or Genevieve were in the room. Which was a shame, nothing wrong with making a few friends to pass the time.
It's easy to forget that he's actually pretty shy. Especially because he seems so confident when it's just us and his family.
Well, distrusting might be a better word for it.
I was even allowed to take the bandage off. They treated my injury with surgical glue instead. The idea made me uncomfortable but it's certainly better than getting stitches. Ow. I had to wear an eye patch on my worst eye, it wasn't quite ready to be exposed to the air yet.
Eventually I was discharged. I was a bit nervous about it.
I was given a pair of light sensitivity glasses. Or you know, sunglasses. And what was basically a thick blindfold with plastic to wear at night to stop me rubbing my eyes.
I needed to see the optician every two weeks. To monitor the state of my eyes.
I didn't have my eyes covered any more, but my vision was still blurry and unfocused. Which was stressful. I had the intense subconscious urge to pull my eye patch off, like that would miraculously solve it or something.
Luca was supposed to be there at the hospital when I was discharged, but he didn't turn up. Aaron didn't seem to care at all but I found it a bit frustrating.
This resulted in the doctor not giving me the heavy painkillers just, well, average ones. Which was fair enough, it's a lot to trust a family of adolescents with a bunch of powerful painkillers, especially when the one that was going to be looking after them didn't show up.
Technically, I could pick the doses up daily, but that's a ton of effort, especially because I don't have a car...or a license.
To be honest I really wouldn't trust myself with a car. Despite the fact I'm practically blind at the moment, I mean.
They really made it seem they were doing me a favour by discharging me early. They said they were going out on a limb by trusting the brothers to look after me. Which was bullshit, they wanted to get rid of me, and they didn't give a shit about my home life.
Although, when I displayed a little discomfort at the idea of going back to the house, the nurse went as far as to ask Aaron to leave the room, and then asked me if I was being abused or something. It was alarming, but I guess if I was actually in that situation I'd really appreciate it.
Aaron seemed a little displeased when I told him what she said, don't think he quite understood it was just procedure and not that personal.
If I thought it was bright in the hospital, it was nothing compared to the sunny day outside. Even with the sunglasses on it hurt like a bitch.
Of course I also can't forget the hole in my waist making walking and sitting a painful experience. After sitting in Aaron's car for half an hour I was in a lot of pain, and also worried about my lack of sight.
Just in a bad mood in general to be honest.
Not looking forward to the chaotic tension in the house.
"You doing okay Sunshine?" Aaron asked after I gave a heavy sigh, and I forced myself to smile at him. I wasn't too pleased to notice the large number of cars outside the house as we pulled in.
Saturdays...
"Yeah..."
"What's wrong, in pain?"
"I said yeah."
"Your mouth did maybe." He smiled and I rolled my eyes. OW. Fuck.
"Okay, I'm hurting literally everywhere and hating life right now." I huffed as he turned off the engine and hopped out.
Ugggghhh.
I opened the door and just stared at the gravel.
Why are the stones wet? It's really sunny today.
Oh.
Someone's washed them recently...
Yikes.
"You alright being here? We can park round the back if you'd prefer." Aaron came up to me as I stayed sitting in the car.
"No, it's alright, it's not like I remember seeing it, so whatever."
I stayed frowning at the slightly blurry ground, and he eventually held is hand out.
"Come on, I'll help you down." He smiled and I reluctantly took his hand.
I held my waist before bracing for impact, and grimaced when my feet hit the ground.
Ow.
I stayed put when he moved forward, and he frowned at me.
"You coming?"
"Give me a minute." I shook my head, feeling a bit feint.
"Alright..." He mumbled and leaned down.
"No - ah!" I complained and grabbed onto his shoulder when he picked me up. "Aaron!" I huffed and he smiled at me.
"Don't want a free lift?" He chuckled, and I blushed.
I felt a slight wave of nausea, but it got a little better by the time he put me down at the door.
I jumped a little when the door burst open and I was assaulted by ginger hair a second later.
"Rhyyy I'm so glad you're back." Chester chuckled while squishing my head in a hug. I blinked at him when he moved back. "Oh, I told everyone else to behave and stay indoors, don't want to overwhelm you." He nodded seriously, and Aaron raised a brow at him.
"And that rule didn't apply to you because..?"
"What? I wasn't overwhelming. Wait, was I, I didn't mean to be-"
"No, you're fine." I couldn't help but smile.
Aaron grunted and Chester pulled his tongue out at him.
I followed Chester inside, noticing Aaron take a little cautious look behind him before closing the door.
"You can take those edgy sunglasses off now right?" Chester smirked and I smiled as I took them off. He openly stared at my injuries before smiling forcefully. "Great."
"Yeah... I'm a bit of a mess."
"What? No it's not that, it looks painful is all."
"A little."
"A lot. You need another dose of your painkillers. And antibiotics." Aaron sighed. "Have you seen Luca?" He asked Chester, and then looked at Chance as he walked over to us.
"No, I haven't, from what I remember." Chance answered, smiling at me in greeting.
"He's not been around much recently."
"Not surprising." Aaron huffed, rolling his eyes.
... I'm getting the feeling he's acted this way before or something.
I looked over to the living room, noticing Alex, Hunter, Nate and Caleb sitting in there talking.
Guess I should say hi...
Kinda want to put my glasses back on.
I walked over to them, not giving myself a chance to get anxious.
Caleb smiled at me as I approached, but the others were engrossed in conversation.
I walked up behind the sofa Alex and Hunter were sitting on quietly.
Alex seemed to be in the middle of explaining a story or something.
"Hey." I leaned over the couch and smiled at him upside down and he screeched like some kind of chipmunk.
"Oh, sweet Jesus!!" He choked out as he flattened himself against the sofa and I chuckled. "OH WAIT! YESS! EYE PATCH!!" he suddenly jumped up in excitement and I raised a brow.
What.
He fiddled around in his pocket as he circled the sofa, then brought out a black eye patch.
....Oh my god.
"Okay, um. Nice to see you again too." I smirked and he just shoved it into my hands.
"You need to wear it!!! Also hey." He looked at my eyes for a few moments before kind of awkwardly smiling at my hoodie.
"Pretty sure you're not supposed to wear a toy store eyepatch Alex." Hunter commented as he stood up and walked over, with Caleb and Nate not far behind.
Oh lord, overcrowding...
"Aw what? But it's cool." Alex complained.
They were all just staring at my eyes. Well, eye. "You guys are making me self conscious." I chuckled awkwardly. I looked down at the eyepatch. "I guess I could wear it on top, if you insist."
He jumped up to me in excitement. "Yasss." He picked it up and then put it onto my head, gently putting it over the actual eyepatch. The pressure hurt a little, but I smiled.
"Happy now?"
"Definitely."
"You look like an edgy bad boy character." Nate snorted.
"You look like you're in pain." Caleb pointed out quietly.
"A bit..."
"Oh, is it hurting you?"
"It's my waist really..."
"Oh right, you were shot, I almost forgot about that." Nate commented.
"Badass." Zac's amused voice sounded from behind me and I turned around.
"Hey..." I greeted, stepping back slightly.
"That's one heck of a story to tell your children isn't it." He smirked.
"My what."
"You should have seen the blood everywhere, it's taken me like four washes to get it off of the gravel."
"Dude, pretty sure you're not supposed to talk about that." Hunter complained.
"I don't mind." I smiled.
"Pretty sure the postman thought there was a murder when he came the next day." Alex chuckled.
"Almost was." Caleb stated, looking a little less happy with the direction of the conversation.
"Yeah..." Nate made a face. "Probably best not to talk about that."
"Why not, just get it over with." I sighed.
"You look like you're about to keel over Riles." Zac commented.
"ZAC!" Aaron's shout made a few of us jump.
"What did I do?"
"You know full well what you're doing wrong." He glared at him sharply. "Leave, NOW."
Zac glared back at him for a few moments before huffing and walking out. "You're not my dadddd." He joked in a high pitched voice.
"What did he do?" I heard Nate whisper, and swallowed anxiously.
"You need your meds Riley, if you're alright with that?" Aaron smiled at me gently, and I was a little whiplashed from his dramatic change in demeanor.
Please don't ever get on his bad side.
"Don't you lot have homework?" He asked, immediately setting off a wave of groans and making them all disperse.
I smiled at him as he chuckled.
"When did you get that? Let me guess, Alex gave it you." He smiled at my eyepatch.
"Yeah...no idea why he just had it in his pocket."
"It's best not to question it. Are you ready for some pills?"
"...I guess so." I sighed, becoming anxious. Don't tell me I'm getting pill shy again... thought I was getting over that.
"Come on Sunshine, they'll make you feel better." He smiled at me before taking my hand and pulling me in the direction of the kitchen.
I'm in so much pain right now...
I just leaned against the counter silently as he routed around in a bag, bringing out three different pill packets.
I stared at them in my hand when he gave me them.
I'm too tired for this...
"Don't you want them? Aren't you in pain?"
"I'll be fine without...I think." I huffed, lowering them slightly. I noticed he was frowning at me when I looked up. "What?"
"Number your pain from 1-10, 10 being the most painful."
"...I don't know, 2 maybe." I chewed on my lip. He suddenly put his hands either side of me on the counter and leaned in.
"Be honest. Riley." He demanded in a low tone and I chuckled awkwardly.
"Uh...okay.... around 6...point 8, or something."
"And why don't you want to take the pills if you're in that much pain?" He continued giving me serious eye contact and I could almost feel the bead of sweat on my forehead.
"Uh...I don't like taking pills..." I sighed. "I have a really bad gag reflex..." I grit my teeth when he continued to stare. "Or maybe I don't like feeling things at the back of my throat... because of...past trauma...or something..."
"Okay, you've taken pills before though, what's different now?"
"I don't know... sometimes I'm okay... I guess I just got the anxiety...refreshed..." I sighed. "When I met Finn again...it kinda sent me back a little..."
"Alright, that's okay, we'll work around that." He smiled at me reassuringly. "Maybe tell me things like that first next time?" He suggested, and I sighed, feeling a little guilty.
"Fine. It's not like not telling the truth in situations like that hurts you or anyone though. I don't like to complain...other people have it so much worse than me..."
"It hurts you, you don't need to justify it to me though, I understand. Pain is relative Riley, you have every reason to complain, if you can even call it that."
"What do you mean relative? I'm pretty sure dying of a disease hurts more than a scratch for any person."
"Not like that. I mean something that makes one person hurt a little can make another person break down, everyone reacts differently. And just because it's not as bad as someone else doesn't mean it doesn't matter. And it doesn't mean you shouldn't get help for it. Especially from the people who care about you." He gently cupped my cheek before kissing my forehead.
I smiled at him when he moved back. "You're sweet."
"Um.... thanks?" He raised a confused brow and I chuckled slightly.
"I don't understand why you're so patient with me." I sighed. "Even your brother's comment on the fact you forgive me too easily."
"Well..." He smiled awkwardly. "That might be because I want to forgive you, because I don't want to have any negative interactions with you. But, I can scold you if you really want." He smirked.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why don't you want to have any negative interactions with me?" I asked, and he just blinked at me.
"...You don't need me to answer that, you're teasing me."
What...?
...OH.
"Right...no my 5 IQ strikes again." I chuckled and he shook his head at me.
"Maybe about 15 IQ." He joked, hopefully, and I smirked.
I sighed as he looked down and read the back of the packets. "Well... crushing these two would potentially cause an overdose... but you can take the antibiotics as a powder, they won't be as effective though." He sighed. "Better than nothing. I'll see what other options there are later." He said as he took the two other pills from me.
"I'm sorry." I apologised, and he smiled at me.
"Don't apologize. You'll be alright for now, I know antibiotics have liquid versions at least, and we'll see about the other two, just leave it up to me, okay?"
"I'm also sorry about Luca not helping."
"Why would you be sorry about that? It's not your fault."
"Well, I guess he's avoiding me."
"Maybe, but he's being irresponsible either way. Don't worry about him, he does this sometimes. He's probably just hanging out in his campus library, or up by the creek." He sighed. "Take the pill apart and swallow the powder." He instructed, handing me a glass of water.
I looked down at it reluctantly, and heard him chuckle.
"It shouldn't taste that bad, just swallow it with water quickly."
I made a face before quickly pulling it apart and tipping the powder into my mouth. The horrific texture and taste immediately made me gag, but I quickly swallowed the water.
"Gross." I commented to myself, leaving my mouth open as it fizzled.
I gave him a look as he chuckled at me.
"I know you probably don't feel like it, but you and Caleb have something to do." He smiled sadly, and it didn't take much time for me to figure out what he was talking about.
"You haven't buried her yet?"
"Caleb wanted to wait."
"...Okay..."
Was kind of hoping it was already dealt with, but what's a little more pain.
I stared down at the floor sadly, and he lifted my chin up. "You don't have to, I can go instead. It's probably not wise to go outside in your condition."
"No... I'll go." I sighed, and he moved forwards and put his arms around my waist. I rested my head against his chest, my breathing slightly shallow from the pain.
"Isn't that a little tight?" He asked as he touched the toy eyepatch a little, and I flinched. "It is hurting you isn't it." He immediately pulled it off and I pouted at him.
He gave me a look and I chuckled. "It wasn't that bad."
"You shouldn't wear it if it hurts. Maybe when your eye is less sore, okay?"
"Sure, you're telling Alex that though." I said and he frowned.
"You were going through pain to make Alex happy?" He sighed, looking unimpressed. "I don't quite understand you two's relationship. I thought you were fighting?"
"Uh...I guess we kinda put that aside...given past events...but I don't think it was because it's Alex... I'm just like that." I sighed, for some reason annoyed at the suggestion.
"Hm, I guess that makes sense."
"Mhm." I gave him a look.
"Why'd that make you angry?"
"Who says I'm angry?"
"I do. I promise I won't suggest the idea that you like Alex again." He commented with a smirk and I raised a brow.
"I don't."
"I know that now."
"Do you?"
"You've made it very clear."
"I'm angry because I'm in pain."
"Maybe."
"Yes. Definitely."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"I will hit you."
"I'm not sure I'd feel it if you did." He teased and I leaned forward to try and hit his arm. "Whoah whoah, you could hurt yourself." He warned, grabbing my arm quickly.
"It would be worth it."
"Wow, fiery. Remind me not to get on your bad side."
"You better not, you'd regret it."
"Don't worry, getting on your bad side is the very opposite of what I aim to do."
"Aim? You're already on my good side."
He hummed, moving forward slightly, and I swallowed. "How much am I on it?" He leaned in, his face getting close, and I felt my cheeks go crimson.
What is he doing. Am I imagining this mood change.
He rested his forehead on mine, our noses brushing slightly, and I couldn't get myself to say anything.
He sighed after a few moments, moving away from me.
I blinked in shock.
What the fuck was that.
Did that just happen.
I still haven't said anything.
I'm just staring at him.
Now he's looking at me. He's raising a brow. Say something.
You're an idiot.
"You're looking a little red." He commented, and I looked away from him.
Fuckkkk.
"I'm in pain." I said, moving away from the counter.
"Maybe some store bought painkillers would help?" He suggested seriously and I gave him a look. "What?"
"Probably can't take them with the other meds." I said while facing the hallway.
"You off somewhere?"
"I'll go find Caleb I guess..."
"Right, good idea."
I sighed as I walked out, noticing the pain on my waist again. I didn't have to look far to find Caleb, as he was sitting on his own in the living room.
"Hey." I greeted quietly, and he looked up at me. He obviously hadn't dyed his hair in a while, and the silver looked more like a dip dye on ginger.
"Hey..." He smiled slightly, before staring down at the coffee table again.
"Do you want to...well, we should bury Ana, if you're up for it."
"Oh... right... yeah." He stood up. "Her body is in one of the freezers at the moment."
"Okay..."
Death sucks.
He walked out of the room, and I bit my lip before joining him in the hallway.
Aaron was giving him something wrapped in a big cloth. I sighed before staring away from them at the ground.
Focus on the physical pain... Crying would hurt a lot right now.
"Riley..." Aaron called my name quietly.
"Mhm." I mumbled without looking up, but he didn't say anything else.
Caleb walked up to me. "Let's go." He said before walking out of the front door.
I chewed on my lip harshly as we walked out and into the trees.
I couldn't really look up because I didn't have my sunglasses, but after we got into the shade of the trees I gave Caleb a reassuring smile.
"I made her a box here, below her favourite tree." He said, and I felt a little pang when he looked up at it with a smile.
Him being torn up about it makes it even worse.
I'm so sorry. I should have protected her better.
He sighed, placing the cloth on the ground next to the small grave.
He stayed still, staring at it, then sat on the ground, slowly removing the cloth to uncover her head.
I chewed on my lip as I looked away, focusing on his face as he stared at her.
He sighed again, his eyes a little glossy as he stroked her frozen cheek.
"Where did you get her?" He asked while not looking up.
I slowly sat down next to him. "I found her, in a bag. She was with other chicks."
"What happened to them?"
"They were all dead. I'm guessing it was an illegal pet trade gone wrong."
"She was a survivor huh."
"She was. She was very adaptable."
"She was lucky you found her."
"Not really, considering the circumstances." I sighed. "I should have given her to a sanctuary....I was just a kid back then though."
"She lived a much better and exciting life with you, I'm sure."
"She would have lived longer there..."
"It wasn't your fault, you know that right? Don't blame anyone but the person who pulled the trigger. Don't give him the satisfaction."
I wasn't so sure about that, but it was relieving to know he, at least, didn't blame me for it.
"Goodbye little Ana." I murmured, putting my hand on the cloth.
I put my hands on my lap as he sniffled and wrapped her up again.
He gently placed her in the box, grabbing the lid, and stared for a little while longer.
"I don't think I'll ever meet a falcon as friendly as her again..." He huffed, sniffling a little more.
"...No, you wouldn't. They're not usually tamed in that way. Which is for the best, really." I answered honestly, and his face screwed up.
"I can't believe she's gone...she was so unique..." He sobbed, seeming more and more upset as time passed.
The tears in my eyes stung like hell, but I welcomed the pain, letting them fall silently.
"I'm sorry, Caleb..."
"I'm sorry, you're the one who grew up with her, I'm being pathetic."
"You had a connection, she liked you a lot."
"Don't say that." He sobbed a little. "Ana...why do you call her that?"
"Ana? Well, it feels like a short version of it. You know, like Matthew and Matt."
"Where did you get the name Anatara from?"
"Oh...I made it up." I smiled.
"Anna..." He mumbled to himself, then smiled. "I always thought that was ironic, when I heard you say that instead of her real name." He patted the cloth gently. "Maybe we did have a connection. She was probably born around the time I moved here as well."
I'm assuming he knew someone called Anna? That wasn't his mother's name though...
He didn't say anything else about it, and gently placed the lid over the box.
He started shovelling the dirt over the top with his hands, and I began to help.
We talked for a little while about her, and birds in general, but eventually the pain got a little bit too much. I had to get him to help me stand up, because my side felt like it was splitting open again, much different to the usual throbbing.
When we walked back to the house, Aaron and Chance were in the hallway.
Caleb went up to Aaron and hugged him, making me smile.
They exchanged a few words too quiet to hear, before he stood back. Aaron smiled at him gently before ruffling his hair a little.
I looked away from Aaron when he smiled at me, focusing on the floor instead.
"I need to have a chat with you later Riley, about the charges." Chance said as he approached me. "Later." He smiled when I sighed, before walking past me and going out the door.
"You look shattered Riley, maybe it's best if you go sleep for a little while."
"Yeah... maybe."
"He said his side really hurt." Caleb stated when I didn't say anything, and I gave him a look.
"Not as much now I've stood up."
"Still seemed like he tore it or something."
"We'll have to have a look at it, thanks for telling me K."
Great.
Betrayal!
I watched Caleb walk off down the hall before sighing tiredly.
"You alright to make the stairs Sunshine?"
"Yes, not a granny."
"I think you'll find some grannies can even run up the stairs."
"What, are they special athletic vegan grannies?"
"Uh....some of them probably are."
I smirked while making my way up the first few steps. The movement of my waist caused a lot of pain, but I tried to ignore it.
Aaron stayed next to me, like he was expecting me to collapse or something.
Although, I was a little light headed when I reached the landing.
I sighed, staring into the open doorway of my room reluctantly.
"Doesn't look that homely at the moment." Aaron commented as I walked in.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing my arms in discomfort.
"Okay, we'll go upstairs." Aaron suddenly said, making me look up at him.
"What?"
"You're obviously too uncomfortable in here, it won't do you any good recovery wise. This room has too many negative connotations. You can have my bed. I'll sleep on the floor if I have to."
"Well, I'm not going to deny this room makes me uncomfortable. But I would rather go without sleep than kick you out of your bed."
"I don't mind. You're not staying in here."
"How about I sleep on the floor?"
"Are you insane? No one in their right mind would sleep on a bed while someone with a bullet wound sleeps on the floor."
"It's... healing..."
"Riley, you're on my bed, end of story. Come on."
I stared at him, giving him stubborn eye contact, before eventually just sighing.
Honestly this argument could go in circles for hours with us two.
"Fine." I grumbled, and he chuckled at me as he pulled me up. "That's another set of stairs." I sighed.
"Oh, so you are a granny after all?"
"I thought we established grannies like to run up the stairs?" I commented, and he shook his head at me while chuckling.
"Come on, unless you want me to carry you up."
"Over my dead body. Which would be quite likely if you tried to lug my fat ass up the stairs."
"Riley."
"What?"
"Are you calling me weak?"
I rolled my eyes at him.
OW.
By the time I've fully healed I'll be too traumatised to ever roll my eyes ever again.
"Sure you don't want a push at least?" He asked when I hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. I gave him a look before climbing them quickly.
I turned around and stared at him, grimacing slightly from the pain.
"Don't hurt yourself." He warned.
"Will ..won't do. I won't do that." I huffed, bending over slightly.
"You've hurt yourself haven't you."
"Probably... not. I don't think so."
"Well I need to have a look at it either way. Your eye needs a new dressing as well. So come into the bathroom."
I sighed, chewing on my lip as I followed him in.
He patted the counter before rooting around in the sink cupboard.
What does he mean by that...
"Sit on it."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you fainting or something."
"Um, what are you planning on doing??"
"Nothing, I need you to stay still."
I gave him a suspicious look before sitting up on the counter.
"Take off your shirt."
"Can't I do this by myself..."
"No you can't reach it properly." He replied bluntly, and I sighed before slipping my shirt over my shoulders.
"But you only have one usable hand." I pointed out.
"It's a bit early to take it off so it might be a bit clingy." He said, before immediately trying to rip it off.
"Ow!"
"I did warn you."
"Doesn't mean it didn't hurt! Damn." I huffed. "Ow!" I complained again when he ripped it off completely.
It was the first time I'd seen the wound, mainly because in the small amount of time I had sight, I'd been avoiding it. I also hadn't looked in the mirror, and I didn't really want to any time soon.
The wound was sown shut, which was going to be very painful to take out, I'm sure. The scarring was larger than I expected it to be, looked like a giant ball had gone through me rather than a small bullet. The tears spread outwards in little lines, looking very red and sore.
"You didn't tear your stitching, which is good. Because you'd have to go back to the hospital if you did that. You've just agitated it a little."
"A little."
"I'll just desinfect it and put a new gauze on, if you can handle that."
"Pretty sure I'll manage."
I grit my teeth as he dabbed it with antibacterial, before gently reapplying a gauze swab.
"Alright, let me see your eye. This one should come off easier because it's a little wet." He said, and I mumbled in reply as he gently pulled it off.
I blinked a few times as my sight adjusted, which was blurry and distorted, making me sigh.
"Close your eye, this may sting a little." He warned, not giving me much time before he started rubbing the desinfectant on it.
"Ow."
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No, just get it over with."
He smiled at me sympathetically before finishing and reapplying a new patch.
"All done." He smiled.
"Yay... thanks." I muttered without much enthusiasm and he chuckled.
"Come on, you're tired." He stepped away and I lowered myself off of the counter before putting my top back on.
I followed him into his room, which looked like it hadn't been used in a while, with no sheets on the bed.
I watched him as he got some out of the cupboard, and he smiled at me when he was done.
"I need to get that eye cover of yours from downstairs. But you can get ready in the mean time." He instructed before disappearing from the room.
I sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. I took my shoes off before just staring out of the window.
I leaned my head on my hand, and slowly closed my eyes.
So tired...
"Riley, don't fall asleep like that." Aaron's voice made me jump.
"What, wasn't asleep, wide awake." I mumbled, blinking the darkness out of my eyes.
He smiled, handing the mask to me and I stared down at it unsurely.
"You don't have to worry about seeing in here, you'll be safe. I'll stay with you."
"I guess so..." I sighed. "I just worry I'll put them on and never see again."
"That won't happen, your eyes are healing well." He reassured.
"Maybe..."
I sighed again, feeling extremely tired. I tried to fight it a little, but eventually just gave in and gently lay down, grimacing at the pain.
"I won't be able to sleep knowing you're just towering over me like that." I commented, and he chuckled before settling down next to me.
"That better?"
"Maybe, you're still staring though." I said, turning over to face him.
"I can't help it." He chuckled, and I tsked before letting out a heavy breath and shuffling a little closer to him.
I lowered my head so it was curled up against his chest, and frowned to myself.
"Don't forget the mask Riley."
"Hm."
"You could damage your eye."
"Mhm." I didn't move for a while, and he leaned over and grabbed it from my hand.
"Lift your head a little." He said, placing it over my eyes. I felt a little nervous about the darkness as he tightened it.
"Should get the see through ones next time." I mumbled.
"When you've healed a little more."
I gripped onto his waist when he moved a little.
"Ow?"
"Sorry, thought you were leaving." I chuckled.
"Don't worry, I won't go anywhere." He sighed, gently placing his arm over my waist above my injury.
I felt a little anxious about falling asleep, and stayed tense for a while.
He rested his head against mine and started stroking his thumb over my waist.
I couldn't help but smile a little, beginning to feel safe and relaxed. Which was certainly appreciated after today.
Maybe it's best if no one sleeps on the floor...
Just for a little while.
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