I fiddled with the cereal, moving it from one side of the bowl to the other, not really feeling like eating them. My stomach had been closed off ever since yesterday's accident. Granny forced me to swallow some of the burning soup, especially to make me heat up from the freezing in the rain but there was no used. I got sick either way. Snuggling tighter in the thick blanket I still feeling those unpleasant chills down my spine and knew fever was on the corner.
No problem, actually I got more urgent things bothering me. Like the permanent frown plastered on Granny before me as she as well glanced her breakfast not really into taking it. She's been so... cold. So shocked. I didn't know if she was processing it or if she was disappointed but my heart hurt more and more the more minutes her usual goofy grin is locked away. I mean, yesterday he did take care of me and talked to the school and all, but after putting it all on a roll she'd became this shadow of herself... far, so far away...
"So," she cleared her throat, breaking the agonizing silence in the kitchen, only flued by the clock's ticking. "How are you feeling today?"
"Doze." I mustered in a husky voice that only lead me to cough. My head pulsing. Man! I wrapped the blanket closer, I was really getting cold.
Granny nodded, stirring her coffee some more. "Understandable." she took a small sip. "After you got your breakfast you go back to bed and caught up some sleep. I think it's safe to say you won't be going school today." Another sip. The quietness in her voice was killing me. "I'll get some stuff done here and then you're gonna tell me everything. For real this time."
My heart raced and my finger tightened on the blanket. "I did..." but her pointed look stopped me."
"Oh, you did? Who was it then?"
Jade's murderous glare flashed throught my mind, Noel's cruel laugh, Shannon's kicks... I grimaced. If that was only for going to the principal, I could only imagine what would happen if I did gave their names.
Had it gone too far?
Yes.
Did I want this to stop?
Hell yes!
But the thing is that it scared the shit out of me. They'd already had crossed all the lines possible, their bullying became physical this time. They stripped me down to the freezing rain, for God's sake! What wouldn't they do?
"Granny-"
"No." she slammed the cup on the wooden table, her calmness shattering and making me flinch. "This already gone too far. You've always been such a smart girl. I didn't dig, did I? I trusted you to be mature enough to solve your problems, to search help when needed to, as you've always had. But this... This, Alyson. Bullying. " I looked down in shame at the awful truth. "Yesterday you said it had gone over for years!"
I blinked the tears away, not liking her this altered. This was what I had been dreading, why I hadn't told her anything. "Granny please calm down. It's not good for your heart to-"
"Bullshit." she cut me off getting up and bringing her cup and plate to the sink. "This is unacceptable. What heart? If you think this thing is going to keep me from doing something you're way wrong. I won't tolarate anymore lies so began spilling the truth and get over with this."
"Why are you so mad at me?" I stuttered even tho I meant it to sound firm. My lip trembled and her glare softened.
"Oh, sweetie." she opened her arms, gentler demeanor now and covered the distance to my seat. Her skinny arms around me felt comforting. Warm and protective, like a shield, and I leaned into her without even thinking, seeking for her comfort. "I'm not mad at you, darling. I mean, I'm mad you didn't tell me before. " I squeezed my eyes shut as her hands rub circles in my back. "But I'm so not mad at you, Alyson."
"I'm sorry." I sobbed.
"What for?"
"I... I-I don't know. For causing this. For being a trouble. I didn't want to bother you."
"Stop talking non-sense." she shut me with a dismissive wave steping away. "Now go have your sweet rest and then we'll made it to the school."
My stomach churned at mere thought of going back there. "But-"
"Hush I said." her voice hard but the breif kiss on my forehead melted the harshness immediatelly. She frowned. "You're burning." her cold hand caressed that same spot testing my temperature and her tongue clicked in disapproval. "Just go, sweetie. I'm cleaning this things and then I'll bring you a paracetamol."
Not really having much of a choice I did as she said, struggling tho. My knees felt numb and it felt as if the strenght had left my articulations, leaving me to lamely walked up the stairs and snuggled under the covers, shivering at its coldness when they came in contact with my heated form. I felt like melting, like exploding. My head was pounding so hard that it practically numbed the soreness of my ribs.
I felt like shit.
I must have fallen sleep, fading flased of Granny coming with a pill, tugging me porperly under the covers with a worried expression mixed with the darkness of the dreams. I woke up and fall sleep uncountable more times, only realizing the pass of time for the shifting of the shadows in my room before immediatelly loosing conscience again.
I kept zonning and and out of darkness, each time I opened my eyes I was tucked deeper and deeper in blankets and a cold compress over my forehead. I believe Granny forced me to take more pills and maybe soup? I couldn't swear, my memories were kinda numbed.
But the next time I woken up and was fully conscious of my surrounding the sun was low throught my window. And not low as if sunsut, but low as if breaking down.
Wait what?!
I immediatelly snapped into a sitting position but regret it right away. A pang of sharp pain squeezed my brain where my head and back meat and an uncomfortable soreness was settled in my muscles. I felt hot, too hot under what it look like three blankets to the point I was slightly sweating.
"Oh, your awake." I looked up to the door just seeing Granny walking close and slightly touching my forehead. I grimace but she gave me a small grin. "Good, seems like your fever is gone... or at least most of it."
"Gone?"
"Dr Andrews came yesterday and gave you this pills, they're magic. You scared me yesterday. When I came up here you were burning and unaware of your surroundings. I was afraid I might get to call the ambulance but Andrews agreed to come by in no time. Such a sweet man."
My mind still struggling to understand what she was saying? Dr Andrews? He lived a couple streets down and Granny always brought him vegetable from our small garden in the back yard. Thank God he skip us an hospital trip. It would had been damn expensive and we weren't in a position to waste a dime.
Granny pulled the thick covers off my body and a shiver shook me from the sudden lost of extre warmth, but al least I wasn't freezing like yesterday. Guess whatever those pills were they did work their magic.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better." my voice came out tight and hoars and I had to cleared my throat. Not like it helped that much. I ended coughing to her concerned frown. "I'm better now, thank you."
"No needed. Now get up and shower. You'll take breakfast and we'll have Mr Jones over in a bit."
"Mr... Jones?" I frowned, covinced I heard wrong but my grandma only smiled and helped me up from bed in my shaky legs. "As in the principal?" I coughed.
"Of course." she gently patted my back, answering as if it was no big deal that the principal was about to came here. Here! "I was so insensible yesterday, wanting you to go there in your situation. I'm so sorry sweetie, I just thought you weren't that sick. So instead today I called and he agreed to come."
"Agreed?" I croaked standing on the bathroom door, not getting out my awe as she began undoing my bed. At my question she hummed nodding. "You called the principal and he agreed to come here on his working time? Just like that?"
"I can be pretty convincing, darling."
Oh, I'm sure of that. If anyone could get away with anything they want that is for sure Granny. I shook my head softly, startled.
"Jones told me you went to him two days ago, right?" my blood froze at the reminder. Yeah. Right before the attack. I could feel my injuries pulsing through the numness of the recent fever at the recall. "That was so brave of you, Alyson. Very well done. And so he'll be here in no time and you'll fullfield your report. You're gonna tell him everything and he'll handle things like they should had."
My mouth dried as I tried to shallow. "Would you made him expell them?"
"Oh, sweetie, I would love to just go there and pull their ears 'til they come to their senses, but no."
The small smile that had started to form at her bluntness faded at once in disbelief. "No?"
"No." she shook her head confidently confusing me further. "I won't. You will."
I choked. "What?"
"You will shower, go down there, and when Mr Jones come you'll nicely tell the gentleman the names of those fuckers that cornered you the other day." I gaped at her, eyes wide and pulse wild, but she sweetly smiled and tugged me further into the bathroom. "Full names and ID for good measure."
"But-"
"Later." she pushed me towards the door for unteempth time. "Now. Shower."
..........
Three hours later, Mr Jones still yet to come. Earlier Granny had gotten a call saying he'll be stopping by at lunch break, so we'd now Granny was cooking early lunch for us so we could gave him our full attention the moments he had for us. I was still shivering at the thought of coming clean about everything. Was it a good thing? I'd get rid of my bullies, of the harrassment... or would it only increase?
I got texts from both Macy and Norah since they left two days ago, and basically answering them, sipping hot tea and lazily zapping through chanels while Granny cook was all I'd been allowed to do in the morning... Not like I could do a lot more since I was still kinda dull and numb form the fever, my bruises tender as well. Let's just say I wasn't in the best shape. And I keep feeling like crying when I get overwhelmed -way too often- with their attack in the changing room.
Soft knocks came from the front door and I looked there from my comfy spot on the couch. Did Granny called someone else? Was Mr Jones that early? More knocks came and my grandma voice came from the kitched above shuffling sounds.
"Is someone knocking?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh, so soon?" she voiced my thoughts. "Do you mind getting it, darling. I'll be there in a second.
"Sure."
The moment I moved from my warm spot I was greeted with cold air and I shuddered, wrapping the blanked tighter around me. Okay maybe the fever hadn't dispelled completely.
I reached the door and opened it, my grin freezing on my lips when none other than Brett was standing on our doorstep. My heart skipped a beat when our eyes met and everything came back to me. I felt even more weak and exposed than ever. He slightly smiled and opened his mouth but my self preservation instincts jumped before he could said anything. "No."
And I shut the door right at his nose. Why is he even here? After how I shut him off yesterday I was truly hopping he finally would get it. Apparently not. And shouldent he be at Clayton?
I hear a muffled curse before his soft voice reached me through the solid wood: "Come on, Lys." my eyes stung and I blinked to avoid ending into tears. Again. "We need to talk. Please."
No way. I crawled my way back to the couch and laid there exhausted. He knocked again and I grunted, digging myself under the covers and shutting my eyes with force.
"Who was it, honey?"asked my grandma.
"Jehovah's witnesses." I muttered hoarser than ever.
"Oh."the doorbell sounded again and I pressed the pillow over my head. Why can't he just leave? "They're persistent, aren't they?"
I grunted.
"You know how annoying they can be."
I heard her leaving the room again and I relaxed, hopping to find some comfort and healing on a worth repairing sleep...
"Brett!" my eyes snapped wide open when I heard Granny's cheerful tone. "How are you dear? Alyson told me you were... well, never mind. This girl, right?"
"How are you, Mrs Blythe?"
"Fine, boy. Glad to see you again. You must have come to see my granddaughter, am I right? Oh, please come in."
No no no no no. This can't be happening. I heard footsteps and I almost panicked. Quick pretend you're sleeping!
I pulled the blanket 'til my nose and forced my muscles to relax. Was nearly and impossible mission when I sensed their presence on the living room. Immediately I felt his eyes burning my face and I got goosebumps all over me, but I struggled to remain still.
"Poor thing. She fell asleep." Granny hummed. "She's pretty sick, you know? She must had get cold somewhere. I always tell her to warm up but well. Oh, don't worry you can wait there. I'm going to check the oven. We don't want accidents, do we? Hold on a second."
Her tapping on the floor move out of the room and my breath shallow. No no no no. Don't leave me with him! But she did and suddenly the room was filled with my forced breaths and the muffled buzz of the TV. When I heard movement and his presence neared I prayed to any god above for him to leave.
Please, please, don't let him hurt me again-
"Lys?" his voice was soft and almost tender, so unlike Brett. A sweet ache spread through my chest. The silly part of me, the part that loved him once ago, cried at his smooth side. The part of him I wanted but he never seemed to feel like showing me. Somehow I managed to stay still. Not moving a single muscle. But apparently it wasn't enough. "I know you're awake."
Don't. I fought with everything I had to prevent my shivering and kept my little act going. Mr Jones could be here in no time and I could cut all this crap from the root. He won't win this time. Even though my heart wild pounding against my rib-cage were echoing in that suddenly too small room.
I almost jump when I felt his cold fingers stroking my hair off my face, but somehow I kept it in a weird tick and turned my head further into the pillow. Stay still, Alyson. Just. Remain. Still.
"Alyson..." he let out a frustrated sigh and I prepared myself but his tone was sad and defeated when he spoke: "I'm sorry."
Thump thump thump-
My heart went on relentless and I felt more and more lightheaded the more he stayed there. Not believing his words for a moment and only feeling a huge void in my chest at them. I need him gone. Now.
"I'll take care of it, okay?" Brett waited, like hoping for a reaction from me, but even though that my traitorous lip trembled I didn't. When he realized that I felt him getting away. "I promise."
Liar.
More like ever I felt like crying.
"Mrs Blythe? I'm gonna get going now."
"Oh, already? The lunch is almost ready and maybe you could join us?"
I felt like if someone was sitting on my chest, luckily Brett kindly declined the invitation.
"Thank you, Mrs. Blythe, but I just wanted to check her up. Now that I see how... everything's going, I better go."
"Okay, dear." Granny sounded disappointed. "Maybe some other day? It's been years since you last join us for a meal."
I wonder why.
"Sure. Gladly."
With that he pleased my grandma and I heard how she took him to the door and they said good bye.
Good, that was good. He was leaving me alone. But why couldn't I felt any joy from his parting?
More tears slipped down my cheeks and fell to the couch.
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Hey! I know it's been a while but I'm on my exam's period. Thank you all for the support and love. My Nightmare Crush had already reached the 2.4k view!! So amazing! Let me know what are your thought on what might happen next.
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