Take My Hand

chapter eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

ASHTON

            “Oi! Park—”

            My jaw drops. My brother’s arms are around Blaire, and they look very peaceful and happy. Parker’s hoodie rides up on her arms, revealing bruises that clearly weren’t there when she got off the bus Friday.

            “Love birds! Wake up before we’re late!” I yell, waking them up.

*

PHOENIX

            “How’s the arm?” Logan asks as we walk to the bus stop.

            “Better.”

            “I’m sorry, Phoenix.”

            I turn to him. “Quit apologizing! Let it go. And don’t do it again okay?” I snap. Logan pulls me into his arms.

            “I promise. Okay Princess?” he said.

            I pull away, feeling colder than when he had hugged me. “What did I tell you about calling me that, Peasant.”

            Logan laughs. “To not say it.”

            A giant yawn escapes me.

            “You tired?” Logan asks as he puts an arm around my shoulder.

            I nod slowly. He doesn’t even know that it’s his fault. Every night he comes home late and a little bit drunk. I have to stay up each time and I never get any sleep I even have some bruises from the times he hit me as I tried to calm him down. Logan forgets about it in the morning. He lifts my right arm up, the one with the stitches, and frowns.

            “Why can’t you listen to the doctor and leave the cloth on?” he said, sighing.

            “Because I don’t want to.” I reply simply.

            “Ah…so the Princess is a rebel who wants to show her battle scars.” He said, laughing.

            I frown at the comment. I shrug his arm off my shoulder and shove him away playfully. Logan comes back and hugs me from behind, trapping me. I try to run away but he holds on. We’re both laughing like there’s nothing wrong with our world. He turns me around and smiles.

            “What are you going to do now, Princess?”

            I give him a smile. “Nothing at all Peasant, nothing at all.”

ASHTON

            Parker and Blaire almost killed me this morning. They just love giving me opportunities to make jokes about them. We were close to being late for the bus because the two took forever to get ready. I see Luna getting on the bus and I run.

*

            On the bus, I sit by myself. Luna sits next to Levi, both looking pale, broken, and have red eyes. Blaire obviously sits next to Parker. The lovebirds are whispering things to make the other blush.

Phoenix and Logan were sharing ear buds but arguing on the music. Everything looked normal…except for the fact that the siblings were on the edge of breaking down, Blaire looked really hurt as Parker looked worried, Phoenix had bloodshot eyes and looked like she was about to pass out. Logan looked really upset about something. What was wrong with everyone?