Sparks Fly

Chapter 5

Lavender's POV

I had spent 2 days in the hospital before my mother decided to show up. Simon, my older brother, had been in to see me as soon as he got home from school, but my mom "couldn't be bothered". I was surprised she even showed up at all. Unlike most people, I hated my mom. I hated her with all my heart. She just didn't understand me the way a mother should. Before my dad died, we were super close and she was the best mom in the world, but his death changed all of us, most of all her. Nowadays, she would punish us by beating us instead of grounding us; don't get me wrong she grounds us as well. Simon barely ever gets beat up by her, because she loves him. I think she hates me because I remind her too much of him; my brown hair and brown eyes. Not being too clever, not having too many friends. Being good at art. Simon was completely the opposite. He was the most popular guy in his class.

She stomped in and slammed the door behind her. I winced at the loud noise. I still wasn't feeling at my best.

"I told you not to pick any fights, didn't I? But you never listen, do you?" she screeched. I desperately wanted to press the 'call nurse' button, but I knew she would just shout at me for that as well, for being a coward.

"I didn't pick a fight. It wasn't my fault." My voice came out as a rasp, very hoarse. She didn't believe me.

"Don't you lie to me, you little brat!" she screamed at me. I was glad when the nurse came in to see what all the shouting was about. She offered to take my mom out of the room and I nodded gratefully.

"You can't stay away from me forever. You'll have to come home sometime! And I'll be waiting for you," she screamed punching her hand with her fist, with an evil glare staring right into my soul. The nurse finally managed to drag her out of the room. I felt like crying. She never appreciated me the way my father had.

My spirits lifted, however, when Derek came strolling into the room.

"Hey," he said sitting down next to me.

"Hey."

"How you doing?" he asked. I raised my eyebrows as if to say 'what does it look like Einstein?' He chuckled quietly. Then his smile turned into a frown of worry and guilt.

"I'm sorry about what happened. I should've been there with you," he said, not looking at me. I could see just how upset he was about this. I turned his face to look me in the eye.

"It wasn't your fault. Don't beat yourself over it. If it was anyone's fault it was mine. I should've run or tried to fight back, but I didn't. I let them come, because I knew they would get me eventually anyway. None of this is your fault," I assured him, smiling. "It's not like they killed me or anything. I mean, after a few weeks, I'll be back to normal and I'll be fine."This seemed to ease his guilt a little bit and he became his normal, joking self.

We stayed there for hours, just chatting and laughing, until it was time for him to leave. I didn't want him to go. I needed someone to stay with me, and I wanted him, however selfish that might sound. Then again, after all I've been through, it's quite understandable. We tried to persuade the nurse to let him stay overnight, but she was having none of it. Apparently , I was too tired to have people around for so long. After a long time of arguing, we gave it up and said our goodbyes. Thankfully, tomorrow was the weekend, which meant he could be here all day. This made me slightly happier about the situation. Knowing that he would be here tomorrow, made my dreams peaceful. Well, either that or the drugs I was given to help me sleep. None of my usual nightmares crept up on me.

Derek's POV

I left the hospital glumly. I didn't want to leave her. I'd always had a feeling of having to protect her all the time, like you would a little sister. I had to protect her even more now. She needed me and yet they wouldn't let me stay with her. The truth was, that I was trying to replace Selena. I neede to protect someone the way I had with Selena. I had looked around the school for someone who needed protection and I had remembered the girl who had been in therapy with me. She needed me, so I had tried to protect her. We then got closer and closer, until we became best friends and she sometimes made me forget about Selena. She became my new sister and I was fine with that. When Daniel came along, I wasn't too impressed, but if she liked him, I put up with him. I knew they wouldn't last too long, they just didn't suit each other very well.

As I was walking home, a rain storm happened to appear, right above where I was walking.

Just my luck," I thought to myself, trying to shield myself from the rain with my jacket. My dad would have a fit when he saw my wet clothing. I didn't care, all he would do is ground me for a couple of days. Whenever I am punished for something, I always feel bad for Lavender. My punishments aren't that bad, whereas she actually gets beat up by her own mother. It's unfair and I know how much it hurts her, even though she never complains. She's a tough little fighter, she is. She may seem all shy and scared at school, but when it comes to hunting in the woods, she can run like the wind and shoot exactly on aim. A lot of the time I just stop and watch her in awe as the wind sweeps her hair in all directions. I love hunting with her, because it's the only thing that really makes her smile. Her eyes sparkle after each kill, knowing that her family will be having a feast that night. The way she dodges and weaves through the trees is breathtaking. The forest is more her home than anywhere. She always knows exactly where to aim her arrows so that they go into the animal's neck or head is amazing.

I finally reach the door to my house and see my father relax in relief when I walk in.

"You scared me to death. Why were you home so late?" he asked me, pulling me into a quick embrace.

"Don't worry dad, I was just with Lavender at the hospital," I told him, grabbing a snack from the kitchen.

"If you know you're going to be late home, will you please let me know." he told me, taking the snack off me and throwing it into the bin and giving me something healthier. I tried to protest but to no avail.

"I could let you know, if you let me have a cell phone so I could call you," I countered. Dad sighed and left me to my own devices. He didn't want me to have my own cell phone because he didn't know what I would do with it. Come on, what can I do with it other than text and call. My dad was totally clueless.

"Go and do your homework Derek and then we will talk about that phone," he shouted from upstairs. I jumped up in excitement and punched the air. Usually when he said he would talk about something, it meant I got my own way. I shot upstairs to do my homework as quick as possible.