Sunflower

Chapter Eighty-Three: Little one

"Alright Kova, let's start with, School."

"School was fine I guess... Nothing eventful. But Maverick hasn't talked to me for almost 2 days now," I sighed.

"And why do you think that is?"

"I.. I seriously have no idea. He woke up from a nightmare a few nights ago and asked if I meant the things I said when I was angry, and when I asked him what he meant he said nevermind."

"Well did you mean what you said when you got mad?"

I looked up at her, "I mean at the time... I thought I did but I really don't-"

"Tell him that."

"Tell maverick I didn't mean it?"

"Well if you truly didn't it... He needs to know."

"But he already does... though I haven't actually told him."

"What about you and Jax?"

"He's at school, We see each other occasionally but he doesn't come over like he used to. I haven't seen him outside of school in... well two days."

She straightened up placing the notebook aside, "Kova, have you ever considered that maybe your not the only one suffering?"

I mean I thought I had. But if we were, to be honest, I hadn't checked on Finn since my dad rushed over there... He hasn't been at school. I didn't make the effort to go see Jax at his house. I never reassured Maverick that I never meant what I said when I was angry.

So when I got home I made my way to where Maverick played a video game sitting on the edge of his bed, "Mavi?" I asked walking into the room.

"Hm?"

"Can we talk?"

"Hang on I'm almost done with this round."

I waited patiently for 10 minutes on the edge of my bed. He finally paused the game and looked at me, "Damn you were patient... What's up?"

"When you asked the other night if I meant what I said when I was mad...? I didn't. I didn't mean any of it," He simply nodded going back to his game. I grabbed the headphones off his head, "Mavi please listen to me... You, Asher, Mom are everything to me. I didn't mean it when I said you weren't my brothers when mom wasn't my mom. I love y'all."

Maverick pulled me into him before I could react. I froze and he finally paused stepping back, "Oh my god Kova I'm sorry, I forgot."

"It's fine..." I sighed quietly.

I let Maverick go back to his game, "Where's Asher?" I asked my dad who sat on the couch.

"He's with Finn."

I understood why... I hadn't been there for Finn... Asher had. I mean at least Finn had someone I just wish that someone was me- not that I'm jealous of Asher.

When I knocked on the red door Reeves was the one to open it. He wore a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a small cut on his forehead, "Hey Kitty," He said quietly. He didn't move aside after opening the door.

"Is Finn here?"

"Yeah, he and Asher are upstairs napping... What's up?"

"I just need to talk to him."

"Yeah I'll go grab him," Reeves went to close the door.

"It's fine I can talk to him another time," I noted picking up on the clues.

"You sure Kitty?"

"Yeah, I'll see y'all later."

I knew they didn't want me inside for some reason so I just left it at that... All the cars were in the driveway. The two Patrol vehicles sitting at the front against the fence giving me the hint neither of them had been to work lately.

I followed the road to Jax's house and luckily I knew he was home seeing his truck in the driveway. I knocked on the door and an unfamiliar face answered before recognizing it as his dad, "Can I help you?"

"Uh, It's Jax here?"

He nodded but before he could say anything Jax was already walking to the door. There was no swinging hug, no kiss, nothing, "Hey, What're you doing here?"

"I uh... I wanted to see if you were okay."

He nodded, "Yeah come in," He closed the door behind me when we got in his room. It was a mess. Clothes folded and falling over on a chair and on the floor, and overflowing dirty clothes basket. Schoolwork crowded his desk and his bed unmade.

He moved the clothes from his chair before sitting in it, "So what's going on?" He asked.

"Nothing, I just hadn't seen you out of school for a while," He nodded but looked at the ground, "Everything's not okay is it?"

He clapped his hands together shaking his head, "No, No it's not," He let out an unamused laughed before breaking into tears, "I'm losing it Kova, I... I graduate in a few weeks, I have no college plan, no lacrosse career to fall back on. My dad is threatening to kick me out every day. And every day," He put his hands on my cheeks, "Every day I have to look into the eyes of the girlfriend who thought I could but I failed you, Kova... I'm so sorry," His arms dropped as he sat next to me on the bed, "This my fault Coco, I'm sorry I can't be there for you."

I leaned back on the bed but pulled him into my arms as he did to me, "I'm not the only one in this relationship Jax," I said quietly. He cried into the pillow next to me. I just laid there trying to hold my own emotions in.

But something about laying there, holding Jax in my arms, felt okay. I was in control...

* * *

So that was the key... I had to be in control.

"Daddy," I whispered when I got up late that night.

"Hey, baby..." He smiled.

I walked over laying down on the little edge space, "Come on this side," He patted the bigger space between him and Mom, who was already asleep.

When I laid my head down on his shoulder and closed my eyes I didn't see Archer's face, I didn't feel the crushing weight against me; Just black. Darkness. Nothing.

"Hey, Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Did they... get him yet?"

He took a deep breath and kissed the top of my head, "Not yet baby, but they're close, I know that. I won't let anything happen to you at that game tomorrow."

I just closed my eyes trying to fall asleep. I know my dad was happy to have me back in his arms but I still wasn't quite as comfortable. I dozed off for a minute waking up to immediately climb out of the bed and back to my room.

- - -

Sneek peak:

Jason walked over getting the ball and stood on Maverick side of the field opposite of where he'd been standing. He tossed the ball in at the player next to Asher but Asher trucked him down getting the ball for another goal.

"Yo, what?" I asked confused.

"Simple, find the weakest player. Jason I knew would take the out-of-bounds ball the kid covering Maverick was horrid.

"Huh, I'm proud."

I swapped back with Maverick as he won the face-off getting back on his mojo. Till Jason blindsided him with a rough shoulder hit that caused him to fall on the ground, a scream could be heard from across the field. I stopped running immediately, my hair falling in my face, "Maverick?" I asked quietly as the trainer sprinted past me.