{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 100

July 17th

Asher's POV

"You know the school is really weird with no students in it" I whisper crawling onto the hospital bed with Kiara. "When we were younger we played tag and hide and seek all the time in the empty corridors... well usually I watched" I sigh the fun memory not seeming as fun anymore.

"I really wish this wasn't my life" I sigh turning on my side to face her. "They don't know I'm in here... I tried to get their attention, but they ignored me" I whisper. Once the words left my mouth I quickly sat up and slapped myself. "That's not true they just we're busy and I didn't speak up it's my fault- I'll do better" I correct myself before laying back down.

"If they know me well they'll know I came here to keep you company," I tell her getting nothing in response. "You can wake up anytime now... I really miss you... I'm sorry, for not wishing you good luck" I apologize the tears stinging my eyes.

"I really miss you, your my only friend outside of the family now! I got used again... no surprise there" I chuckle sadly just staring at her peaceful face.  "H-he said I deserved it, but I don't know what I did" I mumble taking a deep breath.

"I wish I knew what I did wrong because I wouldn't have done it, and then he would..." I trail off knowing I was being stupid. "He did lots of bad things to me, and I thought for sure Atlas would leave me" my voice cracks as I study every single inch of her face.

"He isn't though! He loves me! I can tell the marks and bruises bother him though" my cheers grow quieter at the words. "I could probably cover them with makeup! Then he'll be happy- can cuts get infected by makeup" I think out loud trying to decide if it's worth the risk. My body doesn't do well with infections. My body doesn't do well with anything.

"But yeah when you wake up, you can hang out with us all the time! Uncle Ron's kind of upset with your parents though- I don't really know what's going on with that though... lots of fighting sadly" I sigh laying on my back to stare at the ceiling.

"It's not your fault though, so don't worry!" I quickly correct my mistake. "Jax went back home with their parents... I'm not going to lie I miss being called carrot top" I admit twisting the ring on my finger.

The door is thrown open and I flinch instinctively covering my body. "Oh, he's here! Older weasels I found your son!" Gramps shouts shaking his head. He walks over to the bed and I slide off of it bringing my arms behind me. "You worried us, you know better than to go off on your own" he scolds while I nod slowly.

His frown quickly turns into a smile. "Come here" he outstretches his arms for me. I quickly fling myself into his grip. He hugs me lightly rubbing my upper back. "I'm sorry" I apologize but he shakes his head.

"Asher, dear, tell us next time" he whispers bringing my head into his chest. "I won't go on my own again" I reassure him but his grip only tightens. "No- I'm talking about, Thomas- if anybody ever even looks at you weirdly I'll rip their throats out" his sweet gesture quickly turns violent.

I let my body kind of slump, I made them all so upset, they were all so sad for me. "Why are you here?" I ask as he rocks us left and right. "Well, I'm going home with you guys after Draco manages to get his room straightened up... I have business to attend in the basement" he explains patting my fluffy hair.

I look up at him smiling. "At the manor! What's in the basement?!" I giggle bouncing a bit. His eyes widen and he scowls at himself. "Nothing, absolutely nothing" he chuckled making me pout.  "But-" he cuts me off tapping my forehead. "No buts just believe me- I'm older I'm wiser" he stops making sense, so I give up on the topic. Maybe I can ask my parents or Atlas.

"Asher!" Well speaking of my parents. They came running into the hospital wing. Papa pulled me from Sevvy's grip into his arms. "You scared us! "You know better than to go off on your own!" It's their turn to scold me.

"I-I'm sorry" something about them yelling at me was way worse than Gramps. "You can't just- what if something would have happened... you don't have your meds... and especially with what just happened with you" Dad rambles on his voice full of fury.

"No... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I wanted to see Kiara, but I tried to get your attention- you seemed busy" I try to explain tears welling up in my eyes as Papa released me running a hand over my head.

"I'll do better, I'll be good, I promise I won't fail you- I won't- please don't hit me" I cried squeezing my eyes shut and throwing my arms over my head. I'm pulled into my dad's embrace as he rubs my back. "Bubba I'm so sorry, it's okay, it's okay. I'm right here, dads here" he comforts me, I shake out of my trance... Thomas is not here.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were..." I hiccup and decide not to finish my sentence. Papa ran back over to me tears in his eyes. "You're a good kid, you will never fail us, and we will never hit you" they finish as I nod into my dad's chest.

I turn to find Gramps his arms down by his sides but his fist clenched tightly his knuckles paler than usual. "I would love to make our way to the manor sooner rather than later" he scowls getting serious nods from my parents.

I burrow my way further into their embrace trying to hide my sadness. "Did I do something wrong again?" I rush out clutching onto myself. "You two talk I'm going to start walking to the others" they don't answer me but I quickly leave their embrace speed walking back to Kiara.

"I'll come and visit again, please wake up soon" I whisper before moving one of her curls out of her face. "Bubba go with your papa" dad calls for me and I hurry past the two angry people going with my papa who wraps an arm around my shoulder.

"You did nothing wrong, we adults just have some secrets" he chuckles but I can't help the feeling of uneasiness. "Do you love me less?" I rush those words out which causes my papa to stop walking.

"Do you believe that?" He struggles to get words out and I look away sheepishly. "No, I mean I hope not" I whisper. "I've realized that I'm not some cute child anymore, all I do is cause trouble for you" I speak my opinion. His brows furrowed as he shakes his head not liking the words leaving my mouth.

"You're forever going to be my cute baby" he sighs reaching forward. I grab his hand and he pulls me into another tight hug. "I don't think you could do anything to make me love you any less, with every passing day I find a way to love you even more" his voice was serious and stern, but his words were kind and sweet.

I know that I shouldn't feel the way I've been feeling, but he trained my brain- I just can't think for myself anymore, I'm scared, it's gone all my respect for myself that they all worked so hard to build up was gone.

"I love you too" I whisper and he starts to walk back to uncle Dray's classroom. Papa ruffled my hair before opening the door for us. Draco was putting away some of his last few papers as Atlas ripped some of the other papers which I'm hoping he was supposed to do.

They both look up to us and Atlas's cold face lights up as he throws the papers up. Dray quickly uses his wand to stop them from flying everywhere. "Really Atlas?" He groans at his oldest who wasn't really listen.

"You found him!" He cheers running over to us. I'm quickly pulled into once again another hug getting a kiss on the forehead. "You okay?" He asks placing a hand on my cheek. "Mhmm" I hum my answer.

Sevvy and my dad joined us a few minutes later. Atlas was sitting on a desk and I was standing in between his legs facing them. He had his arms wrapped around me and his chin resting on my shoulder. "Are you finally done, with something that should have been finished last week?" Gramps ask sending an annoyed look to my uncle.

"Hey! You try having..." he trails off to think for a minute. "6 kids- one who can hardly walk!" He sounds unsure at first not sure if he counted right. We all laugh at this before Atlas lifts his head from my shoulder. "I'd like to join you for a bit today" he chuckles and I turn to give him a look.

"Wait you know about the secret!?"

"Adult things"