The Scandal Turned True

Chapter 9: The Plan

 You recognized the dark room all too well. It was the only safe haven for you to be in while your mother entertained her guests in the room next door, all for the sake of her "medicine". You knew better though, you've always known better. Watching her inject this "medicine" into her body day in and day out. Her eyes vacant most of the time, barely registering her surroundings. The one thing you were grateful for was that she stayed home to do her habits rather be out somewhere in an unknown place with unknown people. Even now though, her sketchy "friends" visited her so late into the night. You covered your ears, trying to drown out their voices, but it echoed off the walls of your mind. Every night it was the same. Talking and laughing until it lead off into sounds you wished you didn't have to listen to. All the way up to the morning light, and even then your mother was too far gone, but at that point she was alone. All you could do was cower in your dark safe space, hoping and praying that your mother didn't slide open the door.

 "Y/N..?" She sang your name, causing panic to rise up in you. You were so used to being ignored that hearing her voice scared you more than anything. You pressed yourself deep into the furthest corner that you could when the door slid open and you were blinded by a bright light. "Y/N... Come here... My friends want to see you..." She stepped into the room, her body covering the light. You tucked yourself so hard into the wall, you were ready to break through it if you had to. As she stepped closer to you, you started to tremble as you hear the men in the next room chuckle to themselves. "Come here, you damn brat." Her hand reached out towards you. You squeeze your eyes shut, waiting for her to grab you and yank you into the light.

 "Y/N... Y/N!"

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 You're startled awake to someone gently shaking you. Your eyes snapped open, seeing Aizawa leaning over you with worry in his eyes. His thumb brushed against your cheek, making you realize that you had been crying in your sleep. You gasp softly, your heart pounding in your chest as you look around the room that you were in. The sunlight was peeking in through the curtains, showing off your room at UA. You glanced over to your side where Eri was last night, but was no longer there. It was just Aizawa in the room with you.

 "Y/N, it's okay. You're okay." He says as you slowly sit up, sniffling softly.

 "Shota? What's going on? Where's Eri?" You asked him a bit frantically. He sits down beside you, rubbing your back gently to try and calm you down.

 "She's fine. She woke up awhile ago and is with Shinso and Denki. I let you sleep, but it seemed like you were having a nightmare." He says as you lowered your gaze to your lap.

 "A nightmare... Yeah, that's what it was..." You tell him, remembering her hand reaching out to you just before waking up.

 "Y/N.. You're okay." He tells you, pushing your hair from your face when he sees more tears in your eyes, "What's wrong?" He asks you. You grab his hand and rest it against your cheek.

 "Shota... Can you stay with me? Just until I calm down..?" You asked him as the tears overwhelmed you and spilled down your face. He brings your head to his chest and wraps his arms around you.

 "Of course. I'll stay with you for as long as you need me to." He says as he runs his fingers through your hair slowly while his other hand rubbed your back. You listened to his heart beat steadily in his chest. It calmed you down enough to finally stop crying.

 This is... nice. I feel so at ease with him...

 "Do you feel better now?" He asks, his voice beside your ear.  You nod slightly, but you hold onto him just a little bit tighter. He stops rubbing your back, pulling back slightly to look down at you. You blush lightly as you look back at him, wondering what was on his mind when Denki shouts from down the hall.