{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 133

January 28th

Asher's POV

"Will you hold my hand?" I ask looking up to my boyfriend who seemed extremely tired. He looks down with a groggy smile. "Of course" he gives me his hand and I take it happily.

I hated being alone, so much. I wished for freedom before all of this and now, I was terrified to be alone for a second. "We're going downstairs?" I whisper, curious. "Yeah we have to interact with people" he smiles.

I nodded but at the same time the common room was so big, I don't know why that scared me so much, but it did. "Are you tired?" I ask next and he doesn't react at all.

"No, why?" He finally answered as we made our way down the stairs. "You just look tired" I mumble scared he'd get mad. "Oh," he brought his free hand to his eye and shrugs. "I guess my body doesn't want me to hot" he chuckles and I shake my head.

"Eyebags can be hot" I giggle getting a smirk from him. "Atlas why am I really here?" I ask suddenly getting nervous. I hugged his arm and he gave me a worried look. "Well to see a certain person" he answers.

I look to the door letting myself relax. "Simon? Devon?" I ask and he shakes his head smiling. "Hi Buddy" I whip my head around to find my parents and in between them Ezra limping over.

I unlatch myself from Atlas and run over jumping onto him. "Ouch! Hey," he chuckles hugging me. I lost it. I cried as he rubbed my back comforting me. "I'm sorry" I sobbed and he shook his head. "No I'm sorry, I promised to protect you and I did awful" he whimpers his voice cracking.

"You didn't, you saved me" I sniffle looking up to him. His face was damp with his own tears and he chuckles before wiping them away. "I got to see my baby brother for the first time in 7 years, thanks to you" he wipes his eyes trying not to get emotional.

"I didn't do anything" I reply bluntly not sure where this was all coming from. I backed away and my papa helped him over to the couch where he sat down.

I don't know why, but I rushed over to hug my dad. "Hi" he smiles kissing my forehead. I just hugged him tighter. I felt like I should be better by now but every time I see them I feel like I haven't seen them in weeks.

"I love you" I whisper as he brings me over to the couch and sits me next to Ezra. Atlas sat across from me and Dad hugged me from the side as I looked at my friend.

"I love you too Bubba" he smiles ruffling my hair. "Bubba?" Ezra asks and my parents nod proudly at their little nickname for me. "Why do you ask" Papa smiles but gives him a strange look.

"I just call him buddy a lot" he chuckles looking at me. I looked to my dad and he let go of me as I shifted to hug Ezra again. "Did you get to see your mom and dad again?" I ask lying against him.

He freezes for a minute before looking the other way. "Y-yeah... my worst fear was that they wouldn't recognize me" he swallows hard. "Did they?" I pry nervous for him.

"Immediately" he chuckles letting the tears slip. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be this emotional, but I am- I just they hugged me Asher...my pictures were still hung up- my room the same. They told me they loved me" he cried, his words making me cry all over again.

"The whole time I was so worried about them not remembering me, or hating me- I wasted all that time scared that they would... well hate me" he repeats wiping his eyes.

"And my brother... he was the one that opened the door. His face when he saw me... he's 17 now... 17!" He stammers not believing it himself. I giggle letting go of him once I knew he was a bit calmer.

I let my eyes go to Atlas who was biting his lip nervously. Papa and Dad were staring at both of us with terrified eyes. "Poor boys" papa mutters looking the other way.

I played with the ring in my hand spinning it round and round my finger. Why couldn't I just have a normal conversation things felt so awkward. It doesn't help that I'm still 17 and he's 20 something but he's still my friend if anything I see him as an older brother.

"How are you feeling?" I ask looking up at him. "Drained, but happy" he replies giving me his goofy smile as if his world hadn't been complete chaos the last 7 years of his life. "Physically?" I ask looking at his arm.

I thought he had died that day. He promised both of us would get out of there. I was so scared he had broke that promise and then when they carried me out. That's when I saw Em. I thought we had lost her too.

"Every step there's a little bit of pain, but I'm definitely better, better than before... I'm free" he rubs his side. "I'm sorry- if you wouldn't have tried to help-" I throw my hands around frantically, but he cuts me off grabbing my hand to calm me.

He sets my hand down and shakes his head. "If I would have left you, they would have taken you again and I would have broken my promise" he cringed at the thought as I let my mind wander.

Where would they have taken me? Would they be mad? Where even are they now? I know Jax was trying to tell me but he was just blubbering nonsense and then suddenly shouting before sobbing again.

"We thank you for that" dad coughs and joins the conversations. Ezra gave him a content nod before whipping his head to papa who spoke next. "You're welcomed in this family anytime, we all thank you really" I looked to Atlas knowing he was having a hard time trusting people lately.

He stared at Ezra with sad eyes but the rest of his face stayed the same. He's tired I know he is. Pulling my knees up to my chest I stare at him with concern.

He's been sleeping with me fine, or I think he has. I fall asleep first every time. I'm such a crappy person. He does everything perfectly and I can't even tell if he's sleeping or not.

Ezra looked over to me and touched my shoulder hesitantly. "Are you okay?" He stays quiet making sure I'm good to talk about it. I nod laying back against the couch.

"Overthinking," I say the simple word before coughing into my arm. Everybody went frantic from just one simple cough. I stretched my legs out watching them as Dad came back with water and papa came with meds.

Atlas was at my side checking my arm to make sure I wasn't coughing blood anymore. "Guys... I'm fine" I reassure them. All sigh in relief, but it doesn't stop them from staying closer than they were before.

I had gotten pretty sick afterwards and that made them monitor me more than ever. They watched every bite, every calorie, and every bite I didn't eat. I was getting to a healthier size again so it made them happy.

I was actually surprised it wasn't worse. I had got over it in pretty much two weeks and I didn't die. I chuckle at myself, way to be optimistic. "What's so funny?" Papa asked raising an eyebrow.

I smile shyly realizing I had zoned out again. "Just thinking" I smile sitting up on my knees.
"I hope good things" dad adds and I purse my lips trying to think.

"Mhmm good thoughts" I nod and Ezra puts a hand on my shoulder giving me a look. "What! It is good thoughts" I whine. This makes us both laugh and I can't help but feel normal for the split second.

Of course, the three tall bodyguards made it all come back.  I looked between them all, staring at us intently. I sit there awkwardly playing with my fingers. "Hi, guys" I mumble and they snap out of their stern glares.

"No, go back to being cute" papa and dad coo as I cross my arms. "Papa! Dad!" I shout embarrassed. Ezra was laughing at me and Atlas didn't make it any better.

"He's always cute" he adds and I blush profusely. Ezra looks to Atlas and chuckles. "I've heard a lot about you" this makes Atlas stop.  "Oh, well I'm hoping all good things" he smiles taking a glance at me.

"Trust me this boy is obsessed with you" he snickers looking at me. I slap him playfully. "Stop- I am not" I stammer.

"Oh trust me I know"

"Atlas!"