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Chapter Fifty-Four

In order to keep Reece happy, I took notes the entire class. Talking to Pierce also helped with the anxiety of him spending way more time with Ally. It would be all I worried about for the rest of the year. Even if I felt safe with Pierce. Ally's manipulative tendencies would always have a tight grasp around my brain.

The rest of the day went smoothly. I didn't run into Ally. Pierce and I spent our final class together. He took the notes for me during class. My stomach started spinning all over again. I couldn't focus on notes and trying not to throw up. I hated this feeling and I had no idea why it was happening.

When the final bell rang for the day, Pierce nicely packed my things into my bag and carried my things to my locker. I was beyond lucky to have someone who would always take care of me. No matter what he would be by my side.

"Are you going to head to the play rehearsals or do you need a ride home?" Pierce said as he emptied the contents of my book bag into my locker.

"I think I'll go be with Casey. If I can't take it I'll just text my mom to come grab me."

"As long as my parents say yes, I will see you for dinner okay?" Pierce placed a kiss to my forehead.

"Okay." I smiled slightly.

"Hey." Pierce lifted my head that had fallen.

"Yeah?" I said softly.

"Even if my parents say no I'll sneak out to spend time with you and the littles. I need to take care of my baby girl." Pierce smiled.

"Pierce I don't want you getting in trouble." I sighed.

"I won't. Don't worry. I'll see you later. I love you." Pierce kissed me as he laced his fingers through mine to walk me to his sister's office.

Pierce left me with his sister and took off lacrosse practice.

As I watched him walk away, it left me thinking about his past. I wondered if he would rather be taking a dive into his past by playing baseball instead. My mind got lost while I waited for Casey thinking about Pierce in a baseball uniform. I began to think about how good he was and just how much he loved baseball. Did he love it more than football?

"How are you feeling?" Casey asked me pulling me from my thoughts about her brother.

"Not very good." I ran my thumbs around each other as I sat on one of the cots in her office.

"Charlee I know you've been spending a lot of time around doctors but maybe you should go see a doctor about this."

"Casey, I'm fine." I stopped fidgeting and held my arms around my stomach.

"Well I'm going to check in on you every day." I nodded my head, knowing that she would. "Ryatt needs you."

"And Pierce." I added on knowing that Pierce had taken top spot with me.

"She just loves my brother because he has irresistible charm."

"You aren't wrong." I giggled lightly to myself. "It only took half a day to have your brother be my counterpart. He knows what to do and how to do it."

Casey finished packing her things and we headed towards the auditorium.

I spent the next few hours sat by her side watching my classmates perform their hearts out. I enjoyed this for some odd reason. I guess it was because it was like escaping just like reading. It transported me to another land away from my real life. It was the only way to get through day-to-day life. Even in this new life, I still needed an escape.

I had come to the conclusion, that I would never be normal or have a normal life. I would always need an escape, and somehow that just made me feel sorry for myself.

As Harlow ran through the last scene as Sandy Dee I felt hands clasp over my eyes. I knew immediately that it was Pierce. I could smell the sweat lingering on his skin.

So much for locker room showers.

"I'll see you at your house in a little?" Pierce whispered into my ear.

"Your parents said yes?" I turned around quickly with a massive smile on my face.

"Of course. You are quite irresistible. My parents do love you." Pierce placed his lips to mine a few times before standing up revealing a sweat soaked shirt with the sleeves cut off. Typical jock. Even though I would only ever remember him for his past self, without the jockiness.

My eyes stared at his skin peeking through on the sides of his shirt. I couldn't take my eyes away.

"Show you later babe." Pierce said quietly into my ear before looking at his sister.

"Are you going to dinner at the Leighton's or do I have to pick up Ryatt and Ryder?"

"Charlee would you like Levi and I to come?" Casey smiled at me.

"That would be nice." I smiled back at her. "The more the merrier."

"Perfect. Gets me out of cooking!" Casey threw her purse over her shoulder.

"Can you pick me up on your way then?" Pierce placed his hand on his sister's shoulder.

"I got you bro."

"Come on Charlee!" I heard being yelled across the auditorium.

Reece was standing at the door with Harlow. His arm was draped over her shoulder. They truly were adorable together, unofficially though. I couldn't let either of them know that though. I'm pretty sure they'd kill me otherwise.

The drive home was pretty silent. Reece didn't have much to say and neither did I. We spent our entire days together, there wasn't much that went unsaid. Even if we wanted to talk school and school drama was so mentally overbearing we just needed to decompress on the ride home. Silence always did us good.

Once Reece pulled into the driveway, he took off and was inside before I even had my seatbelt undone. Typical Reece. I walked into my house where my parents stood waiting at the door for my arrival. Reece was out of sight, out of mind.

What did I do now?

"We heard you've had a rough day at school today. Sweetie do you need to see your therapist?" My mother said lovingly as she placed her arm against my shoulder. It was weird to have someone care. Even though it had been months I don't think I would ever get used to someone caring.

"I just haven't been feeling good. My stomach and head have been killing me. It's making it hard to focus on anything." I sighed. "And Ally on top of it doesn't make me feel safe. I feel like I always have to be looking over my shoulder. I'm worried about Pierce falling for her because he spends more time with her. It's just a lot to deal with all at once."

"Well I think you should go see the therapist after school to work through the mental part of this sweetheart." My mom gently ran her hand up and down my arm for comfort.

"Okay." I nodded my head with a small smile.

"As for your pain, if it keeps up we will just have to take you to the doctor." My dad added onto my mom's statement.

His words caused me to groan. "I don't want to go back. I'm so tired of getting poked and prodded like a cow. I genuinely can't spend another second in a doctor's office."

My entire life I was poked and pushed and mishandled. I dealt with pain. I never saw a doctor. I don't know why I had this hate for the doctors when it's all I begged for as a child. But I did. Maybe I had this hate because it was place I could never go to when I needed it the most. And now I was getting saved for just baby tiny things. A broken bone like Ally gave me would have been normal in my past. No doctor; no splint while in my biological parents view. Just trying to fend for myself and work through the pain while being a mother to children that weren't mine. It was miserable but I made it without help.

So, maybe that was the reason why. I thought I could still, now, handle it all by myself. I didn't need this money and this health care to be okay. I just needed someone to hold my hand like Luca, Lucy, Ryatt, and Ryder always did.

"We will figure it out sweetie. Head up to your room and get ready for dinner." My dad pointed up the stairs.

I smiled and ran up to my room. I could hear Reece singing in the shower. I swear my brother was the most obnoxious guy I knew.