Secrets |

Chapter twelve | Promises.

The bright fluorescent light hit Julia full force when she opened her eyes. Letting out a hoarse groan she turned to her side and placed her right arm over her eyes - her body was screaming out in pain at any small movement she made as she tried to get comfortable once again. She welcomed the warmth her small bed provided and held herself in a foetus position trying to stop her body from aching. Her mind was hazy and all she wanted now was to sleep and to forget the incident at the park -

wait.

Julia jerked her body into an upright sitting in position and immediately regretted it as her body, mostly her wrists and neck protested furiously. Her breathing was laboured and her throat felt dry as she looked around her small room.

How?

The last thing Julia remembered about today was being trapped in an animal net trap and not being able to contact anyone, before obviously passing out.

So how exactly had she gotten here?

Her thoughts ran circles in her mind as she thought long and hard about any events from today that may be absent from her memory.

Julia turned her head to the door and squinted, she could hear her sister squealing and laughing mercilessly. Hearing more attentively now she heard the laughter of a male - she wondered for a while whether or not she actually had been able to contact Rob. Forcing herself out of her bed she limped to the door and placed her hand firmly on the cool door handle. The cold surface felt good against Julia's sweaty hand and she let it rest there for a while.

Eventually lifting her hand of the door, she heaved it open and made her way towards the living area. The laughter became louder and Julia realised that the male laughter was definitely not Rob's. It was far more deep and it sounded.. young.

Walking faster now, what - or who Julia saw next was someone she was most certainly not expecting.

"H-how.." Julia was unable to finish her sentence as she pointed at three familiar male figures sitting by a pile of books and paint with Angel.

"You're up." She swiftly turned her head to the green - eyed male, it wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Julia was still confused and could not figure out for the life of her how they had gotten in, or how they had found her and what about Angel? Did she come alone? And then as if she had only just been made aware of her sister being home safe and sound, Julia snapped out of her confused state and focused on her little sister.

"Oh my god! Angel," Julia paused to let out a sigh of relief and rushed to hug her younger sister. "Are you okay? Did you come alone? I'm so sorry, I was stuck and I couldn't get to you.. you're okay right?" holding her younger sister to her once again Julia allowed some tears to slip as the worry she had been feeling earlier about how Angel would get home began to distinguish.

Julia placed her hands on Angel's shoulders and the young girl gave her a wide toothy grin in return.

"I'm fine, i came home with Dalton over there," Angel paused to point at the green - eyed, raven haired male who had spoken earlier; Roman Dalton Easton. Turning back to face her sister, Angel continued, "He came to my school and first gave me a long lecture about the stranger and danger rule, and then told me how you were't well and that he was here to pick me up" Angel looked amused as she looked intently at Julia.

"Wait, and you just decided to come with them? You know what i've said about going off with people you don't know! I-"

"But I'm safe aren't i?" confusion laced Angel's features and she looked cautiously between Julia and the three males.

"Thats not the point, and i'm sorry i couldn't send anyone but next time please don't go off with someone else. Okay?"

Angel nodded her head in understanding and promised Julia that she would never go off with anyone she did not know.

As if Julia had only made sense of the situation, she turned cautiously to face the three men who were still sat emotionless on the floor.

"Erm.. t-thank you.." Why was she stuttering? Julia avoided their gazes hoping that they would get the message, and leave.

"You're welcome." It was lexis who spoke and Julia looked up to find him and Dalton - or Roman - whatever he preferred, doing the same. Bentley was still sat on the floor and showed no signs of leaving, Lexis kicked Bentley in the side making Bentley's head snap up and search the room. It was as if he had realised now where he was and who he was with. However as he still shower no signs of movement from the floor, Julia nervously played with the sleeves of her shirt; looking down once again.

"I'm sorry." It wasn't Dalton who had spoken, nor was it Lexis. Julia looked up to find Bentley staring at her as he waited for a reply.

"What for?" Julia was genuinely confused now as she wondered what Bentley was apologising to her for.

"You know... the..er scene - yes - scene that i caused at the café yesterday. I'm sorry, it was just a bad day and i really wasn-"

"It's fine." Julia hastily cut of Bentley's nervous speech and gave him a small smile.

"Are you sure?" Bentley's blue orbs were swimming in a dark pool of uncertainty and remorse and Julia nodded her head in reply.

"Honestly, it's fine."

Bentley gulped and nodded whilst pulling himself up and walking to stand beside the others at the door.

Lexis was half way out of the door when Angel called out to them, "Wait!" - she ran towards Dalton and attempted to give him a hug.

"Can you visit again?" Her tone was excited but afraid at the same time that they wouldn't. Dalton nodded his head wildly and a huge grin had moulded his features now, "Of course we will!"

He crouched down to Angel's level and gave her a bashful smile, Lexis mimicked Dalton's action and Angel turned to face him.

"We'll visit again but on one condition..."

Feeling confused at what Lexis had just said Angel replied, "What condition?"

"On the condition that we get to go out to the park or the traditional christmas fair or that we can play that board game again." Lexis' reply filled Angel with relief and excitement at the fact that they would in fact, visit again.

"Yes! We can go to the fair together and we can play monopoly everyday after school, please thats my all time favourite game but Julia hates it!"

"I bet it's because she always loses."

"I do not!" Dalton's statement had made Julia go defensive as she stood there with her arms crossed lightly over her chest and a small pout on her face. Angel, Dalton, Lexis and even Bentley stared at Julia as if to say 'yeah right!'.

Julia squirmed slightly under their mocking stares and blushed a beet red.

"Well, not all the time anyway." Julia mumbled lowly as her pride would not let her admit that she did almost always lose to her younger sister in monopoly.

"But in my defence, it's a really hard game."

"Sureeeeee it is." Lexis mocked, dragging out the 'e' at the end and standing back up again.

"Anyway, we have to go now kid." Dalton stood up now too from his crouching position and looked at Angel with a small smile on his face.

"Already?"

"Unfortunately so, but i promise you we'll see each other again soon." This time it was Bentley who spoke.

"Okay!" Angel smiled and hugged each of them one last time before going to stand by her sister.

Bentley and Dalton were the first two out of the door and Lexis lagged behind, his eyes fixed on Julia and he gave her one final nod.

"I'll see you soon Angel... Julia."

And with that indirect promise, he was out of the door.