Angel Academy

Chapter Twenty-two

Niamh's POV

I stood in the hall outside of my mother's room. The doctor from before, Natasha, had sent me down here to room 305. She had warned me that what I saw wouldn't be pretty, and that she wasn't sure if my mother would wake up anytime soon, but there might be a small chance. Taking a deep breath, I swallowed back the tears that I could already feel pushing at the back of my eyes and walked into the room.

My mother had a roommate. It was a small boy barely 6 years old. He had thick blonde curls on top of his head, and a breathing tube down his throat. He seemed to be sleeping, his small body tucked underneath the covers like a small angel. He lay alone, and my heart broke for him.

I made my way around the curtain dividing my mother and this small angel. My mother's eyes were closed, or possibly swollen shut. Her face was covered in thick yellow and blue bruises that sat under a long gash on her face. I walked over to her side, my hands reaching out to softly touch her hand. Her fingers were in splints, everyone of them, and she seemed to have trouble breathing, her breaths coming in and out, short and painful.

"Mom," I murmured, taking her fragile hand in mine, tearing filling my eyes. "Please, wake up. Come back to me."

I stayed sitting in the same position for a few minutes before looking back over at the curtain dividing us and the small boy. Natasha walked in and checked his board, opening up the curtain so he could get a bit of sunlight. "What's wrong with him?" I asked, and she turned to me.

"Two people dropped him off here with no explanation. He has a head wound and he's in a coma. Been in one for three days now. Not to mention lukemia. We start treatment tomorrow. Poor little guy. If he wakes up he's probably going to a foster home. He's all by himself in the world."

I frowned. "Poor baby. Do you at least know his name?"

She shook his head. "No, but we've been calling him Dean." I looked back over at him, watching his chest rising and following shallowly. "I'm sorry about your mother. If it's any consolation, we think she's going to pull through."

I smiled a little. "Thank you," I murmured. I gave the little boy one more look before turning back to my mother. To my surprise, her eyes were open and staring at me. "Momma?" She opened her eyes wider, and her mouth opened, and she began screaming.

"No! Get away! Stop! Go away Niamh! Please!" Tears fell down her cheeks as she flailed. Natasha ran over and pulled out a needle.

"Ms. Harvey, I need you to calm down. Ms. Harvey."

I jumped back and my mother shook her head, tears falling down her face. "Please, just keep her away from me. It's all her fault." I gasped, looking at her, slowly shaking my head. "Keep her away from me. Please."

~~~~~

Corbin's POV

"Addaline, we don't have to do this. We can wait until the baby's born." We were standing in the middle of Kay's Jeweler's and Addaline was looking through rings.

She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "No, we need to get married before the baby. That way I don't have all that babyfat." She smiled back at me, not noticing my frown. Heath looked around in my arms, chewing on his hand. "So, I was thinking the wedding could be next month? Or, how about this month. We can do next week!" She straightened, grinning at me.

"Next week?" I gulped and she nodded.

"Oh, it'll be great! Don't you agree?"

"Isn't that a little soon, Addie?" Her smiled faultered a little bit, and she shook her head.

"Do you not want to marry me?" Tears started to fill her eyes, and she backed up from me.

Not wanting to cause a scene, I bent forward, kissing her. "Of course I want to get married. I love you. We're having a baby. And, I proposed didn't I?"

She grinned. "Yes, you did." She squeeled, something I really hated, and turned back around to pick out a ring. Heath and I followed her around for hours it seemed. Everytime we thought she had found "the one", it turned out she didn't like the way it looked. I sighed. I was so glad that I hadn't proposed, because if I had, I would have picked the wrong ring a thousands times over. Heath and I followed her, talking amongst ourselves. Well, mostly I talked and he just babbled in baby language. 

"Addaline, will you pick one already?" I asked, my voice full of impatiance. Heath was getting fussy and I just realized, except for the burrito, he hadn't eaten all day. That was over seven hours ago. Addaline looked back at me.

"But, I have to find the perfect one Corby, and so far none of them are perfect." She pouted, looking up at me through her eyelashes. 

I sighed, shifting restlessly. "But Heath and I are hungry," I whined, giving her my pouty face.

Addaline looked back at the rings pitifully. "But..." She turned back to me and then back at the rings. "Fine.." She started to follow me, but gasped. "Oh Corbin, look!" I turned back around, scowling. 

"What?" I snapped. 

Addaline frowned. "I just wanted to show you the perfect ring."  I sighed, and then smiled.

"Well then show me dear."

She pointed and I almost choked on my spit. The ring she wanted was almost thirty-five hundred dollars. I turned to Addaline, and I swear my mouth was hanging open. "You want that?" She nodded, and I shook my head. "No, I can't afford that."

Addaline's eyes began to water. "Oh, well, alright. Any old ring will do then." She gave me a watery smile, and took Heath from me. With her head down like a dog that had just gotten beat or in trouble for something, she walked away with her tail between her legs. 

I sighed and turned to the guy behind the counter. "I would like that ring please."

The guy gave me a sad smile. "You sure?"

I nodded. "Yea, I don't need to eat for the next fifteen years." The guy laughed and rung me up. Afterwards, he handed me the ring and I had just enough time to run after Addaline before she got to the car. "Here," I said, handing her the box.

She took it with a sad smile. "Thanks Corbin. I don't care how much you spent on it," she lied.

"Open it," I said. "I;m sure you'll like it."

She opened it and nearly dropped Heath; she was that happy. She jumped into my arms, bouncing up and down. "Oh Corbin! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I smiled, but I'm sure it looked more like a grimace as I embraced her, my heart sinking lower and my wallet feeling lighter.

When we got home she was quick to show my mother, who just raised her eyebrow. "You just found out he cheated on you. Not to mention he is carrying around the boy whose mother he cheated on you with. And he's making you carry him. While you're pregnant. What the hell is wrong with you?" 

Addaline's smile dropped. "I-"

"He probably just did that so you wouldn't be mad at him anymore." My mother grabbed her coffee, which smelled like vodka, and her newspaper. She never read anything but the funnies, yet she continued to carry it around with her as if she cared what was happening in the world. Yea right.

She turned and went into her room. "Corbin," Addaline said, turning to me slowly.

Before she could say anything else, I kissed her. "Yes, I love you. Yes, I want to marry you. Yes, we will be the happiest family ever," I recieted, like I knew she was about to make me do. Addaline smiled, a little unsure. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I'm sure." She opened her mouth to say something, and I cut her off. "Yes, my mother hates you, and yes, I don't give a fuck. Now can we please stop arguing, put Heath to bed, and have make up sex?" 

She giggled, and carried Heath to the guest room, her hips sashaying as she went. I grinned. Looks like I would be getting laid tonight.