A Way Back To You

7| Distressed

Definition: To be currently suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain 

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Trigger warning: This chapter deals with moderate mention/implication of sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. 

Monday Evening, 7pm. Day 4.

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Ant hadn't been able to meet up with Zelan and Wally for the rest of the day until later in the evening. As promised, he'd taken Ariana to get ice-cream and she'd told him which flavour she liked the most, chocolate and vanilla, then mint much to his disgust.....Or amusement.

Now, he was sitting in his living room with his best friends yet again, Ariana wrapped in a blanket and just listening to their conversation. 

"School sucked. Julian was a total dick again and we broke up." Wally complained. 

"Wally, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you need to permanently drop him. You've broken up before." Zelan responded in a calm tone. 

Wally folded his arms, hurt dancing across his features. "I know, I just hoped this time would be different." 

Ant patted his friend's shoulder. "But you can't flog a dead horse. It'll work out but don't keep hurting yourself in the process." 

Wally nodded. Ariana watched them with confusion all over her face. What was a flog and why were they talking about it? Ant noticed Ariana's confused face and gestured for her to come over. She gave a slight yawn and shuffled a little closer but didn't dare go any further, and Ant took what progress she had made as all she was going to make for that day. 

"So how was your day?" Wally asked, changing the subject promptly. 

Ant smirked to himself and peeked at Ariana. "Well Ariana how would you say our day went?" 

Ariana looked up from her doll and smiled at her guardian. "G-g-good." 

The boys reaction was priceless - and instant. Wally leapt up from the couch in shock and Zelan's jaw was basically stuck to the floor. Two seconds later Wally was squealing at the top of his lungs and Zelan was wrestling Ant. "Why the fuck didn't you tell us sooner?" 

Ant laughed and Wally went to hug Ariana, though he was more careful this time. "Little tyke you have the cutest voice ever!" 

Ariana blushed and looked at Ant, who smugly sat on the couch. "She does in fact, have the cutest voice ever." 

"I am so glad you finally started talking Ari, are you feeling more comfortable around Ant now?" Zelan asked. 

Ariana nodded slowly. "Awi d-d-didn't k-know whewe Mommy w-was." 

"Oh." Wally nodded. "Did Ant tell you?" 

At this point, Ant was awkwardly shuffling back and it became increasingly obvious to his friends that they were missing something. "N-no Maddy t-tells A-Awi." Ariana innocently responded. 

Zelan and Wally looked at Ant, getting flashbacks to the younger Ant they'd once known who looked like he'd been caught with his hand in a cookie jar. "Ant? Maddy got her to talk?"