all too well, n.nelson

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻🍂

BETHANY AND NICK TOOK THE LOCAL BUS TO THE CENTER. Nick watched the red head play with a lose string on the cuff of her sweater, he took her hand in his to comfort her.

"Don't be nervous, I'm sure he'll be happy to see you." Nick spoke softly, Bethany rested her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"Do you think they'll let him come to the St. John's match Thursday?" Bethany asked him.

"Maybe." She felt him shrug. "Wont hurt to ask." Nick added, Bethany nodded. When they arrived at the rehabilitation center, they checked in at the front desk. A nurse led them to Davis Starks room, she let them in and revealed Davis watching tv in an almost all white room.

        "Davis, you have some visitors." The nurse notified the older man, who turned over his shoulder with a scowl.

        "Hi, dad." Bethany greeted awkwardly, Nick laced his fingers with hers.

      "Bethy, didn't think you were going to come see me." Her dad stated bluntly. Bethany and Nick moved to sit on the couch opposite of Davis.

        "Uhm.. Well, here I am. This is Nick, by the way. The rugby boy I told you about." Bethany gestured to the boy next to her, Davis squinted his eyes at Nick, and his gaze flickered to their locked fingers.

       "Hm. You two got an upcoming match?" Davis asked gruffly.

      "Yes, actually. I was going to ask if you were allowed to come watch." Bethany replied nervously, Nick drew circled with his thumb on the back of her hand.

       "Ask my nurse. I'll go if I can." Her dad said simply, then he turned his attention back to the tv.

     "Yeah, alright." Bethany said softly, seeing his attention going else where. With an irritated sigh, she got up and shut the television off. "I came here to talk to you." She said.

      "And you did. I haven't got much else to say to you." Davis responded bitterly, Bethany blinked at him in shock.

       "You don't want to talk to your own daughter?" She asked him, Nick watched them nervously.

      "No, not when she put me here. Not when she's always getting into fights, not when she "can't help who she loves". It's disappointing." Her dad spat back at her, Nick watched Bethany's heart break. She clenched her jaw then unclenched it angrily.

       "You're the one trying to kill yourself because mum couldn't stand to be around you. Did you forget you had an eight year old daughter when you tried to overdoes the first time?" Bethany said through gritted teeth, she didn't wait for a response before she stormed out of the room.

        "The nerve of that girl. And you? What's your business with my daughter? I know boys like you will break her heart just for fun!" Davis said loudly to Nick, who stood in shock.

       "I happen to really like your daughter. She's a wonderful person to be around, she's smart, and she's really good at hiding the pain you put her though. Don't blame her for your problems." Nick stood up for her, he breathed heavily through his nose as Davis raised his eyebrows. Nick didn't say another thing as he left, looking for Bethany. She hadn't gone too far, just around the corner on the floor crying. Her knees pulled up to her chest, her hair hanging over her face like a curtain of red. "Beth, let catch the bus." Nick said to her softly, taking her under the armpits and pulling her up into his arms. Bethany sniffed loudly, nodding.

          "I can't believe him." Bethany muttered while they walked back to the bus station. The bus was just about to leave when Bethany and Nick approached it, the driver let them on and they sat down in silence.