𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 ━━ 𝘔𝘈𝘛𝘛 𝘚𝘛𝘜𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘖𝘓𝘖

( 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐖𝐎: 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄)

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

"Aria?" someone calls out and I knew exactly who the voice belonged to.

"In here!" I call back.

In a matter of seconds, a knock rings out from the door then Matt comes in.

"Aria hey." he greets softly, occupying the seat next to me.

"Hey Matt." I reply, my voice fragile as if it could break any second, as he grabs my hand.

"The um, nurse told me everything in the lobby. Everything you told her, she told me so you don't have to explain anything." he states
"Ok."

"Hey, whatever happens, Aria, I'll be here for you. I promised when we first started seeing each other in the garden that I'd be here for you." he assures me, "Thanks Matt." I reply, leaning my head on his shoulder as my eyes focus on the figure in the hospital bed.

A few hours had gone by and still nothing on Papa. And I was going to admit, I was growing nervous by the second.

"Miss. Josslyn?" a female voice says, "That's um me." I reply.

"You're- god dammit this shit is hard- I'm sorry to tell you this, but um... your father has-"

"Don't finish." I interrupt, "I am so sorry Miss. Josslyn, the bullet had hit directly into his heart and there wasn't much we could do. I am so sorry." she replies.

"Thank you." I reply softly as more tears grow in my eyes while she walks back to the room.

"You'll be okay Aria." Matt whispers, rubbing my back, "I just can't believe he's gone. First Payton in jail and now Papa, dead? Everything's getting too much now." I reply.

"Aria I get that you're going through a lot, but you're gonna live through ups and downs but with every down there's always an up. With rain there's always Sun, you'll be okay and shit will get easier, I promise." he assures me.

"You always have the right thing to say and sometimes it scares me." I state, "I'm gonna say thank you to that for the sake of you being mad confusing right now." he chuckles.

"Shit. What am I going to do? The house. I- I can't live by myself, I don't know how. I don't know how to work that shit. How- what am I- how am I supposed to-"

"Aria, calm down. I'll help you, we all will. Like I said you'll be okay and you'll figure it out. We'll figure it out."

"I just don't know how I am supposed to do this without him." I cry.

"Who's gonna tell me no babies?" I whisper, my voice breaking.

Me and Matt walk into my house, yellow tape everywhere, dry blood on the ground with a body shape outlined.

Everywhere I looked made me cry.

The smell of the French Vanilla Toffee candle still lingered from earlier in the day. There had still been the cup of ramen from Papa's lunch he didn't finish, his glasses on the end of the kitchen island.

It took me a while to process that someone had really shot my dad, an actual human being. I didn't care who it had been, but either way I wanted them found and burnt dead. I wanted them dead and I hope they rot in fucking hell.

"Damn." Matt comments.

"Welp." I start, wiping any tears that fell.

"I only have an hour so I better get looking," I continue, walking around the lined police tape and towards my bedroom.

On my way, I catch a glimpse of Papa's room and begin to break down again.

I go into his room, where I knew old photo albums were.

I grab the top one and run my finger across the cover that we had both decorated before opening the book.

"Papa when I get older I want a baby." I state as I hold my little baby doll, "No babies yet honey." he laughs, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder.

"Yes babies." I argue, "Not until you're married and I'm walking you down the aisle." he states

"Then you'll be the grandpa!" I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air, "I'm looking forward to it." he replies, setting me down on a chair.

"No babies." I mumble.

"What?" Matt asks, "His last words to me was no babies, but he didn't even finish the word." I state.

"Aria..." Matt replies, broken and soft.

"Whoever did this I am going to find and murder them." I state, "Aria no, then you'll be in prison." he replies.

"But they shot my dad!" I exclaim, "Aria, just leave it to the cops, they will take care of it. If you interfere with it, you'll get hurt maybe even killed too. I can't handle two Josslyns dying." he replies.

"Don't cry Aria, you'll be okay." he says once I don't reply, only started crying more.

"I just- he can't be dead." I reply, my voice breaking, "The one person I need most is fucking gone." 

"Hey I thought you needed me." Matt replies, attempting to lighten the mood of the slightest.

"I need him more."

"And things were just getting better between us too!" I add, "I know I know." he whispers, rubbing my back.

"It's not fair." I mutter, "It's not." he agrees.

"I love you Matt, please don't ever leave me." I say, "I don't plan on it."  he replies, kissing my forehead.

KIERA SPEAKS: honestly, when am i not crying over my books