The Bianchi's Missing Piece

Chapter 16

Aria's POV:

Unfortunately the week flew by faster than I had wanted. Everyday since Julia left, I had the same routine. My routine consisted of being forced to eat, throwing up, hiding in my room, cutting, and crying. I had tried to stay away from my brothers for as long as possible.

Sure, they tried to talk to me, they even sent up Felix one night, but I just told him I was tired. He didn't seem to believe me, but he left anyways.

The nightmares have been getting worse and worse, usually I wake up in a sweat and thinking I'm back there. But I usually don't make any noise when I'm having them. At least I don't think I do. But one night, I guess I had screamed from when I had a flashback of Dan, and I woke up with Axel in my room. Luckily I played it off and said that it was of the day at the alley with the men, but sooner or later that excuse is going to wear off.

It's weird to think that in less than 24 hours I'm going to be seeing John again. I've been trying so hard to get his petrifying face out of my head, and yet now it's going to be clearer than ever.

It's Friday morning and we're leaving for Minneapolis at 10 am. I quickly do my usual morning routine which includes a cold shower, attending to my injuries as best as I can, cutting, and getting dressed. Of course I also put some makeup over any visible bruises. Since the plane ride is quit a long trip I got dressed in comfy clothes even though all my clothes are usually comfortable. I put on gray sweatpants and a big comfy sweatshirt that Nic gave me saying it's Ace's.

Once I'm done getting ready I grab my suitcase that Elijah helped me pack the night before, as well as my phone and head down stairs.

My brothers including Felix and his mini gang are all by the front door waiting for me.  "Hey princess" Axel says once's he sees me. I keep my head down and eyes fixated on the floor as everyone's eyes turn to me.

"Is that my sweatshirt?" An agitated Ace asks.

My head immediately snaps upward and my eyes widen and bulge out of my socket. No, no, no. Shit! I'm in trouble aren't I. I knew I shouldn't have touched his stuff without his permission. I'm not good enough or worthy enough to have this many things, let alone think I'm good enough to even breathe the same air as them.

"I-I'm s-sorry. I'll go t-take it o-off" I stutter on the verge of tears. I'm definitely going to get punished for this.

As I go to turn away to head upstairs to change out of his sweatshirt, I feel someone yank my hand back.

"N-No please don't, I-I'm sorry, I won't do it ag-ain" I sob.

"What? Aria no, I'm not mad, I was just going to tell you that you look cute in it and you can keep it baby." Ace says while grabbing both my hands in his big ones.

"Y-you're not m-mad at me?" My voice breaks as I recover from just bawling.

"No! Of course not baby. You look cute and cuddly, if anything, this just means we have to cuddle on the plane now." He says with a slight chuckle.

He had brought his hands up to cup my cheeks and luckily I got away with just flinching my eyes a bit.

"It's yours now, come on, let's get going, ok?"

I give a small okay and start heading towards the door.

"Hey, where's our goodbye, we're not coming with" Devon says out of the blue. Do they really want a goodbye? From me?

"Oh, uh, sorry. Bye" I quietly mutter with an awkward hand wave. Cole and Devon say bye while Felix just stares at me. Creep.

"Um, anyways, bye guys" Axel says noticing the awkwardness I'm feeling.