Truth be told

Chapter 11

After the events of a few days ago, I had asked Brendon if I could stay with him for a few days until I could find an apartment within my price range.
Honestly, I think Brendon wanted me to stay with him, but we had only been dating a week or so. I wanted my own space as well. It's time for me to be independent. Rays Records were willing to offer me more shifts. I accepted and would start straight after Hawaii. Brendon said he could lend me the money for a deposit. I politely declined. I knew that he wouldn't want the money back , even though he used the term lend.
It was hard to get excited for the vacation without my mother helping me get everything I would need. I still kept in touch with her. I texted to see if she's OK. I called her the other day because I knew she was at work and would more or less be on her break. We chatted for ages whilst she ate her lunch. We joked, and I told her about the vacation we were all taking together. She was so excited for me. I said I wished that she could help me get ready for Hawaii.
"I know, honey, so do I. But that asshole won't let me. He says that you have to learn to stand on your own 2 feet." I rolled my eyes.
"Well, he has no clue about how you have raised me then." I laughed.
"He really doesn't. He keeps saying you will come crawling back. Oh, and get this, he reckons that it wasn't just me raising you. He did, too."
"What the fuck?"
"I know." My mom sighed.
"Does this mean that me and you have no relationship,in his mind?"
"I don't know Liz. I will tell him you called and that we spoke."
"Yea. I will call again in a few days Mom when you are on day shift again." I said.
"Ok honey. Love you."
"I love you Mom" and I hung up. It was nice to know that me and my Mom had a relationship still. I want to know what hold Aaron has over my mother, to make her abide by him. I will find out.
Me, Caitlin and Kaylin all went holiday shopping at the mall. We were driving along in Franny singing our hearts out to Disturbed.
I turned into the Mall parking lot. It took a,while to find a spot but eventually found one.
We made a plan of what shops we needed to go in. Off we went.
90 minutes later,mission was a success. We got everything. This also included new bikinis. I had never gotten one before. It was a lot more revealing than my 2 piece.
"Brendon won't be able to leave you alone, in that." Kaylin remarked as I tried it on.
"He doesn't leave me alone as it is." I laughed. As I stood there looking in the mirror, who should come up to us but my mother. "Mom!" I spun around and hugged her.
"Hey honey. Hi girls. Listen I heard your voice. He's with me, I can't be long, but here." She stuffed a load of bills into my hand. "I love you baby girl" she blew me a kiss and disappeared.
"See what I mean guys?" I said to my friends. They both nodded. "I am baffled as to what he has over her, to blackmail her into being in a forced relationship with him."
"I know." Caitlin said. "She seemed really nervous. Like she didn't want to get caught talking to you. What the fuck is that about?"
"Yea I mean normally Carolyn is so cool and laid back. I don't think I have ever seen her that wound up." Kaylin chimed in.
"It's Aaron. Reckons I need to stand on my own 2 feet but I will fail and have to go crawling back to them."
"Is that what he said?" Caitlin asked. I nodded.
"Wow. Way to go supportive dad." Kaylin said sarcastically rolling her eyes and doing a thumbs up gesture.I chuckled.
"I am gonna get changed out of this." I told Caitlin and Kaylin.
I disappeared into the changing room. I sat on the small bench in there and counted out the money Mom gave me.
I sighed and shook my head. There was 3000 dollars here. My mother could never get her hands on that amount of cash so readily. She works so hard, but not 3000 dollars worth. Well she does but she isn't paid nearly enough for everything her and the other nurses do.
I got changed and came out of the cubicle. We went to pay for our purchases. I didn't use a penny of the money Mom gave me.
We left the mall. I dropped the ladies off and went back to the apartment. Brendon was out somewhere with his friends Pete and Dallon, I think he said their names were. I put my shopping bags in the bedroom and went into the kitchen. I looked at the time and realised that it was nearly dinner time. I called Brendon, but he didn't pick up. Maybe it was too loud wherever he was. I text him instead.
'Hey babe, what would you like for dinner? X' I put. It took him a good 20 minutes to message me back.
'Not bothered.' That's when I realised something was up. No nickname or kiss or anything.
'You ok babe?x'
'Yep.' There again. Now, my anxiety was starting to get the better of me. My breathing was becoming erratic, and my heart was thumping so much. I called Brendon, and this time, he answered.
"Liz, what do you want?" And the way he answered the phone was so cold and free of emotion. I couldn't speak because I was now having a full-on panic attack. "Lizzie?" He said more softer and anxious.
"Be be beebo." I managed to get out, and then everything went black.

I woke up, and I could hear machines beeping. Where was I? It was very white and smelled like disinfectant. I moved my head, and it really hurt. I winced in pain.
"Ouch!" I thought I was alone. Then my mother was there stroking my head.
"Elizabeth." She said. She was crying.
"Mama," I said. It had been a long time since I had called her that.
"What happened?" I asked her.
"Honey, you had a panic attack that really escalated. You weren't getting enough oxygen into your body, and this caused you to become unconscious. You have been out for 3 days." Mom explained.
"3 days! Who found me?"
"Brendon did."
"Brendon. Where is he?"
"Hes-hes, not here." Mom answered carefully.
"Not here? What do you mean not here?" I was so confused right now.
"Well, he erm......" My mom trailed off.
"Mom, just tell me!" I was starting to feel breathless again.
"He didn't want to be here. He blames himself for your panic attack. He was mad with you and thought that was the stresser." My mother explained. I looked at her.
"I need to speak to him. Can you call him for me please?" Mom was hesitant. Then she got her phone out and dialled Brendons number. Mom handed me her phone.
"Carolyn?" Brendon asked.
"Beebo!" I cried into the phone.
"Lizzie! You are awake. Thank goodness. Did your mom talk to you?"
"Yes. Can you come?" I asked.
"Lizzie...." He began."I am not sure -"
"Please, Beebo," I begged." I need to see you."
Brendon sighed. "Ok," He said.
"Thank you." I sniffed. When did I start crying? I handed the phone back to my mother. I laid back down. I nodded back off.
I felt a hand caress my cheek. My eyes flickered open, and there he was. There was that handsome face.
I smiled. "Beebo."
"Hey Lizzie." Brendon sat down and took my hand. He kissed it. "Baby, I am so sorry." He said.
"What for?"
"I was mad at you over something silly. I know that you would overthink. I never for one second thought that all this would happen." Brendon looked down at his feet. I lifted his chin, so he had to look at me.
"Bren, I love you. Yes, I was wondering what was wrong, but I didn't even know this would happen to me. Baby, we need to talk about stuff, too. If something is bothering you, tell me. I can't help or fix it if I don't know." Brendon nodded.
He got onto the bed with me. He stroked my face.
"I missed you, baby." He said into my ear. "The beds so empty without you."
I cuddled into him and kissed his cheek. I inhaled his familiar scent.
"When can you be discharged?"
"I don't know. Is my mom still here?" I asked.
"Yea." Brendon got off the bed and went to fetch my Mom. Mom came in.
"What's up, honey?" She asked me.
"Do you know when I can go home?" I asked her.
"I don't know. I can go and find your doctor, honey."
I nodded. "Thank you, Mom."
Brendon got back on the bed with me. We cuddled into each other.

10 minutes later, the Dr who had been treating me came into my hospital room. Mom was sitting on a chair, and Brendon was still on the bed with me.
"Elizabeth, I am Dr. Kepner. I believe you were asking when you could be discharged?" He asked.
"Yes." I replied.
"Well, we will keep an eye on your vitals over the next few hours. If you are stable then this evening." I grinned at my mother
and Brendon.