young enough - c.l

twentyfive.

once again, a heads up for this chapter. we are digging into Aurora's past which means mentions of traumatic experiences.
I'm here if you need to talk<3

~~~

We had taken a break from the questionings by making breakfast, so once we sat down at the table I noticed Charles puzzled look.

"Were- once the car stopped rolling- what happened?" He looked up from his plate.
"So I don't actually- know this part because I was passed out. But Evan- who was still alive at that point. He told be that the car had caught on fire while all of us where in it. So he had managed to get out. Trying to free all of us but soon realizing that he'd only be able to get me out, uhm because mom and dad had- passed while Patrick was stuck and he wasn't able to get him- out without the right tools"

•flashback•

Evan opened his eyes as he felt thick smell of smoke, it had hit his lungs worse than just taking your first puff of a cigarette. Which he had done for the first time earlier today.
The tree that they had hit has what stopped them from the endless rolling. It felt like it was never going to stop. He knew they were hitting it, so he had closed his eyes preparing for impact. Evan wish he had done as their family members in the car (not that they had a choice), he had wished he had passed out - not being able to feel or see everything that went down in the car.

He saw his little sister hit her head on the steering wheel - his mother's leg breaking - his father getting hit from everything getting into the car - his uncle getting impaled by a branch from the tree they had hit.
His hand that had reached out for Aurora did not look the way it was supposed to - his entire body hurt.

But he needed to get Aurora out, he could see her still breathing.

Aurora could only feel the way her head hurt, as she heard Evan's weak voice call her name.

The car was now on fire, the heat burning her skin.

"Grab my arm Aurora"

She had opened her eyes, looking around but Evan caught her face making sure she didn't see what had happened around her - to her parents.

"Hey look at me- the car is on fire. Come on we need to get you out Pearl"

Pearl - Aurora loved pearls, she used to collect them when she was younger.

All she could do was nod slowly, the adrenaline pumping in her blood. Aurora grabbed his arm, Evan unbuckled her seatbelt - taking all the strength he had left to pull her out.

There were screams leaving their mouths.
The smell of burning skin and the feeling of it on your skin - is something you can never forget.

When he had managed to get her out, he pulled her close to him.
His little sister meant the whole world to him.

"But mom and dad-"
"They're dead Aurora. Patrick is stuck I can't get him out either."

She was safe, she was okay. That was what mattered.

But you know once the adrenaline leaves your body, the kind of high you were feeling - it makes every little pain you're in take over in the end.
They had fallen to the ground, Evan's last memory and breath was in the arms of the one he cared for the most.

Aurora - his pearl.

•|•

"So he was still alive when you got out of the car?" He asked. And I nodded, taking a bite out of my breakfast.

"Am I the first person you've told this to?"

"Yeah- sort of- except for the police and the rescuers on the scene"

"Lando doesn't know?" He grabbed my hand softly.

"No. Evan was one of his best friends, how do you think he'd react if I told him he pretty much sacrificed himself to get me out?"

"That's not- you couldn't have known that pulling you out of there was the reason that one blood vessel broke. He did what he had to and wanted to I'm sure. Also- you're Lando's best friend too. Of course he'd love to have both of you here, but things happen- that's out of our control" Charles fingers caressed my hand now. The concern in his eyes, his lips downwards.

"I think you should talk to someone- professional about this. It's not that I- don't want you hear every bit of it, because I want to get to know you and your story. But I can see how much it's effecting you Aurora, you shouldn't blame yourself for this." He started, taking a small pause as he pulled out his phone.

"Here- I have a therapist. She helped me with the fear of getting into an f1 car after Jules' crash, and she still helps me after I've had a crash as well" He continued, handing me the phone.

"You have fears of crashing?" I looked up at him.

"I- Jules died in a terrible one. But I also know that it's something that could happen in this sport, I know the consequences but she's a really good listener and she knows exactly what to say." He smiled softly and I couldn't help but give him a small smile back.

"Thank you Charles."

She is an expensive therapist I'll tell you that, more than the usual ones - I found out as I was looking through her page.
Maybe she was worth a shot - but that'd be expensive, too expensive for me.

"I'll pay." He took his phone back, I'm pretty sure he saw me looking at the prizes.
"Nono- no you're not Charles that's not something you should pay for it's my trau-"
"But I will, I recommended her. You can't change my mind on this ma perle"

Ma perle.

I haven't told him about that nickname, it felt like so long ago somebody called me that. It was the last thing my grandma said before she passed - it was one of the last things Evan said too. My body felt warm, my heart beating so fast. A chuckle left my lips as I felt my eyes water.
Charles hands quickly made his way to my cheeks, caressing them - he looked so worried.

"Did I say something wrong- I didn't mean to say anything that hurt you in any way"

"Say it again please"

"You can't change my mind on this-?" He asked confused, I chuckled again.

"My pearl" I said and he smiled.

"Ma perle" He embraced me in a tight hug.

"My brother used to call me pearl" I'm pretty sure my tears stained his shirt at this point.

"I'm so sorry- I won't call you that. And I'm so sorry that this happened to you."

"No- please don't. It makes me feel safe. It makes me feel home- I can't explain it Charles." I looked up at him, he dried my tears that had fallen on my cheeks.

"I can't explain why I said it either- it just felt natural."

Ma perle, my pearl - my heart is forever yours.

~~~

Are you guys okay with jumping a bit ahead in this story? I hope so, next chapter some time will have passed.