Rebelle House

15. Too Many Feelings Is Hurting Than Not Feeling At All.

I get to the hospital finding what room Chad is in seeing him swollen with bruises and a wrap around the back of his head.

"Fuck, they really did a number on you," Walking in more he smiles low.

"I'm alright. I was more worried about you."

Pulling a chair close to his bed, I hold his hand.

"You know I'm handling it. I'm not going to let them keep fucking with my life. Especially not my only family I truly got."

Saying that, Chad nods slowly, "I knew I meant more than just a bartender who took in strays," He says jokingly.

Him wincing now, I sighed, "Rest okay? Are you covered ? Do I need to pay for anything?"

Tapping my hand like an old lady would to her grandchild, he says no.

"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure I could—" He gives me a look saying, "Ayla, you don't need to do anything. I got it."

I nod, "Okay, when are you being discharged?"

Grabbing a paper to the side of him, he hands it to me and it says by Saturday which is in four days.

"Okay, until then don't try to worry about the club. I can have Jasper help out. I'm sure he knows how to handle things."

Chad coughs out, "And Juniper? She's going to link him to you and you'll be in more shit since he left and never gave her a reason as to why he did."

Knowing he's right I breathe out heavily.

"So what do we do? The Jorn's and you need cash flowing in and out. You can't just not do anything. You won't have money Chad. There's gotta be something."

Laying back more, he closes his eyes but says, "For once let us do the figuring out. You can rest now too. I have enough money saved and I talked to Will. He's making adjustments, making new connections I recommend to him. It'll work out. We just need you out of Ronan and Juniper's way."

Always on the go I've forgotten how it was to stay still.

The white lines helped me get through the days and night faster than when I was actually sober.

"Chad, do you think I can get through this actually here and not up in the clouds? I've been relying on drugs, alcohol, even sex... all this time. Do you think I could be normal before all of this? Actually be me?"

Opening his eyes looking at me, he nods, "I know you can. It's going to be hard as hell but you're strong as shit Ayla. Before anything takes you down you come back ten times stronger. So don't think you can't beat it."

Tearing up, I smiled nodding, "You're right."

Getting up, I kiss his forehead then turn off the light so he could get some sleep and head to the hospital's cafeteria wanting something to eat before I go.

Grabbing a sandwich and water, finding a table to sit at, I hear a little girl talking with her dad.

"Mommy is going to be okay right? She'll wake up and everything will be normal?"

The dad holds the little girl's hand, "Honey, it's going to take some time but we'll be there for her okay? One day at a time that's all it takes."

Tears start rolling in again, having me remember an old childhood memory.

A few years back

"Right there! Yes! Good job sweetheart!"

My mom says as I'm playing soccer with the kids from my school.

I was only ten, no care in the world, safe, happy.

"Oh! Quinn look at her go," My mom says to my dad who is too busy on the phone with his business partner Harold.

"Hold on a sec Hun," He tells her while going to the car to finish his phone call.

I come running up all sweaty with grass stains all over.

"Mommy, did you see that? I hit the goal!"

My mom laughs, "I saw sweetheart," Rubbing my cheek with her thumb, she then picks me up now seeing my dad angrily hanging his phone up.

"God! Can that man be more of a nuisance? I have to go back in tonight to check on some stuff he screwed up. I can't make ice cream, sorry Lya."

I smiled, "It's okay dad."

Five years went by with trouble with his business partner that when I turned fifteen an option they couldn't refuse was brought to their attention.

"Arranged marriage? You're making me get married to an old man for money? Because we're in debt? Broke?"

I say as my birthday candles start to melt into my birthday cake.

"Sweetheart, your grandfather said this would solve it. The man he found is decent, wealthy and such a gentleman."

Choking on my own salty tears, I shook my head, "You can't make me! I won't do it!"

My dad walks in handing my mother a pamphlet with the words Rebelle House bedazzled onto it.

"If she's not ready to make the sacrifice, that place will have her ready for when she is."

My mother reads it then hands it to me, "Do it for us sweetheart, please."

Reading it blurred as tears kept falling, I laid it down on the table going to my room slamming the door.

Weeks went by with me not speaking to them only to be shipped off to the Rebelle House.

There at the front door I met Lori, Capri and Lilac all in the same boat as me.

Their parents were in debt almost thrown to the wolves.

Somehow their parents got a whiff of this place and now we've been abandoned to become proper wives for old men with big wallets.

"Welcome, I hope you enjoy your stay here at the Rebelle House. My name is Juniper Hollow. I will be your house mother if you will. I will make sure to turn you girls into something special...special enough for any man."

All four of us looked at each other then at the men standing beside her.

Present time

Not knowing how to regulate all these feelings, I make it back to the Jorn's only to find Aero still outside now drinking bourbon from the bottle.

"What?" He says as I take the bottle from his hand, taking a sip then getting on his lap.

Sitting up more he tries to move me scared Will or anyone else might see what I was doing.

"Get off. Will or Paul or Daniel could come out any minute."

Drinking more, I place the bottle back in his hand.

"You're right. I forgot. You're no good to me anymore."

About to get off him, he places the bottle on the ground then holds my waist from both sides.

"Talk...talk to me," I nod, "Talk? Okay we can talk," I lean down placing my lips on him only for him to stop me.

"Ayla, no," Looking at me I see pity circling in his eyes.

"At least when I fuck Will he asks questions later and let's me ride him first," I say tipsy but meaning what I say.

Aero now goes cold again pushing me off him, having me land in the grass.

"You fucked Will? When?"

I zip my lips then grab the bottle again finishing what was left to now be completely wasted.