The Choice

8) Joe

We inspected her hand, thankfully it was just a sprained wrist; though it was bad. They wrapped it in a clutch and now we're standing in front of the hospital as she drinks her medications sitting on my bike.

I feel a rush of happiness that she's here. I always loved quality time with Eliana; she's the only girl I spend good time with. I don't have the urge to impress her and she's not like the rest of the girls I knew that just either want my money or body.

But it's different with Aurora, I'm not attracted and I will not allow that, but she managed to get me to be comfy with her showing her my true side when she did literally nothing. Although I saw a strong woman when she snapped at me when she knew I stalked her, but her giving in confirmed that she knew Omer. I am certain of it now.

"Thanks." She says as I take from her the water bottle, "It's nothing, Ro." She looks up at that and I suppress the urge to do a victory dance as she smiles. I smile back, "Hey, look at her she can smile. Wow!" She raises a brow and I take her phone from my pocket, "I'm sorry for what happened." I say feeling truly sorry and my heart clenches at her face as her chin wobbles when she looks at it taking the phone from my hand and just like that, she cries.

"Hey, no don't cry please." I tell her softly as I try to remove her hair from her face only for her crying to escalate and she starts hyperventilating. "No, no. Shhh" I wrap my arms around her instantly, I was scared I pushed her too far, but I relax when she just leans her head on my shoulder. I pat her back; nothing about our position is weird and it is completely platonic. I feel it now, I do not get this feeling except with Eliana. She feels like a responsibility.

"I- I'm sorry." She stutters, but I just keep patting her back as she sobs. I freeze when I hear her whisper, "O- Omer." I decide to let it aside, but I cannot help the smile from forming on my face as I close my eyes.

I found him. I found my brother.

Her cries stop and she wipes her tears and smiles, "Ugh, I'm a mess, sorry." I smile back, "No you're not. Looks like something's on your mind." She just nods and I take it as a que to keep the conversation going, "You can tell me, you know. I can keep secrets I swear." She laughs at that before saying, "I cannot choose between two important things." I think for a bit then say, "Follow your heart."

She sighs, "You think so?" I nod, "Look our minds can deal with the damage, but our hearts are too cute for that." She laughs again, "if I followed my heart, I'll disappoint people I love too." I lean a hip on the bike next to her, "Then go for the thing that makes you happier." She smiles so big at that as she looks at the cars passing by, I raise a brow "That fun?"

She shakes her head, "This is unreal, I'm really laughing with a stranger and he's giving me advice." I smile, "I'm not a stranger, Ro. We both know that."

This gets her to look at me, she searches something in my face then looks back in front of her. "How?" she asks softly. I sit next to her facing the street too, "You're a public figure; easy to track, easy to notice the people around you."

"But why me?" she looks at me, I smile as I remember, "NV Valley. That is a very familiar name that by complete coincidence is a name someone dear to me mentioned before and by utter chance is the initials of the name of a woman I'm living with."

I pause as I feel pins prick at the back of my throat and I hear my voice crack, but go on anyways, "She's just existing."

She looks at me and I'm surprised to find tears in her eyes as well. "Come with me." I pause pleading her with my eyes, "Come and meet Ali, he wants to see you too. We all do. Mom doesn't know about you don't worry, but just come."

"Why? This will make it harsher." She says and I shake my head, "Maybe and maybe you'll lessen the pain for a bit." She shakes her head confused, "Maybe we'll feel him in you, like I do right now."

A tear slide from her eyes, I whisper voice not coming out, "What does he look like?"

"This is wrong, Joe." I place a hand on her shoulder, "Please, please tell me." She smiles between her tears, "You look like him."

A laugh comes from my throat followed by another then I'm cackling in the street like the maniac I am. She joins as she tries to stop, but laughs even harder when my laughs doesn't stop then I say between giggles, "Ali will be mad." "Why?" she asks laughing, "because we bet who will look like him."

She shakes her head, "You do. I saw Ali and you do although Ali has the same eyes." I smile at that because yes, I know.

"Will you come with me, belle?"

"Belle?!"

"Yeah."

"Fine."

"YAY!" I fist bump the air as I start the engine heading for our house.

I open the door to our place and step back for Aurora to enter. She takes cautious steps inside and I enter after her. The lights are off, looks like mom is not back yet. I spin to close the door. I hear footsteps and I look back to find Aurora frozen at the entrance of the living room.

I smile when Ali takes off running towards the couches and Elianna appears after him as she climbs the couch then jumps on his shoulders. He reaches backwards to support her, "YOU DICK!" she yells and rocks them as Ali loses his balance and they both fall on the opposite couch on top of each other.

I place a hand on Aurora's shoulder as she stares at them, "Welcome to the family, belle."