Way Back Home ~ Evan Buckley 911

"Duck?"

TW: Mentions of miscarriage

Aria's heart was pounding out of her chest as she got off the bus. She only had enough money to get her to California and maybe 1 night at a sketchy hotel most likely used to have 'fun' time with hookers.

But that didn't bother her at all. She was away from Justin, she left. But the feeling like he was going to find her and kill her clouded her mind. She wanted to be in the moment and feel the feeling of freedom for the first time in 10 years. But her paranoia did not feel that need too apparently.

As much as she doesn't want to admit, she saw the letters her twin wrote her. She kept them hidden away. She knew he joined the 118 fire department in California LA. She has always felt guilty she never wrote back, he wrote her every month for 7 years and she couldn't bother to send a lousy message.

She felt disgusted in herself but she wants to show her goose she loves him. Oh and she can't wait to see her cutie nephew, Chris. Who was now 7 years old. That made her feel worse.

It was 11pm at night and Aria was exhausted. She made her way to a sketchy motel a few minutes away from the fire station. So she could go and reunite with her brother as soon as she could.

She walked to the front desk. "Hello, can I book a room for one night?" Aria politely asked.

"Hi, yes of course. Just for you?" The young man asked Aria.

"Yep, how much would that be"

"It comes out to $79" The worker replied.

"Perfect, thank you so much. Have a great night" Aria says as the man gives her the keys.

Aria quickly makes her way to her room. As soon as she enters the room she closed the door and locked it. She let out a deep breath, a feeling of relief washing over her.

She did it. She made it out. Not many do, she did this for all of the women and men who got killed leaving their abusive relationships. She is no longer a victim but a survivor.

Aria sat up all night. Even though she's out of her own personal hell she still can't shake the feeling of his hands compressing her neck. Her bruises worsened in the morning. Her neck showing a very distinct hand mark bruise. Her eye started to heal but her cheek was black.

She felt dirty, she felt damaged. She looked at herself in the mirror as the water heated up. She stared at herself with a disgusted look on her face.

Bruises covered her legs, arms, chest, neck and face. She didn't even look like herself anymore. Her eyes were swollen and hung low. Her face was pale and emotionless. Her bones stuck out, she looked as if she hadn't eaten for days.

She rummaged through her suitcase to find her makeup bag. She didn't want her brother to see her like this. Like a victim. She was the fierce and sassy twin. She didn't want him to see how pathetic she was.

She carefully dabbed her bruised cheek with concealer. Each dab hurting more than the last. She put a bit of mascara on, she didn't exactly feel pretty but she knew she didn't look the worst.

She grabbed her things and walked away from the sketchy motel. Her anxiety grew each step she took towards the fire station.

The possibility's flashed through her mind. She came to a halt "I can't do this" she whispered to herself. She couldn't show up out of the blue and ask Eddie. "Hey, can I live with you?!"

What was she thinking. Eddie must hate her and she's gonna ask for things from him. She turned around and walked away as fast as she could.

She walked to a small cafe a few blocks away. She was silently crying to herself. Her head hung low, just praying Eddie would forgive her.

"Hey, are you ok?" A small male quiet voice asked her.

She looked up with tears clouding her vision to see a tall blonde man. With a birthmark on his eyebrow. He was looking at her with a sweet, comforting smile on his face.

"I'm fine, don't worry." She replied quickly.

Her head returned to the spot it was when she heard the sound of a chair moving on the ground. She looked over to see the same man sitting down next to her.

"I'm Evan, but everyone just calls me Buck. What's your name" He gently asked her.

"I'm Ariella, but everyone just calls me Aria."

"Wow, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

"Oh, I guess you're here for something more than a chat." Aria sharply reply's with an annoyed look on her face.

"Oh my god, no. I'm sorry if it came across as that. I'm just here to make sure you're ok?" Buck replied trying to fix his mistake.

"Why, why do you want to help me. A random stranger in a cafe?"

"I guess I uh, like helping people" Buck replied unsure of what the right answer was.

Arias head spun, why would someone want to help me. I'm disgusting and not worthy of anything according to Justin. He told me everyone would think I deserve nothing.

"Well, thank you, I guess?" Aria replied as she was finally able to get out of her head.

"So, what do you do for work?" Buck asked a normal question but it made Aria realise, she hadn't worked for over 5 years. She loved her work. She was a 911 operator.

"Oh, I don't work anymore. When I did I worked as a 911 dispatcher. I loved it"

"That's what my sister does, you should consider getting back into it." Aria all of a sudden had motivation to have a life again.

She left Justin, she can now go out with friends, be with family and have a job. She wants it all for herself. She deserves it.

"I think I will, thank you Buck!" Aria spoke as her body began to become weary.

Buck responded with a sweet smile. Aria could barely see as her vision started to blur. She felt as if her eyes were going to pop out of her skull.  Her hand grabbed the table as she attempted to get up.

She had the intention of getting water, but she did not get any where near the water station.

"Hey, are you ok." Buck asked. Aria could only faintly hear his worried voice.

"Oh my god, you're bleeding. Sit down" Buck spoke with anxiety in his voice.

Her head was spinning, she felt like she was in a dream. Before she could catch herself she fell into Buck's arms and her vision surrendered to the darkness and gave in.

Aria's eyes slowly opened. Her eyes adjusting to the brightness but her ears being filled with the sound of a constant beeping.

"Ugh, turn the beeping off." She spoke in a groggy tone.

"You're awake, I'll go and get the doctor." The man from earlier today spoke.

She heard faint voices outside her hospital room.

"Hey Buck, what are you doing here?"

"Oh hey Eddie, I was at the cafe round the corner and a girl passed out so now I'm here. Why are you here?"

"Just brought in a patient, mind if I stay with you a bit. Cap is letting me on my break now, so why not chill with you" The faint familiar voice outside spoke.

"For sure, just let me go and get the doctor"
Buck responded.

She heard 3 pairs of foot steps making their way towards my room. Aria saw the doctor enter, then Buck, then Eddie?

"Duck?"

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Word Count: 1347

Ooo a cliffhanger. Hope you liked this chapter. I think the story is going pretty well so far. I would love some feedback! It's pretty drama filled right now but I promise it will calm down a bit. Thank you for reading lovelies! Follow my Tik Tok for updates: addylovesreadingx

Love Addy 🤍