Trauma changes people. trauma changes everyone.
All rights for the 9-1-1 cast and all rights to most of the plot goes to ABC. New plots and new characters belong to me 🫶
Book continues in Apparition! 🫶
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We're out of school for the rest of the week due to the gas leakage. So now I'm stuck at home. Looking at the mess I caused.
Miles had to leave yesterday about an hour after he came and I don't feel like cleaning so ever since he left, I've been laying in my bed. I haven't moved, I haven't ate, I've just been lying here.
My bedroom door opens and Carla walks in. "Hey, your friends are here." Carla says. "Which ones?" I ask. "Nathaniel, Julian, Miles, and Isabelle." Carla says.
I sigh as I sit up. "They can come in." I say. Might as well get this over with. Carla smiles softly at me before leaving.
I hear footsteps walk down the hall before my door opens again. "Hey." Miles says as he walks inside, the others following him inside. "You still haven't cleaned up?" Miles asks. "No." I say softly, looking at the mess.
"How come?" Isabelle asks. "Didn't feel like it." I say. "Have you eaten anything?" Miles asks, concern filling his eyes. "Yeah. I did." I lie. "What did you eat?" He asks.
"A sandwich." I say. "How long ago?" He asks. "Like an hour ago." I say. "Carla says you haven't moved. You've been locked up in your room." Isabelle says.
"Didn't feel like doing anything." I say. "Did you talk to your dad?" Miles asks, changing the conversation from the topic of food. "No." I say. "He hasn't been home to see the mess.." I say. "Double shifts." I add.
Miles nods slowly. Nate has a look of guilt on his face as he looks at me. "This isn't because of you, Nate. Promise. The argument was my fault and I apologize. I'm not in a good place right now." I say.
"We can tell." Julian says jokingly. I laugh softly before looking back over at Miles. "Why is Carla here if Chris isn't here?" Miles asks. "Dad wanted her to stay with me since I didn't have school. I don't know why though." I say.
"I'm sure he's noticed, pretty girl. We all did." Miles says. "We did notice. That's why we constantly checked on you." Isabelle says. "That's why I pushed to get answers." Nate says.
"But we're glad you finally let Miles know what's going on, even if we don't know it. I think we're just glad you talked about it." Isabelle says. "Yeah." Nate says. "It's not a big deal, promise. Just some things I've built up all these years." I say.
"We understand. And don't feel forced to tell us. It's none of our business. We're here to hang out, not interrogate you." Isabelle says. "And we're here to eat your food." Julian jokes. Isabelle nudges him, laughing softly.
"I don't know what's in there." I say. "I think there's leftovers from last night." I add. "I was just joking, Lyds." Julian says. "I know." I say, looking at him.
"So, what do you want to do?" Nate asks.
*********
We ended up watching a movie in the living room. We're watching A Dog's Way Home and currently Julian and Nate are crying, but they're denying they are crying. Which is the funny part.
The door opens and Dad and Buck walk in. "Oh, hey guys. I didn't know you were here." Dad says. "We just came to hang out for a little while." Nate says.
"Alright." Dad says, nodding before taking his bag to his room. Buck hangs back. "I think your Dad wanted to talk to you about something." Buck says. "Privately." Buck adds.
And that's when it clicks. Carla walked into my room. She saw the mess. I didn't even think about that.
"Lydia. Come into the kitchen for a second." Dad says as he walks into the kitchen. I take a deep breath before getting up and walking into the kitchen.
"I've noticed, Mija." Dad says. "Noticed what?" I ask. "The difference. I've noticed the change in your behavior, and that's why I booked you a therapist appointment." Dad says. "And you breaking down yesterday. Breaking your favorite picture frame, throwing the book your mother gave you. That's not you, Lydia." Dad says.
"You used to not let anyone touch that book and you're the one who broke it." Dad says.
Mom got me this book that has quotes in it. The quote she used to always tell me and Chris is included. "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."
She used to always say that when me and Chris were upset. I've always remembered it. I will continue to remember it. Because for some reason, it always helps me.
That's when I realize what he said. A therapist. "A therapist?!" I repeat. "Dad, I don't-" I start to say. "I'm not hearing it. You need to at least try. You can't keep going like this, baby." Dad says. "I know." I say, looking down.
"Will you try?" Dad asks. "Yeah. I'll try." I say. Dad nods before pulling me into a hug and kissing me on the head.
