❝ So everything got paid for.
She made sure you and your brother had way
more. Than she ever had growing up.
But when you told me the whole story, I felt like
throwing up. I could see it on your face,
it was rough. ❞
Cobra Ka...
____________________ Chapter 11! The Aftermath ____________________
Bonnie lay back on the gurney, her body still throbbing with pain from the blows she'd taken. Her shoulder burned where Tory's spiked bracelet had torn through her skin, the blood still seeping through the hastily applied bandages. She could feel the sticky warmth of it against her skin, but the dizziness clouding her thoughts made it hard to focus on anything for too long.
Sam sat beside her in the ambulance, her face pale, hands clenched tightly in her lap. She hadn't said much since the fight ended—not that Bonnie could blame her. Everything had spiralled out of control so fast. The chaos of it replayed in Bonnie's mind: Tory's attack, Robby and Miguel fighting, and then—the worst part—Miguel's body hitting the stairs. The sickening crack still echoed in her ears. Bonnie swallowed hard, nausea rising in her throat.
The ambulance jolted as it turned a corner, but Bonnie barely reacted. The pain in her ribs flared with every breath, but she forced herself to push it aside. She had done everything she could to stop the fight. She had thrown herself in the middle, taken hit after hit, but none of it had changed the outcome. Miguel was still hurt. Robby was still gone.
"Bonnie... I'm sorry," Sam's voice cut through the silence, soft and filled with guilt. Bonnie turned to her, meeting her eyes for the first time since they'd been in the hallway.
"Don't be," Bonnie said quietly, though the words didn't feel entirely true. "I didn't mean to get involved. I just... I didn't want to see you get hurt."
Sam shook her head, her expression conflicted. "No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have dragged you into this. Tory... she's been waiting for the chance to get back at me, and I just kept pushing her."
Bonnie's eyes softened. She could see the guilt in Sam's eyes, but she also understood. It wasn't just Sam's fault. It wasn't anyone's fault—it was just everything spiralling out of control. And now, they were both paying the price for it.
The ambulance slowed as it pulled up to the hospital, and before Bonnie could say anything else, the doors swung open. The paramedics moved quickly, guiding them out and into the emergency room. The harsh fluorescent lights made her squint, and the cold air sent a shiver down her spine. Everything smelled sterile, too clean, too artificial.
As the nurses wheeled her toward an exam room, the pain in her ribs flared, making her hiss through her teeth. She felt weak. Useless. She had spent so much time trying to protect Sam, trying to stop Tory, but in the end, all she had done was get herself hurt.
Sam was led away to a separate room, and Bonnie was left alone as a nurse began tending to her injuries. The stitches in her shoulder came first, each tug of the needle sending a fresh wave of stinging pain through her arm. Then came the X-rays—confirmation of what she already knew. Her ribs weren't broken, but they were bruised enough that every movement sent fire shooting through her side. The doctor's orders were clear: no strenuous activity for the next few weeks, along with a prescription for painkillers to ease the discomfort.
Once the nurse finished wrapping her ribs with a tight bandage, Bonnie was left to sit in the sterile silence of the hospital room, her thoughts swirling. Robby... where had he gone? Bonnie's stomach twisted at the thought of what had happened with Miguel. She could only imagine how he felt. He hadn't meant to seriously hurt Miguel. She was sure of that. But intentions didn't change reality. Miguel had fallen. And now everything was different.
She fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she unlocked it and typed out a message.
"I'm at the hospital. I'm okay. Where are you?" She hesitated for a moment, then hit send, hoping for a response. But the phone stayed silent.
She tried again. "Please text me back."
Still nothing.
Her stomach churned with anxiety, and she stared at the screen, waiting for a reply that never came. It felt like time had stopped, every second stretching into eternity as she replayed the fight in her mind. What had happened? What had she done? Had she made things worse by getting involved?
Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears away, but exhaustion was creeping in fast. Every muscle in her body ached, the fight draining the last of her strength. She barely reacted when the door opened again, and her mother stepped inside.
Genevieve's face was pale, her eyes rimmed with unshed tears as she rushed to Bonnie's side. She wrapped her arms around her as carefully as she could, but even the lightest touch sent pain flaring through Bonnie's ribs. She sucked in a breath but didn't pull away. The comfort of her mother's embrace was worth the sting.
"Bonnie, baby, I'm so glad you're okay." Genevieve's voice trembled with relief, but there was worry there too—so much worry. Bonnie could feel the unspoken questions lingering in the space between them.
"Mom... I don't know what happened," Bonnie whispered, her voice barely audible. "I just... I tried to help."
Genevieve stroked her hair, her touch gentle. "I know, sweetie. I know." But Bonnie wasn't sure if that was true. How could anyone make sense of this?
Her mother's eyes softened as she brushed a loose curl away from Bonnie's face. "Come on, baby," She murmured. "Let's get you home."
Bonnie nodded numbly, though the idea of moving made her stomach churn. When she shifted to sit up, pain flared hot and sharp in her ribs, stealing her breath. She clenched her jaw, fighting back a wince. Her body felt like it had been through a war. Maybe it had.
The drive home was silent, the weight of everything hanging thick in the air. Bonnie kept staring at her phone, waiting for something—anything—from Robby. But his name never appeared on the screen. The ache in her chest had nothing to do with her ribs.
When they finally arrived home, the quiet house felt oppressive, like the walls were closing in around Bonnie. She stepped inside, the familiar smell of home doing little to ease the tightness in her chest. Genevieve led her to the couch, urging her to sit and rest.
"Do you want anything to eat? Something to drink?" Genevieve asked gently, though her eyes were full of worry.
Bonnie shook her head, not trusting her voice to hold steady. She just wanted to curl up and disappear, to make all of this mess go away. She sank into the cushions, still clutching her phone. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, wrapping around her like a weight she couldn't shake.
Her body ached. Her heart ached. And as her exhaustion finally won out, pulling her into sleep, the only thing she could think about were the messages still unanswered on her phone.
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jada speaks
two chapters in a day?!?! had to make a filler chapter after the shit that went down in the last one hahaha. i'm beyond excited (and absolutely terrified) for everything coming in act ii. season 3 is easily one of my favourite seasons!
