Fears To Face

∞ Chapter 26 ∞

AN

I'm SO sorry for the late update. As I said in my profile, my computer broke down on me as I was editing this chapter and it took me a while to get a new one. I hope you don't hate me...

*****

~ Kayley ~

"Don't move. I'll be right back," I told Rayne, who had been mentally gone for the whole drive and now looked confused. I hurried up the steps and burst into the door of our home, calling out. "Mom? Mom?"

I wandered through the kitchen, the living room, searching for her when she came down the stairs with the laundry bucket. "Is there something wrong, Kayley? What are you so worked up about?" she asked concerned.

"Mom. I know this seriously is too soon and I'm definitely pushing my limits here, but I have to ask. Can Rayne please stay here tonight?" I rushed to ask. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but I continued fast, blurting everything out before she could object. "We went to his parents' house. He left two years ago after his first turn and never saw them again to save them from what he'd become, but I knew he missed them. So we visited today and we talked with his mom and brother and in the end his mother told him his father passed away. He's broken, mom. I can't leave him alone right now. Please."

"He is mature, sweetie," she said, but I already shook my head, trying to catch my breath.

"I can't leave him alone. You didn't see him. Please. I wouldn't ask you this if it wasn't necessary."

Her eyes narrowed. "You think –?"

I couldn't believe she even went that way. "No, of course not, but being alone is the last thing he needs right now. His father died, mom. While he was gone." I bit my lip, looking around. I needed to get back to him. I told him to stay in my car, but I wasn't sure he'd even listened. Unease spread fast. I didn't have time for this so I grasped for the first desperate measure that I came up with. "Basically it's him staying here or me staying in his place. Your choice." I knew I was being unfair, but this was an exception. He was in complete misery and I wasn't letting him go through this alone. I wouldn't.

My mother's eyes widened, but when she talked she was way more sympathetic than I had expected for my tone. "You really care about him, don't you?"

My heart was hurting like someone had an ice grip around it seeing him this way. "Yes, I really care about him." I peeked out of the kitchen window. Rayne was moving. Stay where you are, Rayne. Please. I'm coming. I impatiently switched feet.

Mom exhaled a deep breath. "Okay. I don't know how I'm going to tell this to your father, but he can stay."

Half of the weight on my shoulders fell away. "Oh my god, thank you so much mom." I threw my arms around her neck before quickly returning to the door. "I love you, mom. I won't forget about this," I called back. I ran down the steps to the car, relieved to still find him in the passenger seat. I steadied my breath, able to actually breathe again now I knew he would stay close to me and I could take care of him. "Rayne? You're staying here tonight," I said as I opened the door and reached for his hand.

He took mine tight in his as soon as I held it out for him, but then he said, "I want to be alone." His voice was hoarse from the crying.

"No, you don't. You can't fool me, Rayne. I won't let you be on your own now. Come on."

He gazed into my eyes, seeming to search for something in them and pulled me closer towards the car so my knees were touching his thigh. His eyes were lifeless, the normally sparking orange glow now dim and dull. His chest rose and fell heavily, grief-stricken. He sighed, then nodded and came out of the car, holding my hand tight in his. We went straight upstairs to my room where he sat down on the edge of my bed, elbows on his legs, head in his hands as I walked back to close the door. He took off the leather jacket he always wore and threw it over my desk chair. Even that sounded sad when it hit the back.