The Third Choice

Chapter 4

I looked away, blushing.

H-he didn't just say that right?! I thought to myself.

"It's the truth, Rikko. I can't leave you here alone," Bradey ran his hand through his hair. "Especially not here alone with... with Nash."

Surprised, I covered my face with the quilt. "I-I've gotta get some sleep..."

After a long silence, I pulled the quilt off my head to find the room empty.

I sighed. Phew! What an event.

"Thought I was gone?" Bradey sprung up from beside the bed.

"B-Bradey!!!" I was mad, but giggling at the same time. He really won't leave me will he?

"Alright, alright. I'll leave." He turned towards the door.

"W-wait, actually, it's fine if you stay... I mean... If... you want." I shrugged, causing an electric shock of pain through my body. I shivered.

"Oh. You mean it? Okay then." He plopped himself down on the sofa at the head of my bed and crossed his legs. "If you need me, just call for me and I'll be right there."

"I'm sorry, but what's your number again," I retorted.

"Ha. Funny."

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Tears streamed down my cheeks as a car's doors closed. I was left alone with my favourite Teddy, hanging from my hand. My dress was splattered with mud as the car drove away.

My eyes clouding up, I saw a figure walk towards me. It was a boy around my age, seven. He wiped a tear away from my eye and held my hands in his.

"What's wrong?" He tilted his head to the side.

"I-I-I don't know," I wailed, "my mommy just left!"

The boy approached me. He put his hands on my shoulders. "You're going to be okay," he reassured, "she'll come back for you."

"B-but they never do!" I crouched down and put my head in my hands.

"Don't say that. You don't know."

"They never do..."

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I jolted awake and scanned the room with my eyes.

"What happened?" I heard Bradey walk to the side of my bed and kneel down.

"N-nothing," I lied. "Just thought I heard something."

"Mhm." He raised an eyebrow, knowing that I lied.

I rolled my eyes. "I had a bad dream, okay?" I crossed my arms on my stomach. "Could you just leave me alone," I muttered.

"Hey, you told me that I could stay if I wanted to, and right now, I'm wanting to."

I rolled my eyes again. "Where's Nash? I'm calling for a replacement."

Just then, the door of my room slammed open. Nash came in with blood-shot eyes and balled fists. He walked over to Bradey and held him off of the ground by his shirt collar.

"Woah! Dude! What are you doing?" Bradey batted Nash's arm away, landing with a thud on the floor.

"You... you really..." Nash said through clenched teeth.

"Really what?" I saw Bradey point at me with his eyes. "Huh? Really what?"

"Guys, that's enough. Stop it." I demanded.

Nash stepped back but Bradey kept pushing at him. "Really what, Nash? Huh? Ya too shy to say it? Aww, poor thing."

"Bradey!" I screamed.

Both of them turned towards me and walked to the side of the bed. Bradey tried to grab for my hand but got smacked in the arm by Nash, causing him to wince in pain.

"Stop...!" I extended the o, exhausted by the childish behavior around me.

Bradey cleared his throat. "Well, I'll be leaving." He nudged Nash, who shrugged him off, then left the room with a crash of the door.

"What happened?" I said.

"Well," Nash began, "long story short, Bradey locked me up in the storage room and not only did he lock me up, but he locked me up yesterday!" He scratched the back of his head, then looked at me. "Yeah..."

I blinked, unamused. "Yeah, okay."

Nash rolled his eyes. "At least care, would you?"

A smile pulled at the right side of my mouth. "Well that's the first time you've spoken to me like that."

He sighed. "Maybe you should get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"And please be the one bringing me the meal!"

He chuckled and slid the door shut. "Sweet dreams, princess." I heard him whisper at my door.

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Author's Note

Sorry for this short chapter. This is just a fill-in chapter, telling you what Rikko did during them time in the hospital. Next chapter will bring her back to school ;)

P.S The picture at the top is of Rikko's apparent old school. Why do you think she doesn't remember anything about it?