It's Complicated

Chapter 31: The Aftermath

After being wheeled off in an ambulance with my mom & taking a billion & one tests at the hospital, my doctor told me I had a severe case of whiplash & that I should be thankful I'm not paralyzed. It kind of hit me, I always knew gymnasts was grueling & intense, but to almost be paralyzed? Especially by a sport I love? I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

As we pull into our driveway I see a familiar car, it's Dan & Kim. My heart instantly skips a beat & I can't help but feel overjoyed. "Mind your manners please & don't forget we have that after states party tonight!" Every year since I moved to level 8 my family has thrown an "after states" party where the adults basically get drunk & the kids go off doing stupid shit we shouldn't be doing. "Yes ma'am, I know!"

My mom parks the car in the garage & I swear I've never gotten out so fast! I ran inside the house to Kim & Dan, who were sitting in the couch across from my dad & Hayley. I jump on top of Kim & squeeze her into a tight hug, Dan soon follows in. "Geeez thanks for saying hi to me Annie!" Hayley scoffs as she folds her arms & exits the room. "Ah, don't worry about her," dad says, "she's been since I had to pick her up." Of course, "princess" Hayley didn't care about anything unless it was about her. My mom sits down next to my dad, who awkwardly places his hand on her thigh as she leans on to him. "So how was the two weeks with Kim & Dan, Annie?" There's so many things I could say, but I don't want my mom to feel bad. "It was great, it really helped me, a lot."

I know I still really haven't been honest with my mom, but I couldn't help it. She's just been so busy with other things lately, I get it, I do. I just wish sometimes she'd make enough time for me, too. "We loved having her over. She's just been a complete joy & has helped Kimmy with so much stuff! You all have a great kid on your hands!" Dan says as he gives me a knuckle-sandwich. I can't help but blush over the appraisal he's given me! "Thank you, but Kim deserves credit too! She's my go-to gal when I need help with Bananie!" My mom loved the bond between me & Kim, she always supported the fact that Kim helped me when my mom couldn't. She instantly became friends with my mom & the rest of it was history, she's one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me in my life! I stand up in the middle of the living room & signal to everyone for a huge family hug. As goofy as it sounds, group hugs are my favorite, especially when I'm in the middle. As I'm being squeezed with love & suffocated by kisses from Kim & my mom, the doorbell rings.
*DING DONG*
"Don't worry, I'll get it!" I yell from the middle of everyone. I wedge myself away & everyone gives hugs to one another. I look back at them & open the door at the same time, I turn around & instantly freeze up.

I gasp, it's a piercing sound & all attention goes to the front door. I step back from the door & bump into the sofa table knocking over a glass gymnast figurine. I can feel my body tighten up & I can't move away any further. "I.. W-w-why.." I stumble across my words, nothing makes sense. "Julianna Grace, I'm so sorry, I swear!" He tries to walk into the house but stops before he makes it to the door frame. There he was in the flesh, Daniel. It was like today was "shit-on-Annie-day" & it was hitting full force.

"Is this that little bastard?" Dan yells in frustration, I never told him what happened to me but I guess Kim did. I slowly nod my head, I just can't believe he's here. I almost wanna hug him but I also want to kick him in the balls & yell. I wipe away the tears from my face that unknowingly streamed down my cheeks until it splashed into my shirt. I blink & before I know it Dan is outside the house with a bloody fist & Daniel is on the ground. Dan punched him right in the nose. I can't believe this just happened.

Everything happened so fast, it's so unreal. Time is standing still, well not for everyone but for me at least. My mom runs to Daniel & lifts his head to keep him from choking on his blood, Kim runs to Dan to check on his hand, my dad runs to get ice for the both of them, meanwhile I stand in confusion. It's like one of those scenes in the movies where the while scene goes shaky for the main person, actually that's exactly what it felt like. I've never felt more confused than I do now.

A few moments pass & my mom & Kim help Daniel up & bring him into the house. I brace myself because I know shit is going to get real, real fast. "So who is this kid Dan just punched?" The look on my father's face is daunting, his eyes are bloodshot & you can tell he's tense. "This little fucker, hurt our Annie!" It was always funny to me to hear Dan cuss, but I knew he was truly hurt. "You've got some real fucking nerve coming here kid. I don't know who you are, but you're not welcome around her anymore! You got that?"

Dan sits at the table clenching his fists as Kim rubs his back trying to calm down. Neither Kim or my mom have a made a peep. "Actually, you can get yourself the fuck out of this house now before we press charges on your ass. I swear, if I find you around my daughter again, you're gonna regret it!" Daniel has a frantic look on his face. I know he didn't come here for a fight but what did he expect? Did he honestly think things were going to be peachy? How dumb & foolish did he think I actually was?

My father & Dan begin to escort Daniel out of the house, as soon as he reaches the door he looks back at me. His eyes are full of tears, some may say they're full of sorrow but I doubt he feels bad about anything. "Julianna, I know I fucked up. I know I did. But I love you, more than anything, more than her. I just want you back, no one else. Please! Give me another shot!" By this point he's being forced out of the house. He stands on my doorsteps waiting for a response from me. My eyes feel puffy & full of tears, I try my damnedest to fight back the tears. I stand at the door, trying to gather my thoughts. "Daniel, you ruined that all on your own. I can't do this. I can't be with you. You're a terrible person & I want nothing to do with you."  I begin to shed a few tears & I slam the door shut. I can't deal with this, I don't want to deal with this.

I run up to my bedroom & sob on my bed when my mom & Kim come in. Neither one of them say anything, they just stay & console me. They hold me, hug me, rub my back, anything to calm me down. Nothing's being said, you can only hear the sniffles of runny noses from crying. I know I should've told everyone what happened sooner, but I just couldn't deal with it.. I still can't. Looking at them is unbearable, their eyes are full of tears & their makeup is running down their faces.

We lay in bed, with me in the middle, trying to make sense of what happened. Nothing feels real. I rub my eyes & clear my face of any tears. I know I need to tell my parents what really happened between me & Daniel, I just don't know if I can do it. I close my eyes shut for a moment when the door bell rings, again. My heart instantly races, it feels like it's popping out my chest. I'm trying to hear who it is, but I can't tell. I hear them greet my father & Dan, I hear an all too familiar voice & I realize who it is. It's Katie & her family. I love them, but I wish I just had more time to be by myself, without any drama.