Cognizant (Adopted By Alex Gaskarth: Book 2)✅

Chapter 5

Alex stopped at one last place on our way home. He pulled into the drivethru of Tang Street.

"Tang Street?" I asked in slight confusion.

"Come on, you don't think I'd forget my own daughter's favorite place to eat, huh? I think this deserves a little bit of celebration, even if it's just Chinese take-out."

I giggled to myself as I sat back, letting Alex order.

He handed the plastic bag to me, and I winced as a hot box in the bag burned my hands.

"You okay? Be careful, it's hot."

I looked at him with a face that said really? "Thanks. Hadn't noticed."

Alex chuckled and looked back at the road as he drove down our street. "We were thinking of having an actual celebration, though. When you get better and have gotten used to being back, of course. But invite all the guys and Kellin and Vic and their bands and Cope and all that and whoever else you'd like to see. You like that idea?"

I smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah."

.

"Worthless! Fucking idiot!" There was a sharp slap across my face,, and I fell back against the wall. "None of this would have happened if it weren't for you!"

I whimpered and curled into a ball against the wall as I was hit again. "It's your fault! Why can't you make yourself useful for once, and not be a fucking burden! You are a complete embarrassment."

"A-Alex, D-D-Dad, please... P-Please, I-I'm sorry, Je suis désolé! J-Je-Je suis t-tres d-désolé!"

"Stop stuttering, it makes you look pathetic," he grumbled. "Fucking freak. Can't even speak in English right."

My chest burned more as I was hit hard in the side.

I woke up, sweating and shaking, tears still streaming down my face. I managed to sit up, pushing back my dampened hair as it plastered to my head. My hands couldn't stop shaking as I tried to breathe. My eyes poured out tears as I felt even more terrified than before, holding myself tightly with my arms crossed over my chest and my head on my blanket-covered knees. Frantic sobs escaped my mouth as I tried forcing air in and out, but managed to allow little oxygen into my lungs.

The bedroom door opened, and I felt the bed sink down in front of me. I kept shaking and crying as Alex pulled me close to him, slowly rocking me back and forth.

"It's okay, I'm right here," he comforted me. "It was just a dream, you're safe."

After what seemed like hours of continuous crying and shaking, I began to calm down, still shaking from the terrified feeling I had. Tears still fell from my eyes freely, but I started being able to think and register where I was. I breathed in and out deeply to try and allow oxygen back into my lungs, trying to make up for what I had lost and became lightheaded.

I hiccuped and let my arms uncross from around my torso, hugging onto Alex.

"I-I'm sorry," I whimpered out.

Alex pressed his face into my hair and rubbed my back comfortingly. "It's okay, you don't have to apologize."

I pulled away from Alex's hold, wiping my eyes with my sleeve-covered hands, which still shook, but not as badly.

"You going to be okay?"

I hiccuped again and nodded. More tears began falling, but I rubbed at my eyes until they were sore from forcing tears to stop. I fell back against Alex, shutting my eyes tightly as I tried to relax against him. He hugged me again, and I could hear him softly singing the tune to Call Me. I brought my knees to my chest and kept my arms around myself, hiding in Jack's hoodie as I curled into a little ball against Alex. My hands made their way to my arms and scratched at the bandages around my cuts. Alex ran his hand through my dark hair as I continued shaking.