Surviving the Harrison Boys (Re-write)

thirty // friends

The drive back to shore wasn't as long as I'd liked it to be. I was afraid to see Hanna and Liam and the reaction of the boys. Oh God, what the hell was Kevin thinking? I didn't even know him and his reaction scared me the most.

We jolted as the boat brushed up on the grass. I had wrapped Flynn in the blanket with me and the both of us just held each other and didn't say anything. I was grateful to have him in my life. He was the boy every girl needed in their life.

Flynn stood first and helped me out of the boat. My legs didn't exactly work the way I wanted them to, but I was able to stumble on to the grass and steady myself. I gave the blanket back to the team.

"Thank you," my voice was gone.

The lady just smiled at me. "Don't ever let anybody tell you that you aren't worth it, you hear me? It's better to have beautiful angels like you on earth rather than in heaven."

I nodded and gave her the best smile I could. Flynn took my hand led me to where the rest of his family and Kevin were waiting.

Cody was the first to approach me. He didn't say anything, he just stared at me.

I felt vulnerable under his gaze and looked down. "Are you mad?" I breathed out.

Using his index finger, Cody gently lifted my head and made me look at me. Tears were running down his face. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"How could I?" I shook my head. Cody looked away as he started crying, then turned back and hugged me tightly.

"You don't understand how relieved and happy I am that I can still hold you." He whispered. His grip was just as tight as Flynn's. I hugged him back and closed my eyes tightly.

Cody let go and stepped back. Hanna and Liam were standing right behind him.

I stepped back. "I am so sorry."

"Don't apologize, you hear me?" Hanna could barely speak. She gently brought me closer to her and held me. "Don't you dare apologize."

Liam cautiously joined in on the hug. After all that had happened with Rayna, I guess he realized that this was more serious than he initially thought and as a result, didn't want to be around me until I was okay with it.

I gripped Liam's shirt and he stepped closer, holding both me and his wife protectively in his arms.

Hanna and Liam had sent the rest of the boys and Kevin home in case the worst had happened. Flynn and Cody refused to leave, since they were the closest to me. The five of us got into Hanna's car after the paramedics had checked me out and went home.

"You sure we shouldn't take her to a hospital to get checked out again?" Cody asked his parents as we drove. His fingers were gently combing themselves through my hair, trying to unravel the tangles caused by the water.

"In the morning, if it's necessary." Liam replied. He turned around and looked at me. "I know this is a stupid question but how are you feeling?"

"Okay," I said.

"We need to get something for her throat." Hanna told Liam. He nodded, not taking his eyes off me. He held out his hand and I took it without hesitation, giving it a squeeze.

"We're all here to get you through this, okay?" He whispered. I nodded. Both Flynn and Cody nuzzled up against me, as if I would disappear in the next moment.

When Hanna pulled up to the house, she drove right to the parking place because the gate hadn't been closed. From where she parked the car, we could see through the living room window. All the boys, including Kevin, had gathered in the living room and were sitting on the couches. It seemed like no one was talking.

The five of us got out of the car and walked towards the house. Liam opened the door and we entered. Jake and Jack were the first ones to react to the creaking of the front door.

"She's okay," they both chorused quietly.

They stood and ran over to me, nearly tackling me to the ground as they hugged me tightly. Dean, Brant, and Blake joined them as well, and I did my best to hug them all.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Brant whispered gently.

No words were exchanged as the rest of the boys came up and swallowed me in hugs. Kevin was sitting quietly in the corner of one of the couches, watching us intently.

I slowly approached him and took a seat beside him, but kept my distance. "I'm sorry," I said as loud as I could, "for being rude."

"Being rude to me shouldn't be your biggest concern right now." He shook his head. "Getting better should be. Getting some rest. Don't worry about me. I've had worse things said to me than 'leave me alone' or 'go away'."

I mustered up a small smile and Kevin returned it. He reached over and hugged me tighter than any of the boys had. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will." I nodded. "Thank you."

Kevin released me and rubbed my arms, nodding and widening his smile. "I'll be right under your nose if you need anything at all. Don't hesitate to ask."

"I won't." I didn't want to speak much anymore. My throat was beginning to throb.

"We should get you to bed." Hanna spoke up after a few moments of silence. I agreed with a sigh and stood up. Kevin's arms hovered, ready to steady me if I stumbled.

I waved to him and took Hanna's hand, keeping my head down as I walked past the boys. We took our time going up the stairs, since my legs still didn't seem stable. She opened my bedroom door and flicked on the light, then guided me over to my bed and tucked me in. As soon as I hit the soft mattress, I knew my body wouldn't be moving until morning. My clothes weren't 100% dry, but it wouldn't kill me.

Hanna took the chair from my desk and brought it to my bedside, taking a seat. She brushed some loose strands of hair away from my face before simply starting to play with my hair.

"You should just send me home." The words hurt to say, but it was the truth. I was too much for them. I could see it in her face.

Surprisingly, Hanna furrowed her eyebrows and gave me a look that read, am you crazy? She shook her head and continued combing her fingers through my hair the same way Cody had in the car.

"Hanna," I forced my voice out, "you should-"

"I heard what you said and I'm not doing it." She snapped, but I knew she wasn't angry. "If you think that after tonight, I'm just going to give up on you and send you back home to those monsters people call your parents, then you're wrong. I won't do it, Hunter. I won't."

I could see the glossiness in her eyes. "I'm not giving up on you like they did, and I never will."

"But-"

"No!" She screeched. She stood up and pointed a shaking finger at me. "No, I won't do it! You mean so much to me, do you know that? I will not give up on you, Hunter! Not today, not ever."

Hanna broke down and fell to her knees, then proceeded to crawl to the edge of my bed and pull me close to her. "You mean too much to me. Too much." She repeated.