Adopting The Superhero

Chapter 24

Nyssa's pov

As soon as I get home I make up some stupid excuse to the boys about how I'm tired and need a nap or something. I jog upstairs before they can reply to me. I know they watched the live video of the fight on television. I know they saw my fail. They saw me get booed and get trash thrown at me. They already know.

I am currently laying in my bed, the blankets pulled up over top of my head and tucked under my chin. I am in my pajamas and have my stuffed dog, my only toy from when I was a child at the orphanage, clutched in my hands. Dolly, my stuffed dog, always seems to be able to make me feel better about things. I just can't seem to be able to part with her.

"Nyssa?" Ashton says softly as my bedroom door creaks open. I furiously wipe the tears off of my cheeks and out of my eyes, hoping that my eyes aren't too puffy.

"What?" I ask, my stupid voice cracking. I mentally curse my emotions. I listen as he closes the door, crosses the room, then sits down on my bed beside me. We sit in silence for a few minutes while I try to permanently stop the tears from running down my face.

"What's wrong?" He questions, his voice gentle.

"You wouldn't understand," I reply bitterly. I pull both the blanket and Dolly closer to my body.

"Try me," he challenges. I shake my head no, my hair rubbing up against the blanket. Great. Now my hair is going to be filled with static and stick up.

"Fine. Then I'll talk. Look Nyssa, I know you aren't going to be happy about this at all, but Michael and I know. About you being Viper, that is," Ashton confesses, still sitting still. I am shocked.

"What? How did yo-"

"We overheard you talking to Calum and Luke when we came upstairs to check on you after we broke your ribs. We didn't tell you because we figured you didn't want us to know for a reason and that you would tell us when you were ready for us to know," Ashton continues, looking slightly ashamed.

"I'm sorry for not telling you guys. But if you know a super's identity, then you have a target on your head. I didn't want to drag you guys into that. Calum and Luke only found out on accident," I assure him, sitting up. I still have the blanket wrapped around my head.

"It's okay. So do you want to tell me what's wrong now that I'll understand?" He inquires, hopeful. I give in.

"They hate me, Ashton. They all hate me. Cyclone and Flux beat me and Storm and suddenly everything we've ever done is forgotten and we're the bad guys," I rant, my heart breaking more and more as I think about it.

"It doesn't matter what they think. Your true supporte-"

"It does matter!" I cut him off. "Ashton you don't get it. I was an orphan all of my life. My parents abandoned me. The two couples that adopted me ended up abandoning me. I got powers and became a superhero and suddenly I was loved by people! I was needed and wanted and it felt good! Then you guys adopted me and I just didn't care. If it didn't work out then I had everyone who still needed me and wouldn't abandon me. Then Lucy left. And now everyone else is leaving me! Ashton I can't do it. What if Oliver, Aiden, River, Rylan, Seth, Devon, or Xander abandon me? What if you guys leave me? You don't get it, Ash! I'm scared of being left anymore! I try to play it off like I don't care, but I do! I'm scared! Abandonment is my worst fear and I'm constantly in danger of having to face it! I can't do it, Ashton. I can't be left again." I am hysterically crying and shouting at this point. I know my face is red and wet from tears. But Ashton doesn't say anything about it. He just pulls me and Dolly close to him, stroking my hair and holding me tightly.

"I won't lie to you and say that it's alright, Nyssa. Or that everything will be okay in the end, because I don't know that. But I will promise that the boys and I won't leave you because I do know that. I swear it to you," Ashton says softly. I want to call him a liar but I can't find the words or strength. I am tired. My eyes start to droop before I fall asleep in Ashton's arms.