Underground

16

Estelle
I was almost immediately sat down on Jackson's office chair, shoved down by Nigel.
He rips the bandage off my head, already speaking in scientific terms with Jackson. 
They went to work, mopping up the blood with a rag, then pouring Hydrogen Peroxide on a clean rag, pressing it to the wound, then patching it up with new bandages. 
"That was almost a disaster." Jackson says, grabbing me a water bottle from the mini-fridge. 
I take a sip, still feeling a little less dizzy. 
"As much as we wanna stay and watch your recovery, Luca and I need to leave." Felicity says from the corner. 
"Why?" I ask, looking up at her. 
She looks at me as if it were obvious. "If we all stay in one place they'll come looking, if we split up, it'll cost too much to find us." 
"Okay, so I guess this is goodbye?" I ask sadly. 
Luca leans down in front of me, ruffling his hand through my darkening hair. "I'll call you sometime, I promise." 
I stick my pinky out, like a sad child.
Giving a closed mouth smile, he links mine with his. "I'll see you again." 
And with that, Felicity and Luca left, trying to look stone-faced as they left me behind. 
I felt a warm hand on my back and I look up to see Logan. "Are you okay?"
I nod. "Yeah, I kinda have to be." 
"Good, now, we should probably get you home, showered and ready to see August." Logan smirks. 
I smile, pushing myself up. 
"Can you stand?" Jane asks, grabbing my bicep. 
I nod, feeling nostalgic at everyone concerned with my balance. 
Logan grabs my forearm and leads me out of the door. 
*** 
I was still soaked and in a towel when Logan hands me some clothes, I could already tell it was her signature style, black tee-shirt and skinny jeans. 
After pulling on the clothes she gave me, plus the leather jacket that she forced at me, she pushed me down on the bed and brushed my still wet, auburn hair. 
"So." I say. "Has he been good?" 
She pauses for a second. "He wasn't for the first week, then his sisters kinda took it from there."
"Does he still care?" I ask.
"I don't think he'll ever stop." Logan answers.
That made my cheeks feel hot.
"Did you call him when you got out?" She asks.
I nod, accidentally making her pull my hair.
"Stay still." She says.
After a few minutes, she pulled the brush away and set it down on the side table.
She turns me around, looking at the bandage around my head. "Would you like a hat?"
"Do I need a hat?" I ask.
"Well, considering that it's the beginning of December and the weather seems to be dropping rapidly, I'd say it's a good idea." She explains, standing up and pulling a hat out of her dresser, tossing it to me. 
I catch it and pull it on my head instantly. "I guess we're ready."
"Yup, I'll drive you." She says, hopping up. 
*** 
The entire drive to August's was torture, mostly because my stomach hurt with nerves and my head pounded with negative thoughts. 
This went on until Logan stopped suddenly and gave me a sympathetic look. 
I get out of the car, waving her away. 
She smiles then drives away. 
I walk to the door, my face heating up because of the cold, and my stomach pained because of the nerves.
I raise my fist and lightly knock on the door three steady times, praying that he would answer and not one of his sisters.
Atlas barks from inside, alerting whoever that someone was here, August shushes the dog, before opening the door.
"Surprise." I say, which, strangely enough, was the only thing I could think of.
He looks down at me, his eyes wide, before pulling me into a hug. "Estelle, oh my gosh."
"Hi, Aug." I say into his chest.
He pulls me inside, out of the dreadful cold. 
The house was normal, besides the three cars parked on the curb outside, it was almost surreal. 
"So, I'm here." I say, taking off my hat. 
His eyes automatically fly to my head. "What happened?" 
"I hit my head on a shard of glass, not a big deal." I say. 
His eyes widen, his eyebrows furrowing. "I'd would say that that's a pretty big deal." 
"It was a couple weeks ago, it's healing." I say, taking off my jacket, hanging them on the hooks by the door. 
"You look smaller." He says, grabbing my arm, turning me gently to look at him. 
I smile. "Well, you look taller." 
"E, I can't help but be worried." August says, looking me in the eyes, concern flickering like a flame in his brown eyes. 
I smile softly. "Aug, I'm fine, I promise." 
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please tell me you're real, and this isn't some crazy dream I'm having."
"Yes, I am real, hopefully never to be taken away again." I say, smiling lightly, trying to put some sort of reassurance in his head.
He grabs my hands and Atlas bounds over my feet a few times, yipping and yapping as he does so.
We couldn't help but laugh at him, and his cute excitement.
After he was done bounding over my feet he trots over to his dog bed and flops down on his side.
He looks at me with a strange look in his eye.
I look back at him, trying to imitate the look.
He just smiles at me, making me giggle softly.
We both kept looking into each other's eyes.
His were still that lovely brown, like melted chocolate chips.
He lets go of one of my hands and puts it on my waist, making me blush slightly.
I put my open hand around his neck, like we did on the beach, which seems like it was forever ago.
He lets go of the other hand, much to my dismay, and again he puts it on my waist.
I put my other arm around his neck.
He beams with joy and I do as well.
We lean in and are lips lock, we kiss for a long while, until someone comes down the stairs.