Underground

18

Estelle
My hands hover over my stomach, which was growing at an accelerating pace. 
This wasn't for me, this was for Maverick, my sister. 
Arlin was the father, after all, he was the only one who mattered to me. 
Another scar carves down my arm. Another lie. 
My head was foggy, mostly because I was regano. 
I look around, my eyes landing on a big vat of water, covered by a metal lid. 
Another torture method Arlin's sick mind had come up with. 
It doesn't matter though, he loves me. 
Another long gash. 
His guards take me by my scarred arms, hoisting me up onto the top of the vault. 
Arlin walks out of our new shared home. 
He looked wonderful. 
A painful strike falls down my arm. 
"I see you're still lying to yourself." He says, eyeing down my thin scarred arms. 
I just serve him a gentle look, a small smile at my lips. 
"Drop her in." He orders, looking gruffly at his guards. 
Then I was submerged in freezing cold water, which pricked at the freshly opened scars. 
"Estelle." A voice says, it sounded oddly familiar, like home. 
I bang on the glass, trying to get someone's attention. 
I see Maverick, calling my name. 
I give her a pitiful look, before closing my eyes. 
Everything was going to be okay. 
Another scar. 
***
I sit up breathing heavily. 
I wipe my eyes, which were filling with tears over and over again. 
Last night, I didn't get any sleep, all I could focus on was August's sisters leaving and now that they're gone, I seem to be able to sleep, barely.
I grab my phone and look at the time. It was nearing 2 AM. 
I unplug it and get out of bed, wiping a tear that had escaped my eyes. 
I open the door quietly, creeping down the halls, to August's bedroom door. 
I push open the door, softly. 
August was laying on his back, looking at his phone. He was not wearing a shirt. 
I turn around. "Sorry, I ju-" My voice was croaky and it hurt to talk. 
"What's wrong?" He asks immediately.  
I shake my head, trying to clear my teary eyes. "Nevermind, it's nothing." 
"I can tell you're about to cry." August says, getting up. 
I push the door open. "I'll just go back to bed it's not a big deal." 
His arms wrap around my waist. "It's okay, you're safe." 
A tear falls from my eye. "I don't feel safe." 
He turns me around, looking into my eyes. "That's okay." 
I lay my head on his shoulder. "I'm really tired." 
To my surprise, August lifts me up, and walks to the other side of his bed, laying me down. "Sleep here." He says. "Then I'll be here if you're scared." 
"Okay." I say softly. 
***
I was expecting to wake up cold and alone, while August went to the office, to get a few chapters of his new book edited.
I didn't though. I woke up with two muscular arms wrapped around my shoulders and his nose in my hair. 
I turn as gently as I can, looking up at his sleeping face. 
"I'm trying to decide if you watching me sleep is creepy or cute."  August says, opening his eyes. 
I felt my face heat up. "Why can't it be both?" I ask, rolling out of August's grasp, then hopping out of bed. 
"Why?" August groans, reaching out. 
I look over at him and stick my tongue out. "I need coffee, then to go to the gym." 
He gets out of bed after me, reaching onto the ground and pulling a shirt off the floor. "I'll come with." 
"Okay." I say.
We both walk downstairs, hoping to grab some breakfast, but instead of eating cereal blissfully, Stefan and Ned were sat at the bar. 
"Oh god, I forgot it's Friday." August says. 
"Hi Auggie!" Ned yells, obviously mocking me. 
My jaw drops.
"Guys, you might wanna go." August says. "I have company." 
"Who can be worse than your sisters?" Stefan yells. 
"Estelle!" August yells back. 
"Estelle's here?" Ned yells back, obviously surprised.
August smiles at me. "Yes, and she heard your insults." 
A small string of curses comes from the Irish boy. "Sorry." 
I roll my eyes, easily walking down the stairs. "I'd rather have a hug." 
"I don't hug." Stefan says, popping of the barstool, walking into the kitchen to grab some orange juice.
August follows me in, grabbing the juice from Stefan and taking a big swig.
"I would love to hug you and all, but I've sworn against ever forgiving you for ghosting August." Ned says. 
"Remember, I was kidnapped and held against my will, kinda hard to send a text while I cried myself to sleep." I inform smirking. "So I think I deserve all the hugs I want."
They all look actually surprised.
"Where did she learn to sass like that?" Stefan asks August, who gives a little shrug.
I turn quickly. "A friend."
 "Well, Ned." August says, smirking. "Hug the girl."
"Reluctantly, Ned wraps his arms around me, before pulling away quickly. "Mel's gonna freak if any of you tell her." 
"Melissa would be fine with it." Stefan says, grabbing the carton from August, copying him and drinking some too.
August sighs. "Young love, when are you gonna propose?"
Ned rolls his eyes. "It's only been like--"
"4 years." Stefan says.
August gives me a dreamy smile. "Maybe you should do it on her birthday."
"That's cheesy August, do it at one of her darkest moments." Stefan says.
"I've been thinking about that a lot lately, like, I fly her to Rome and propose right in front of the colosseum." Ned says. 
"Do it in Paris." I blurt, looking over at Ned.
"Cheesy Estelle." Stefan replies. 
I shake my head. "Cheesy, but effective."
"Where did Darion propose to Kathryn at?" Stefan asks August.
August smiles. "Before a concert." 
"Aerosmith." Ned says, smiling. "Maybe I should do that, but with a different band. 
Stefan nods. "Do it before she proposes to you, you know how she is." 
"How who is?" A voice says behind me.