Interdependent (Book 2 in EBTWOG series)

Chapter 1

A week. That's how long it has been since Tanner left that message saying that he was watching me. Every waking and sleeping moment since, I have been wondering whether Tanner was close, watching. The sleep that I have managed to get has been light, and sparse. I can sense that the guys know that something is up, and their worry has heightened over the last couple of days, but I have kept it to myself. After last Sunday, and the revelation from the guys, I have found that my trust has lessened with them.  They saved me that night, and that gave me the kick to try and start forgiving them, but it meant that I didn't have time to process. Terry's attack left its marks, emotionally and physically – the bruises I received still fading.

"Bambi?"

"Hm?" I ask, jolting my head up, causing my neck to complain. The damage was not only on the surface, but I also got whiplash from him shaking me. Ashton chuckles lightly.

"What had you thinking so deeply? Everything alright?" he asks. His gaze is unwavering, and I see a crease start to form between his eyebrows. I haven't missed his looks over the past week. It's usually after I zone out. After the tenth time, I worked out that he was worried I was having flashbacks of Terry. I'm not going to lie, it sometimes plays on my mind, but that's usually when I am trying to sleep. I used to get ones about what Jack did to me that night three years ago. I do still get them every so often, but not nearly as often as I used to, which at the beginning was nearly every day.

"I'm fine," I lie with a smile. "Just thinking about what to have for dinner."

I hear Gerard chuckle. "Must run in the family: me too. Now, get your mind off food and stand here, I think your face will be a lot more incentive, than mine." I look to where Levi is standing up, leaning against a rail, and then back to Gerard. I play with my hands as I stand up, biting the inside of my lip, feeling my blood starting to rush to my cheeks.  I move to where Gerard is standing, not knowing what he wants me to do. Gerard moves from beside me and moves to where Ashton is leaning against the wall.

"Alright, Levi, you know what to do," Gerard says. "Whenever you're ready."

Levi was discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago, and they now have him doing physiotherapy twice a week. He's only able to walk short distances, so is wheelchair bound until his leg has healed enough to put weight on for a long time. Eventually he will move onto crutches, and I know he'll be happier when he does. They have him walk a short distance each day to try and gain the strength back in his healing muscles. Sophie loves to ride in his wheelchair whenever she gets the chance.

Levi and I are only a couple of paces apart, but I know it will be a lot of effort, and pain, for him to walk it. It's hard to see him immobilised all because of me. He has been the one that always ran after Tanner, or reached me first. I know because of Gerard, he will heal a lot quicker than anyone else, but it will still take a couple of weeks. In that time he will not be able to go home, as he can't climb stairs, so Trystan and Ryder are allowing him to stay with them, and their parents who are home.

Levi steps forward and forces a smile for me. I smile back, but it comes out somewhat forced like his. He takes another step, and winces.

I look to Gerard and Ashton and see that they are watching him intently.

"Remember to stop if it starts hurting," Ashton reminds him.

"I'm fine," he grits out. He had been doing the different exercises for about an hour, and this was the last one, so I have seen him getting more tired, and less able to do the things that were asked of him, as we go. He's determined though to continue through, and not show any weakness.

Another step. His breathing gets heavier. I give him another smile, this one more genuine, and encouraging.

One last step and I extend my hands for him to hold so he can balance himself. He exhales. I squeeze his hands.