Muted

Chapter 11

Paige was a complete wreck since the minute she saw my face. I was currently tucked into their cushion filled black couch, with three blankets wrapped around me. I was dying of heat but didn't have the heart to tell her and she started to wrap me in the fourth. She had offered me soup, juice, a sandwich, cookies, ice cream, and everything else in the fridge before I ate some crackers just so she would stop for a second and breathe.

Peter walked in a froze for a split second before rushing over to my position on the couch.

"Paige, my love, what in the world are you doing to this poor girl?" Peter said with a laugh as he freed from my fleecy prison.

"Peter what are you doing? She needs to be warm enough!" Paige said biting her fingers as she anxiously stared at her husband.

"Warm enough for what? To boil her insides? She doesn't have a fever, she's sweating bullets because you're cookin' her" He laughed as he kissed his wife on the cheek. I don't think he helped, she looked even more worried now. I ate another cracker, unsure of what else I could do to make her feel better.

"I just- I just want to make sure you're alright sweet-pea." Paige said as she sat down next to me, folding one of the blankets on her lap anxiously. I gave her a smile – even though it hurt my face, and handed her one of the many crackers I had on a plate in front of me. She looked from the offered snack to my face and back again before she cracked up and started laughing. I lowered my hand and looked at Peter, baffled as to why she was laughing at me when seconds ago she looked like she was going to cry. He shrugged his shoulders, looking concerned for his now hysterical wife.

"Sorry, sorry" she took a deep breath, "Axel just used to do that when I was worried too, or when he was in trouble."

I gazed at the grains in the cracker, a small, painful, feeling swelling in my chest.

"Well never mind me, you go ahead Sweet-Pea and I will come find you later to ice that bruise again, okay?" I nodded and started to walked towards the door, before a thought stopped me in my tracks.

Maybe I should thank her? She's trying so hard and she deserves it. Think Aurora. What if I gave her a ... hug?

I turned around and took a step towards her, nerves freezing me to my spot again. Uneasiness filling every inch of me.

I've never hugged someone before other than Sam. She's only hugged me first. How do I do it? Quickly? What if I squeeze to hard? Maybe she doesn't even want one?

"Sweet-Pea? Are you alright?" Paige walked to me slowly, like she was scared to move to fast.

You are already freaking her out! Make a decision already!

The second she was close enough I engulfed her with my arms as fast as I could, and within the next blink I was running up the stairs, my cheeks searing with heat. I ran so fast I didn't even see the small tear racing towards her chin.

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I turned the corner into the Kitchen, looking for the rest of those crackers when a small body collided with my legs.

"Hi Rora!"

I smiled brightly and leaned down to kiss his cheek.

"What is this?! How come I haven't gotten my kiss yet?" Greyson's voice called out in mock outrage as him, Tyler, and Alex walked through the back door. I blinked at him in surprise, momentarily forgetting that he had met us here, to finish his project with Tyler.

"Awe don't worry Grey! Only Sam gets Ari's kisses!" Jake laughed as he came in behind them.

I could feel the heat entering my cheeks, but smiled at them both anyway. Adrian was the next to wonder in; A tall, pretty, red-headed woman at his side. When she saw me, she smiled brightly and came right towards me. I hugged Sam a bit tighter to me, unsure of what this stranger wanted from me.

"Well aren't you just the prettiest little thing ever. You must be Aurora! I'm Daniella." She held out her hand for me to shake. I shook it gently before retracting my hand. Daniella was beautiful with her dark red hair, and hazel eyes. She was even almost as tall as Adrian.

"Babe remember? Her name is Ari now!" Adrain laughed as he grabbed some water from the fridge.

"What for? Aurora is gorgeous name!"

I flushed brightly at the generous compliment.

"Damn, it is so easy to turn you red isn't it pretty lady." Greyson smiled as he came to stand beside me.

I'm pretty sure I am going to overheat if my face gets any hotter.

"Just look at her, she's so precious!" Daniella said, her smile never seeming to leave her face.

"Guys," Jake laughed from his chair. "If you make her blush any harder, she's going to combust!"

"What does co-com-combust mean?" Sam asked from where he was still leaning against my knees.
"It means to explode" Adrian explained to his younger brother.

"Oh No, please don't explode Rora!" Poor little boy looked like he was going to cry. I shook my head at him, wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him; But Greyson beat me to it.

"Don't worry Sammy boy I've got a plan! You hold bottom half and I'll hold her top half! This way she can't explode 'cause we'll be holding her together. What do you say?"

I barely had enough time to process exactly what his words meant before Sam's arms tightened around my legs, and Greyson's warm arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"Don't you worry Aura! We'll hold ya together." Sam said proudly as he tightened his arms around me. My shoulders shook from my silent giggles, my back vibrating from Greyson laughing behind me.

"Well I feel left out" was all I heard before three more bodies joined us. It went from being a joke to being this huge group hug.

So... This is a group hug. This is how you do it.

After a few minutes, I started to feel uncomfortable being this confined between all these people so I started to attempt to wiggle my way out.

"Well, I think Ari has been thoroughly hugged and smothered now so everybody off!" Adrian said, detangling himself from our circle of limbs.

Once everyone was off of me, I took a deep breath, finally able to breathe.

"Well Ari I don't know about you but I actually feel pretty great after that hug!" said Jake as he slumped contently into his chair.

"Hug? What hug? Man, I missed out on a hug!" a voice said from the kitchen door. We all looked to see Carson in all his grease covered glory, looking very offended.

Everyone started to laugh, and deep down I felt that maybe, just maybe,

I could really like it here.

But as is the norm in my life, these good feelings?

They didn't last long.