Ray of Sunshine

Chapter 5: New Friends

I curled close with Alejo, shivering lightly in the backseat. The woman, Alejandra, carefully drove. Her reddish blonde hair was over her right shoulder. I watched her eyes in the rearview, doing my best to stay awake.

"How're you feeling," Alejandra asked me.

"Tired. Feels like I split my right eyebrow," I mumbled.

"I'll see if Ez can stitch it up," Alejandra said softly.

I closed my eyes, either drifting off or passing out. I groan softly, barely feeling anything with the exception of a headache and the throbbing pain above my brow. I shivered gently, curling in a ball. I barely registered that someone was picking me up.

I lay my head against someone's chest, trying not to feel cold. I then felt a bed underneath my back and a soft, yet calloused hand held my right one. I grunted softly as I forced my eyes opened.

"Hey," a man smiled at me, "you okay?".

"Who are you," I ask quietly.

"I'm Ezekiel," the man said, "Alejandra is my brother's girl. Angel, my brother, is going to stitch your eyebrow up.".

I close my eyes, blinking a little. I gripped Ezekiel's hand when I felt a needle go through the skin above my eyebrow. I felt anxious and worried, but Ezekiel rubbed my knuckles soothingly. I grit my teeth, doing my best not to have an anxiety attack.

By the way Alejo was whining I knew one close. I deeply breathed, shivering gently.

"Done," Angel said.

I slowly opened my eyes to find Ezekiel smiling softly and his brother sitting back in a chair. I carefully sat up with Ezekiel's and Alejandra's help.

"Thank you," I rasp, "for helping me.".

"You're most welcome, Miss," Ezekiel says, gently kissing my knuckles.

I blushed deeply and smiled at him, feeling calmed around Ezekiel and Alejo. I sat criss cross on my bed with Ezekiel in front of me. His beautiful eyes stared into mine and I felt like I somehow knew him, yet I couldn't place it.

"You okay," I heard Angel ask me.

"Yeah, just thinking of my deceased brother," I whispered, "he would've been twenty eight today.".

~Alejandra's POV~

I watched Ez and the woman whom he and Angel knew as Izzy. She had become a little pale and was shivering lightly. I nudged Ez's arm, nodding towards Izzy's shaking form. He took the hint and slid his jacket off his arms.

He then draped it around Izzy's shaking shoulders. She shyly pulled the jacket around her, then she lowered her head. She looked like she had been hurt or abused by a man, then I blinked when I found myself seeing myself in her.

Bruised, beaten, forced into situations I didn't want to be in, I think to myself as I watched her lay on her right side. She had a few tears rolling down her cheeks. I bit my lip as Ez laid behind her, gently draping his arm over her waist.

She tensed when he did it, but she relaxed against his chest. I give a weak smile, then I walk over to Angel, letting him pull me onto his lap. He buried his face in my hair and neck. He rubbed my hips, his own arms and shoulders trembling lightly.

"I hope she'll be alright," Angel said in a soft whisper, "She lost her brother. I can't even bear to think of losing you or Ez.  I... I...".

I softly shush Angel, wiping his tears away, "Breathe, Baby. I'm still here. Ez's still here. Galindo can't hurt me again. Do you know why, Baby Boy?".

"W-why," Angel asked shakily.

"Because I have you and the club to protect me. Now Izzy should or could have protection too. I think Ez has a little crush on her," I softly say, kissing Angel's forehead.

Can I help my new friend, Angel and Ez? What will come to light from our pasts?