Since Birth

Chapter Twenty Five

We had slept together that night cuddling one another. She had played with my hair until I had fallen asleep and was humming this song to me. It was soothing... it was nice to have her back with me.
She was going to take a week off from school to catch up on all of her work. I however had to go and it wasn't the best thing I wanted to do. I wanted to stay home with her and watch out for her. I didn't want to leave her side again.. But I had no choice. I had to return back to normal. I had to stop being so distant.
I had gotten ready and kissed her goodbye and reminded her about the new gadgets our parents had hooked up and how she should not leave the house under any circumstances. And no one should be let inside.
She made a joke about me being overprotective and then I went on my way. I was afraid to leave her again but I did. Now I just had to face everyone who will try their best to get information out of me about this.
The first person had been Mr. Holland. He had walked up beside me as I walked through the halls.
"I heard the news." He said brushing into me. "I'm glad she's back safe." I looked over to him and gave a small smile trying not to be overwhelmed by the memories of the night before. Trying not to touch him as to not make it so obvious.. I even took a step away from him to avoid contact.
"Yeah, I am too and hope it stays that way. I'll see you in class." He walked on and I went to my locker grabbing out my books and things.
"Em we gotta talk sometime." Riley had come up beside me now speaking softly. "I heard she's back safely and I can't express how sorry I am for being a little shit."
"Riley please, not right now." I closed my locker and clutched my bag tightly as I moved forward.
"I was an asshole!" She called to me and I just kept moving shaking my head. I wasn't ready to get over that. And when and if I told Aimee... she would lose it. Or maybe she'd shrug it off I wasn't so sure.
"Hey Emelie." I looked up to see Aidan who smiled down at me.
"Hey." I smiled back to be polite. I wasn't quite sure what he wanted with me.
"Despite our short lived history, I just want to let you know that I'm here for you." He nodded looking over my face. Something was different about him.. I couldn't really place it.
Instead I raised an eyebrow and looked over his face trying to read him. "You know I really appreciate that." I nodded back and he had given me that charming smile he had given me several times before. That cute nervous upturned smile that made his face light up.
"I just needed you to know that." Then I was reminded about that night in the woods.. The eeriness from him.. I backed off and smiled again before walking off to class finally. Three encounters so far... none had been overly unpleasant so I was keeping my head up.

I had to stay afterwards for some tutoring which Mr.Holland scheduled for me. I guess he was wasting no time to get me to come back. But it was Nolan who came and I was kinda glad to see him. I hadn't seen him or really spoke to him in a long time.
"How have you been?" I asked leaning my elbows on the desk and resting my chin in my hands.
He gave a subtle smile doodling in the corner of his paper before looking up to me. "I've been I guess, I've been really struggling recently." He looked me up and squinted a bit. "I finally watched the news the other day and saw everything about Aimee. I should've reached out."
"She's at home safe now, you shouldn't be too worried." I looked down and sighed.
"I know we aren't exactly the best of friends but I have been thinking about you. It must've been hard." He set down his pen and remained attentive to me. I searched his eyes for a moment and sucked my teeth giving a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, it was difficult and I'm recovering still. It was hard not having her beside me and I'm really glad she's back home."
"Yeah, I'm sorry something so terrible happened and the bodies found-" he frowned looking down at the desk. "I can't imagine what you've gone through."
"Enough about me," I dropped my arms from the desk and sat back. "You said you were having a hard time?"
"Yeah, uh, my girlfriend broke up with me and I'm still not getting over it." He picked the pen back up and sighed. "Mentally I've always had a hard time and just losing someone who's meant so much to you just fucks your day up everyday." He laughed at the last part and I gave a small laugh nodding.
"No, I understand completely Nolan. It's not easy." I pursed my lips together and sighed myself. "But if you need anyone at all to talk to, just come by my house. We can talk."
He looked up to me and smiled sheepishly but nodded. "Thanks it means a lot and I offer the same."
We held our gaze for a moment and then I looked back to the papers in front of us saying, "We should finish this." He laughed and looked back at it too.
"No kidding, I get distracted easily."
"How's things going in here?" Mr.Holland came through the door and over to us at the desk. "I snagged some donuts from the meeting for you guys." He placed them down in front of us laughing. "Figured we could all use some sugar after a long day."
"Thanks Mr.Holland." Nolan looked up to him and smiled.
"Thanks." I picked up one of the donuts and took a small bite. It was chocolate but had this crunchy glaze on the outside. The first bite melted in my mouth like actual chocolate but it was still cake and required little chewing. I gave a small moan and nodded looking up to him. "Definitely needed this." I took another bite and placed it down again. I licked my lips and he stepped away clearing his throat but grabbing a donut on his way.
Me and Nolan got back to work. We only have a few minutes left so we just went over things again and I helped him get a better understanding of it. He was grateful as always and even walked me out to my car leaving no room for me and Ethan to have a talk.
"Do you drive?" I asked and he chuckled shaking his head.
"No I usually walk everywhere, its how's I stay so fit." He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked down to me. I didn't remember him being so tall. Or cute.. I guess I just never really took a glance- though, when he almost kissed me that day in the woods... that was kinda hot. I bit my lip gently and laughed at myself. He just broke up with his girlfriend and I was involved somewhat with my teacher so I had to shake those thoughts. Whew life was getting complicated..
"I can um," I began to say and he stopped me saying,
"Yeah, I was thinking maybe we could hang out."
"Sure I mean, I'm- I'll just be-" he stepped towards me and completely, unexpectedly, lifted my chin and kissed me on the lips. I didn't know how to react so I just stood there with my hand resting in the air frozen.
"We should hang out." He said again almost like he was telling me we were going to. It was pretty hot I guess. I nodded and pulled out my keys to get into the car quickly. He joined and I looked out my window seeing Ethan standing there. I felt bad but I also felt my adrenaline pumping. I wasn't exactly sure what to do. I mean, we could never be in a relationship. He was out of my league and age range. I had to think logically but I wasn't sure. I just wasn't sure.
So I just drove off and guessed I'd see where this would take me. I was, for some reason I was being carefree now.
We pulled up to my house and and I turned to him about to tell him that I shouldn't do this. I had a change of heart last minute but he just leaned in and kissed me hard cupping my face gently. He was very good at kissing and his lips seemed to know exactly what they were doing and what they wanted. It was thrilling and exciting. My body felt all tingly and full of life. It was exactly what I needed after a week of bullshit. Some damn relief from reality.
So I indulged in it. I ran my fingers through his hair and pulled him closer to me but there was so many things in the way. The windows began to fog up still and he leaned over me grabbing my waist tightly.
"We should go inside." I finally broke away from him panting. My lips were starting to get a little sore from the excessive making out.
"Mm, if you want to." He looked over my face and I leaned in and kissed him again looking over his. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do but my heart was thumping in my chest and I was pretty turned on by this.
"Yeah I mean-" there was a knock on the window and we jumped apart quickly. "Oh fuck." I covered my mouth shaking my head. I didn't curse often. I turned and looked out the window only seeing a torso. I rolled down the window and she snorted.
"Really? Outside of the house?" Aimee laughed taking a step back to take in my situation. "Wow you've become ballsy sis," she smiled big but then it slowly disappeared and she looked over her shoulder then back to me crossing her arms over her chest uncomfortably. "Come inside please." She said sternly nodding and then hurrying back into the house.
I turned back to Nolan frowning because I was concerned about her. "I should um-"
"Yeah, I understand." He nodded clenching his jaw tightly. I couldn't tell if he was embarrassed or disappointed.
"You can come inside." I pointed to the house and he laughed shaking his head.
"I shouldn't." He looked me up and bit his lip gently. "I'll see you," he let out a breath and then pushed open the door to leave. I rolled my window back up and hurried out the car to wave bye to him but he didn't even glance back at me. He had just kept walking.
That was weird...
I hurried inside and Aimee was pacing back and forth in the living room biting her nails.
"I guess I didn't account for the ptsd that follows after you've been kidnapped." She said looking towards the ground and still pacing. "Being outside," her breath was shaky and she stopped pacing to look at the door shaking her head. "Any moment- any moment could be your last Em you can't- you can't do that. You can't not tell me that you're going to stay after school. You can't-" her eyes darted and she grabbed a vase off the table and threw it at the door shattering it into pieces. "You can't just bring home a guy I don't know!" She screamed at me now and I reached out to her confused and a bit scared because this wasn't like her. She had outbursts before but not like this. She was terrified about something. Terrified about being outside?
"Aimee," I said calming and she hit away my hand stepping back and almost turning into a ball.
"Don't touch me!" She shut her eyes tightly and then turned away from me and headed towards the kitchen. "You literally could have texted me Em it's not that difficult." Her breathing became uneasy and she looked around the kitchen frantically. "I think I'm having a panic attack." She stated and grabbed a knife from the block scaring me shitless.
"Aimee!" I ran towards her but I stood back with my hands up to show her I was no threat. "You're safe." I reminded her. "You're home and you're safe." I looked to the knife in her hand which she was holding for dear life. It was unlike her... She looked like she wanted to harm me or worse, herself.. "Please, give me the knife." I nodded and she looked into my eyes while hers were filled with tears and fear. "Aimee you are safe and I'm sorry but please give me the knife." She frowned confused and stepped back dropping the knife to the floor.
"I can't go outside." She shook her head upset and crying. "I can't go outside anymore Em." She fell into me and I put my arms around her tightly rubbing her back comforting. "I'm terrified of it and I just realized how much. I'm not as strong as I thought."
"I'll be beside you every step of the way and I'm supportive of every decision. I'm not leaving you ever again okay? I love you and it's okay to feel awful about this." She was shaking still and it just hurt to see her like this.
It took a while to calm her down. Almost an hour actually. We had cleaned up the broken vase and instead of talking we sat together on the couch watching parks and rec to try and cheer her up. She was a fighter. She was far stronger than she thought she was. This whole thing will change her and I was prepared for that. But this, I wasn't prepared for. She was always the strong and independent one... I couldn't begin to imagine what had happened in the week she was gone.. But I didn't want to push her to talk about it.
Our parents had come home finally unsuspecting of what had happened. If Aimee wanted to tell them it was her choice. Like her, the relationship between our parents was minimal. Difficult to talk to one another about pressing matters. They did everything for us besides give good communication or build trust. I was hoping that would change somehow. Maybe once we were out of their place or something.
"How are my girls?" Our dad walked over to the couch and plopped down right between us. "I've been thinking about you both all day." He put his arms behind the both of us sighing. "It's been a rough time for all of us."
"We will be fine." Aimee got up from the couch and moved to the kitchen. You could tell she wasn't up for discussion. All of her energy was put into her panic attack earlier.
"She's going to need time." I reminded him placing my hand on his knee. "We all are."