PEACHY

6 (ANDY)

Well, you almost had me fooled
Told me that I was nothing without you
Oh, but after everything you've done
I can thank you for how strong I have become

*

*unedited*

"Andy, do you want to go shopping with Sara and me?" My mom asks as she barges into my room.

I turn over in the bed and look at her. "Do I have to pay for whatever we get?" I ask.

My mom smiles. "No, Leo and Dante are paying. So get up and get dressed. You've been in this room for a week so let's go!" My yells as she exits my room.

She's right, I've been in here for too long. Matteo emotionally and physically drained me. I have had my breakfast, lunch, and dinner brought up to me. I barely ate it though. My mom has come in every day to check on me.

I drag myself out of my bed and go into the bathroom. I brush my hair out and pull it up into a bun. I brush my teeth and change into sweatpants and a baggy shirt. I showered last night before I passed out. I go grab my phone and my small purse. I put my purse across my body and leave my room.

I make my way downstairs to see Alessio talking to Matteo. I look like shit, I know that much, but I don't care. I don't care that he is going to see me like this. I have dark bags underneath my eyes, they're red and puffy, and my cheeks are swollen.

"Mom is in the foyer talking to dad," Alessio tells me.

I nod. I glance up at Matteo and see him staring at me. I look away and head toward the foyer.

"We need to head out, Andy. It's supposed to storm in a few hours," my mom says as I walk into the foyer.

After leaving the house and picking up Sara, we made our way to the mall. We have been through six stores now and I am tired. I have about twenty-two bags split between my two arms. My arms are slowly going numb.

"Andy, come on we need to get home," my mom says from across the store.

Thank God! The three of us make our way back through the mall and to the parking garage. My mom pulls out her keys and unlocks the car as we step out of the elevator. Ticking fills my ears as we slowly walk to the car. I stop walking making Sara and my mom stop and look at me.

"Do you two hear that ticking?" I ask.

Everything goes quiet for a few seconds and then everything goes to hell. The car explodes sending us back into the concrete wall. Smoke fills the parking garage as the three of us lay in pain.

"Andy? You okay?" My mom's voice fills the air.

"My head hurts," I murmur.

"Sara, you okay?" My mom asks.

"I think my arm is broke," Sara semi yells.

"Andy, if you can get your phone out, call Matteo," Sara adds.

I wince as I dig my phone out of my pocket. I unlock my phone and go find Matteo's contact. I click on the phone icon and put the phone to my ear. The phone rings and rings until his voice finally comes through.

"Ah, Andy, I see you want more!" Matteo says excitedly. I stay quiet as my head pounds. "Andy?"

"Help," I mutter.

"Where are you? What happened?" Matteo asks.

I cough as I inhale too much smoke. "Andy, stay with me! We are coming for you," Matteo adds.

I close my eyes as my hand falls away from my ear. "Andy, did you call?" Sara asks.

I don't answer. My throat is on fire and I can't breathe. Everything is on fire in my body. "Andy?!" My mom yells.

My ears start ringing and all the other sounds are blocked out. I feel a pair of hands slide underneath my body and pick me up. I wince in pain as my head throbs and my left arm swings freely. I peel my eyes open to see Matteo caring me. I frown and then everything goes black.

"Is she going to wake up?" Alessio asks.

I lay there as still as I can be. "Of course she is going to wake up, Alessio! Why wouldn't she?" My mom screeches.

"Well I mean she did have a major surgery and her arm is broken," Alession replies.

"She can probably hear you, Aless," Leo says. "She will wake up. She will be fine."

"Do you know who did this?" My mom asks.

"We do but we don't need to discuss this now," Alessio says.

"Okay," my mom mutters.

The bed dips beside me and a hand squeezes my hand. I let my eyes flutter open. I look over at my mom as she smiles at me. Her face is bruised, her right wrist is in a cast, and she looks sore.

"How do you feel, Patatina?" My mom asks.

"Sore," I murmur. "Is Sara okay?"

"She is fine and at home resting. She has a broken arm and few bruised ribs," my mom replies.

I look around the room and see Leo sitting on the chair beside the bed and Alessio sitting on the couch. I look down at my left arm and see a bright pink cast.

"You had a brain bleed and they fixed it. You have a broken arm, a few broken ribs, and bruises all over your body," my mom adds.

"Did they shave my head?" I ask as I look around the room.

"No, sweetcheeks, just a small part on the side," she replies.

I slowly nod. "When can I go home?" I ask.

"In a few days. The doctor said you could go home Friday," my mom responds.

I sigh. "You can't leave the house until you go off to where you are going unless you have people with you. I know it's not ideal but your father and I have decided this and we need to protect you from whoever did this," Leo says.

"Who is after me?" I ask.

"Someone who is after you because of Matteo. They saw you at the gala with him and assumed you two were together. They are trying to hurt him by hurting you," Leo says. "He is a very powerful man, Andy, and people want his power."

I stay quiet. Powerful man? What is he a mafia leader? I thought he just had a few businesses here and there like most people. The more you know right? Every thought known to man flies through my head as I stare at the wall in front of me.

I let someone so powerful use me for his pleasures. I'm such a bad person. I'm dirty. No one is going to want me know. Ugh. I dirty and used up piece of trash.