There's more to life (Adopted by Brendon Urie) | #2

#49

Song of the Chapter: Therapy by All Time Low

Anna's POV

"Come on A, let's get to bed." Dad says and I nod tiredly. Mum, dad and I spent the rest of the day watching Brooklyn 99. I was falling asleep on dads shoulder. Dad helps me up the stairs with my crutches.
"If you need to come down, you get your mother or me. You are not to go up or down these stairs alone while you are on your crutches."
"Why? I'm coordinated enough for once."
"I know but it's just a precaution."
"Ok."

Dad tucks me into bed and kisses my forehead.
"I love you, and I'm glad you're home."
"Love you too dad and so am I."
He smiles and leaves, shutting the door behind him. I close my eyes and snuggle into James' hoodie that I was wearing. I missed him so much but it was too much while I was in the hospital. My plan for tomorrow was to ask if he could come over and we could talk. I soon fall asleep.

———

"Hey sweetie how are you today?"
I don't respond. I had seen him before. He came down here last week and abused me. He gets up closer to me and I could feel myself having a panic attack.

"Anna, hey? Anna wake up." Someone was shaking my shoulder and my eyes dart open. Breathing heavily, I could see dads worried eyes in front of me.
"Hey it's ok, you're ok." He say calmly and holds his hands out for me to grab but I wrap him in a hug and break down crying.
"Shh it's ok you're safe." He repeats a few times, rubbing my back.
"I-I h-hate th-them d-dad."
"I know A, I know."
I cry for a bit longer and once I had calmed down I let dad go and he looks at me.
"You ok?" I nod and wipe the tears off my face but I really didn't know.
"Are you sure?"
I nod again.
"Do you want anything?"
"Hot chocolate?" I ask hopefully and dad chuckles quietly and nods.
"Sure do you want to come downstairs or do you want me to bring it up to you?"
"Downstairs." I say and he nods, grabbing my crutches and helping me stand up but I was still shaking and couldn't make them work. Dad decides to just pick me up and carry me down the stairs.

You shouldn't be letting him do that
You're too fat and heavy

He sets me down on the couch and wraps my weighted blanket around me. It helps me calm down while dad makes hot chocolate. He comes into the lounge with two mugs and hands me one. I smile and lean against him as he sits down.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes thank you."
"Of course."

We sit in comfortably silence for a bit until I think of something that has been bugging me for a while.
"What happened between you and Zack?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since you came back from New York a few months ago there's just been something weird between you two and like he's barely ever at ours anymore like he use to. Not to mention at the hospital yesterday, you didn't look very happy that he was there."
"It's nothing A I promise. Zack can just be a bit of a dick sometimes and this is one of the times where he really fucked up but it's nothing to worry about it's all good."
"Oh ok, if you're sure."
"I am."
"Another question,"
"Yeah?"
"What- What happened with James when I was gone?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, was he ok? Was he safe?"
"He was distraught and so upset that you were gone. We let him stay here while you were gone because I didn't trust his family."
"Where is he now?"
"He's staying with Pete and his family because we didn't trust him to be alone."
"What do you mean you didn't trust him?"
"It doesn't matter he's all good."
"No dad," I say sitting up and looking at him, "what happened? I know you and Pete are hiding something."
"Ok," he sighs, "but just trust me when I say that he is ok."
I nod.
"The police told us, maybe a month into the investigation, that if we couldn't get anymore evidence, they would have no choice but to shut the case. James was so mad and upset and he uhh went upstairs and punched the walls until Pete stopped him. He cried for a bit until he went to have a shower but afterwards he umm tried to jump off the balcony."
I feel my breath catch in my throat. James tried to jump? I started tearing up and dad put his hand on my arm.
"He's ok, Pete pulled him down before he could do anything he would regret. When he woke up the next day he was so ashamed about what he had tried to do." I snuggle into dads arm and nod. It made my heart break that James wanted to kill himself over me and the fact I was missing. Dad rubs my back while I just breathe in his scent, it was always comforting. I soon fell asleep wrapped up in dads arms.