Her Escape, His Safe Haven

Chapter 45- You Don't Get To Do That

Athena's POV

Today he's being arraigned. We decided to just stay home, I didn't want to see him. Charlie asked Joan to let us know how it goes. The five of us are seated on the couch right now watching a movie I can't be bothered to pay attention to. Eli has me tucked sweetly into his side, as if he could keep all of the horrible things away from me. I wish he could.

Christmas yesterday was perfect. We spent the day ignoring all of the crap we've had to deal with. We kept the TV off, we all stayed off our phones and we all just spent time together. 

We exchanged gifts early in the morning. We all went pretty simple, not really caring about gifts. We just wanted to be together. Last night, for the first time in far too long, I fell asleep with a small smile on my face. 

Kyle was arrested, Deliah and Charlie are okay. 

"I have to go to the bathroom." I whispered to Eli. He nodded, knowing what I had to do.

"Do you want me to go with you?" He asked with a sad smile.

"No, that's okay. I'll be okay." I told him, not really believing it myself, but hoping I could convince myself.

I walked to the bathroom and pulled out the stupid sticks that just remind me of the incredible pain I've been pushing aside for the last week. I did my business and washed my hands while I waited for the stick to turn.

Two lines still. The second one is beginning to fade quite a bit, which just confirms the loss more concretely to me than the doctor informing me of it. The blood is still there, which is normal I guess. 

I left the bathroom tossing the stick deep into the trash can. I swiped away the pesky tears the tried to fall, sniffling once and then setting my face into one of blankness, then walked back to the living room. I resumed my position, wedged in Eli's warm, strong arms.

"Okay?" He asked quietly in my ear.

"As okay as to be expected." I said back. "It was even more faded this time." I said with a touch of sadness seeping into my tone without my permission.

He squeezed me tighter into him and kissed the top of my head. I let out a small sigh.

"What's this movie about?" I asked just now realizing I had no idea what's going on.

"That girl there just started college and basically broke up with her lifelong boyfriend for the bad boy." Deliah informed me without taking her eyes off the screen.

"Ah." I said with a small chuckle.

We watched the rest of the movie in silence. I still wasn't really paying attention. I couldn't keep my mind off the fact that Kyle should be done by now and we still haven't heard anything from Joan. This feels like a bad sign. Something feels wrong, and I don't know if I can take anymore bad news.

My thoughts were cut off by a phone ringing. Charlie's phone. He pulled it out and looked at the caller ID before taking in a deep breath and answering the call.

"Hello, Joan." He said into the receiver. He listened to what she said before putting the call on speaker. "Okay, you're on speaker Joan. It's me, Eli, Deliah and Athena here. How'd it go?"

"Hi everyone. So the arraignment just finished. I have some good news, and some less good news." He said and paused. I took in a shaky breath. They are going to let him out. "So the less than good news is that the judge granted bail," I let out a small whimper at the thought of him being released. He'll just try a lot harder to find me. Eli rubbed his hand up and down my back to try and reassure me. "But the good news is that bail is $80,000. No bond, and if he does post it he has to wear an ankle monitor to make sure he doesn't leave his house."