Settling Down [KJ Apa]

Chapter Eighteen

K J

It's been 8 days since the Oscars and 7 days since Georgia has left her room. She only eats once a day and doesn't even let people in her room. I've never been so worried about her.

"Should we call her brother?" Lili whispers as we both stare at her bedroom door.

"What good will that do?" I sneer back at her.

I just want to help her myself.

"She might just need family instead of friends." She reasons, "We can have all the best intentions, but we both know her brother knows her better."

I sigh. Lili is right; we should call her brother. I just don't want to be the one who has to explain everything.

"I'll call." Lili tells me as if she could read my mind, "Freddie gave me his personal number for emergencies."

Lili walks away, tapping on her phone before lifting it up to her ear. I just stare back to the door. I wish I could be on the other side of that door, hold Georgia so she doesn't have to be alone.

___________

G E O R G I A

I toss my legs to the other side, turning my whole body towards the window. A streak of sunlight finds its way to the carpet, but I don't want to warm my feet on it. So, I wrap the duvet tighter around me, hoping that will warm me, but I doubt so. It hasn't helped in days.

Frustrated, I throw the duvet off my body and find my way to the carpet. I lean my back against the side of my bed, pulling my knees all the way up to my body. The sun is now warming up my skin and I finally enjoy it a little.

I close my eyes and wrap my arms around my body. Tears are streaming down my face again as I try to remember how it all felt. The constant kicking, the growing belly, just everything I loved about being pregnant.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when a knock comes at the door. I guess it's noon already and it's either Keneti or Lili with my food. The door opens, but it's too exhausting to look behind me to see who it is now. The door closes again and I frown since I didn't hear them put the tray down. So I look up to see my brother coming closer.

"What are you doing here?" My voice is hoarse from not using it for so long.

"Lili called." He sighs, sitting down next to me, "So, I came straight back."

"You shouldn't have come. You have concerts to do."

"I have 3 days off, sis."

"You should be out with Vanessa."

"I'd rather be here."

He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close to him. I'm shaking against him, not even controlling my thoughts anymore.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He whispers against my hair.

"She wasn't old enough." I whisper back, finally keeping my voice steady, "Last time, I told everyone I could think of and I got mum and dad so excited. I just couldn't go through the disappointment again."

"They weren't disappointed. They were just -- hurt. We all were, I guess."

"Let's not talk about last time anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I know for a fact that Keneti and Lili are eavesdropping at the other side of the door and, well... They don't know everything."

"They don't know he used to hit you?"

"He didn't really hit me, Freddie."

"Don't forget how you lost Connor."

"Well, he didn't hit me anymore." I roll my eyes, "Now, let's just leave it at that, okay?"

He sighs, "Alright... Well, KJ said you haven't been on set in two weeks. I mean, I get you're co-directing with Martin, but I thought this was another passion project for you."

"It was. I mean, it is." I exhale deeply, "I just can't bear to be around people right now."

"I so get that." Freddie exclaims with his head thrown backwards.

"Shut up." I smile, my face muscles hurting.

"Now that's what I was aiming for."

I glance over to him and I can see the pain in his eyes. He quickly shrugs off the pity smile he's showing me, stands up and walks up to the curtains.

"Let's let some light in here. What do you say?"

"No..." I curl up tighter, "I wanna become a vampire."

"Yeah... That's not going to happen."

Freddie pulls the curtains open, letting sunlight shine brightly into my room. It's a great adjustment first, after having little to no light for so long, but it feels good to realise it's a beautiful day outside.

"So..." Freddie begins as he reaches out his hands, "What do you say? We go out for a little walk around the garden, have some food outside of this room,..."

"I'd rather stay here."

"Come on, Gee. We gotta make some-- steps. Small steps. But we gotta do something to get you out of this room."

"I'll go outside if you make things Insta official with Vanessa."

"Oh. So, we're going on the blackmail-train." He grins, "If that is what it takes for you to go out, then I'll call Vanessa."

"This was way too easy."

"Sometimes life can be easy, Georgia. Now let's go outside."

I sigh as I grab ahold of his hands. He pulls me up on my feet and I stumble a little. Must've been because I haven't really gotten up in a few hours.

He wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads me towards the door. I am anxious to walk outside of my room. This has been my bubble for the past days and it became very comfortable.

"You ready?" Freddie looks down at me with his hand on the door handle.

"Yeah..." I breath out.

He opens the door and I see Keneti scrambling up on his feet from sitting against the wall across from my room. His hand goes through his hair, staying on the back of his neck, and I'm sure he's pulling the baby hairs on the back of his neck.

"Hey, George..." He cautiously approaches me, "I'm glad you're out."

"Yeah." I sigh, glancing up at my brother, "I'm sure you're not alone."

There's an silence coming upon us, and I break it before it could even become awkward.

"You wanna go for a walk, Keneti?" I ask him, "We should talk about a few things."