𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚

chapter sixteen

✴︎°༄

KIARA WAS ALMOST ready to be discharged. Natalia had been working her ass off trying to keep Kiara's parents out of Riverdale, but she wasn't successful. They were coming back and Kiara would have to be told. Currently, Sweet Pea was laying down with Kiara in her hospital bed. They had just been told she would be ready to go home the following morning if all went well.

"Kiara?" Sweet Pea whispered.

"Mhm?" She hummed.

"I've been thinking, maybe it's better for you if you moved back in with your dad," He said. "I love you so much and I just want you to be safe. Maybe my trailer isn't the place for you. If anyone wanted to, they could break in so easily, and I don't want anything else to happen to you."

"If I move in with my dad and Kev, will you come sleep with me every night? At least just the first couple nights?"

"Of course! I would've, whether you asked or not," He replied.

She buried her face in his neck and kissed his Serpent tattoo. The door suddenly swung open and in walked a very nervous Natalia, followed by Veronica.

"Kiara, we need to talk," Nat said. Kiara sat up with Sweet Pea. "Your parents, they're coming back."

The room began to swirl as Kiara's head spun and her vision blurred. It became difficult to breathe and she could no longer hear. She couldn't feel Sweet Pea's arms around her. She was panicking. Memories flooded through her mind. Her breath quickened and she felt like she would pass out. Her body began shaking with anxiety.

"Oh my god, Kiara!" Veronica gasped. "Is she having a seizure?"

"No, a panic attack," Sweet Pea replied. He had seen her have many of these. Talking about her past would trigger them easily.

"Oh my god!" Veronica mumbled. "Doctor! We need a doctor!"

***

"Kiara's panic attack had nothing to do with the bullet wound, so she's still clear to leave in one hour," The nurse informed them. Sweet Pea, Kevin, and Mr. Keller were all in the room with Kiara. "But someone should be with her at all times, someone she really trusts."

"How soon can I go back to school?" Kiara asked.

"Um, I wouldn't worry about that hun," Her dad replied. "But a few weeks I think?" A nod from the nurse confirmed his assumption. The nurse left shortly after to gather some papers that Tom and Kiara had to sign.

"What about my bio-parents? Are they really coming to Riverdale?" She asked. Sweet Pea reached out and held her hand.

"I'm afraid so," Tom sighed. She squeezed Sweet Pea's hand tightly.

"I don't want them to take me," She whispered and closed her eyes to avoid crying.

"Hey, hey," Sweet Pea cooed. He sat next to her and held her face in his hands. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, okay? I promise I will keep you safe." She nodded and gave him a weak smile.