Sunflower

Chapter Nineteen: Hearts break and heal in an endless circle.

"Hey," Dad grabbed my hand again to keep it from shaking. 

"She can't seriously take me to the UK right. Like, I don't wanna go, that's gotta be against the law or something." 

"Not if the household is deemed unstable or unsafe." 

"But that can take 45 days right?" 

"Yeah, but with me in the hospital, they could take you away faster." 

"No, but someone like is an emergency legal guardian or something? Even if its Eddie and Reeves? Or hell Reyes or Kogin."

"Kova," Mom grabbed my hand, "We're gonna figure this out." 

"I don't... I don't wanna go to London." 

"I won't let you go to London." 

When visiting hours were over we headed home but instead of actually going inside the house and working homework or practicing my music I went out and worked on my truck. 

"What're you doing?" 

"Fixing my car," I told Maverick blankly. 

"Ya know you never answered my question." 

"You're gonna have to remind what question that was." 

"Why I never hear you play your instruments?"

"Cause you just don't." 

"Come on I told you why I have my scar-"

"Fine," I slammed the socket wrench down, "Because I hate being good at things and like to keep to myself."

"Wait?" He paused setting his drink down, "You hate being good at things?" 

"Yes." 

"That's a little counterintuitive don't you think." 

"I will give you 5 dollars if you can define counterintuitive." 

He simply rolled his eyes, "Regardless, you're a great cello player, an amazing lacrosse player, you can fix cars. Your an amazing person and I just want you to see that in yourself," He paused waiting for a response I wasn't going to give him, "Kova, you are literally the strongest person I know. You grew up without a mom, I don't know what I'd do without my mom. Your dad probably had no idea what he was doing with you. You've got bullied all of high school. Kova," He walked closer putting his hands on my shoulders, "You've survived suicide." 

"That was thanks to my dad, not me." 

"You were publically embarrassed and came back stronger than ever," I looked down at the ground as tears bubbled in my eyes, "What's happening with dad and your mom, you're gonna get through it just like you've been doing."

"I'm trying, I'm really trying." 

"No, you're not trying- You're doing. You're doing it." 

I lightly punched Maverick in the shoulder wiping my tears, "God why do you always see me crying?" 

He just laughed, "You'll never see me cry." 

I didn't have the energy to correct him that I had seen him cry twice, once after Angie cheated and second after he beat Asher up. 

* * *

"Kova! Kova! Kova- Ow." 

I didn't even see it coming till I was on the ground. I didn't even move, I stared up at the gloomy dark sky till Maverick leaned over me taking his helmet off, "You dead?" 

"Only on the inside," I muttered. 

"Come on, get up," Asher said taking my hand an forcing me to stand up.