broken // branded sequel // heathers au

twenty

Ezra's POV

I don't remember much of the rest of that night, just bits and pieces. Sitting in the car with Elody's parents was awkward because they hated me. For good reason, yes. But it didn't exactly provide an enjoyable car ride.

When the receptionist said family only, I saw Elody's father sigh and explain that I was Elody's boyfriend as well as the father of her unborn child. The receptionist allowed it.

Auden came in, teary-eyed after hearing what happened to Elody and the condition her twin was in. She was angry to see me there and demanded to know why I was at Elody's bedside.

"Elody wanted him here." Their mother said to Auden.

"I don't give a shit!" Auden shouted back. "Elody is delusional." She added.

"Auden," Their father warned his heavy voice. "We tried to make him leave while waiting for the ambulances. Elody begged him to stay." He explained further.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Auden asked me as if she was my mother. I didn't speak at all, just keep my eyes focused on the empty bed where Elody would soon lay.

"He hasn't spoken to anyone but Elody." Their mother said quietly.

A lie. I had found comfort in one person - Elody's father. He had pulled me aside shortly after his wife fell asleep when arriving at the hospital. He apologized and said stress makes her tired.

"You know you're only here because Elody wanted you to be, right?" He asked me. It was then I recalled his name was JD. I hadn't committed it to memory before and it took me forever to remember it.

"I know." I replied to him. His eyes widened with surprise as if he wasn't expecting me to speak.

"I take pity on you being that I've been in a similar position with Veronica." He admitted to me. "Her parents despise me. They have good reasons, I'll admit that much. But she loved me anyways and could look past my bad habits. Elody is doing that for you." He continued on.

"I know that too." I said.

"But I'll tell you this - if you ever hurt my daughter again, your gun wound won't be in your leg." He told me.

"That's fair." I chuckled.

"I'm sorry I had to shoot you." JD apologized, which I wasn't expecting to hear.

"I understand why you did." I admitted.

"So what have you been doing to get better?" He asked me.

"What?" I questioned back, completely caught off guard.

"Have you been going to therapy?" He clarified his question. I wanted to laugh though I don't know why.

"No," I remarked.

"If Elody continues to uphold the decision that you should be in her life, you're going to start." He told me. It wasn't up for debate or discussion, it was just going to be his way or the highway. That didn't stop me though.

"I don't," I began.

"You do need it. You put your hands on Elody, made her keep a baby that she still doesn't want and broke into our house threatening to kill her." He said, reminding me of my fuck-ups. I nodded simply until his words really sunk in.

"She still doesn't want the baby?" I asked.

"I don't think so. She's lying to everyone saying she does but she hates what's going on in her life. She hates having no freedoms. I imagine Veronica will crack down more after this," He said.