Fatal Redemption | J.J.K.

CXII

PAIGE;

Mom holds open the door as dad carries me into the house. I watch hazily as the boys come running in for assistance and to hear the news.

"How'd it go?" Chance asks as he holds Cole on his back. I noticed that he was trying to hold it together, he wasn't used to seeing me like this.

"Her surgery went well. The doctors said that her ACL was partially torn so the healing time will be much shorter than expected. They also said that she can walk but not as much for now" Mom answers as dad starts to climb up the stairs.

He opens my room door and settles me onto my bed then sits down beside me. Mom takes off my jacket along with my slides and puts them away.

I hear paws thumping on the floor and before I know it, Rocket is on the bed, laying his head on my stomach.

"Off Rocket," Dad says as Rocket looks up at him with his famous heart-wrenching puppy eyes. He grabs onto his collar until Rocket whines and nuzzles his head into my stomach.

Dad sighs, giving up. He can't separate a dog from his best friend. Dad takes off his cap, he looks at me and holds my hand.

There's a creek by the door and dad see's Cole peeking in from beside the door.

Dad speaks up, "She's a little out of it now but after a nap, she will be fine"

Cole slowly nods when dad gives him a reassuring wave in. Cole hesitantly walks in and stands against dad, "What's going to happen now?"

Dad sighs, "Well... we do all we can to help her. She's in pain and she's heartbroken, so we have to be patient with her. We have to protect her"

Cole nods, "Okay. I love you Paige"

Cole leans over and kisses my forehead as a tear escapes my eye. I close my eyes and begin to drift off with my dad's words echoing in my head.

'We have to protect her'

—

A few days have passed, today is the last day of the first semester for school. The whole time consisted of finals and trying hard not to fail. Throughout that time, I filled out an application for BYU and got an email saying that they received it along with many others and that they are going through them.

I should receive a letter in the mail a few days from now.

Chance has been picking me up and dropping me off at school since I'm 'crippled', as my older brothers put it. I told them that I was capable of walking myself but they still insisted on driving me and carrying me around like a baby.

The last bell rang as I walked out with my classmates and towards the exit that leads to the parking lot. There was a party tonight but I wasn't planning on going.

I had the house to myself tonight.

My mom was on her last day at work before her holiday leave, my father was working, my older brothers had work to do and Cole was sleeping over at his friend's house.

Well, I wasn't technically alone, Chance was staying with me to 'keep me company'.

"Hey, Paige" Someone calls as I turn around. It was Daniel, the party king, "You coming tonight?"

I frown a bit and shake my head, "No, not tonight, sorry"

All of his friends groan, "What?! C'mon Paige" Daniels best friend, Kevin says, "You have to. It's the last winter party of our senior year"

I sigh, "I'll think about it". A smile breaks out on my face when they all start cheering. It's cut short as they hear a door close.

I turn and see Chance walking around the car and waiting on the curbside for me.

"Who... is... that?" Jessica, a girl a part of Daniels group of friends, asks as her friends stare at Chance.

I smile and shake my head before bidding them goodbye. I walk towards Chance and he smiles.

He seemed to notice the staring when I approached him because he smirks. Once I'm an arm's length away, he opens his arms and hugs me.

"Chance" I groan as he smiles and laughs before setting me down. I hear Daniel gasp,

"Get it, Paige!" He and his friends exclaim. My cheeks tinge red as Chance smiles brightly at me and opens my door.

Chance continues to tease me on the drive home and I try my best to ignore him. Once we arrive home, we both decide on watching a movie, our favorite movie.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

I quickly change into more comfortable clothes and meet with Chance in the living room. He had already set out some snacks and was waiting for me.

I sat down on my usual spot on the couch and looked at Chance.

"Ready?" Chance asks as I nod. He smiles and presses play.

—

"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K" Chance and I say in a mimic to Ted's voice. We both laugh, that was our favorite quote from the movie.

I glance at Chance and see him smiling. I smile too, it's been so long since we've had a movie night. He was making me feel so much better, he was helping me heal and making me forget.

He notices me looking at me so he turns, "What?" He asks with a head tilt.

"You're such a dork" I joke as he smiles wider.

"But you love me," He says with a smirk. I roll my eyes and look back at the tv.

"Sadly," I say as he laughs and looks back at the screen as well. I can't help the smile that inches on my lips.

As we continue to watch the movie, Chance's phone rings. He looks at it and shows me that it's his mom.

Chance answers and puts his phone to his ear, "Hey mom... woah, woah, slow down,"

"The sheep got out?" Chance repeats with an exasperated groan, "Yeah, I'm on my way now. Bye"

I watch as he hangs up and looks at me with a sad look. I frowned as well but I understood, "Go home Chance, we can continue this when you get back"

"But what about you?" Chance asks. I look at the time to see that it was nearing midnight.

"I'll clean up and go to bed," I say as he sighs but nods.

We both start to clean up until I push him away and tell him to pack up his stuff. The faster he packs and leaves then the faster he can find the sheep and come back.

After I've cleaned up the living room and put the snack back in the pantry, Chance is standing by the kitchen island with his bags.

I sigh and walk him to the front door, "I'll be back soon, I'm sure the sheep haven't wandered far"

I nod and wrap my arms around him, I hope he can be back before my birthday. My eyes start to water at the thought. But I understand that Chance's parents make their money with their sheep and livestock so he has to be focused.

"Hurry back," I say as we both pull away. He smiles and nods before he smirks,

"I'll be back before you know it" He winks as I roll my eyes and open the door.

"Yeah, yeah, now get out of my house" I joke as he laughs and begins to walk out.

"Bye Paige," he says as I wave. I watch as he gets into his truck and leaves with a wave. Once he's out of sight, I sigh and close the door.

Looks like I'm all by myself now.

I lock the door and trudge up to my room. I enter and close the door after me before flopping onto my bed.

I wrap myself in my fluffy blanket and close my eyes.