So the whole concept of leaving and not being seen was lost on my brain as I remained in the same spot for at least an hour. I'd eventually sat down in the grass and regained some sense of normal. Well, I didn't feel like punching something or throwing up, at least.
I got to my feet and sighed to myself, deciding that it was time to go home. I'd taken no more than a step into the backyard when suddenly there were bright lights all over. I shrank back, holding up a hand over my eyes to block the intense light.
"I fucking told you fuckheads!" The one I assumed was Nathan, shouted from an open window in the house.
I froze in horror, and then the backdoor flung open and hit against something making a loud thud. Pounding footsteps came outside and I finally made my body react. I stumbled at first, the lights still blinding me as they came from all directions. I ran into a chair, and stumbled away as I remembered the pool. But it was too late, there was the edge and then there was nothing. My arms flailed in the air and I screamed, but my voice was quickly cut off by the water surrounding me.
I'd never been in a body of water this deep.
The deepest pool I'd been in was the tub, and I wasn't too sure that counted at the moment. Not even considering the fact that I couldn't swim, but an unbearable feeling shot through my fingertips all the way up to my shoulder. Pain I didn't know I could feel laced through my body as the chemicals in the pool met with my burn.
I screamed underwater, and when my feet hit the bottom I pushed up forcefully. My head broke the surface first and I thrusted my hand up too, gasping for any sort of air or relief.
I went under again, kicking my feet as hard as I could, reaching for the surface. My hand went under as well, the chemicals hitting in a new and horrid way.
I think I blacked out, or maybe I didn't.
The next moment I could feel the water shifting around me, hands were touching my body and then arms wrapped around my middle. The person brought us both to the surface and another pair of hands hauled me out of the water, the edge of the pool having been closer than I thought it would be. My fear had clouded everything. The pain had overruled all rational thought.
I was sobbing, holding my hand close my chest as it shook with pain. I whimpered, not listening to the voices around me as I couldn't focus on anything.
Most of the lights cut out and I could see several figures around me, and I knew I was sitting against whoever had pulled me out, against a stranger. But none of it mattered, as the day hit me in full and my whole body began to shake.
Who was I to confront my father?
Someone grabbed my wrist and I started to protest, to pull away, when they dumped fresh, cool water on the wound.
"That's bad," someone said.
Another person quipped, "the doc?"
"On his way," the Kota voice responded, "hey, can you hear me?" He asked, kneeling down next to me as more water was poured onto my hand.
I flinched but moaned at the relief, the pain subsiding as the chemicals were washed away from the raw skin. I made myself nod.
My breathing was evening out and I was beginning to stop shaking. My eyes rolled to the back of my head.
"Woah, hey, no, sweetie come back to me... North! Where's Dr. Green!"
"He was at the hospital, I redlined him but... an ambulance from the nearest hospital would be quicker should we..."
"No." I croaked, and the person holding me brought me closer to their body.
It didn't feel weird though, almost like the stranger was trying to comfort me. I coughed up something wet, hoping it was water. Nobody seemed to freak out around me, so I concluded that it was.
"We need to move her inside." The North voice said.
Who names their kid North? Wasn't that a direction?
"Alright," Nathan's voice spoke directly behind me, his voice rumbling in his chest and vibrating my back slightly.
In one swift movement, he was on his feet and I was cradled in his arms. He went inside the house and continued walking. I closed my eyes, too tired to deal with what was going on.
I was inside a house that wasn't mine.
Gabriel would be so proud, I thought to myself as I was lowered onto a soft bed. And that was all it took for my body to decide to was safe, and that I'd had enough. I went to sleep.
♥ ☾ ♥
There was a very strange feeling of calm when I woke up the next morning. Light shined in through the curtains, a thin sliver of sunshine that fell right across my face.
I rolled over and snuggled deeper into my covers.
Several things became clear to me at once. This was not my bed, I was not in my clothes, and my hand had been tended to by a doctor, judging by the beautiful little wrap on my hand. I lifted my arm and let it flop back down on the bed, no pain. I blinked.
"She's alive," a voice said.
I sat bolt upright in the bed and gasped when I saw the redhead named Nathan.
"This is your room," I said, dumbly.
I was surprised I'd even gotten myself to speak at all, given how long I'd pushed Gabriel off. I shook my head, needing to focus on the present.
He laughed a bit, more of a chuckle, and nodded. He was sitting in a chair that hadn't been in the room before, or maybe it had, either way I was in his room, in his bed.
"These aren't my clothes," I said, trying again.
The feeling of discomfort was increasing. If my family knew what I was up to...
But that was my problem, wasn't it? My family. People who were genetically charged to love me had failed. My heartstrings crossed. Confusion was a feeling I was used to.
Nathan blushed then, his cheeks going a close shade to his hair. Despite all of the things I should be freaking out about, I felt a weird calmness amidst the discomfort. I couldn't figure it out exactly but something about how the room was laid out was comforting.
I'm stupid, I thought to myself while studying the blankets. The zombie covered blankets. I frowned at myself and goosebumps tickled my arms.
"Nobody touched you if that's what you're worried about.. you were wet from the pool and there was some blood... the doc changed you, well he had some help but nobody here would, or ever will, hurt you."
"But I was in your yard. You don't know me."
The words came out almost before I really knew what they were. I watched Nathan closely. I'd heard the way he'd been yelling when he discovered there really was someone messing around his home.
Why would he help someone like me?
Nathan paused but nodded, "I've since decided that you probably had a good reason for being where you were."
I didn't know what to say to that.
Nathan leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest. I'd read plenty of books in my young life, and he looked like he walked straight out of one of the more romantic ones. He hadn't looked so... cute before. Or maybe he had?
There was a soft knock on the door and the dark haired boy with the glasses poked his head in, looking to Nathan before backtracking and looking at me. He blinked and cleared his throat.
"I uh, it's-" he cleared his throat and tried again, "I'm Dakota Lee."
I nodded, "Kota."
He looked away from me to Nathan and I could tell they had a full on conversation with their expressions. Nathan simply smirked at the end and looked at me.
I couldn't help but notice that Kota was rather cute himself. In a complete different way from Nathan was.
Kota turned back to me, "we were just about to have breakfast if you would like to join us?"
"Us?" I asked.
He nodded, "most of my te- family, is here."
"But this is Nathan's house," I countered, "are you .. cousins?"
"More like brothers," Nathan butted in, "but those are little details," he stood up and walked over to the bed, offering me a hand. "Come on, we might look like zombies but we don't bite."
His hand was like the ultimate test. How deep did I want to be in this?
I knew what happened, how friends were made. These boys and I weren't friends yet, but if I took his hands, we'd be a step closer. If told them I'd like to go home... well I didn't know what would happen.
The thought of going home, well it wasn't an option. I had no way to know what my parents would be feeling. No way to know if Dad had told Mom, if they'd put together that I had not only run off, but hadn't returned yet.
Nathan must have thought my hesitation was something against him, because he squatted down to be closer to eye level with me.
"We can be really nice people, if you let us."
I guess that was all it took for me to place my trust in Nathan and whoever else was in the other part of the house. The last person I'd talked to who hadn't had contempt in their eyes and venom in their voice had been Gabriel. It had been so long since I'd felt any sort of kindness...
I almost wasn't sure if this situation was normal or not.
What's the usual level of stranger/stranger kindness? Should I have expected this, or should this be freaking me out?
I inhaled slowly, glancing down at my clean shirt, wondering if my family would do this for me. Not even the rescuing part, just the making sure I went to bed and didn't wake up with pneumonia part.
In the short time I'd been around them, they'd done more for me than I can remember my family doing my whole life.
I took his hand with my good one, allowing him to help me out of the bed. I was dressed in a soft orange colored top and a pair of grey sweats. The orange top made me a little sad at the boy who was associated with the color, but I ignored it and tried not to think about Nathan's hand as he continued to hold mine.
Kota moved aside with a small, yet happy, smile. He walked down the hall in front of us, leading us to the table that was full of food. There were a few people already sitting down, talking amongst themselves, and a curly haired blonde at the stove.
I stopped walking at the edge of the hallway, just before joining the room. Nathan didn't seem phased as he allowed me to stop fluidly, letting go of my hand casually as he joined the others.
"What are you doing by the stove?" A sharp voice asked.
At first I thought it was directed at me and I took several steps backwards, wondering if I shouldn't turn around completely. It didn't cross my mind that I wasn't even near the stove.
"Fuck North, don't scare her. She was just smiling," Nathan said towards a dark haired giant while looking at me. "North will behave, I promise. Just..." he motioned for me to come into the room.
I looked to Kota, he smiled encouragingly.
The giant scowled, "I'm sorry," he said though, surprising me somewhat. He didn't seem the type to apologize. Or maybe I was being judgy. What did I know?
I think the apology alone is what prompted my feet forward again. I walked slowly, keeping my eyes on the ground and taking catalog of all of my thoughts, sorting them into different boxes. I made it to the table and plopped down in the first chair. Right next to a boy with longer blonde hair, a cheeky smile, and warm brown eyes.
I leaned away from him and his smile dipped a little.
"Don't look at her like that, Luke," North ground out as he took a seat on my other side.
Nathan gave him a pout and sat on the opposite side from me, while the one called Sean sat next to him, and Kota on the other side.
So many new names...
A plate was set in front of me and Sean smiled warmly, "don't worry, I didn't cook it."
The statement confused me but I tried for a smile and picked up my fork. It was as if they'd been waiting for me, because as soon as I took my first bite they all began to eat and talk.
It was a little strange, to have so many voices and good natured conversations around me. Was this what school was like?
All of the boys were dressed differently, Sean wore a button up while North and Nathan both wore solid colored tshirts. Kota was wearing a smart shirt, if such a thing existed, and Luke wore a shirt that had a cupcake on the front.
I was trying to read it while being discreet.
"Sooo you never told us your name," North said.
I blinked and looked at them, in time to see Kota throw a small piece of egg at North. It bumped his nose.
I smiled a little bit, and before North could get irritated, which I'm betting he was a grumpy type based off his attitude so far, I spoke.
"Sang, my name is Sang."
North paused in his attempt to launch sausage back at Kota and stared at me.
"Your parents named you Sang?"
I frowned, "yours named you North."
I need to work on my manners, I thought to myself. The girls in my books knew how to act though. I looked down and stabbed my fork into my eggs in frustration.
What was the appropriate thing to do? To say?
Luke laughed next to me, and slung an arm over the back of my chair. He didn't touch me though, which I was strangely grateful for.
"She got you there, baby brother."
Baby brother? Were they all related? I withheld judgement and took another bite of my breakfast.
"How's your hand?" Sean suddenly asked, his eyes curious and comforting.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," I admitted. I held up my wrapped up hand and admired the bandages again.
It made me wonder how many times I'd suffered growing up when I didn't need to.
"Well Pookie, that's good, but I'm still going to insist I see it around noon or so. Chemicals that belong in the pool do not belong on fresh burn wounds."
I frowned at him, "are you telling me you're a doctor? The doctor?"
"Yep, and I'm all yours," he grinned at me. It was strange, he reminded me of Finnick from the Hunger Games and I immediately liked him.
I smiled back, despite myself as I was currently in lala land with a district four boy... "thank you," I said, my voice going airy.
"Doc you can't lay it on that thick, shell combust look at her, shhhh, it's okay cupcake, I'll save you from the ugly doctor," Luke promised, making a face at Sean and pulling my chair closer to his side.
Dr. Sean.
Sean leaned back in his chair with a hand over his heart.
"Ugly?"
"Face it, you ain't got no alibi." Luke responded.
Nathan snorted and shoved a big bite of food into his mouth. Kota shook his head and North seemed to be ignoring them, texting someone named Si on his phone in a language I recognized.
I'd never learned to speak any of the languages that I'd learned, as I had no one to correct my pronunciation. But I could read and write just fine.
I mean, I wasn't snooping, he had his phone right there.
North: yeah she's awake
Si: has she said anything?
North: I think there's a lot going on that we don't know. She's obviously traumatized by something.
Si: did you find out the hand thing?
And that's what North was responding to. I sucked in a small breath before tuning back into the conversation.
Traumatized? The word made me angry at North, for some reason. He'd barely said anything to me and he already had me figured out?
"...sure Pookie doesn't think I'm ugly, do you Pookie?"
"Dude, don't put her in a position she'll have to lie," Nathan waved his fork at Sean, smiling in good nature.
"I think he's cute, actually," I said as I put a grape in my mouth, savoring the freshness.
The whole table stopped to look at me with varying expressions. Sean leaned back in his chair and waved his hand towards me.
"The lady has spoken, she thinks I'm the cutest."
"Oh, I," I started to say, but Luke cut me off.
"Oh so you think one of us is cuter? Which one of us is the cutest in the room?"
I blinked and looked toward Kota. For some reason I'd thought he might come to my rescue, but he only looked as interested in the others at my answer. He even raised an eyebrow at me, smiling a little bit.
"You all lose, she's the cutest in the room, now eat your protein," North paused and look at me, "Sang."
He said my name with a tenderness that had me dropping my fork.
Was this some sort of twisted joke? We're my parents teaching me a lesson? Would these boys turn on me somehow?
Traumatized?
"Aw North, you broke her," Kota said.
North smiled slightly at me and I ducked my head, blushing a bit. I didn't know if the blush was from embarrassment at being called cute, or broken.
What was even happening? Why were they calling me cute and asking who was cute?
Despite my out of body experience I felt like I was having, I wasn't trembling. My voice was strong, I didn't consider every word before it came out. (Though maybe I should start trying)
I counted five boys that I was surrounded by. And I had never felt more like a normal human being. Well that was a lie, but Gabriel wasn't here. And he hadn't been around in a long time.
"Aw you guys embarrassed her, stop talking like she's not in the room," Sean said and then reached across the table, refilling my orange juice glass. "Was there anything you had planned for today, Sang?"
I shook my head, meeting his eyes but looking away once again as I remembered what Nathan had told me about the doctor having changed me. I squirmed in my seat a bit, aware that my bra was still on and I was wearing underwear. Theoretically he hadn't seen anything.
Still, I was sitting across from a guy who'd recently seen me more naked than anybody had since I'd learned to dress myself.
I blinked.
I had just called my doctor cute! Wasn't that not okay?
Another blink and I looked into Sean's- Dr. Sean's eyes. He smiled at me and winked, earning a slap across the back of the head from Nathan.
I flinched, North gave me a weird look but everyone else was too busy to notice, or didn't care.
The front door opened suddenly, with no knock and I heard the unmistakable sound of dress shoes on hard flooring.
Dad.
It could be no one else, my mind reasoned.
I was off the chair and running back towards Nathan's room in a blink. I shut the door behind me, and with panic in my heart I worked open Nathan's bedroom window and was halfway out before any of them caught up to me.
"Woah. Hey, Sang, are you okay? Everything is okay. What's wrong?" Kota asked stepping into the room with his hands up.
"Are you okay?" He repeated.
"You called my father," I accused, my voice shaking with fear.
What would he do to me for staying out all night? Sleeping in a strangers house. A boys room! What would he do?
"It's not your father, I promise. We don't know anything about you except for what you've told us. Please. Trust us. Trust me," he almost begged.
There was a desperation in his eyes, but it wasn't desperation to keep me in his control, he was desperate to help.
"Why?"
He blinked but seemed to understand. Kota straightened, adjusting his shirt as he stared me right in the eye.
"I know it might not seem to make sense right now, but if you trust us, we can help you."
I didn't know if I could trust him yet, but I slowly pulled myself back inside the house and nodded at him.
"I can try."