A Brand New Ending

Chapter 38

Phoenix



Snapping open my eyes I sit up in my bed, confused for a second as to exactly where I am. I scan the room and a smile comes across my face when I spot a small note placed beside my bed. Reaching out, I grab it with shaky fingers.



Good morning, my Seraph. As much as I want to spend every moment with you - day and night - I fear I can't. But I promise I will be back after class.

Love, Braeden.

P.S. Put on something nice.



I run my finger over the word "love", my smile remains, but my body is laced with anxiety. Setting the note back down I get up from my bed, stretching out, temporarily forgetting about my ribs.

"Ow," I breathe out.

Carl may be in jail but he is still taking a toll on my mind and body. Walking over to my closet, I slide the door open and my jaw drops. It is filled with clothes, most of them simple and just my style. Comfortable. Grabbing a change of clothing I head off into the direction of what I think might be the bathroom, but I don't exactly remember which is which, as I come across the two closed doors. My heart starts to race. Turning around to look behind me, I become satisfied when I see no one.

"Hello," I call out, just to make sure.

Sending my attention back to the two doors, I stare. What's behind door #1? My eyes shift to the other door.

I instantly go to the right, knowing I am completely invading their privacy, but something is screaming at me from the other side. Sliding my hand over the knob I turn it clockwise, the door jamb makes a large cracking noise and I can tell it hasn't been opened in quite some time. The room is stark black within and I feel along the wall till I find the light switch. I flick it on. My eyes widen at what I see.

At first glance, the room looks normal except everything in it covered in a thick layer of dust. Confirming no one has stepped in this bedroom for years, possibly decades. I take a few steps inside, looking at everything above and below me. I can tell that it is a boy's room. Walking over to the dresser, I see a few photo frames. Taking one in my hand, I wipe my fingers across it. I squint, making sure that my eyes are seeing what I think they're seeing. In the picture are two boys, both golden brown hair, eyes as green as emeralds. Two identical boys.

"Phoenix," I hear a female voice call out, my body jumping. Startled, my fingers spontaneously let go of the frame letting it fall to the floor. I rush out of the room and shut the door behind me.

"Hello?" I hear the voice repeat.

My mind races trying to think who the hell it could be, a flash of my mother coming up the stairs takes over my mind. That voice is too sweet to belong to Elaina. I then see Chelsea's blonde hair coming up the stairs. Pulling my body away from the door, I drop my clothes on the floor pretending like I wasn't just snooping. Standing back up I lock my eyes with her, her smile dropping.

"What's wrong, sweetie, you look like you just saw a ghost."

I think I did.

"Oh, umm," I sat looking down at the floor. "I guess I'm just still not feeling that well."

She holds up a bottle of pills and a smile on her face.

"Precisely why Dr. Harris sent me."

"Oh, thanks," I say, hesitantly reaching out for the bottle. But she holds onto it. I look at her confused. Popping open the bottle she hands me one, giving me a sorrowful look.

"Guess I can't be trusted with them, considering my past history," I say putting the round pill in my mouth, swallowing it dry. She smiles lightly.

"Wait," I say looking around. "Did he really send you here to babysit me?"

Her smile widens. "He just wants to make sure that you are OK, this being a new and awkward place to you."

I gnaw on my bottom lip.

"Would I sound insane if I say that I have never felt more at home then I have staying here?"

"Not at all," she responds.

My eyes shift to the closed door and part of me wants to ask her what she knows. She has seems to have been a big part of the Harris family for quite some time. I can't make the words leave my mouth. My stomach sinks a little, realizing I don't know as much about Braeden as I thought. Things remain silent for a second.

"Well, it looks you were about to take a shower before I barged in," she laughs. "I'll be downstairs and then you and I are going to have a girls' day! I have a little surprise for you, too."

My face drops. I have a surprise for you. I can hear her voice in my head. Surprises were never good when it came to Elaina. It usually resulted in her doing something completely stupid, me paying for her mistakes.

"Phoenix?" I hear Chelsea say.

I snap out of my daymare.

"I'm gonna…go take a shower," I say heading in the other direction passing my bedroom, the bathroom next to my room.

Setting my clothes on top of the counter, I reach over and turning on the shower head. Stepping inside I let the warm water soothe over me. Letting the warm water run down my face I close my eyes, the picture frame taking over my memory. My mind runs in a million different directions. What is he keeping from me? Fed up with not being able to relax I hop out, towel drying myself off. Slipping on my clothes I make my way back downstairs, finding Chelsea in the kitchen. I watch her as she moves about the room and I can tell she is comfortable, knows where everything is. As she turns around her eyes catch mine.

"That was fast," she says standing up. "Are you hungry?"

The table is piled with a hill of food. It looks like take out.

"Yeah…" I say staring at it. "But are we…."

I go to continue, but my ears pick up on a voice coming from the living room.

"Where the f*ck is everybody?" the loud voice booms.

A smile instantly breaks across my face.

"And there would be your surprise," Chelsea smiles.

Pushing back through the kitchen door, I lay my eyes upon the massive figure standing in the foyer.

"Hey there, little one!" Donovan booms.

I walk up to him and I can tell he is excited and apprehensive at the same time.

"You can hug me, Donovan." I laugh.

He doesn't need a second invitation. He bounds toward me, scooping me up and swings me around.

"Ahhhh!" I scream out, pain radiating out from my chest.

"Jesus, Donovan!" I hear Chelsea scream out. "She has two bruised ribs!"

He sets me down gently and backs away from me slowly.

"It's OK, Donovan, you didn't know." I laugh.

I hear a light giggle that definitely didn't come from him. Shifting my body to peer around him, my eyes fall on another figure.

"Rain!" I screech out, my eyes almost not able to believe what they're seeing.

"Surprise!" she squeals out.

Taking large, quick steps, I close the distance between us, wrapping my arms around her.

"I can't believe you're here," I say into her ear.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. I was so worried about you, Phoenix," she squeaks out.

"How…I mean…why are you here?" I ask.

"Remember? I told you I was allowed day visits," she reminds me. "Donovan is my aide."

I wrap my arms over her again, knowing I won't be able to do this every day. I hear her laugh as I pull back.

"You look good," she tells me.

I roll my eyes.

"I feel like I've been run over by a truck for the past decade."

"You look happy…"

I smile. "For once I can say I am."

The room falls silent and my heart soars. People are here because they care about me.

"Well, I'm f*cking starving and I can smell the food," Donovan says.

We all laugh and pile into the kitchen, grabbing plates of food. Walking back into the living room, I notice the chairs out on the porch.

"Let's go sit outside," I tell Rain.

She smiles and nods, following me out the sliding glass door. We settle ourselves in the chair, eating quietly at first.

"So, tell me, how are things with you?" I ask, not wanting to spend my time with her in silence.

"A lot less fun since you left," she says with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," I say, feeling slightly disappointed. "Have you ever thought about leaving?"

My heart races as I wait for her to answer.

"I have," she admits. "I just don't have a knight in shining armor to save me."

I give her a crooked smile.

"He loves you," she states, my heart skips multiple beats, my fork slipping through my fingers.

"What?" I ask, knowing I must have heard her wrong.

She looks down at her plate, pushing her food around.

"You should have seen his face when he came looking for you. He knew…" she explains. "He may not have had all the pieces put together, but he knew you were in danger. He looked so…broken."

I cringe at her words.

"I think we both were," I explain. "When he went back into that house there was a part of me that felt I was going to lose him."

As shiver runs down my spine as the emotions from that night bubble up.

"That should be proof enough." She smiles. "Has he said anything yet?"

I shake my head and her brow furrows. "Rain?" I ask, confused by her change of emotion.

She just looks up and gives me a smile, putting her fork in her mouth. We sit out for quite some time and we hear the slider open, both our heads turning. A smile comes across my face when my eyes meet Braeden's. His body stands relaxed in the open doorway, a small smile on his face, but I can tell something is off. My mind shifts to the picture frame. Rain stands up from her chair, looking in between us, and smiles before heading back inside.

"Hi, Seraph," he says smiling. "Are you having a good time?"

I smile back and nod.

"It's really great to see Rain," I explain.

His smile widens.

"Let me guess, it was your idea," I laugh.

"I figured you could use some girl time before you get too tired of always being with my sorry ass."

Setting my plate down on the side table, I pop up out of my chair and bound towards him, my fingers wrapping up in his shirt as I try to climb his tall form. My lips find his instantly, a moan escaping both our lips. I pull back, suddenly embarrassed by this uncontrollable desire I have for him.

"You don't know how much I missed that today," he says, bending down and placing a small kiss on my lips.

"How was school?" I ask, trying to remember his schedule.

"It was f*cking boring as hell, pretty sure I didn't hear a damn word the professor said." He laughs. "You were the only thing on my mind, Seraph."

I lick my lips, feeling the warmth creep up my face.

"Are you far behind because of…ummm…the incident?"

"Don't worry, I'm a fast reader," he says as he reaches out lightly, taking my hand in his. "Did you get my note this morning?"

"I did!" I squeak, excitement taking over. "But why do I have to wear something nice?" I don't own anything nice.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out." He smiles.

Hearing giggles coming from the living room, both Braeden and I turning around and head back inside. I scan the room, realizing now that Dr. Harris has joined us. He and Chelsea sit together on the couch eating and laughing. Braeden and I stand there just holding hands.

"He looks happy," I whisper into Braeden's ear.

Braeden studies his father.

"That he does," he says quietly.

~

Too soon everyone has to return to their respective jobs. I give Rain a hug before walking her out to the car, Donovan is already smiling and waving from the driver's seat. The house quickly goes from being full of activity to the quiet solitude of just Braeden and me. I keep myself busy by cleaning up all the dishes from lunch and I find myself content with the idea of a lazy afternoon. As I swirl the brush around a dirty plate, I feel hands slide underneath my arms and settle on my hips. I try to hold my anxiousness, knowing his touch will never be harsh. I feel his lips on my neck, my body suddenly feeling like it's on fire. Dropping the dishes and the brush I spin around to face him, gorgeous green eyes staring down at me.

Two identical boys.

"Are you ready to go out?" he softly asks.

My eyes widen.

"Were going…" I swallow the lump in my throat. "Out?"

His eyes change from passion to worry.

"Oh, f*ck," he mumbles. "I didn't even think about how you would feel about going out after all that has happened."

I smile. "Braeden," I sternly say trying to get undivided attention again. "It's fine…"

Reaching up I run my hand through his hair.

"I would love to go out with you." I smile and I can see his worry settle.

"I just want you to feel safe," he explains.

"I always feel safe when I am with you," I explain while stand up on my tippy toes giving him a kiss. "Just give me a little bit of time to get ready, OK?"

Slipping out from under his grasp, I bound up the stairs quickly, my eyes staring down at the ground as I pass the closed doors. Walking over to the closet I really take the time to go through each and every item hanging, thanking my lucky f*cking stars Chelsea picked out stuff that I would actually wear. I settle on skinny jeans and a t-shirt, pulling the extra fabric to the side and tying it in a knot. Reaching back into the closet I find something for warmth, my mouth dropping when my fingers come across leather. Pulling it out, I scan over the jacket. Remind me to thank Chelsea…again.

Sliding it on I walk into the bathroom, brushing my teeth and hair quickly, not wanting to be one of those girls who take forever. When I feel satisfied, I make my way downstairs, my eyes falling on Braeden immediately. He is in a completely different outfit, now sporting dark jeans and a black button up shirt, his hands in his pocket. I have to grip the banister so I don't fall flat on my face. He turns around to face me and I look down at the floor, suddenly feeling incredibly nervous.