Chapter 20

I awaken after an hour and the Sun's rays greet me, I feel a hand stroking my hair and my sad orbs shift to see who was showing me affection.

I gaze into those emerald orbs and I'm lost for a while before I quickly find myself. His eyes held sadness and anger but the reason I do not know,

"What's wrong?" I force my body to sit upright, pretending I am alright,

"Where will you go now?" His question forces tears from my eyes, "I overheard. I'm sorry." His gaze shifts to his shoes, I turn to him and cup his cheeks,

"It's okay. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Everything's going to be alright" I reassure him. It stings that I was abandoned by my parents but at least I am not alone.

He is right here. Here with me.

"They left half an hour ago" he could feel the anger build up in him and I sense it immediately,

"No need to get angry Daylon. It's useless to fight for something that isn't yours" I smile catching him off guard. He pulls me into an embrace that stuns me.

I hug him back as firm as he does me and I sob on his shoulders, he strokes my hair and comforts me,

"You're always welcome at my place" he whispers into my neck, my gaze softens and my cheeks redden at the thought,

"I couldn't" I kindly decline, I didn't want him to notice my blush, "Debbie would never allow it" I find an excuse, he pulls back, a grin slapped on his face,

"I'm sure Debbie and I can reach a compromise. We'll share you 50-50" his words tempt me to give him a hot slap but I control myself,

"Sorry, Debbie likes me not split into pieces" I counter, my eyes far away from his. He chuckles,

"Okay suit your—" his phone rings and he picks it up, "yeah mom, I'm still at the hospital with Eris" I blush at how casually he spoke and how he said my name, "yeah breakfast would be nice, she's hungry too" he laughs lightly, "she said no though, she's stubborn" I punch him in the shoulder and his face cringes in pain, "so in an hour? Be waiting" the line drops and he smiles only to meet my stern look, "you are stubborn" he shrugs,

"She sounds nice"

"She is. One of a kind" he goes through his phone and drops it on the bed afterward, "forget that" he shoves the topic of his mom aside trying to protect me, he brings out my phone from his hoodie, "here. It's charged and unharmed. You dropped it last night" he hands it to me,

"Thanks" I give him a small smile,

"No problem" he yawns and roughens his golden locks. I notice the bags under his eyes and how unkept he looked,

"Here" I pat my thighs signaling him to place his head on it. He is surprised but doesn't fight back, he places his head on my thigh and I stroke his hair softly.

Within a few minutes, he's sound asleep, exhaling and inhaling softly but audibly. His rhythmic breathing puts me to sleep with my right hand on his hair and the fingers of my left hand intertwined with his hand.

I awaken again after some time, "Daylon?" I call out as I rub the sleep out of my eyes, "where did he go?" I mumble and a slight moan escapes my lips, I grab my phone and it reads 10:30 am, "food" I moan out as my stomach rumbles.

I push my legs off the bed and try to stand on my feet, my head throbs and I try to shake it off. I grab my black feather from the bed and hold it close to me, I spot a string and put it to good use by tying the feather to my wrist. It looked fashionable a bit,

"Islana" I say her name, "I miss you already" I admit. I've fought for so long and it feels like I've lost all my strength from the countless battles. I always smile outwardly but shed tears on the inside, "wings so black, heart so white" I smile at my words, "the darkness is a blessing"

Daylon walks in with a smile on his lips, "I present the beautiful! magnificent!" his gesture tickles me and I roll my eyes, "talented! sensational!" My grin widens, "Ava Evans!" He bows and I give a round of applause,

"Thank you! Thank you!" A woman slides in with the same playful gesture and takes a bow,

"Did I forget the best mom in the world?" Daylon double checks,

"Oh sweetie!!" She pulls his cheeks,

"Mom cut it out! Not in front of Eris" Daylon mans up and clears his throat. I laugh at him and his face turns a deep shade of red,

"So this is the girl you're sneaking out at night to see!" She coos, she strides over to me, "so nice to meet you Eris" she holds my hands in hers, "Daylon has told me so much about you" her smile beams.

Ava is a slender woman with full, emerald eyes, rather long eyelashes, wavy and long blonde locks, full lips and a striking personality. She's hard not to look at.

They look so much alike.

I try not to let it get to me and I grin, "what did he say about me?" I'm interested, his eyes pop and his heart rate speeds,

"Nothing!!" He blurts out before his mom could say a word. His mom laughs,

"How are you feeling dear?" She strokes my hair,

"I'm fine" I look at her closely, "Aren't you that popular TV actress on that show? Um what's it called?" I search my brain for the name, "Sweet and spicy?"

"Viola!!" She clicks, "that's it!! Glad you know Amber but I'm Ava"

"Nice to meet you Ava" her aura Is pleasant and her red, one-piece dress compliments her personality.

"I'm sure you must be hungry so I brought a little something for you to eat. Daylon bring the bag outside please" she turns to him and sees a sandwich stuffed in his mouth, "Daylon! That's for Eris!" His lips stretch into a smile and he looks as silly as he could get.

It makes me smile at how close they were. The love. It saddens me but it feels like I'm part of their happy family. He didn't leave me for a second. Daylon, thank you.

We leave the hospital and I'm in my clothes again, "thank you for everything"

"No need to thank us sweetie, consider us family" she smiles, she grabs her car key and presses a button, a sound familiar to all car owners rings out and we walk in the direction.

My mouth drops on getting there, a red Lamborghini Murciélago stood there waiting for us to hop in. Ava revs the engine and the underglow jests about in the color of the car. I hardly sat in the car with my family, I barely went out with them so seeing this is Rather big.

"Can I just take a bus?"

"No Eris!" Daylon opens the back door for me, I hesitate on entering and he gives me a little push inside. Just as I thought he'd sit beside his mom he joins me at the back, "Didn't expect it?" He chuckles as he closes the door,

"We okay back there?" Ava asks,

"Yes," we chorus and look at each other for a while with me looking away first.

My thoughts wander off to unknown places from how I would cater for myself to Cody and Tyler. I exhale softly and close my eyes. This was not a time to be weak now.

I feel a gentle hand on mine and I squeeze it, I look into his eyes with a small smile and I lay my head on his shoulders and close my eyes. I found solace in him.

Ava does her best to hide her grin but she fails miserably, it was cute to her. She would definitely tease him for it.

After a while, we reach Debbie's house and I highlight,

"Should I come with you?" I could hear the eagerness in his voice, I kindly decline with a soft movement of my head, "okay, take care of yourself Eris" he smiles and the car drives off.

I face the door and give it a gentle knock, Debbie opens it and notices the tears in my eyes,

"Eris" her voice tender and laced with concern.

I explain everything to her parents and they agree without hesitation to me staying here for as long as I needed to. My eyes are fixed on the stars and my thoughts close to them, I remember his words that night and tears roll down my cheeks, I wipe them quickly when I hear the door creep open. I feel hands around my body and a head against my back. I remember Cody instantly and the tears are forced out,

"I'm not leaving you Eris" her words soothe my pain and I pull her to a proper embrace,

"Thank you" my breath on her neck.