Booshwater's threats settled upon me like waters after a storm. Paralyzed in my spot I scanned the room. Was no one really going to own up to it?

Fear blew up like a balloon within me. It was going to be me. Me. The one who was punished for this all. Of course. I had never been normal. Imaginary friends, weird dreams, screams in the night. There is no way Jeremiah could take this for me. No matter how much he tried to shield me I could see into his golden brown tired eyes the pain I caused him.

My name resonated around the hall. With legs the consistency of jelly I walked slowly up onto the stage. "Y-y-ye-yes s-s-s-sir", my voice wobbled and trembled in the presence of the head director. "Were you responsible for this?" he seethed. "I-I- No. Not at all sir." I jumbled. Studying me for a minute he spoke again. "Don't lie you little brat! Who else could be as weird of you to do... that-that- MAGIC!" he bursted out, his face going red. Stepping back to get out of the hit zone, the director's hand clamped around my ankle.

Falling to the ground with a yelp I scrambled away from the anger driven person. I could see in the corner of my eye Jer, Nathan and Aiden running up to me. Aiden picked me up and pulled me towards him as Jeremiah and Nathan had a yelling match with Mr. Booshwater. "Ry are you- oh my gods you're bleeding!" Aiden's hushed whisper flowed into my ears like music.

As he said those words a deep throbbing came from my temple and crimson edged my vision. Shakily reaching my skull, a dampness attached itself to my fingers. Pulling it into view a deep cherry like liquid coated my fingers. It was blood. My body slowly started to close down as Aiden pulled me impossibly closer into me as if he could protect me if something happened to Jer and Nathan. A blob of red and white came towards me as Ashley's voice pulled me out of my head.

"Take him straight to our bedroom and put him on your bunk. I'll be over in a minute. I just need to get some supplies." her voice wavered as her fingers brushed the side of my head. The last words I heard as I exited the hall was the angry man's promise of no dinner tonight. A shiver went down my spine as I looked at the cold grey ceiling above me. Before I could stop myself 5 words I never wanted to say out loud slipped out of my mouth quietly "Why is it always me?". Aiden's eyes almost immediately met mine as he gently laid me onto the bed. Sadness and guilt hooded his eyes as he spoke "Everything happens for a reason. I don't know why or how Ryan Alexander Madden but you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and to so many other people. You are amazing in so many ways possible you don't even know it. And I'll be damned if you believe for one second you deserve any of this. You deserve only the best Ryan and I will not die knowing that your life is still as shattered as this.".

Tears stormed my cheeks as I cried in his arms. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me to Aiden Carter Reynolds.". With him I felt safe and warm, he was the bestest friend I could ask for. A small knock on the door revealed a tearful Ashley holding bandages and an alcohol swab. "You guys are like my perfect little children, I love you guys so much" she sniffled joining in on the hug. After we broke apart, I shifted myself to lie down but was hit with a sudden dizzy spell. The room spun as I grabbed onto the metal bunk for support.

Two fingers snapped in front of me causing a high pitched sound to ring through my ears. I groaned as I covered them, bringing a look of concern onto Ash's face. Her dainty, cold fingers got to work on the side of my head, a few stings occasionally rocked my head. I shut my eyes as a scrappy piece of cloth was wrapped around my head.

"Sleep Ryan, I'll be right beside you". Aiden's voice ran clear through my head. I let my eye's flutter as I snuggled into the chunk of warmth next to me. "Sleep".

_________________________

I woke up with a dull throbbing at the base of my skull but I shook it off as I turned to face a sleeping Aiden. Nudging him with my arm, his left eye opened and he groaned, "Nooooooooo, it's too early!!!!". I laughed lightly cautiously avoiding any extra pain. Smiling with a glint in his eyes he asked "How are you feeling this morning? Better?". My smile faded as I replied "Yeah, I'm all good.". Standing up I walked over to the bathroom and threw up my guts.

"RyAn!" shrieked Helena as she rushed into the bathroom followed by the rest of the older kids. I shook as I hurled once again into the toilet. Ashley sat me next to it as she felt my head. "A moderate concussion, a bit of vomiting and loss of balance temporarily. Nothing a bit of panadol can't fix!" she said a little too enthusiastically for my liking. Nodding Aiden crawled to my side. "I never should have let you get up on your own! I'm so sorry!". I hugged him tightly "You wouldn't have known. I didn't know!" I laughed sadly, failing to hide my own pain.

Helena's angelic voice reappeared "Ryan are you ok?". I looked at her concerned face. I gave her a small smile "I feel a lot better now I guess". She laughed, it was the most amazing sound I had ever heard. She gently reached across me and planted a short, chaste kiss on my cheek. Was anyone else getting a bit hot in here? She bit her lip as her eyes twinkled in the light. Three short bangs on the door and then the breakfast bell blared throughout the room.

My stomach grumbled. "Well, I guess I could use something to eat.".

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18/8/22