Chapter 13: You and I

Author's note: If you disagree with the contents of this chapter, I don't care. Deal with it and do not complain about it. Here we go! This is my all-time favorite chapter, enjoy!!

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This chapter will be told in Holden’s Point of View, not Ariel’s.

Oh, let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France.

“Ahhhh!” I got out of the cab and looked at the house in front of me. “It’s so big!!”

Mom laughed at my reaction, kneeling down and patting me on the head. “Well, go inside and pick out your beds!!”

“Okay!!” I beamed. “Come on Jake, let’s go!” I grabbed Jake by the hand and dragged him inside, him almost tripping because I was running so fast.

“Ah!” Alex rushed behind us, trying to keep up. “Hold up, guys!!”

We wove our way through the house, looking at all the different rooms and getting ourselves acquainted with the layout of the house. We made our way to the bedrooms, where Alex left to go look at the girl’s room.

“Waaaahhhhh!!” Jake marveled at the boy’s room, the bunk beds and computer placed so that the window was in perfect view, giving us a good look at the small playground in the backyard. “Ah, Holden!” Jake grabbed my hand before I had time to check out the room fully. “Let’s go!!” Jake pulled me out the front door and into the backyard, me having to run to keep up.

“Ahahaha, slow down!!” I laughed, and we arrived at the swings, and he let go of my hand and jumped on it. I climbed on to the swing next to his, laughing and noticing how he was so much different than the little boy I met in that hospital all that time ago. “Hey, you know, you’ve changed a lot, Jake.”

“Huh?” He looked over at me, a confused look spreading on his face.

“Well, when we were at the hospital, you were sad.” I looked at the sky, my swing high in the air. “And now you’re happy, which is good!”

His swing skid to a halt, and his head drooped to the ground and his eyes shone with a sense of sadness that was apparent in him as a kid. “I was really, really sad back then. My parents, they died in a car crash. I was in the car with them, and sometimes, when I was asleep, I could see the car crash happen. But I got better, because that’s what doctors are for, right?” He smiled at me, and his eyes showed me that he didn’t quite believe his own words. “C’mon, let’s go inside and check out the rest of the house!”

Let’s get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance.

“Hey,” Jake’s kind voice echoed through the room, making me turnaround from doing my homework to look at him.

“Hey.” I smiled at him, and he sat down on the bed next to me. I put down my homework and laid down on the bed. “Ugh, Algebra.” I groaned. “How am I ever going to get out of High School alive.” This elicited a laugh out of Jake, who laid down next to me, smiling. “What’s up?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged. “What about you? How’s, uh, school, and girls, and, whatever it is normal guys talk about?”

I laughed and sat up again, Jake sitting up with me. “Ah, nah, not much going on in the girl area.” I smiled, and he shot a somewhat concerned look.

“I’m sorry.” He pouted, genuine compassion shining in his eyes.

“Don’t be.” I laughed, nudging him in the chest with my elbow, prompting a laugh from him. “I’m fine. You?”

“Nah.” He smiled. “Not really interested there.” He rested his head on my shoulder, his expression becoming saddened. “Hey, you remember when we were kids and we were in the backyard swinging, and you brought up when I was sad in the hospital, and I told you that the doctors made it better?”

“Yeah,” I responded, running my hand through his hair protectively. PTSD, I thought, A kid that young to have PTSD, to have to go through something like that, it must have been horrible. He must still be haunted by it, I know I would be.

“I lied.” He whispered. “The doctors didn’t make it better. You did.” I looked down at him, shocked, but yet unexplainably happy. “You saved me, Holden.” He leaned forward, bringing his lips to meet mine.

And, for a moment, everything was perfect. I forgot about failing school, the possibility of being out of the house and not having anywhere to go, all of my problems just seemed to vanish while kissing him.

Then he pulled away and I came crashing back down to earth.

“I’m sorry.” He looked scared and worried, and he got up and tried to walk out of the room.

Before he could get to the door, I rushed up and grabbed him by the wrist. “No.” I said, pulling him closer to me. “Don’t be sorry. Ever.” I brought his lips up to meet mine again, and again the euphoria made all of my problems disappear.

“Hey Holden can I borrow…” Alex walked through the door, her eyes widening upon the scene she stumbled into. “Oh… my god!”

Jake’s face went white, and he hid behind me, looking as if he hoped that if he hoped hard enough, he’d disappear. “Uh, hey, Alex, what’s up?” I smiled, my face obviously nervous and embarrassed enough that I didn’t look calm like I hoped I would.

“Oh my god oh my god.” She stuttered, looking even more shocked than she did a couple of seconds ago.

“Wow, Alex, you have such a way with words.” I said, sarcasm thick in my voice.

“Shut up!” She retorted. “Ooooh, how Mom and Bart are going to love this!” She turned around and tried to walk out of the room, but didn’t get too far before I grabbed her and dragged her into the room, Jake locking the door behind us.

“Hey, no, hey!” Alex protested as I sat her down on the bed and wrapped my arms around her to keep her from escaping.

“Alex, under no circumstances are you to tell Mom about this ever, understand?” I stated, hoping she’d agree not to tell them.

“Yeah, sure, whatever, let me go!” She squirmed, and I did as she said. “So how long has this been going on?” She immediately asked, her brown eyes brightening as she thought about Jake and I-her brother and best friend-dating.

“Get out, Alex.” I pointed towards the door, and she left.

Let’s get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” I looked at Jake, his anxious expression worrying me a tad. “We can wait, you know, tell them later, once we’re out of the house or something.” I tried my best to console him, hoping he’d find the courage to come out to my mom and his godfather.

“No, it’s okay, Holden. I’ll be fine” He smiled. “We have to do this, right?”

I planted a small kiss on his nose. “Right.” I smiled and nodded. “Let’s do this, yeah?”

We walked into the living room, Mom and Bart watching a movie together, on separate ends of the couch. “Uh, Mom, Bart?” We walked in from of them, cutting off their view of the movie. “We, uh, we have something to tell you.”

“What is it, sweetie?” Mom smiled at me, and I got even more nervous than before.

“Uh, Jake and I, we’re kinda…” I trailed off for a second, my courage fading away, but knowing that it was too late to back out now. Jake’s hand found mine, our fingers intertwining as shocked looks spread across Mom and Bart’s faces. “We’re dating.”

Bart laughed. “Ahahahaha, wait. You’re serious.” His face quickly switched back to one of surprise and seriousness.

Mom quickly got over the initial shock of our announcement. “Okay, have fun, be safe, now can you get out of the way? I’m trying to watch TV.”

“Uh, well, okay.” I awkwardly slid out of the room, Jake’s hand still in mine, and we made our way to our room.

“So, that went well.” Alex slid behind us, eliciting a slight scream from Jake.

“God, Alex, don’t do that!” I gasped, trying to catch my breath from the miniature heart attack. “Were you… did you listen in!?”

“Of course.” She nodded, acting as if it was an everyday thing.

“Alex, get out.” I pointed to the door, and she left without a complaint.

“So, what are we going to do?” Jake sat down on the bed, his eyes staring at the floor. “I mean, like after school and stuff? We’re so close to grad, and I have no plans after University.”

I sat down next to him, laying my hand on his. “Hey, don’t worry, we’ll get through it.” I kissed him on the cheek, drawing him out of his thoughts. “We always do, right?”

“Right.” He smiled, planting one last kiss on my lips.

From way up there,

You and I,

You and I.

Chapter 12: Keep Breathing (Babies 21 & 22)

Author's note: As usual some sexual themes and language. Also, ignore the crappiness of  some of the pictures, my game was lagging and yeaaahhh. Anyway, this is definitely going to be one of my favorite chapters, and I hope it'll be one of yours, too. Enjoy!

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“Wait… What!?” I gasped, tears of shock and anger threatening to burst through my already shattered barrier.

“Arrested…” The cop reiterated. “For the murder of Brandon Tenser.”

“B-But…” I stuttered out, trying to grasp what was going on around me. “But… why!?”

“Because these people are assholes, that’s why.” Quill walked into the room, looking disheveled, like he hadn’t slept in days. “Sorry, sir, but bail was paid. You can move on, now.”

Quill handed the cop some papers, and the cop left the room without another word, although he looked disappointed that he didn’t get to put someone in handcuffs.

“Quill, wha-what-I-what?” Quill had quickly pulled me into a hug, and I couldn’t quite grasp what had happened. It had happened so quickly, I was unsure if it really had happened. “Why? Why are they… Why me?”

“I’m not the one to explain it to you, Ariel.” Quill sighed, and a black-haired tattooed woman walked in, holding a pile of disorganized papers and four coffees.

“Kat Winters, nice to meet you. I’ll be the one getting your ass out of this mess.” She handed Brooklyn, Quill, and I a coffee, and ordered the kids out of the room. “So, you’re in a bit of a pickle. And when I say a bit, I mean this is a complete disaster. They found your gun at the crime scene.”

“My… gun?” I sputtered out. “I don’t own a..?” Wait, yes I do. I bought one after Gene was killed, put it in a safe and forgot all about it. Until now. “Shit.”

“Apparently, you also have no alibi.” She glared, making me wonder if she actually believed I was innocent. “There’s a couple hour hole in between when Brandon got to Chicago, and when Aperille came to your house. Plenty of time for you to commit the murder and quickly come back, at least that’s what they’re saying.”

“But… why?” I tried to get a word in, which was hard as Kat talked a million miles an hour. “Don’t I need like a… motive or something?”

Kat sighed, like the answer would have been obvious. “The motive is that he’s getting in the way of your sleeping with a bunch of men…”

I was shocked. Brandon has always been there for me during my Challenge, and now they’re saying the Challenge is the reason I killed him?

“And they’re using your attempted suicide as an…” Kat fished through her papers, pulling out a crumpled one with words scribbled upon it. And I’m entrusting my life with this woman? “ ‘excuse to get out of any repercussions caused by this atrocious tragedy’. Or something.”

I turned to Quill and Brooklyn, who had stayed silent during this whole meeting. “So Mom paid bail, yeah? I can go home?” I hoped, I was ready to change out of these horrible clothes and get back to the comfort of my own bed.

“Uh, not exactly…” Quill avoided my gaze, staring down at the ground.

“You’ll be staying in the hospital under supervision. The hospital’s been kind enough to set up a nursery and playroom, and help you continue your challenge, but it won’t be home.” Kat explained, making me feel even worse than before.

“But, hey, we brought’cha  some clothes!” Brooklyn beamed, like that made it all better. “Ya’ won’t hafta wear those rags anymore!” He joked, and I sent a scowl in his direction.

“Give them to me.” I glared at him, and he pulled a bag of clothes from the corner of the room.

“Here ya’ go.” He tossed them towards me, and I walked to the bathroom, Brooklyn, Quill, and Kat leaving the hospital and promising to be back later.

Once I was fully dressed, I came out of the room to check on the children. Alex and Holden were playing with some blocks with a blonde toddler, who I assumed was a patient in the hospital, in a kids play area.

“Mommy!!!” Alex noticed me almost immediately, discarding the blocks and rushing over to hug my legs. Holden continued playing with the blonde little boy, waving at me when I looked over at him, which I returned with a smile.

“Hey, sweetie. You ok?” I smiled, and she beamed.

“Yeah! Howwen and Jake and me are pwaying bwocks!” She pulled me over to where Holden and the blonde boy, I’m assuming Jake, were building structures with blocks.

“Oh, hey.” A hoarse voice echoed through the room, and I turned around to see a red-headed man with deep green eyes smirking in my direction. It looked like he hadn’t slept in a while, with dark rings around his eyes. His eyes made his way to the children, and he looked genuinely surprised to see them. “Jake! Hey buddy!” He gleamed, the tired look disappearing as soon as he laid eyes on him. “How you doing?”

“Fine, Uncle Bart…” Jake said quietly, barely more audible than a whisper.

“Ah, that’s good.” The man, Bart, smiled and patted the child’s head. He looked back at me, as if he was just now noticing that I was in the room. “Oh, hey.” He repeated.

“Yeah, you already said that.” I laughed, a confused look spreading across his face.

“Oh, did I?” He looked like he was thinking for a second, then shrugged. “Ah, don’t remember.” He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck and laughed. “I’m Bart, you?”

“Ariel Spencer.” I smiled and sat down on one of the chairs, and he sat down on the one beside me.

“Nice to meet you, Ariel.” He flashed a grin before reverting to his tired self that I saw just a minute ago. “What’cha in for?” He shot a quick laugh, before dismissing the thought of it being humorous.

“Attempted suicide…” I shrugged, trying to make it seem like no big deal. He looked like he wanted to talk about it, but decided against it. I sent him a silent thanks. “You?”

“Ah, Jake’s parents, uh, died in a car crash recently.” He looked down towards the floor, staring into the distance, as if reliving a memory. A memory he wanted to forget, a memory that haunted him in his sleep. Yeah, I know how you feel. “The doctors diagnosed him with PTSD, which I didn’t even know kids his age could get, so he’s staying here for a while, and I’m gonna be looking after him.”

“I’m sorry.” That seemed to be the only thing I could say. I’m sorry. Not If you need help, I’m here or Things will get better, because I know better. Things may not get better, and that’s just a horrible fact of life.

“Don’t be.” He smiled, and again I saw his fatigue fade away into a bright, bubbly man. “It’ll all turn out fine, I’m sure of it.” He nudged me. Wow, someone seems pretty optimistic. “I’m sure everything will be fine with you, too.”

“I hope so.” I smiled, nudging him back.

And pretty soon we were kissing, making our way to the nearest empty room in the hospital. We were up against the wall, kissing furiously and hungrily. I tugged at the bottom of his shirt, pulling it off and throwing it on the ground somewhere.

“You’re so subtle.” Bart laughed, throwing my shirt off into the distance with his.

“Shut up.” I chuckled, pushing him down onto the bed, pushing his pants off simultaneously.

“You sure?” He asked, rolling on top of me.

“What?” I blinked, a little startled that he would ask.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked again, his lips pausing on my neck, waiting for a response.

“Of course.” I bring his head up, my lips meeting with his. His head made his way back to my neck. His hand on my hips, his lips on my shoulder, I temporarily forgot about the trial, Brandon, Aria, Quill, everything.

“Oh my god…” Aria slammed the door, her wide-eyes staring in shock at my swollen stomach. “You’re… pregnant!?”

“Yeah, it’s called a Baby Challenge, I figured you’d know about it, since you slept with my brother for one.” I rolled my eyes and sighed. “What’re you doing here?”

“I came to check in on you, but it seems you’re doing just fine on your own.” She crossed her arms and shot me a glare. “So, who’s the unlucky man that you used for your own selfish needs?”

“Oh, that is so not fair, Aria!” I groaned. “How many men have you slept with and then left at the side of the road? Too many to count, yeah?”

“So, tell me, Ariel.” She leaned forward and whispered. “What are you doing, playing chess? Are we all just pawns to you? Using us until you can throw us away at the first possible chance? Like you did with Brandon?”

It was like glass shattering, the realization of Aria thinking that I was guilty. “Get out.” I pointed towards the door. “Leave, and don’t come back.”

She hesitated a moment. “Your trial starts tomorrow, and you’re gonna need a goddamn miracle to get through it alive.” She left, slamming the door behind her.

Weeks went by and the trial heated up, they brought up every point possible; the gun, the lack of an alibi, and the fact that this was the fourth death I was involved in, although that was quickly dismissed by the judge for not being relevant in this specific crime.

The jury was sent to decide on a ruling after everything was explained, in way too much detail for me to understand. A couple days later, they came back, ready to deliver the verdict.

“We, the jury,” A woman stood up and said, holding a piece of paper. “Find Ariel Spencer—”

“Stop!” The doors flew open, and a man was fighting being restrained by the police. “Stop it, I did it, not her!”

I turned around to see a blue-haired man with glasses and freckles. A blue haired man that I knew. “Oh my god, Larn!?”

The judge looked at me, him, then back at me. “Ma’am, do you know this man?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s, uh, Larn…” I stared in shock as the policemen let go of Larn and he made his way to the judge’s podium.

“I did it, sir. I killed Brandon Tenser, not Ariel. She is innocent.” Larn stood in front of the judge, who seemed convinced.

“Alright, we’ll hold off on the verdict for now. Take these two—” He pointed at Larn and I “—to the back room and question them. Depending on how it goes, we’ll apply the verdict to Larn, or Ariel.”

They took us to an empty room and questioned us for a lengthy amount of time, questioning us on all the different details of the trial. Eventually, they decided that I was free to go.

“So, uh…” Aperille greeted me outside of the courthouse. “You’re okay? They decided you were innocent?”

“Yeah…” I continued to walk, not really wanting to talk to anyone. “I’m gonna get going, I’m tired and I need to get ready for leaving the hospital…”

“Alright, see ya.” She sighed, and I got a taxi and made my way to the hospital.

A couple days later, I gave birth to Bart’s children, twin girls Merida and Rapunzel.

“Ariel!” I heard yelling and running through the halls, and Bart ran into my room while I was packing, almost tripping. “They released Jake! They said he’s gotten better, that he no longer shows any symptoms of…. What are you doing?” He eyed the suitcase curiously, before a mix of worry popped into his face, too.

“Packing. I was released, also.” I said matter-of-factly, and Holden, Jake, and Alex all walked into the room, smiling and laughing, before realizing that something bad was happening.

“Well, that’s great.” He smiled. “Where ya going?”

“Monte Vista, Italy.” I zipped up the suitcase. “No better way to run from your problems than to a whole ‘nother country, right?”

“Well, hey.” Bart shrugged, like he was suggesting something. “Jake and I have nowhere to go, really, and he seems attached to Holden and Alex, so, uh, maybe we could stay with you for a while… If you’d have us.”

“Mom! Can they!?” Holden smiled, practically begging.

I thought about it. There’d be more than enough room in the house, and Jake, Holden, and Alex did seem to be pretty good friends. “Uh, I don’t see why not.” I smiled. “There’s plenty of room in the house, so…”

“Great!” Bart smiled. “Guess we’re moving to Italy, then.” The kids squealed in excitement, and Holden and Jake hugged each other.

But why was I so happy that this man that I have known less than a couple months is going to move in with me?