Page 158 of On The Edge
Yanking open the bedroom door, I snap, “What are you all still doing here?! I told you to get out!”
“Not happening, Sync,” Kai quips with a shrug, sitting back on the couch with his feet up on a box. They’ve set up the TV and I see all my dead electronics are on chargers. Adam turns from the kitchen quickly to look at me, his hands pressing flat onto thesmall kitchen island. Reis stands straighter, turning quickly at the sound of my voice from where he stands at the window. My hands twist at my sides as my gaze locks onto Markus, standing at the kitchen island with three bags of groceries and a sheepish look on his face. “We talked about it, and we’re not leaving you. You think we abandoned you? We’re going to prove that we didn’t. And that starts now.”
“We aren’t leaving, not until we’re ripped from you,” Reis adds, coming to stand in front of me with his arms still crossed.
“You’re not going to give up, are you?” I tip my head up to glare at him.
“Nope. Not even for a moment. You’re it for us, baby. Always have been, always will be.” He smiles at me, a soft-eyed smirk that promises trouble and I narrow my eyes at him in return.
“You’ve said that before,” I say darkly, letting the gravel and glass thread through my voice.
“Ouch,” Kai gruffs, his head falling against the back of the couch like I’d shot him.
“It’s true, though,” Markus mutters, shaking off the pain of my words and pulling the food out of bags. “I got some stuff, not a lot, but enough to get us through today.” He pulls out some bread, stuff to make sandwiches, a plethora of energy drinks and water.
“You’re not staying here.” I cross my arms and my stomach growls loud enough that the whole room turns to face me. They all have stupid confident smirks on their faces now.
“We are,” Adam argues, crossing his arms over his chest and using his tongue to twist his lip ring. “You need help, and we’re the ones that are going to help you. Us, Echo. So come on,” he waves me over, “you can rage and push us away, you can be pissed off and sad at the same time, but we’re going to show you that you're ours. Fully. Totally. Forever. And we take care of what’s ours.”
I stay rooted where I am, intent to keep them all at arms length, but Kai just chuckles, standing up from the couch and looking at me with that infuriatingly attractive smirk on his face. “You better listen, Sync. We won’t stop saying it until you believe it, heart and soul,” he mutters soft enough for my ears, but strong enough that I feel his words in my chest. “We decided that you’re not to be alone. At least, not until you’re okay to stand on your feet.”
“Oh” I cross my arms in annoyance, cocking my head to the side and daring him to fucking say that again. “You’ve decided for me now. Huh. How galant. How kind. How fucking considerate.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Markus steps towards me. “That’s not what he meant.”
“No, that’s exactly what I fucking meant. Don’t speak for me.” Kai looks unashamed, staring right at me.
“You’re speaking forus,” Markus says pointedly.
“Touche,” Kai says with a nod. “But it’s true, baby. We’re not leaving you. Ever again. That starts now.”
“I’m going to throttle you all, starting with you.” I point angrily at Kai and shuffle over to the bathroom, but I stumble.
“Woah, Reverb,” Reis says quickly, stepping towards me and catching me before I hit the floor. “You haven’t been eating, have you? You’re tiny, baby.”
“I’ve been busy.”
His eyes rake over my body and I’m suddenly very aware of how gross I must look. My skin feels slick from days of oils that should’ve been washed off. Running my hand over my hair quickly, I wince from how gross it feels. It’s matted from sleeping so hard and so long without brushing it. I don’t even want to think about how disgusting I smell.
“Can I help you shower?” Reis asks me softly. “I promise, I won’t look or try anything, but you can barely stand up for longer than a few minutes.”
“I’ve got it,” I snap, but I really don’t think I have it. My mind is set on getting to the bathroom by myself, but my body… my body decides to betray me.
Fucking bitch.
The dark spots enter my vision again and I hold onto the wall, pushing my back to it to try and gather my bearings, but all that does is make it worse. I’m going to fall, I know it and there’s nothing I can do.
Reis' arms come around my sides, holding me up and against him.
“Please, Melody. Let us help you. You know we’re going to regardless of your answer. But we might not feel like such massive assholes if you give us permission.”
“Don’t lie,” I say weakly as I swallow, “You’re going to feel like that no matter what I say. And you deserve it.”
“We do. I do,” he admits softly, and I can hear the hurt in his voice. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you cleaned up.” His strong arms come around my waist and I lean into him, somewhat consciously, somewhat unconsciously. It just feels so good to be back in his arms again.
“Just to help. And you’re not looking.”
“Scouts honor,” Reis chuckles. “Adam, a hand?”
