Arabella Rivera What was she planning? I could see her eyes on the gun, sense the wheels turning in her head. Haiden's sudden presence was like a light bulb in her head that couldn't go off. Whatever she was planning, I only hoped that she wouldn't get hurt. I didn't want to witness her death too. "I forgive you, John. For everything. We can make this work. You don't have to hurt anyone else. " She whispers nearing him. I held my breath looking around the room. I felt helpless and useless that I couldn't stop him. " I didn't mean to touch Gwen Margie. It just happened and I couldn't stop. I wanted to but she kept coming and coming-" He croaks looking down at his wife. His eyes were still so cold and emotionless and I wondered if any of the words that were coming out of his mouth was even true. "Shhh." Mother whispered almost beside him. Her eyes flicker to the gun. "It's all okay now John. I forgive you. We can move past this and leave this place like you wanted. We can start a new life. " "No one will know what you've done. I'll help you cover your tracks. We can make this work." She whispers trying to sound brave but her voice trembles and her hands were shaky as she lifts her hand in surrender. Father gun lowers a little as he fixes his gaze on her. "We can make this work." She repeated, her eyes on the gun cautiously. This was my chance to do something, anything. His guard was down. But then the door suddenly burst open and all heads snap to the entrance. I felt as white as a sheet as soon as my eyes fall into pools of warm brown that soon changes into pools of rage and fury. Father whose gun had been lowered a little quickly aims it at Haiden. " He needs to get out of the picture first." The sound of it going off set my heart on a rollercoaster. Fear gripped me, turning me numb and cold as I screamed out his name. "Haiden!" My lungs were ready to burst as I scream. But the bullet didn't pierce through Haiden's flesh.It pierced through mother's. She had jumped in front of the gun, taking the bullet for Haiden without a second thought. "Margie," Father whispered, his eyes wide with shock at seeing what he had done. The sound of the gun hitting the floor as his fingers loosened ticked me to action as I ran to mother. I kneeled beside her, looking at her in panic. She was gasping, fingers pressing on her wound just under her collarbone. "This is all your fault. Your fault." I heard father's grumbling behind me while I press my hands on mother's wound. It bled profusely. I turn around a little to see him as his emotionless voice sent a chill down my spine. I swallowed heavily when he crouches, his eyes on the fallen gun. This was it. He had finally lost it. He was about to kill me. Kill us all. "Bella!" Haiden yells. But he doesn't come to me, only rushes towards father and gets him in a chokehold that had father's knees buckling. That gave Haiden an opportunity to push him to the floor. Father wrestles, trying to free himself as his fingers grasp Haiden's arm that was wrapped around his neck. His eyes bulge, his movements getting slower and slower as Haiden continues to hold him. The sound of sirens made me feel relieved as it neared. Someone must've called the cops, or maybe it was Haiden. I didn't care who, was just grateful that they were here. Mother looks at her struggling husband before her eyes rolled behind her head. My heart sped as I looked at her in panic. "Mother!" I gasped, bringing my fingers to the pulse on her neck. I am reassured by the faint pulse under the pad of my fingers. I looked at Haiden and noticed father's eyes were now closed and his body seemed to have lost its fight. "Is he dead?" I whispered. I am shocked to not feel any empathy towards the man who was supposed to protect me from monsters. Turns out he was the monster. Haiden looks at me in sympathy while shaking his head. "No just knocked out." I nodded, the sound of the police downstairs making me finally sag my shoulders in relief. Everything would be okay now. We were going to be okay. "I should've come earlier. I'm sorry. " He whispers, his hold around father not loosening even when the quick footsteps came rushing our way. I smiled softly. "What matters is that you're here right now. Thank you." *Two weeks later*I finally had the courage to go to school today. I'm not going to lie and say that I felt confident and strong. It's been two weeks since everything and I still can't seem to find the courage enough to be seen publicly. I hated the pity stares, the sympathy they all sent me. It felt like I was pushed into a huge tank with a never-ending depth. Feeling the pressure of my hand being squeezed made me draw my eyes to Haiden. He smiles reassuringly. "You don't have to go today you know? It's okay to not feel like you can't face them yet." We've been in his truck for more than ten minutes. As soon as I saw the brick school, the urge to go to school today died out quickly. Everyone knew what happened. Everyone knew how truly fucked up my family had been. "I want to," I whispered. And truly I really did. I didn't want to care about what they'd think or how they'd look at me. But I did and that was the only thing rooting me to Haiden's truck seat. "I just need a few more seconds," I breathed out. Why was this so hard? It's not like this was my first day of freshman year. So what if everyone finally knew how fucked up my entire family had been, isn't that what I've wanted in the first place? To not look so perfect in their eyes? Haiden squeezes my hand and brought it to his lips to plant a soft kiss on the back of my hand. "Whatever you want to do, I'll be right here. I'm not leaving your side." Haiden whispers truthfully. I smiled. I could always count on him. _ And he truly meant those words. Haiden gripped my hand firmly, not having any intention of letting go as we walked down the hallway towards my locker. I could feel their stares of pity, of shock at seeing me here after so many days. But Haiden's hand and his mere presence were like an anchor that kept me from curling into a ball and bouncing out of here. "You're a strong person Bella. You're my strong girl." He whispers, his breath tickling my ear. I smiled but then just like that, a frown on my face emerges when Gwen comes into my path. She chews her lips nervously while stopping before me. Haiden's grip on my hand tightens. "Hey, I'm glad to see that you're back." She smiles nervously, looking between Haiden and I. I don't answer her and she giggles in embarrassment.Shifting back and forth on her heels she asked. "So how's your mom doing? Heard she got discharged from the hospital a few days ago." Suddenly I'm angry and frustrated and words I didn't want to say come out. Or maybe I did. "Like you fucking care? It's not like you cared when you were fucking her husband behind her back. Oh, maybe you care now that your sugar daddy is spending his life in prison. No more cheques for the whore." She flinches like the words hurt her. "I-I- "Stay the fuck away from me Gwen. I don't want you in my life and I sure as hell don't want to see your face again." I huffed and pulled Haiden along as we left her gaping behind us. "Have I told you how fucking proud I am of you?" Haiden pulls me into him as he throws an arm over my shoulder. I smiled and looked up at him. "You've mentioned it a few times. You'll have to keep reminding me." He pecks my lips. "I'll remind you every day until we die. Because you'll never get rid of me." I lift a brow, smiling up at him. "Who said I'll ever want to?"