[CLOSED] how high can you fly with broken wings?

[tisha noelle gillespie]

Her mom put the mask on her, but she didn't say a word, only looked down into her lap as she played with her hands. Nothing hurt as bad as her back did, even the breathing treatment. She looked up as her dad came in, handing her her book. She took it and flipped to where she'd left off. "When you boys aren't busy, I need to talk to you." He said, and Noelle curled up, propping her head on her hand.

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Sedrick glanced up quietly from picking at the stitches carefully enough not to make them bleed, just to do something with his fingers.
"We're not busy.." He heard Richard say, and felt the nudge in his side. He lifted his head again.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

Noelle was too engrossed in her book to really care what they were talking about anyways.

"So.. I decided that I didn't want you two to feel like we were trying to replace the family you had before. So we're going to keep you two here as guests until you get old enough to move out, unless you don't want to move out. You're more than welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Noelle's mother and I were afraid you two would think we're trying to replace your family, and we're not. We just want to be here for you." He said, looking them over.

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Sedrick looked back down, nodding slowly, felt Richard pat his back. "Alright, thank you."
He could almost hear the smile in his voice, shook his head with the faintest of smirks. But his dark hair hid it.
'They're nothing to you, they aren't family. They are just here. You'll never have a family.' Laughter.
'Your poor little friend getting hurt last night. More revenge to add to your list, hm? At least you didn't have to watch her get raped, too.' Cackling.
He drew in a breath, tensing as his teeth gritted noisily together.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

"But you're always welcome to call yourselves part of our family. You don't have to be blood to be family. And we adore you two." Her mother said. But it wasn't until Sedrick gritted his teeth that Noelle looked up.

"Sedrick?" She asked, pulling the mask from her face to walk slowly over to him. She sat on the arm of the sofa next to him, reaching over to gently play with his hair. She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him gently. "Everything's okay. They're just in your head." She said.

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Richard glanced over at her with a thanks, then back at Sedrick as Noelle got up.

Sedrick swallowed, remaining tense as she hugged him. He closed his eyes, face pained, trying to retain the scream building up. He let out a shaky breath, head pounding. And suddenly there was silence and he leaned forward, gagging as he slumped in relief.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

She bit her lip, looking over at Richard before she gently patted his back. She was afraid this was her fault, that he wouldn't be like this if he hadn't had to see her the way he did. She slowly ran her hand up and down his back, hoping it made him feel a little better. "I'm so sorry.." She breathed. She bit her lip, reaching up to gently play with the ends of his hair.

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Richard was chewing on his lip, watching them quietly before glancin at her parents.
Sedrick huffed, shook his head slowly. "S'okay.." He insisted, leaning back against the couch slowly. He kept close to her, leaning his head back.
He could feel Richard watching over them, wondered what he was thinking.
He knew he was probably mentally fussing over them both.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

"You wanna go swimming? I bet the water's good and cold. You can just flop down on an innertube and float until you're all wrinkly." She suggested, gently running her fingers through his hair before she kissed his forehead. She thought it odd, how much she could relate to this one has her brother, but the other she had the biggest crush on. "And I'm sure your puppy could use the air."

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Sedrick bit his lip. "Sure," He breathed softly, shifting his weight. He opened his eyes and gazed over at his brother, who managed a faint smile in return, reaching over to pat his leg. Sedrick watched him stand, stretching, and sat up as well.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

Noelle walked slowly up the stairs, changing carefully into her bikini. This one was pink instead of grey, but what bothered her most were the bruises on her thighs and hips. She pulled on a thin t-shirt that her dad had given her because he didn't like it, and was relieved it nearly hit her knees.

"I feel like a penguin." She sang, waddling down the stairs slowly.

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Sedrick changed and was waiting downstairs, walked with her outside. Richard was laying in the grass with the little curious puppy stumbling around since it still couldn't hear or see.
He smiled and waved at them, and Sedrick waved back, offering a hand to help Noelle into the pool.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

"Oh my gosh. How cute." She said, bending down to pet the puppy despite how badly it hurt. She hoped Richard couldn't see her, and pulled her shirt off, laying it on a chair. She let Sedrick help her in before she draped herself over a pool noodle, swimming around lazily on her stomach. "Good thing it's about to rain. I forgot sunscreen."

[sedrick fidelis johnson]

Richard smiled up at her.
Sedrick climbed in once she was in, grabbed a noodle and swam lazily after her. He pulled it iver the back of his neck and sprawled on his back so he was floating, let out a content breath. He had always loved the water, found it so peaceful. For now at least.

[tisha noelle gillespie]

Noelle swam around lazily until she finally folded her arms over the noodle, watching Richard for a moment before she closed her eyes. But her eyes weren't closed long before the neighbor boy probably made the worst mistake of his life. "BITCH!" He screamed, and jumped in the pool. Noelle went under, held down by his weight.

The only thing she could think was 'they're gonna kill him' as she tried to breathe, but got nothing but water.