Loving Ashlynn (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 6 - No Hatred (Samson Conrad POV) Pt. 2

A/n: Not Thoroughly Edited. 

Chapter 6 - No Hatred (Samson Conrad POV) Pt.2

"Just make her feel wanted Samson, I – I do not think Faith is holding a grudge against you..." My brother Thaddeus said but he had nothing to worry about, he had not acted like a complete jackass in front of the girl or caused her to go into panic mode. "Honestly, what's the problem?"

How could I begin to explain the truth? I felt like complete shit. End of.

I was ashamed really.

"On the one hand," I started slowly sitting in his room as he waited for Harleigh to come and watch a movie together, "Talia was going back to the dorms regardless of what happened with Fatima..." he looked at me with wide knowing eyes.

"Yeah, but... you cannot avoid her – or make her feel as though we do not want her here-"

My lips twitched, "That is what... I thought... we made this joke, I assumed all this... and in the end even though I treated her like shit, she – she ran into a burning building," I whisper out shaking my head.

"I mean – I close my eyes and I could hear here – we could all hear her screaming and – and that resident adviser was just screaming nonsense, saying she tried to hold Fatima back but she got free and ran inside."

Thaddeus nodded silently, then glances over my shoulder; looking over my shoulder my eyes follow his. Poking his head in, my older brother Brennan pushed the door open, came in with Devin and Taylor behind him. Each just throwing their selves on his sofa against the wall, "I cannot believe your parents are letting Faith move in here," Devin said as she shook her head, "It is going to suck not having you guys on campus-" I ignored her before the conversation even continued.

Still, after two weeks, I was trying to wrap my mind around what Faith did for my sister, but not because it was beyond brave, but because she did it. Maybe it's that she went into the building sure Talia was there, but with no real guarantee. What if Talia had instead called one of our parents to take her back home here? In a split second she just decided and then, she thought to wet them both...

"What's got you so zoned out?" Taylor tapped my shin with her feet, pulling me away from my thoughts. Thaddeus just scoffed, "He was a jackass to Faith and now he's all remorseful-" I whipped my head in his direction with a pointed, shut the hell up, glare.

"Ugh – I'm honestly happy she saved Talia but if I hear one more person singing her praises I'm going to have to get Brennan here to knock them out – I mean it's all around school, and nothing is has happened to take the "Brave Faith," chatter down," Devin scoffed shaking her head, "I mean lets be real now, she ran into a burning building, nothing about that shouts genius," she rolls her eyes and I can feel eyes on me, Taylors.

"Not to mention," Taylor starts, "Not even the firemen went in," I squint my eyes at her, wondering where she and Devin were going with this.

"Well I don't give a damn what anyone is talking about... they can keep on talking, Talia is home. Alive and now Faith is home too, so yeah... who cares?" Thaddeus shrugged picking up the game controllers near his bed and throwing one at Brennan. As he does so, Devin and Taylor laugh, "Home," Devin snorts, "You act like she's going to live here forever now," Devin giggled, "once the can find the princess a single room and Kalenah and Ansel think she's all healed up, I'm sure they'll probably let her move out-"

"Nah – Faith's family, now, once mom gets her hands on you, she never lets you go," Thaddeus says distracted, setting up a game for him and Brennan. I ducked out of the room just as my dad offered to drive Devin and Taylor back to campus.

I hear Thaddeus' advice on repeat in my head.

Just be kind.

Just be kind.

Just be kind.

With that in mind, I offered to reheat Fatima's soup, asking her questions as she took her medicine.

My hand stretched to turn the burner on.

Click. The sound louder in the silence that accompanies the darkness. Click.

I was not expecting the sharp echoing sound of glass crash to the ground, the little pieces tinkering as it all billows out, fly every which way. Unsure I look around to find the cause, easily noting it's right before Fatima. It's from the glass, and then her legs, up her frame that I finally take in her face, mine in shock and worry but Fatima's face is void, her eyes empty filled with... fear. Paying no attention to the pieces around her she takes a step back into the shards of glass, "Fatima, stop! Stop! You're going to hurt yourself!" I cry but her eyes never leave the stove, until she whips around, barefoot, and runs out into the darkness, I start after her but stop right at the door jam. I – I cannot chase after her, what if I only – she already thinks I hate her...

Stepping back, I rush past the stove turning the burner off, and taking the stairs two by two rushing to Thaddeus' bedroom. I flick my glasses up, just for a second before I burst into his room, "You guys have to help me!" I whisper-shout, conflicted about waking my mother, sending her after Faith, "What's wrong?" Harleigh asks her hand over her chest, "It's Fatima, she ran into the forest, and – and she broke a glass but I don't thinks... that's – it doesn't matter you guys go after her," I plead, "I – if I go – it's just not a good idea," I stammer, as they stand Thaddeus already throwing on a sweater, tossing one of his to Harleigh as well.

They're gone and when I head back downstairs, I turn on the lights to clean the broken glass, noting a bloodied foot print, void of glass in the second one.

I scoff, "Be nice," he said, "...just make her feel welcomed," I spit sardonically. Shaking my head, I get the broom and a wet cloth.

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