Chapter 23 (Braden)


    *Braden’s POV*


    Tara Baker.


    Tara and I had aplicated history. She was the first girl I ever loved. We actually grew up together. I


    used to do anything and everything she wanted. After I confessed my feelings for her, she moved and


    started dating someone else before cutting off all contact with me. I felt so used and betrayed at the


    time, but that was a few years ago. Just when I thought everything was going great, Tara had to


    reappear. I didn''t think too much of it when I introduced Phoenix to her. I just wanted to show her that I


    was doing fine without her. I It was onlyter when Phoenix told me in her room that I realized I''d hurt


    her too. I knew she''d gone quiet, but I never thought it was because of me. Tara made my brain stop


    working once again. When Phoenix asked me to leave, I responded on reflex and hugged her.


    Standing there with my arms wrapped around her waist made my heart jump into my throat. I didn''t


    realize how much I actually cared for Phoenix until now.


    "Phoenix, I''m sorry. I wasn''t thinking in the moment. I wasn''t trying to hurt you," I said sincerely. I really


    hoped that she felt my sincerity.


    "If you have no intention of being more than friends with me, I suggest letting me go," she said. I could


    tell she was still upset, and a simple hug wouldn''t fix this.


    "Well you are my fiancé," I joked to try and lighten the mood. I readjusted my arms around her instead


    of letting go. In reality, I didn''t want to just be friends with Phoenix.


    "In name alone," she replied. I let her go and put my hands on her shoulders to turn her around and


    face me. I could see that she was fighting with her own feelings too. She didn''t want me to know, but it


    was written all over her face as she avoided my eyes.


    "Not entirely true. I don''t know why you make me worry about you so much. I wouldn''t worry so much


    about you if I didn''t care," I tried to convince her. I watched her face carefully. She was conflicted. I


    didn''t want her to think I still had feelings for Tara. I also wanted her to trust my words, but I couldn''t


    force her to. I wanted to put her behind me and protect her from anything and everything. Phoenix


    swayed slightly as her eyes went dull. She doubled over and I caught her before lowering her to the


    floor.


    "Phoenix! Phoenix are you okay?" I asked as I held her gently. She was getting worse. A cold sweat


    broke out on her forehead as her breathing became morebored. I had to do something. I stood with


    every intention to get my dad when I felt Phoenix''s hand weakly grab my arm.


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    "Don''t tell your parents," she breathed before she lost consciousness. I didn''t know what to do. It


    looked like thest time she passed out at school. True it was weird and didn''t make any sense, but


    after a while, she was fine. Maybe this time would be likest time, but I still couldn''t figure out what


    exactly was happening to her. I cradled her in my arms beforeying her on the bed. I ran downstairs


    and grabbed ice packs, a bucket of water and hand towels before going back to her room. I made a


    damp towel before folding it and cing it on her forehead. I also covered her with the nket. All I


    could do was watch and wait.


    After a moment, she disappeared. I thought it would be likest time where she only went transparent


    for a moment, but this was different. She fully disappeared into thin air. My eyes widened as I stared at


    the empty bed. There was evidence that she''d actually been there. The damp cloth was now on the


    pillow and the covers were there too. I moved the cloth and pulled the covers down. I stared at the bed


    and waited as my leg shook from anxiety. I was nervous and worried. Where could she have


    disappeared to? It was about five minutes before her body returned to the position it was in before she


    disappeared. And just likest time, she appeared again out of thin air. She was still unconscious


    though. I had a sneaking suspicion that whatever was happening to her is what caused her bruises. I


    hesitated before I lifted her sundress to expose her stomach. It was worse than the first two times she


    had them. It looked like someone coated her stomach in purple and ck paint. A few of her ribs even


    looked out of ce. I sighed and balled my fists.


    She needed to go to the hospital, but whatever was happening to her, she didn''t want any questions


    being asked. Plus, I had no way to exin what was happening either. What would I even say? She


    disappeared into thin air then just came back like this? I put her dress back in its ce before lifting her


    shoulders gently to get an ice pack behind her back. Afterying her down, I put the other pack on her


    stomach and ced the coldpress on her head. Why was she always making me worry? I pulled


    the nket over her before pulling up a chair and sitting by her side. All I could do was wait.


    Hours passed. She still wasn''t waking up. At the very least, she was still breathing, but even that was


    ragged. I couldn''t wait any longer. I got up and went downstairs to find my dad. I know she didn''t want


    anyone to ask any questions, but I couldn''t just let her be in the state she was in. It had me worried to


    death.