Bonus Chapter

JAYDEN

My phone keeps buzzing and buzzing through my afternoon class and I don't even pick it up to see who's spamming me with calls. My guess is my sister but I doubt she'd call nine times. Four is her max and if you don't answer, she'll take the hint and stop calling.

As soon as my lecture ends and I've gotten my last test paper from Dr. Abi, I grab my phone and sprint out of the lecture hall.

Whoever it is, is about to get an earful from me. I swipe my phone open, scrolling to me call logs. I got ten calls in total. Five from Celina, four from Malia and one from Claudia.

My first instinct is to call Celina back but the phone immediately lights up with a call and it's her name on the caller ID. I swipe green and press the phone to my ears.

"Jay?" Her voice comes through.

"If this is about Mom then I'm sorry..."

"Jayden she's home."

I stop walking, dead in my tracks. I blink, turning to look behind me for a second and then facing front. "What did you just say?"

"Mom is home."

"What the fuck about our last call gave you the go ahead to get her from the rehab center, uh?" My voice is harsh to her but I don't fucking care. I'm over it. She's such a stubborn brat sometimes I wonder how we're related. I'm sure she gets her stubborness and inability to listen from her father.

"Jayden please..."

"No Celina, tell me! Did I ask you to get her?"

"Listen to me before you start shouting and embarrassing yourself."

"Are you insane? I'm mad at you for doing something stupid and that's how you talk to me?"

"She's our mom, Jayden. She's our mother! I don't get why you dislike her so much and I never will. You haven't gone once to see her and it's so wrong. You know she'd never treat you like that."

"Do you know something? When you grow up and have your precious baby, and your husband hits you or your precious baby... stay with that man. Let him abuse you and that baby for as long as you can. And that child will clap for you and call you the best mother that ever fucking lived."

I hang up on her, shoving my phone down my pocket. Leaning against the wall and ignoring the stares from students, I groan. My eyes are getting all teary and I'm going to cause a scene if I stand here.

Celina is out of her mind.

I finally get myself together and leave the packed hallway after which I get in my car and call Malia back. She tells me that her father wants me over at their place and I don't have the strength in me to argue. I just make a detour and leave the campus.

I'm able to find Richard's residence after an hour. Don't blame me, I only drove there once and it was night time.

The house is exactly like I remembered. Only, it looks a little different since it's day and the sun is still burning brightly outside.

Richard is sitting on a sofa and beckons for me to come closer.

"Jayden," he smiles. "My daughter called you?"

"Yes sir."

"I'll make this brief as possible. She suddenly wants to transfer to Northford and join for the last semester exams."

I tilt my head. "Exams are fast approaching. No university would..."

"I've spoken to the vice chancellor and he agreed."

Alright, with money Richard could move mountains for his children. "That's great... when does she start?"

"As early as tomorrow. Since she doesn't know anybody there, I'm handing her over to you."

A laugh is the first thing that leaves my mouth. "She's... Malia is a grown girl."

Richard nods. "Yes but it won't hurt to know that you're there to show her around for the first few days. It would mean a whole lot to me if you can be with her. That is all. You don't have to do anything else. Just help me pick her up from her dorm and take her to classes for the first week."

"Just be her chauffeur." I mutter sarcastically.

If Richard hears me, he doesn't say a word. "Do you think you can do that for me?"

I shrug. "It's not like I have an option. At this point, I'm indebted to you."

"Thank you so much. Can you write your address so I can find you... incase there's any emergency..."

"Sure, sure." I nod, taking the pen from him and hurriedly writing two addresses. One is my dorm and the second is hockey house. "If you need anything, I'll be either here or here. Although, I'd appreciate if you call me before coming."

"That is not a problem." Richard says, his hand outstretched.

I take it, shaking him. "I'll be on my way." I leave the house, walking to my car but I stop when I see Julian waving at me from the door. He gets to me in no time.

"Hey man." He says. "Why'd you come?"

I raise a brow. "Well, apparently your sister is transferring to my school and your father thinks I'm the best guy to babysit her."

Julian frowns. "That is so weird."

I nod. "I know right? Anyway, I'll be on my way. Sal says you can come one of these days. Anytime you're free." I smile, patting his back.

"Thanks man."

I get in the car and drive off, one destination in mind. The dorm is quiet as I push the door open slowly. I see Aurora on her feet, muttering some words and Claudia's sitted on my bed, watching her.

"Are you fucking out of your mind?" I yell, lunging toward her but she takes a step back. "Aurora, no."

"I'm walking." She smiles brightly.

Fuck. Only God knows how long I've wanted to see that much brightness in her smile. She's happy. I'm happy she's happy but she's got to get back on that bed now.

"You're not walking, you think you're walking."

"Jayden, I am walking. I've been stuck in that bed for hours and I just got up and I walked. It doesn't hurt like a bitch and I feel just fine."

I glance at Claudia.

"Don't look at me. Do you think I didn't try to keep her on the bed?"

"The doctor said..."

"The doctor knows shit about sports medicine. She treats normal people every day. I've treated rink injuries more than that woman and I know... God, I know when I'm fine. And I promise you, I am fine."

My shoulders relax a little and I take few steps to her. "I know you're fine. I'm just... I'm just so scared." I whisper when I get closer to her. She stares into my eyes as I take her hand. "You scared me out of my fucking mind."

She smiles. "Sorry."

"And that's my cue to leave." Claudia shouts, grabbing a purse and hurrying to the door.

"I wanted to tell you something..." I'm saying when she cut me off mid word.

"There's something I..." She pauses, realizing she cut me off.

"You first." I say.

"No. You first."

A sigh escapes my lips. "I got a call from Celina today."

Aurora nods. "It's about your mom, right?"

I'm taken aback. "How do you know that?"