AMDFT Chapter 24 on Stars
AMDFT Chapter 24 on FFn
AMDFT Chapter 24 on AO3
AMDFT Chapter 24 on Wattpad
I noticed some small changes in the apartment.
It seemed warmer, homier. I was pacing the length of the living room. Jake had
texted Masen, explaining that they had picked up Alice and she was beaten up
pretty badly. My fear was that she was raped. “Bella, she’s going to be okay,”
Masen replied, taking me into his arms.
“What a cluster,” I grumbled. “You don’t have
to stay, Masen.”
“I’m not going anywhere, cherie,” he said, taking my face into his hands. “I love you. You’re
my family.”
“Even though my family is fucked up?” I
snorted humorlessly.
“Every family is fucked up,” he smirked,
kissing my nose. I slid my arms around his waist and snuggled into his embrace.
The door opened and my dad struggled to stand. Masen helped him to his feet
while Linda came out from the kitchen, her hands wringing in a towel. Jacob was
helping Alice; whose face was a rainbow of colors.
“Fuck,” I spat, walking over to her and wrapping
my arm around her waist. “Alice? You should be in the hospital.”
“No. No hospital,” she said, her voice
muffled. “I’m okay, Bella.”
“Come on, Ali. Let’s get you cleaned up,” I
sighed.
“I can do it myself,” she muttered. She moved
away stubbornly, but I followed her into the bathroom. She removed her clothes
and I saw some bruises on her back. “Bella, I’m fine.”
“Those black welts on your body indicates
otherwise, Alice,” I argued. I waited on the toilet as Alice showered. She huffed
in the shower. “I know we don’t have the best relationship, Alice, but I’m
concerned. You’re covered in bruises and living in an abandoned building.”
“Dad kicked me out,” Alice said, pulling out a
towel and wrapping it around her body behind the shower curtain. “He kicked me
out because of you, Bella.” She stepped out of the shower and I could see more
bruises on her thighs. “I wasn’t raped, Bella. I was pushed against a railing.”
She held out her arms. “No track marks, either.”
“Will you stop with the wall? You called me, Alice. You asked for help and
you got it. You’d think you’d be a little grateful,” I sighed. “Look, I’m
worried. You were kicked out because of your actions, not living up to the
expectations Dad gave you and stealing from your family. Not mine. I want us to
have a relationship. I know that you’re …”
“Bella, I’m tired. I don’t want to do this
now. I just want some pain killers and to sleep,” Alice grumbled.
“You may have a concussion, Alice,” I argued.
“You shouldn’t sleep.”
“Maybe, in time, we can have a relationship.
For now? I just need to sleep,” Alice said wearily. She walked to me, her grey
eyes appraising me. “Thank you for helping me, Bella. I appreciate it.” She hugged
me awkwardly before ducking out of the bathroom.
I huffed out a breath, tugging on my hair and
glowering at the bathroom door, which was partially open. There was a quiet
knock on the wooden door. “Yeah?”
Linda walked in, giving me a tender smile. “Alice
is in her room.” She sat down at the edge of the tub. “What’s wrong, Bella?”
“Alice still blames me for …”
“She reached out, sweetie,” Linda murmured,
taking my hand. “It’s a step in the right direction. I’m upset that she was
hurt, but she’s here and she’s safe. From what Jacob said, Seth is working with
the police department to find Jasper, but as far as we know, he’s in the wind.”
She pressed a set of keys into my hands. “Go to my apartment. You and Masen can
stay there. I know you want to stay close.”
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