Age is Just a Number

Chapter 24 - Pic of Drake

Chapter 24

The next few weeks flew by quickly and my life was changing completely. The incident when I got assaulted was long past me now as I focused on the task at hand in a positive matter. My time was short and small to myself and all I did was work, work and work.

Amelia’s new winter collection was coming up and she was promoting her line worldwide which kept her busy. Although when she heard of my news soon after it happened, you could say all hell broke loose. I can remember every bit of it just like it was yesterday...

**

“Oh Ava sweetie!!” Amelia began rushing into my apartment later that evening. “I heard what happened and came as soon as I could.”

She crushed me protectively against her body tightly when she got a hold of me.

“C-Can’t b-breathe...” I choked in her embrace.

“Sorry” she pulled away with clouded eyes. “I can’t believe you got attacked! My little baby sister...”

“Why don’t you both sit down?” Theo suggested when Amelia hugged me again standing up.

Wiping an escaped tear from her eye Amelia replied, “Yes, let’s sit.”

Sitting on the sofa, I looked around the lounge and saw all the people of I love and care about. Theo stood behind the sofa where I sat protectively, Lexi sat opposite quietly, Dennis stood in the open space between the lounge and dining room and Amelia, my loving sister sat beside me with my hands in hers.

“Ava darling, tell me what happened. I need to know from you and how you felt.” Amelia said painfully. “I know... it must be difficult to replay it all but I have to know exactly what happened to be able to sort the situation in a proper manner.”

My face was down looking at our hands held together. The silence in the room followed as she waited for me to tell her what happened.

“Um... I-I... was at my locker...” I started slowly with painful breaths telling Amelia and everyone in the room of my account.

It was hard to repeat in words when the images burned my mind, sickening me. I took my time, pausing when it got too hard to continue but with a gentle squeeze from Amelia and shoulder pat from Theo, I continued all the way. In the end, I couldn’t hold back the tears so I let them cascade down my face not caring that the others could see me. This was what I needed to let it all out and release the emotion and pain I felt inside.

Amelia held me stroking my back soothingly whilst I cried. She hadn’t said anything after I finished but I knew from her facial expression that she was working something out to get through the situation. After my tears finally dried out and no more were left, I pulled away for a deep breath. Lexi, bless her handed me a glass of water which I gulped down to get rid of the sticky saliva and clear my throat.

I looked behind to see Theo with his jaw clenched. Knowing he was taking this calm but inside he must be raging with anger, I took hold of his hand to bring him next to me on the sofa. Coming around, he complied but picked me up and sat down putting me on his lap. I didn’t mind at all and snuggled closer to him as appropriately as I could with the others in the room. He rested his chin on my head as my hand touched his chest feeling his fast heartbeat.

Clearing her throat Amelia said, “Okay so with everything you told me, I can sort the situation out and hopefully it will pass over soon. I’m aware the head teacher has punished the boy am I right?”

I nodded but Theo answered instead, “Yes the head teacher has suspended the boy but I don’t think that’s enough.”

“Hmm...” Amelia thought. “Well I can talk to him and ask to take it further and see to a proper punishment because-“