3. Broken

The rest of the day was uneventful for me. As Kat, Alec, and I got off the bus, I was excited about my dinner date with Warren. I had no idea that things weren't going to go as planned.

I waved goodbye to my friends as I walked up the sidewalk to my house to get my things to meet up with Kat at her house later. Everything seemed normal. My father's car wasn't in the driveway, so I had no reason to think he was home.

When I walked through the door, several things happened at once. A strong smell of alcohol met me, along with a vision of my angered father slamming the door shut behind me.

"So, do you care to amend that story you told me last night, Arabella? About there not being a boy here?" he demanded following me up the stairs toward my room.

"There wasn't anyone here, Dad." I said, perhaps too quickly, as we reached the top of the stairs.

"Then," he started grabbing my arm. "Tell me how my tree got hand shaped burns in it near the level of your window."

I looked at my father in terror, knowing he knew the truth.

"There's only one pryokenetic person at your school. And you had his jacket in your room last night."

"Warren Peace." I squeaked as my father's grip on my arm tightened.

"Yes. Warren Peace. The son of one of the worst villains this city has ever seen. What was her doing here, Arabella?"

"We were doing homework, Dad. We're partners in science class. We had a group homework."

My father let go of my arm, rage contorting his face.

"Don't you dare lie to my. What were the two of you doing?"

"Homework. Honestly." I said as I started crying.

"And how long have you been sneaking around with him, Arabella?"

"Yesterday was the first time, Dad."

"You lying slut."

My father backhanded me so hard I toppled backward and tumbled down the stairs. I landed in a crumpled, unconscious heap at the bottom.

"Bella? Bella? Can you hear me?" Kat's anxious voice sounded so far away.

I couldn't move. I couldn't answer. I couldn't open my eyes.

"Bella? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me." Alec's voice sounded just as far away.

I'm trying, Alec. My body won't cooperate.

"You try." Alec's voice said again in the distance.

"Arabella? Please, wake up."

My whole existence screeched to a halt, before propelling forward at a million miles an second.

"Warren." I gasped as I unglued my eyes.

Everything was blurry as I blinked trying to focus. I couldn't feel my body, but I didn't need to. He was here, wherever here was. I couldn't see him clearly but he was here with me. Wasn't he?

"Warren?" I croaked. "Where?" It hurt to talk.

"I'm here, Arabella." One of the blurry figures moved. I tried to focus.

"Can't. See. Good." I struggled out. "Warren. Holding. Hand?"

"I am."

"Can't feel. Where we?"

"The hospital, Bella." Kat said from my other side. I turned in her direction.

"How?"

"Alec and I knew something was wrong when your door slammed shut. I called Warren and Alec called the police. They got there just after you fell down the stairs. They arrested your father. And set the bail, but he's already paid it. The police are protecting you. He won't try to get to you with them outside your door."

"Kat. How hurt?"

"Well, you've got a pretty bad concussion, and a broken arm and leg. Some ribs are cracked, too. But the doctors are optimistic that you'll make a full recovery. The reason you can't feel your body is the medication they've got you on. And your vision will get better as your concussion heals,. You're lucky to be alive. If you had been a citizen, you would have died. My poor, Bella. I'm sorry we couldn't have helped you sooner." Kat said with her voice thickening with tears.

"Bella, Kat and I have to go. But, we'll come see you tomorrow. We love you." Alec said kissing my forehead. Kat did the same.

"Love you." Kat said as they left.

"Warren?" I asked turning back to his blur.

"Yeah, Arabella?" he asked. I detected a note of sadness in his voice.

"Stay?"

"Yeah, Arabella. I'm gonna stay with you. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why did he do this to you?"

"You. From yesterday. He knew. Warren?"

"Yeah?" he asked sounding a little alarmed.

"Love you." I said slowly and sleepily. "Always have."

I fell asleep leaving Warren in the quiet of my hospital room.

"I love you. Always have." Warren whispered as he got into a more comfortable position to ride out the night.

A/N: I realize it's been forever since I updated this but my fan base is still increasing. Thank you so much for reading this. You, the fans, are what helped me get over my mile high writers block. Each and every one of you ROCK MY SOCKS OFF! J BTW: I do NOT own Sky High, Disney does. I, however, DO own Kat, Bella, Alec, and the abusive father. Thank you. Keep the reviews coming my lovely fans!

~CloakedAuthor21