Chapter 7
Disclaimer: Please see first chapter…
AN: First off, I'd just like to apologize profusely for not updating for so long! I know I promised twice a week updates but I ran for the Uni elections (I got it too) and campaigning took over a week and now I finally have holidays and time to write again. Thank you for sticking with the story!
And of course, as always THANK YOU SO MUCH to all those of you who review!!!!!! You are absolutely amazing!!!!Addicted1 mentioned they'd like to see Kayla again and I figured it would be a nice little chapter. More Alex in the comming chapters so don't worry;) The next will be a big one (update on Tuesday) so sit tight:)! ENJOY! -x-
Addison walked fast down the halls, away from the locker rooms a flush still colouring her cheeks. Her heart was pounding fast and she could still feel the echo of Alex's kisses on her neck. With the claustrophobia from the locker room fast fading the further she got away from it, Addison suddenly found herself regretting having left so suddenly. She could feel a rush surging through her body, one she had not felt in a long time and immediately knew the only person responsible for getting her so hot and bothered and the only one who could make it go away, was Alex. Thinking these thoughts, feeling like this, made Addison more positive that maybe, just maybe her life could go back to normal, whatever that meant. Ever since moving to Seattle, the concept of 'normal' was something she was finding harder and harder to define.
Addison was suddenly ripped out of her reverie when she felt bile threatening to rise in her throat and her vision blurred in and out of focus for a few seconds as dizziness controlled her. She steadied herself for a moment against the wall and swallowed hard. Was the overexcitement of the past fifteen minutes getting to her? Addison wasn't sure, but as soon as the feelings had come, they vanished and Addison walked on, just a little less energized.
- - - - - -
She took the elevator up to the NICU and walked brusquely towards her office, eager to avoid anyone that might need her. She needed some hard thinking time alone and her office was her only sanctuary in the midst of the madness that was Seattle Grace. That was the only thought running through her head, that was until she saw the girl from this morning- Kayla. A part of Addison was screaming for her to ignore her, not to go over, because it knew too well the emotional beating that would result from it. Another instinct, which despite her better judgment prevailed- was to go over and talk to her, she looked so lost.
Her feet were beyond her control and doing the walking for her and before she knew it she found herself sitting down next to the girl.
'Where's your dad?' Addison said the first thing that seemed natural.
'He's filling out some papers.' Kayla responded flatly.
A pathetic 'oh,' was all Addison could manage. An awkward silence filled the gap between the two, and Addison was fast regretting her impulse decision to come over, not being able to act like an adult and take charge of the situation. Her PhD did surprisingly little to aid her in situations like these.
'Thank you.' Kayla suddenly spoke feebly.
'For what?' Addison looked at the girl, unable to think of a reason why she would be thanking her after she outright abandoned her before.
'For earlier.' She must have been referring to the exams.
'I was just doing my job.' Addison regretted her choice of words when she saw Kayla flinch. The last thing she needed right now was to be seen as just another patient.
'What you did, it was the right decision to make.' Addison said, hoping to offer some sort of comfort, though she knew there was precious little anyone could do or say to make her feel better right now.
'Really?' Her voice was riddled with pain and disbelief, 'cause it doesn't feel that way. Now all my dad wants to know is who it was. Once I tell him, the police will be involved. Everyone at school will know and I bet half of them won't even believe me. I'm just gonna be pegged for another girl screaming for attention. I just don't want to be that girl who got, who got...' Kayla trailed off unable to continue.
Addison felt herself taken aback by her perception, her awareness of the situation and couldn't help but be filled with such strong admiration at how strong this girl was, despite her young age. Forced to grow up too fast. Addison sighed, feeling Kayla's pain.
Beside her Addison saw Kayla's face tight, willing the tears to stay in. She felt her chest constrict harder and harder until it was unbearable. She knew. She knew exactly what Kayla was feeling because coming from her upper-class background, being that girl was an unacceptable blotch on the perfect family history, a blow to the family honour from which it would not be possible to recover. It was one of the reasons why Addison had never found herself where Kayla was now. Addison didn't know even if things hadn't been like that if she would have done anything different- she just didn't know.
'A friend of mine- the same thing happened to her.' Addison didn't know why, but she felt the need to open up, to try to offer some comfort and continued. 'She didn't say anything and she spent the rest of her life trying to forget, you know? It will be hard now, but trust me when I say this, this is the hardest part, the first hurdle- and you seem strong, stronger than she ever was. I have a feeling you will make it through this.' Addison struggled to keep the pain from seeping into her voice but at the same time, finally speaking about it was strangely cathartic.
A minute of sitting in silence she felt a small hand cover her own. She looked down in surprise to find that it was Kayla's.
'It was you wasn't it?' Her voice was soft, barely a whisper.
Addison immediately felt a surge of adrenaline shoot quickly through her body, caught off guard, her cover blown. She felt the need to lie, to deny, but somehow it didn't seem like an option and she wasn't sure she even wanted to.
'Yeah, yeah it was.' Addison admitted, feeling a huge weight suddenly lift off her shoulders as she enveloped the young girl's hand in hers and they sat there for what seemed like hours offering silent comfort to each other.
AN: Rave, rant and REVIEW! Hope you all enjoyed it! Till the next chapter…
