Helping Tawna

Chapter 2, The Long Road to Recovery

After Pinstripe's hideout was raided and the entire mafia was arrested, Tawna stayed with us for a while.

While me and some of the S.L.E.D. boys were cleaning out the hideout for evidence, I helped Tawna pack her belongings that she had at the hideout, from when she was staying with Pinstripe.

That fight they had really put a mental scar on Tawna, and I wanted to help her get rid of it and move on. The recovery was a long road, and like they say, a long journey begins with the first step.

On the first night Tawna stayed with us, I couldn't sleep. My "bandi-sense" was telling me that something was wrong with Tawna.

I got out of my bed, and quietly walked to the guest bedroom where Tawna was. She was crying when I opened the door.

Her pillows were covered in her tears. I sat down beside her in the bed and tried to comfort her.

Me: Tawna, hey don't cry. We'll get through this.

Tawna: (Sniff)...are you sure?

Me: I'm just as sure as I'll ever be.

Tawna: (sniff)...thank you, Crash.

Tawna then leaned on me, hugged me, and surprisingly, she kissed me right on the cheek. I blushed when she did that.

I then hugged her back and started rubbing her head.

When she finally fell asleep, i fixed the blanket over her, kissed her on the cheek like she did to me, and softly said, "Goodnight Tawna, sleep well."

I slowly closed the door and went back to bed.

The next morning, I decided to invite Coco and Crunch over for breakfeast. I would fix us all a mess of chocolate chip pancakes with syrup and butter. I also threw in some bacon and eggs with it.

Unknown to me, Tawna had woken up while I was still cooking in the kitchen. She walked up to me slowly, put her hands around my torso, and kissed me on the cheek again.

She said, "Good morning sunshine. How's my little soldier doing?"

I replied in a happy tone, "Very good, and you?"

Tawna replied in a very pleasant tone, "I feel amazing for the first time in a long time."

I replied, "That's great to hear, Tawna!"

Tawna looked over at the stove and asked, "So Chef, what's cookin'?"

I then said, "I'm fixing us some Chocolate-chip pancakes with bacon and eggs. And I didn't forget the syrup or butter."

Tawna said, "Awww, isn't that sweet of you."

I then said, "I figured since I was making a huge batch, that I'd invite Coco and Crunch over, if it was alright with you."

Tawna smiled at me and said, "Of course it is, I haven't seen Coco and Crunch in a long time. Oh, but wait, did you tell them I was here?"

I said with a smirk on my face, "Nah, I'm gonna surprise them with you."

Tawna then walked over to me and said, "You're one of the most sweetest people I've ever known."

After I finished cooking everything, I set the food in the oven so that it wouldn't get cold.

I then cleaned off the table, and set it up.

Now switching over to Crunch and Coco.

Crunch: Why'd we gotta come ova to Crash's house anyways?

Coco: He's inviting us to eat breakfeast with him, don't you remember?

Crunch: Wait, there's food involved? WOOHOO?!

Coco: Don't get your hopes up Crunch, you know you're still on a diet.

Crunch: C'mon princess, you gotta have some fun in life.

Coco: Another thing, don't ever call me princess.

Crunch: Yeah sure, princess.

Coco: (Angry Coco noises.)

(The 2 then walk up to the door, ring the door bell, and are surprised to see Tawna answering the door.)

Now switching back to Crash's point of view.

Tawna answered the door when Coco and Crunch arrived. I just finished fixing everyone's plates.

Me: Hey guys, c'mon in.

Coco: Hiya Crash.

Crunch: Hey little bro.

Me: Howdy y'all. Take a seat, we're fixing to say grace and eat.

Everyone sat down at the table. Aku Aku then came floating in.

Aku Aku: Were you all about to say grace?

Me: Yeah.

Tawna: I'm guessing you wanna do it?

Aku Aku: Well, I'll do it. Alright everyone, bow your heads. Dear lord in heaven, we thank you for this food we are about to receive. We also thank you for the many good things you've done for us in the past, and we thank you for the things you'll do for us in the future. Use this food to nurish our bodies for your glory and let us continue to do your work. We pray this in Jesus name, amen.

Everyone: Amen.

Crunch: Alright, bring it on, I'm HUNGRY!

We then started eating, and talking to each other.

After about 30 minutes we finished eating. Everyone had set their plates in the sink so that I could wash it.

Coco and Crunch were about to get up and head back to their apartments when I asked them to sit down.

Me: The reason I'm holding y'all here is because I need to talk about something very important. You know that Tawna has been daitin' Pinstripe for a few years now, right?

Coco and Crunch: Yeah.

Me: Well, yesterday, Tawna and Pinstripe got into a fight and she got beat up really bad. The scars have healed up though. But my point is, this was evidence that Tawna was being abused by Pinstripe. He was beating her up like a punching bag because he had over 15 outstanding warrants, and he was scared that she was gonna find out and say something to the law. Tawna has decided to break up with him, since we raided his hideout last night and arrested him and his thugs. She's gonna be staying with me a while until I can help her get through this.

Crunch: So you's sayin' that you and her gonna start daitin' again?

Me: No Crunch, she's just gonna be under my wing a while until I can help her get through this. Now I wan't y'all to help her and be kind to her as much as possible, if you are able to. Alright?

Coco and Crunch: Alright.

Me: Alright, y'all can leave now.

Coco: Alrighty, bye!

Crunch: Cya' little bro.

Coco and Crunch then left, and I started working on the dishes.

After I finished the dishes, I went to the guest bedroom where Tawna was. I wanted to see if there was anything she wanted to do. I figured if we did something she liked, then it would help her mentally heal-up.

I knocked on the door.

Tawna: Come in.

Me: Hey Tawna.

Tawna: Hey Crash, c'mon in.

Me: Hey Tawna, was there anything you wanted to do today? Anywhere you wanted to go? Something like that?

Tawna: Well, I dunno.

Me: I think that if we go somewhere you like and do something, you might start to get better.

Tawna: What if we go swimming in your pool?

Me: Alright, sounds like a great idea.

I decided to wait on Tawna, as she changed.

While waiting, I heard her crying again.

Me: Tawna? Whats wrong?

Tawna: I feel like I'm ugly.

Me: Your not ugly Tawna. Just because Pinstripe said it doesn't mean you are ugly.

Tawna: You really think I'm not ugly.

Me: I think your one of the prettiest girls I know. Now c'mon out Tawna, time to show you that you have people who care about you and love you.

Tawna: (Breaths in and out.) Alright, if you say so.

Tawna then opened the door.

She asked, "How do I look?"

She was wearing a crimson red two-piece swimsuit with black stripes and orange flames.

I smiled at her and said, "You look gorgeous."

Tawna blushed, and we then walked out to the pool and sat down.

We sat in the sun and just talked. We laughed a lot since we were talking about funny things.

After about 3 hours, I dozed off. I didn't really dream anything, like a normal person would when they doze off.

A little later, I felt someone touching me. It was Tawna, and she looked frantic.

Tawna: Crash, Crash wake up!

Me: Whats wrong Tawna?

Tawna: Pinstripe just drove up.

Me: Really?

Tawna: I'd know his car anywhere.

I got up, walked to the front door, and opened it, only to see that before me was none other than Pinstripe Potoroo.

Me: Pinstripe, what do you wan't?

Pinstripe: Look furball, if you tell me where she is, I'll tell my boys to back off. If ya don't cooperate withs me, then my boys - gonna blast yo *** straight to ****.

Me: There is no cursing in my house, and who's this "she?"

Pinstripe: Dumb***, you know who the h*** I'm talkin' about.

Me: Look Pinstripe, you've got 30 seconds to get off my property, or else I'm gonna call the law to come get you.

Pinstripe: So you wanna play games wimme boy?, Huh? Well, so be it.

Me: Pinstripe, for the love of God, get off of my property. How'd you even get outta jail?

Pinstripe: They made a deal with my lawyer that if he paid them a quater million clams, they'd let me out and forget the whole thing.

Me: Pinstripe, get off my property before I take matters into my own hands, last warning!

Pinstripe: Oh, I'll get off yo' propty alright. But you just wait boy, my thugs gonna get you, and they gonna waste you a** right on the spot, and I will get Tawna back.

Me: YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE TAWNA ALONE! SHE'S PART OF MY FAMILY, AND SHE WANT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU! IF YOU OR YOU'RE STUPID HITMEN COME NEAR ME, TAWNA, OR ANYONE ELSE, YOU'LL REGRET IT THE REST OF YOUR FREAKING LIFE! NOW GET OUT!

Pinstripe: (unintelligible speech)

Pinstripe then got off my front porch, but when he got in his car and drove by my door, he cut the figner (flipped me off).

Tawna walked up and asked, "Is everything alright?"

Me: No Tawna, I'm afraid it ain't. With Pinstripe and his goones outta jail on bond, it look's we've got our selves a major problem.

To be continued.