The seven stepped off the bus, a bedlam of silence and awkward tension. The five didn't know what to say as she basically carried Willow off the bus and up the stairs.
The girl was extremely clingy and quiet as she was whenever she was verbally attacked. Willow seemed to retreat into her mind and leave the world behind. It ate at her because whenever stuff like that happened, Willow needed to be taught not to take it personally. Right now, she felt like a mother and carrying Willow like this was hard with her weight. The girl, though skinny, had to weigh almost ninety pounds. She also possessed long legs and arms for her age. As they stopped at the bottom of the white steps, she turned and adjusted Willow's weight over her hip.
She couldn't help but smile at the looks on the five. Not a one noticed she turned around; too busy gawking at the lavish twenty-five story hotel.
Quietly clearing her throat, the smile slowly dropping as they gave that intense stare, her head jerked to the entrance. A few nodded and she started up the massive amount of steps. Halfway up, she stopped on the rise to catch her breath. Though she knew Willow needed the physical contact, she just couldn't keep up like this. "Hey Will, I need you to get down for a quick second."
"No Epi..." Willow almost pitifully moaned. The small girl's arms tightened around her neck.
She gave a small smile, feeling the others waiting. She forced herself to ignore them as she slowly set the girl down. A small whine of protest came from Willow as she tried to keep from breaking away.
"Come on, I'll give you a piggyback again." She offered, bending down. The girl gave a smile and hopped on, wrapping her arms around as tightly as before. Making sure she had a hold on Willow's knees, gripping each wrist in front of her stomach to be sure, she started off again with a better pace.
The lobby was a little different. As soon as she arrived, she was tempted to put Willow down to keep from getting eyes. In her hesitation and indecision, she stopped and froze when a few of the lobby members gave her disapproving looks. She swallowed, trying to get her eyes to go back to normal size. She could feel the uneasy finger of panic arise. She knew this wasn't okay in the eyes of the rich and she couldn't help but be mortified for what she was doing. She wondered if she should put Willow down and keep her close instead.
A hand on her shoulder startled her from doubtful thoughts as her attention jerked to Ryo. He gave her a curious, wondering look.. Giving a silent shake, as if saying she didn't want to go into it, she slowly led the way to the elevator. They all piled on, Willow still on her back, and she reached a hand out for the eighth floor. It was partially a bad thing to do. The second hands tried to clasp their position again, a large jab of pain nearly made her drop Willow. She grimaced and clenched her jaw to keep from crying out, but felt the attention.
"Does it hurt that bad?" Rowen quietly asked, leaning against the wall. He, Kento, and Cye, were viewing the girl since they entered and watched the emotions. They were kind of confused when she abruptly stopped, and it was Ryo who stepped forward for them and gained her attention. But she just walked off without a word, shoulders stiffer than having to carry her sister. She stared into blue eyes and gave a small nod, looking to the carpet.
It didn't take long for the elevator to zoom up to her floor and they stepped off. The five took in plush crème carpeting and white walls, the well-decorated hallways. There wasn't much to the area, and it was easily distinguished that the rooms must be huge for such small halls. Stopping at the doorway, a small stand and fake plant, proved this was a classy joint. The girls didn't even notice as the door slowly swung open.
What greeted them was even more of an eyesight than the hallway and lobby! They stopped at the end of the linoleum and looked around with wide eyes, shoes nearly falling from weak grasps.
"¿Madre?" She called, stopping in the center indentation of the living room. "Okay Willow, down now." She quietly ordered.
For once, the child obeyed and moved to the expensive couch to curl up. She smiled and nodded, knowing Willow would need a nap after all the activity today. "Why don't you go rest en nos cuarto bebé?" She asked, gently patting Willow's shoulder. With a small nod, the girl rose and trudged into their room and closed the door without a word.
She wondered if she should go and talk to Willow, or at least tuck her in, but decided against it. Willow was a big girl, in body if not in mind. She knew SOME things from life.
She turned to the five, and gave a small smile upon finding the awestruck looks. She never bothered looking around the place the first day they arrived, since she didn't originally want to be here in the first place. Now, she just took her makeshift home for granted.
Brown scanned the living room, kitchen, and balcony area before locking with the five silent bodies. "Quite an eyesore, isn't it?" She smiled when she caught a few 'no duh' looks. Leaving them to look and wander around, she walked into her parent's bedroom, wondering if her mother decided to use the hot tub bath or catch up on sleep. "¿Madre?" She quietly queried, knocking on the door.
She pushed it open, finding it cracked, and stuck her head in. A few pairs of clothes rested on the bed. Her brow furrowed. She marched past the large bedroom and into the connecting bathroom. The tub was unused.
Rowen was one of the first to break away from the group. Kento baby-stepped after him, looking into the quaint little kitchen area with an appraised look. Rowen stopped at the top step and gave an amused glance into the interesting construction layout. The floor was sunk in and all the furniture rested in there. It was almost bowl-shaped the way the stairs were positioned around in rectangle style. The balcony started at the top step and he idly went to it, knowing they were on the eighth floor. With an almost eager, boyish look, he tried not to hurry as he entered the granite balcony and looked way down to the ground below.
With an amused glance to his friend, Sage slowly walked around the steps of the living room and met his friend on the balcony. The view was gorgeous and arms leaned against the granite as he stared. He stole a look to Rowen, finding an enjoyable smile. His lips tipped upward. If Rowen could, he'd lock the French glass doors and keep himself out here until he had to either sleep or eat. Rowen's kanji was air, and though the war was over and nearly forgotten in their minds, you never forgot your element.
As if reading his mind, the atmospheric wind blew the clouds and created shafts of light on Toyama. Sage looked on with a serene face, getting lost in his element.
Seeing the two weren't going to do anything else but stand out there, Kento poking through the kitchen, Cye and Ryo cast each other glances. With a smile, Cye looked to the open door Epiphany had yet to come out of. "Think we should go get her?" He quietly wondered.
Ryo gave a small nod. "Yea...she probably got lost." He kidded, strolling across the top rise with Cye.
The two peeked into the room and their eyes widened again. The place was almost as large as the living room! There was a beautifully carved king bed, extensive desk, armoire and matching dresser, a door-less walk-in closet, and a fireplace taking up part of a wall. Ryo's eyes lit up and he made a beeline for the fireplace, looking over the design and leaned in front of the hearth.
Cye grinned at his friend's behavior. Something for everyone in this huge place. Blue darted to the door and he walked to it, finding the reason for intruding in on someone else's sleeping quarters. "There you are." He kidded.
She turned and gave a small smile from the doorway, but he could see a small tightness around her eyes. She was still in pain. He felt a little worried, but she hadn't said anything that she was in any kind of serious pain... He took a few steps forward. "Are you-?"
The sentence died in his mouth when he caught a good look at the bathroom. It was ENORMOUS! And so beautifully constructed too. White, opaque tile surrounded the walls and floor. They almost reminded him of pearls. Off to one corner stood a shower that could easily fit three people. Next to that was a hot tub bath with a tiled shelf to hold towels and other necessities. On the other wall with a few small windows were a few cupboards to hold everything else.
She had to smile as he took a few awed steps inside and turned around to watch him, hand still on the gold-colored knob. Yes...the master bathroom was VERY nice. But it was her parents' and she had her own to use. She didn't bother coming in here unless she wanted to relax with the hot tub bath.
"Nice isn't it?" She looked around and didn't catch his wide-eyed glance as she wistfully admired the beauty. "I rarely come in here. This's mom and dad's bathroom." With a small shrug, she turned to the doorway and let him bypass her, shutting the door afterward.
She startled upon seeing Ryo, but gave a curious, humorous look at his continuing exploration of the fireplace. "Ryo?" She slowly queried.
His gaze tore away and with an almost sheepish smile stood and walked with Cye out of the main bedroom.
Watching the two leave, she shook her head and decided to drop it. If it were an inane quirk he had, something that had to do with the fireplace, she would know if he wanted to tell. After shutting the bedroom door, she looked for the others and quickly spotted them. Her brow comically rose in wonder. What was up with these five? Kento was sitting in the kitchen, which was acceptable. She knew from week one that he hoarded food like none other. But the others were a small mystery. It seemed that something caught everyone's eye, and she wondered what so interested Rowen and Sage outside.
A small twinge of pain directed her to the reason they were all here and she quietly crossed to the kitchen. Without word, she turned the faucet as cold as it would go and stuck the abused knuckles underneath. Almost immediately, the freezing cold cooled her hand, but also stung as immediate germs washed away.
At the sound of water, the two balcony occupied turned and looked inside. It didn't take a genius to know what she was doing or why. The faucet lever, being just a handle style, was turned all the way. She was still in pain and the injured hand wasn't treated yet.
Ryo looked up from his place in the living room, casually sitting on the top step looking around, and looked to Sage. The two locked eyes. "Sage...can you help Epiphany bandage that?" There was an immediate doubt and trace of stubbornness in that violet eye. It was clear to all that Sage didn't hold the girl in high regard or esteem, but this was something serious.
"Yea buddy." Rowen seriously agreed, leaning back on the tall railing. "You know medicine better than any of us will."
Looking from Ryo to his friend, Sage's eyes narrowed a little in irritation. Of course they were right, and this was one time he didn't like knowing it. He was not one for openly touching people, girls especially. He shied away from the female aspect - with help from his sister - and she was no exception. He never intended on getting to know her at all, since she seemed to not want to know him.
If she made a different attempt in the beginning, maybe he wouldn't feel justified to ignore her. The beginning animosity transferred in the form of resentment as the days progressed. And his pride wouldn't allow him to easily give it up.
But when he spotted her wiping a dishtowel over the injured hand, he quickly crossed the remaining steps he began after Rowen's suggestion and grabbed her uninjured wrist without thinking. Was she stupid? She couldn't do that!
She startled and stared with wide eyes, freezing quicker than a blink at this sudden occurrence. She looked into his eyes and wondered what he'd do now...why he crossed the area so quickly and gripped her wrist like he did. She sure hoped he'd do something...she was too stunned to even MOVE!
Slowly, he let go of her wrist and took the towel. "Don't wipe ANYTHING against broken skin. The last thing you want it so get cotton lodged in between the wound." Sage quietly retorted, turning to the table. "Do you have a first aid kit somewhere?"
She dumbly blinked and stared, feeling nervous, shy, adrenaline, and giddiness. He just TOUCHED her!
Fighting a girlish smile, somehow happy she had his full attention - as curious as it was - she gave a small nod and turned to the sink. After a quick rummage, she grabbed the white case and handed it over. She almost wondered if Sage would grab the handle and touch her hand, but he gripped the bottom of the small box. She almost felt let down for some odd reason. As she sat down and extended the injured appendage, her mind argued against itself.
This was a crush, or the point of liking Sage to a point. She knew that...she had crushes and had the chance of going out on a few rare dates in America before. But she didn't REALLY know why she liked Sage. He was quiet to the point of being mute. She knew he didn't like her, maybe even hated her. But that was acceptable really...
So why was she acting all girlish and giggly whenever she looked into his eyes or when his skin just touched hers? Well the main factor was he was CUTE! Okay, cute was not the pinpointed word to use. That was too watered down. He was handsome to the point of being sinfully so. Her lips pressed together when a thankful jolt of pain through cold gained her attention. She looked to her hand, and bit her lip to keep from smiling.
As soon as Sage sat down and opened the kit, he got down to business. When she sat down and extended her hand, he continued to dab the towel over her wound until it was dry enough to clean. He was glad she rinsed it out first, if not washed it with soap and water. It would do enough for now.
That little bit of cold water she used helped some of the bruising go down a bit, if only for a few minutes of being doused. It showed more of the broken skin. He held her palm in one hand and critically eyed the red scar. She hit that guy pretty hard and he wanted to make sure nothing was lodged inside that would cause infection. As it was, he figured she'd have to answer a few questions to her parents when the time came, so minimizing this was the key. Wherever her parents were...
He was thankful nothing seemed overly bad, in retrospect, and grasped the small alcohol swabs. Tearing the cover off, he unwrapped it well enough with one hand and carefully patted her knuckles, expecting her to jerk her hand away, wince, or say something. He cast a quick peek to see how she was faring. There was no real reaction except for her teeth harshly biting on her lower lip. He wondered if she was in more pain, but there was a thoughtful look in her eyes and he knew that's what kept her from feeling any real pain.
Feeling she would be able to handle more pressure, he gently wiped the cloth across the wound, seeing her eyes flare back to the present. His eyes shot back down before she caught him staring. He didn't want her to know and he was gauging her to see how much pain she could handle.
Setting aside the cloth, he reached over and grabbed the antibiotic ointment, using a generous amount and wrapped one of the large bandages around it as best he could. There were thankfully a couple of knuckle-shaped Band-Aids and he used a finger to trace the pattern, pressing the glue to her skin to keep it from moving and not harassing her injury further. Seeing it was done as best as possible, eyes going over every knuckle and the bruises peeking from under the brown tape, he set her hand on the table and started putting things back in the kit.
As soon as the pressure released, she blinked as if breaking from the self-placed trance. She sat back in the seat and looked at Sage's handiwork, feeling a small smile grace her lips. She expected him to get it done and quick, but he took his time, as if he wanted to make sure everything was okay. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all...
She cast a quick glance, finding his attention almost purposely diverted to his task. That would've been done already, but it looked like he was arranging everything. Boldly keeping eyes on his face, she waited for him to look up...which didn't happen until he rearranged everything a second time.
When Sage finally looked up, a brow rose in expectancy for her staring, wanting a reason why, but she gave that same smile.
When their eyes locked, she felt the words come instead of retreat. She knew it was the different way he handled this situation than what he could've done...basically nothing. She knew he didn't HAVE to clean her wound, but he did...after a little bit of prodding. But he still didn't HAVE to, she WAS capable enough to do so on her own.
"Thank you Sage." She quietly said, brown softening. He was being kind, for probably the first time. She was touched and hoped he wouldn't dismiss this like her apology.
Sage stared for what seemed an eternity, as if searching for something. Violet narrowed when she uttered those words and an immediate brush-off sprang to mind. But instead of saying it, the words died on his lips. She was more sincere than when she apologized for running into him. She almost looked like an entirely different person.
After a minute, he gave a small nod. "You're welcome." He muttered, getting from the chair, kit in his hands. He set it on the table for her to put away - not wanting to rummage through someone else's stuff - and walked to the living room.
Rowen was finally inside and sitting in one of the chairs. Ryo was still on the steps, with Cye almost lounging on the bottom floor. Kento managed to sit in one of the overstuffed, white leather armchairs. He spied the couch unused and lightly rested over an arm, crossing his arms and looking at her.
She gave the five a glance, seeing their eyes looking with that intense gaze - one filled with many questions - and quietly sighed. Her eyes went down to the bandaged hand, slowly flexing it to judge the amount of pain. It went slow due to the bruises, but otherwise she'd be able to use it. That was good...she was happy to know she didn't break or otherwise seriously injure something.
Feeling an explanation and another apology on her lips, she thickly swallowed over a sudden bout of timidity. This was going to delve deeper into her world than she originally intended letting them into. But they deserved to know...
Steeling herself, she slowly stood and put the kit back before standing before them. Leaning against the table, arms subconsciously crossing from so much attention, she took a deep breath. "Have any of you ever heard of Down's Syndrome?" She quietly asked.
Rowen nodded. "I've read about it, but never came into contact with it." The other four just quietly shook their heads, a few casting Rowen a quick glance.
She nodded and gradually moved from the kitchen area into the living room. She stopped on the steps next to Ryo and sat on the top with him, arms wrapping around legs. Her eyes looked to the tips of her knees, wondering where to begin. She didn't want to lecture, mostly since that would take a while. But if they had questions, she'd answer them.
Her lips pursed before pursuing the best introduction. "Down's Syndrome is a disease that occurs before someone's even born. It deals with chromosome separation is all I know." She gave a small shrug. "I read about it when Willow first began experiencing symptoms." A small, sardonic smile appeared, bitter with the fate that dealt her poor sister. "She had trouble walking at first. It took longer than a normal baby. At the time, I was nine. Willow was four." Brown started blazing on low boil. "I helped a lot when she couldn't walk, or seemed to not want to. There was a lot of carrying her around the house, or giving her piggyback rides when she was too heavy to carry."
She seemed to break the mental spell and found the five avidly staring. With a mildly wide-eyed blink a wisp of a smile touched her face, eyes going back to her knees. Her cheeks mildly burned at knowing she had everyone's attention. She felt a little strange telling them this. Sure there was nervousness, as it seemed to be with everything in her life, but she felt like there was the beginnings of a connection.
Her jaw clenched a little. Did she really want that? She was just explaining things to give them enlightenment for her rash behavior. But, she didn't HAVE to...
"She's luckier than most." She muttered, a finger slowly drawing circles on a knee. "She's got the slur due to a malformed jaw...it's mildly slack-jawed. That's why she can't pronounce words correctly. And her attention span is almost level with that of one with Attention Deficit Disorder."
Her lips pressed together, feeling old for some strange reason. She knew taking care of a Down's Syndrome child was tough work. She was tired of having to take so many measures, but couldn't help it due to her extreme bond from taking care of Willow as an infant and the intense love at being her sibling. Willow needed her and she needed Willow.
"Willow was finally diagnosed when she was five and a half. After that, we took steps to make sure she was kept safe. Like keeping an eagle eye on her." She looked up with a half smile, finding a few with knowing smiles on their faces.
Feeling depressed, as she always got whenever she discussed this horrible topic, her chin rested on her knees, eyes absently staring at the carpet. She felt like she was zoning out, disconnecting. It was a blessing, if only to not give into the pain and cry at the unfairness of it all to her and her sister.
"It's hard though...having to watch her whenever mother isn't around. Kevin and I share the responsibility, but still try to teach her in the meantime. She knows Spanish as a first language, and English the next. But some words escape her...and that's where her A.D.D qualities come into play."
Brown closed, words getting softer. She just felt fatigued from it all...from her life, dealing with Willow, dealing with the multitude of schools, the constant traveling, self-placed isolation, the manner of thinking she placed upon herself to keep from being hurt. She was so tired of acting this way...it was the harshness of life bearing down on her. But try as she might, she knew there were times when it was better to stay disconnected and not be hurt, even if her heart bled whenever she saw friendly classmates.
Her eyes slowly opened, glazed in sorrow. Her jaw clenched when her eyes misted over. No, she wouldn't cry over something she couldn't change, especially not over Willow's condition. Lord knows she did enough of it already! Prayed and pleaded with God to make Willow a normal child but her prayers went unanswered.
She realized later on just how foolish prayers were. As soon as Willow was diagnosed, she and her mother went to great lengths to read up on everything entailing the disease. There was a great depression in knowing there was nothing they could do...except count them lucky that the case wasn't as severe as some they read about.
Traveling all over the globe didn't help. Though Willow couldn't hold much information for great lengths of time unless it was repeated, school might've been an asset. If they hadn't moved, Willow could've been able to go to school and increase her knowledge of the outside world and it would've helped! But she would never know. There was only the reading she did to increase Willow's vocabulary, which she did so at only minor reluctance.
There was a big importance in helping her sister in whatever way she could, since Willow mastered many small things in life. Walking, small periods of running, speech, eating, drinking, using the bathroom, even managing to bathe herself. She felt a little useless at times, whenever Willow went off and managed to show the world that she wasn't lost to everyone as she could act.
~*~*~
Night nearly came before the rest of the family arrived home. All was quiet in the large suite and the three Marzellos looked around in wonder at where the rest of their family was. All the lights were off, the only luminescence came from the open balcony and windows in the living room from the remains of the sunset. Each parent gave the other mirrored looks of concern and confusion as Kevin walked past them, loosening the tie around his neck.
"Epiphany?" Consuela quietly asked, slowly walking in. She set the hotel key on the hallway table and stopped at the top step of the living room. "Willow? ¿Están aquí?" Are you here? Silence answered.
Brow furrowing even more, she flipped on the kitchen light on the way to her room, carrying a few bags as she went. A small smile tipped her face as the weight tugged her arms down. It'd been a good day...taken out to lunch and a little bit of shopping as penance for going with her husband and nephew on their trip and waiting a few ungodly long hours.
Walking into his shared room, Kevin opened the knob and swung the door open, nearly startling out of his expensive leather shoes. The hands still fumbling with his tie jerked upward and nearly clocked him in the chin in his shock. Turning, he looked to his uncle in the making his way to their room. "I found them." He quietly called, gaining both adults' attention.
Consuela went around her husband and looked at Kevin. "They're in their room?" Odd that she didn't hear a peep from either. She knew if they were here, Willow would at least make some noise... Or one would come out to greet them.
Kevin nodded. "They're asleep." He gave a small, sardonic smile. "I assume the day wore them out."
Consuela gave a smile, crossing over the living room to peek in. Rarely did she get to see her daughters asleep together, since they went to bed at the same time. Her face contorted with a tender smile, head tilting to one side. "Aw..." She whispered, a hand lightly resting on Kevin's shoulder. "Isn't that adorable?"
One arm was draped over Willow's waist in a protective way. Consuela assumed the elder dropped off after Willow did. Both heads rested on one pillow, bodies lying over the comforters. They must've been really tired to not even pull the sheets back...
"Yea...whatever." Kevin muttered, taking a step into the dark room. The doorway was the only light he had, but he used that to see around and hang up the jacket and tie. He put the shoes next to his others in the armoire and shut the door before looking to the doorway. "Are you making supper, or foregoing?"
Consuela gave a smile. It'd been a very long day for all three of them...her husband off doing his programming, Kevin doing a lot of translating to make it easier on him, while she looked around the grounds and took a walk in the general area. Waiting in the lobby for nearly an hour with a novel she found at a nearby bookstore. She gave a slow nod. It was only a little before eight... "I will. If you would, wake the two in half an hour." She gave another smile. "Let them sleep. I imagine after sightseeing all day, they must be pretty tired from doing all that walking."
Kevin nodded and walked to the bathroom before the door shut. He turned on the light and angled the door so most of the light stayed away from the sleepers. He grabbed a change of night clothes, knowing after dinner was over with he'd go to bed early, before going back to the bathroom.
He couldn't help but feel bitterness over the entire day. He should've gone with Epiphany if she was going out! They went EVERYWHERE together...or close enough to be considered attached to the hip. It wasn't fair! He figured she struck a bargain with one of the five when he was out of earshot and didn't tell him about it.
His brow furrowed as he grabbed the suit clothes off the floor and set them in a small hamper to be washed later. He didn't know why she didn't tell him! He didn't see much of the city either - none of the FUN parts - and wanted to go! He didn't have to translate since the five knew both Japanese and English, but would've been content to look around as she did.
His jaw clenched. It was all behind him now, but he was still angry. It was a helpless anger he couldn't get over, no matter how much he said it was no big deal. They could go tomorrow, if she'd get out of the hotel, and could show him every place she visited. But it wouldn't be the same. The EXPERIENCE was gone and so was the opportunity to get to know the same people as she had.
He nearly slammed the bathroom door in his childish pouting, almost stalking to the bedroom door. Taking deep breaths, he immediately walked to the balcony to kill some time...and calm down.
He knew it was no big deal...that he'd seen more of the city than she did on trips with his uncle to companies. But it was BUSINESS. He only went to help translate so the company wouldn't have to. His was making sure to go over his verbs and adjectives, trying to make sure he didn't say something wrong. In comparison of fun outings with hers, she was ahead by one. He didn't get to have fun when he went with his uncle. It was all about making an impression.
Feeling her half an hour was up, he strode back into the room and graciously let the door be the only light in the room. Though he was peeved at her underhandedness, though probably not intentional, he was still her cousin and loved her. Kneeling on her side of the bed, a hand shook her shoulder, only letting up when her arm moved. "Wake up Epi...'Suela's making dinner."
"Now?" She rasped, slowly rolling over. Willow made a sleepy sound of protest, but didn't wake up. She faced Kevin and blankly looked at him. "What time is it?" She muttered through a yawn, a hand rubbing her face. She winced at the small jab of pain, realizing she used her right hand.
"Should be around eight thirty." Kevin's eyes spotted something and he gripped her hand before she could move it away. A small grunt of pain gained his concern. "What happened?" He queried, looking closer. His brow furrowed in worry at seeing a knuckle bandage covering the middle. "What'd you DO?"
"Epi hit a bad man..." Willow sleepily slurred, rolling over. The girl flipped sides and draped an arm over her stomach, almost falling back asleep. "Kevin?" Willow's head rose a little and looked at him.
Kevin pasted a smile on his face and nodded a hello. "What bad man?" He asked, giving her a knowing, raised brow.
She ignored his look and stared at the darkly shadowed ceiling. "I'll tell you later. I'm sure everyone ELSE will want to know..." Her brow furrowed with a question that popped into her hazed mind. "Where'd MOM go today? She wasn't home around one when I got back."
He grinned. "Phil decided to treat her to lunch if she'd wait until his business deal was over with for the day."
She gave a quiet groan, knowing her father's 'deals' took hours, at best. "Oh man...she would've been better off staying home." But then...if Consuela was home when they got back, it would've been worse than the horribly awkward time she put the five through. Her mother would ask all sorts of questions, about her injury and pestering the five. She wasn't ready for that, and doubted she would EVER be.
They left shortly afterward, eyes thoughtful from absorbing everything about her so far. She decided to be a little more gracious and offered to walk them to the front of the hotel until they headed for a bus stop. She bid them goodbye, mustering a smile as best she could, before going directly back upstairs and to sleep. It was a long, harrowing day, with so many new beginnings and occurrences to keep straight. It seemed the moment her head hit the pillow next to Willow's, she was out.
"Well...your dad bought her a few things to make up for it. So she got something outa the deal." Kevin kidded, slowly standing. Joking with her, like they always did, made him feel like the whole incident never took place, and his anger toward her activity today non-existent. "Go ahead and get Willow up, then come on out." With a small grin, he left the room, mentally adding that she could explain herself during supper.