CHAPTER 9
Kya stayed in the hospital for two more days. Kya's mother and Jhon had agreed that Jhon could drive her home.
Jhon glanced over at the small body in the seat next to him. Kya was curled in a ball, the sleeve of her big bulky sweatshirt covering her face. Jhon sighed and turned back to his driving. He pulled into Kya's driveway just as Ms. Williams, Kya's mom, came out on the porch. Jhon got out, closed the door of his Mercedes, and walked around to the passenger side. He opened Kya's door and reached in, gently pulling Kya out. Kya reached out quickly, clasping her arms around Jhon's neck, burrowing her head into his chest. Jhon held her tight and together they walked towards her mother.
At the door Jhon reached up and unclasped her hands, handing Kya over to her mother. Kya's mother smile tearfully at Jhon.
"I'll come back and see how she's doing tomorrow," Jhon said quietly. The door in front of him closed, leaving Jhon alone on the porch.
Jhon got back in his Mercedes and drove to the recording studio. Everyone was already there, waiting for him. They glanced up from what they were doing as Jhon walked into the room.
"How's she doing?" JC asked, softly.
Jhon shook his head. "Not very good. I wish I could help her, but she won't talk to me," he said, sadly.
"Give her time," Mikah said, putting his hand on Jhon's shoulder.
Jhon nodded and smiled weakly. "Ready to start recording?" he asked.
Jhon threw himself into the music, his emotion flowing into the notes, giving them life. The producers and the other guys had tears in their eyes as Jhon brought to life his solo about a heartbroken man singing to his deceased love. It was the best he had ever sung. And it was the worst he had ever felt in his life.
Kya lay alone in her darkened bedroom. She curled up into a fetal position. She glanced around her surroundings. She was so very tired. She wanted to sleep but couldn't bear the dreams that came with the rest. The dreams of her unborn child terrified her. In the dreams her child called out to her, holding out his small chubby arms, his mouth open in a childlike wail. Kya would run towards him but he was always just out of reach.
Kyas queezed her eyes shut quickly trying to rid her head of the images. Kya's mother walked by her closed door. Kya desperately wanted someone to hold. But no one understood how she was feeling. The pain she was going through. Kya rested her hand on her lower stomach. She felt so empty. So alone.
"Hey Ms. Williams," Jhon said the next afternoon as he showed up at Kya's door. "How's Kya doing?"
Ms. Williams sighed, "Same as yesterday. She really needs a friend now. What are you gonna do?"
"Well, today, I'll hang around here with Kya but later this week I hoped to get her out of the house. Maybe go to the mall or the beach. I don't know. Just anywhere," Jhon said.
"Well, Kya's room is up the stairs, second room on the right. Go ahead and go on up." Ms. Williams said.
Jhon climbed the stairs and opened the second door on the right. He peered into the darkened room. From what he could see in the dim light, Kya's room was decorated in different shades of blue. Jhon smiled. Her room was like her bubbly personality. On various pieces of furniture, stood stuffed animals and numerous picture frames. Jhon walked over to the bed. Kya looked up at him through glazed eyes. In her arms she clutched a tattered teddy bear named Cubby that Jhon had given to her when she was eight.
Jhon pulled Kya up into a sitting position. He got up on the bed beside her, leaning back against the headboard with Kya in his arms. Kya's arms crept up Jhon's chest and around his neck. Her left hand played with his curls as Jhon rocked gently back and forth. They sat in a calm silence for a few minutes.
Kya let go of Jhon's neck and he picked up Cubby.
"You kept him?" Jhon asked, with a smile in his voice.
Kya looked at the bear. "Of course I kept Cubby. He's what got me through all the times I was missing you."
"Remember when I got him for you?" Jhon asked.
Kya smiled. "Yeah. I wanted a different one. I didn't like this bear. But you just had to get him because he had on a big baby blue bow tie. I wanted the bear that was pink."
"But pink is such a girly color," Jhon said in a child voice.
Kya giggled slightly. Jhon and Kya talked a little while longer about their childhood. Jhon was talking about anything and everything to get Kya's mind off of her sorrows, and he was succeeding.
Around 1:00, Kya started to get a little depressed again. Jhon thought maybe it was time to get out of her room.
"Wanna go downstairs, Peanut Butter?" Jhon asked, softly. Kya shook her head no. "Please Peanut Butter? You gotta eat something. You can't starve yourself. Please? For me?" Jhon begged.
"OK," Kya said, giving in. She didn't feel like fighting. Jhon and Kya climbed off the bed and walked down the stairs.
When they got to the kitchen, Jhon pulled out a chair and made Kya sit down. He went to the refridgerator and started pulling out all kinds of food. Kya's mom walked into the kitchen and smiled. Then she left the two young adults alone.
Jhon fixed their lunch. He sat across from Kya at the table and procceeded to make her laugh all through lunch. By the end of lunch Kya wasn't even close to her normal bubbly self, but she was smiling a small genuine smile.
By five, Jhon had to leave for another recording session. He left Kya curled up in a big recliner in front of a large bay window overlooking Kya's enormous backyard.
For the next three days Jhon came over to Kya's. On the first day, Jhon brought over some comedies and they spent the afternoon curled up together on the couch. The second day, Jhon took Kya out briefly for lunch at a same outdoor cafe in Orlando. The third day, Kya was once again, really depressed. Jhon had the day off, so he spent the whole day trying to cheer her up. It wasn't working, but by the time nightfall came, Jhon had an idea.
He left Kya alone on the couch watching cartoons, as Jhon went to ask permission to take Kya out from her mother. Kya's mother agreed. He walked back into the living room.
"Come on, Peanut Butter. Go get dressed." Jhon said, turning the TV off.
"Jhon, I don't want to go anywhere. Just let me stay here. You go. I just want to be alone." she said, burrowing her head into the couch pillow.
Jhon pulled the pillow away. "Nope. You actually don't even have to get dressed. Just come with me." he said. Jhon pulled Kya off the couch. She didn't want to go...but she did. She was thankful for having her best friend's support through the week. The pain was starting to subside. And that was mostly thanks to Jhon.
Jhon and Kya got into Jhon's Mercedes and pulled out of the driveway. Jhon drove and drove until finally, they pulled up to a beachside carnival.
Jhon grinned. He helped Kya out of the car and the two walked hand in hand to the entrance. Kya had so much fun. Jhon wouldn't let Kya stop long enough to even think about the events in her life. He was so like a little kid, pulling Kya along to another attraction as soon as they finished one.
The two sat together in the top of the Ferris Wheel. They were paused at the top, looking out over the vast expanse of sea water.
Kya sighed. "Thank you so much for everything you've done, Jhon. You're like my guardian angel or something, and I know as long as I have you around I'll be safe. At least I know someone in this world cares for me, no questions asked."
Jhon looked at Kya. His intense blue eyes filled with so much warmth, they seemed to enwrap Kya in a soft blanket of love and security. Kya smiled. Jhon was such a good friend to her.
Jhon continued to stare at Kya even after the wheel had started to move and Kya had looked elsewhere. If only he could tell her just how much he cared for her. How he thought of her every waking moment. How he wished he could take all her pain away and how if he ever saw Blake again, he was going to kill him. But Jhon knew that at the moment what Kya truly needed was a best friend. And Jhon was going to do everything in his power to give Kya the world.
