Disclaimer: Noppers
Safe Haven: Chapter Twelve
Chava's POV
Kate and Tali's hair of choice was the one they always pick, the "Selena Gomez messy updo." As I pin the last of my hair up, Kate and Tali are pointing to my plum purple ballet tutu. The same one as always. I shake my head and chuckle predictable. I grab the tutu, disappear to the dressing room, and begin to take off the metal braces. Next, I slip the tutu on along with some nude tights and grab the strapped crutches and wheelchair from the far corner. When I strap myself in, I nudge the wheelchair out of the dressing room and slowly head towards where Kate and Tali are shifting through my dresses that are always up here. (I've got my own little mall. Wink, wink.) I hear Tali squeal and Kate saying that it was the dress.
When I reach the wardrobe, I see a purple (again), ruffled dress that comes to my knees. Right on the rib cage, there is a purple sash that ties into a bow. It is perfect, except for one thing. It is strapless.
"Guys. It is smashing, but what about my scars. Have you forgotten that they are all over my arms and back? I can't show those people that!" I nervously chew on my bottom lip and wiggle my fingers around. A calming hand "lands" on me and I turn around to see Kate smiling softly at me.
"Don't worry baby girl. We got a plan." Tali points to a long sleeve black lace add on that would fit right under the dress. A smile starts tugging at my lips as I hear people climbing up the stairs. Kate and Tali rush and put the add on and dress in a zip-up dress bag. I hobble over to the vanity and look back at Kate and Tali once more. I smile and wave slightly as they disappear.
After turning around and picking up the stereo remote, I turn Colton Dixon's This Is Who I Am on low. My performance piece starts playing and I mentally run through the routine as I unstrap the wrist bounds on the crutches.
Over the music, I hear voices and a door creaking open. Laughter flows into my ears and brings a bigger smile to my face. As I undo the final clasp on the crutches. I hear a collective gasp and I spin around to see Mum's eyes becoming glossy. Tony's eyes have gone wide. A goth lady has a hand over her mouth and Thom E. Gemcity is standing right next to her with his arm wrapped around her. A man with blue eyes almost breaks his styrofoam coffee cup.
Woah. Wait. Thom E. Gemcity!
"You're. You're Mr. Gemcity! I love your books! I have read Deep Six twelve times!" My eyes are wide and my mouth is hanging open in awe. The Gothic lady suddenly becomes familiar when my eyes shift toward her. I begin to stutter wildy.
"A-A-Amy?" My eyes follow down the line of people. "L. J. Tibbs? Tommy? Lisa? McGregor?" Thoughts start racing around in my head.
'I must be going bonkers.' My hands fly up to my head when I see a shiny S.U. scar on my left palm. Slowly pulling them back down, I see all of my other scars along my arms and my legs.
'I didn't put on my jacket or my sweatpants!'
Suddenly, my right hand flies up and back to feel my shoulders. The letters M, H, C, D, and S.U. litter them as a constant reminder of my kidnappings, how I was taken advantage of, and Mr. Millers drunkenness. I bury my head in my hands as my eyes start to silently well up.
'You are not going to cry, Ava! Do you hear me? NO CRYING!'
As the tears go away, I feel a callused hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I see the man with the blue eyes and the coffee cup. He is looking at me kindly and caringly. (Is that a word?)
"What are those, Chava?" He speaks softer than I thought he would. I pull myself together and remind myself about the "mission", so to speak.
"They are not of importance right now. I can assure you that you will find out later. Right now, you need to know who you are protecting and I need to get my jacket and pants."
I politely smile at him, reach behind me to get my crutches, and strap myself into them. Slowly, I pull myself up and shuffle over to the wardrobe. A light orange-y jacket and a pair of thin flannel pants are hanging over my dress bag. I unstrap myself again and struggle to slip my arms into the sleeves of the jacket.
Only then do I realize that someone has been standing behind me. Or someones. A pair of hands with black painted nails hold my crutches while two pairs of bigger hands hold me steady and a fourth small, olive-colored pair helps me with my garments.
No one has ever done this for me. It's stupid, I know. But, I have never had help with putting on clothes when I needed it. More than once I would fall to the ground trying to get pants on and, even though there must have been a loud thump, no one would come to help me. This time I didn't fall. I didn't hit the ground. I am being held steady by two pairs of large helping hands. I am not worrying about my crutches falling because someone is here to hold them. I am being cared for as my mum's hands help my fingers find the ends of the sleeves. I am being helped not by strangers, but by my family. Family in every sense of the word. My mum, my poppi, my grandpa, my aunt, and my uncle. My family.
A.N. Okay I lied. The song will be coming in two chapters, not this one, as you can clearly tell. Next chapter will be Ziva's POV! Finally! I feel like it has been forever since we have seen her feelings! In the next chapter you will find out what more about the protection detail. :D Love the reviews you guys are giving me! Review please! :DDDDD P.S. Sorry this chapter is short. :-/