A/N

Here I am again! I'm sorry for updating a week too late, I hope you don't mind. It's actually pretty stupid that I haven't updated last week, because I had this chapter already written for a few weeks. I always write a few chapters ahead, so that, when something happens, I still have some chapters to update. I also got some chapters of the sequel to Quiet After the Storm ready, but in my opinion I need a few more...

I'm afraid I don't think I will be able to update soon again, because I need to write the last two chapters, and I'm not really in the mood right now. Yesterday my grandmother died, so I think you'll understand...

But I still got this chapter, so I won't bother you anymore with my babbling... Here's the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Later, I would be very grateful for everything Astrid's parents had done for me. The Hoffersons were really kind people, I would experience the next days. They had been there for me when I was in my dark place in my mind, and helped me get out of it. They acted like they were my own parents, something I really needed that time.

When I woke up, I was too disoriented to notice that I was in an unknown room, in an unfamiliar bed. A cool cloth was placed on my forehead, and it soothed the pounding.

"Hayden?" a soft voice whispered, and I slowly turned my head towards the sound. I knew that voice, I was sure of it, but my feverish mind wouldn't put a face with the voice.

"Hmmmm?" I was too exhausted to form any words, it seemed.

"What happened?" the voice asked, and I racked my brain, trying to remember. A face came up in my mind, a man's face with a big beard. But because of the fever the face seemed so much more menacing, and once I realized who it was, I whimpered.

"No… Dad, please…" I mumbled, and I felt a small hand caressing mine.

When the voice spoke again, it sounded different. It wasn't just the careful voice anymore, but it also held a tone of sadness in it. "Oh, Hayden. Why does everything have to happen to you?" the voice asked.

Once again, I wanted to remember who it was that was talking, but my body decided it needed more sleep. I became less aware of my surroundings, and soon I was sleeping again.

The next time I awoke, I was more aware of my surroundings, and this time I did see I was somewhere unknown to me. I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, only to realize I didn't have my prosthetic on. The movement caused my head to spin, and waves of warmth and cold came over me repeatedly. I truly felt horrible.

Just then the door opened, and a man entered. He smiled when he saw me sitting up.

"Already wanting to leave?" he asked merrily. I just stared, not knowing who he was, but at the same time recognizing him from something.

The man chuckled before went to put the tray I just now realized he had been holding down. "Do you remember where you are, Hayden?" he asked, and I found myself shaking my head, not understanding why I trusted the stranger.

The man turned and pushed me gently back into the bed before stuffing another pillow behind my back so that I was sitting up slightly. "Comfortable?" he asked, and I nodded. He then took the tray, and put it on my lap. I looked down to see a bowl of delicious looking chicken soup.

"Eat, and I will explain what I know, alright?" the man asked, and as an answer I took the spoon and started to eat.

As soon as the man saw I was eating, he cleared his throat and started talking.

"My name is Evan Hofferson, and yes, I'm Astrid's father," he said when he saw my questioning gaze. "Last night, Astrid was taking the trash to the bin when she saw you. She took you inside, and there we realized that you already were starting to develop a fever. Astrid explained who you were, and we put you in some dry clothes and brought you here to rest."

"Astrid stayed with you for most of the night, and you woke up after a few hours. She tried to talk to you, but you were too feverish to have a decent talk. She managed to get some information though, and me and my wife were unsettled when we heard what it was." I looked up, having finished the soup and feeling very saturated.

"Hayden, I want to ask you something," Evan said, and I felt nervous under his piercing gaze.

"What happened to have your father hit you, Hayden?" he asked.

I froze. What should I answer? If I lied to him, I probably would have to go back, and I actually was afraid of what might happen if I did.

But if I told the truth, my dad probably would have to get help, and that would cause him to lose his job, because this would ruin his image and as a mayor you had to be practically perfect.

"Hayden, I know that he hit you. You mentioned your father, and I can clearly see the bruise," Evan said. I reached up, and knew he was telling the truth when I could feel the soreness of the bruise when I put a little pressure on it.

I still didn't say anything. To be honest, I was ashamed. I was sixteen! I should've been able to stand up against my own father. Not cower like a kid.

To my utter embarrassment, I started to cry. At first it was just silently sniffing, but when Evan embraced me in a comforting manner, the dam burst, and I found myself turned into a giant, impressive snotmachine.

I wasn't just crying because of what my father had done, but also for everything else that had happened. I'd never really given myself the chance to really progress all that had happened, but once I started, I just couldn't seem to stop, even though I really wanted to.

When finally I did stop, I was exhausted, and before I knew it, I was already asleep.

This time I woke up to find myself alone in the room. I immediately noticed I felt a lot better than the last time I was awake, and deemed myself good enough to try to get out of bed.

When I was standing, I felt a little bit lightheaded, but that didn't stop me. Slowly, I walked towards the door, my eyes set on the doorknob. I was already starting to think that maybe I wasn't ready enough, but I've already come this far! I wasn't going to stop now.

I opened the door, just as Astrid appeared on the top of the stairs.

"Hayden!" she said when she saw me. "What are you doing out of bed?" I was going to answer her, but a sudden wave of dizziness stopped me. Astrid, seeing me starting to sway, rushed over to help. Secretly, I was grateful for this, but I wasn't about to show that I was weak.

"You're still sick, and you need lots of rest. It's not going to help if you're running through the house," Astrid scolded, and somehow, she painfully reminded me of my mother.

Once I was laying down in the bed again, Astrid took a chair and sat down next to me.

"Fred wishes you well, by the way. I believe he wanted to come by tomorrow, but I'm not sure... I'll ask him anyway," she said, while she took another pillow to help me sit up.

"Fred?" I asked. Where would she have seen him? It was the weekend, after all.

Astrid looked at me questioningly for a moment, before smacking herself lightly on the head. "Of course, you've been asleep the whole day," she said. "It's monday now," she added when she saw my clueless look.

"Monday? That can't be possible-"

"But it's true. You slept the whole day after my father went to check up on you. I was starting to worry, you know," Astrid said, her voice softening at the last part.

"Sorry," I said, and Astrid smiled.

"It's not your fault," she said. She fiddled with her thumbs, and I knew that something else was bothering her.

"Astrid?" I asked cautiously. Astrid looked up to meet my eyes, and I silently, but kindly, demanded an explanation.

"Ehm," she started, and it was the first time I'd seen Astrid Hofferson not knowing what to say. "My parents just left to see, ehm, to see your dad." I closed my eyes. Now they would really see what a mess everything had become. I knew that they already knew that everthing wasn't as good and dandy as they thought, but still. Now they had real proof.

"Yesterday morning, he - your dad - called, asking if we knew where you were. Well, my father told him you were here, sick, and your dad wanted to pick you up immediately." I didn't know what to think. I was happy that my dad was worried about me and wanted me home, but I wasn't sure if it was the loving father that was worried, or the drunken man I had encountered saturday night.

"My parents told him that you would stay here for a while, and that it would probably be best if he wouldn't come looking for you until they said he could. They said it would be the best for both of you," Astrid said, and she looked at me worriedly, probably waiting for an outburst.

I sighed, and rubbed my closed eyes in frustration. Nothing could go normal around me, it seemed. I was grateful for what Astrid's parents were doing, but I had hoped that I could fix all the mess myself. The less people that knew about everything, the more normal everything would be.

At the same time, I felt as if I was bothering the Hoffersons. I mean, Astrid's parents didn't even know me really good, only my name, and they were already helping me as if I was very close to them.

"Are you okay? You look a bit pale," Astrid said, and she put her hand under my chin to lift my head, so that I was facing her. "Maybe you should lie down a bit, get some more sleep. You certainly need it," she said, and she softly pushed me back onto the bed. I did as she told, and soon I was tucked in again. Astrid smiled, then stood up to leave me alone. She had almost closed the door when she poked her head back in. "Before I forget, I haven't told Fred everything, just that you were ill and that you were staying with me because your father was really busy with his job," she said, then she closed the door, leaving me alone so that I could sleep.

At that moment, I was really grateful to have Astrid as a friend. Why we hadn't became friends earlier remained a mystery to me.

A/N:

Before I forget, I want to thank

-fictionadict24

- Phoenixofmyth

- ArabianDragon

- laloquita

- Angryhenry

- BelieveInYourDreams

for reviewing last chapter, and thanks to those who have followed/favored/read this story so far!

Forever Me