In Your Time

Chapter 17 (Braden)

*Braden’s POV*

"Why? Where are we going?" She asked as she struggled against me. It was pointless. I was a lot

stronger than her. I brought her to my room and sat her on my bed before going down to the kitchen to Belongs to NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.

grab ice packs for her. It's fine if she didn't want to explain, but her bruises needed attention. I set her

up to ice her stomach and back at the same time before sitting in my computer chair. She was quiet for

a moment as she laid there without complaining.

"Can I hear something?" She asked. I was lost before I noticed her staring at my guitar. I smiled lightly

before picking it up to check if it was in tune.

"As my one and only supporter, I guess it's only fair," I said before I sat back down. I played my guitar

as I sang a song that had recently come out. As I played, I gauged Phoenix's reaction. She smiled and

enjoyed the song like it was her millionth time hearing me sing. She looked comfortable and at peace.

She sat up as I finished.

"You have an incredible voice. I think it'll take you far," she smiled. I put my guitar back with a sigh.

"I don't know. I tried the talent show last year and didn't even place. I think I'll just study medicine like

my dad. At least it's a stable and reliable job for my future," I said, revealing my innermost thoughts.

She stood quickly.

"You can't! You were meant to be a singer. Do you know how many awards you win-" she stopped, and

glanced at me before calming down a hair. "How many awards you could win with a voice as good as

yours?" She said, changing her sentence. I smiled lightly and sat her back down on the bed before

crouching to meet her eye.

"Singing is a pipe dream for me, but it makes me feel better seeing you get so worked up about it.

Thanks," I said honestly. She blushed and averted her eyes as she fiddled with her hands.

"It's just... you're really good, so you shouldn't give up. It'll work out in your favor. I can promise you

that," she said with determination. She said it as if she'd already seen it come to fruition. I touched the

tip of her nose gently before I sat back down. She was adorable.

"You're a girl covered in mystery, you know that? You seem to know a lot, but nothing at all at the same

time. How did you end up in Cali if your parents are in Australia anyway?" I tried. The way she was so

sure about my singing had me curious.

"There was an accident. That's all I remember. I don't remember the how or why, but just that it was an

accident of some kind," she answered vaguely. The more I got to know her the more it didn't make any

sense. Maybe I should try to get to know her better. At some point, the puzzle pieces had to fit.

"Well, we are engaged after all, so I should probably know something about you," I attempted

nonchalantly. She hesitated.

"My favorite color is blue. My favorite food is Chinese. I keep quiet when I can't process a situation or

don't know what to say, but I'm not necessarily shy," she eventually gave in.

"You seem kind of shy to me. At least, at school you do," I noted. She hesitated as she thought to

herself for a moment.

"I just... try to mind my words carefully," she answered cautiously.

"What are you scared of?" I asked, pushing my luck.

"Ruining everything," she said honestly. Her answers only left me even more confused.

"You say that like there's a plan," I pushed.

"My plan is to survive while I have to," she said truthfully. I couldn't make sense of her. Everything she

said was counterintuitive.

"Want to watch a movie?" I asked, changing the subject. I was already pushing too hard. I set up a

movie on the projector before I sat next to her on the bed. I put the ice packs back on her before I

relaxed.

"If you don't ice it, it'll never get better," I said. After a few movies, I felt pressure on my shoulder.

Looking over, Phoenix fell asleep. She was knocked out cold. My door opened and my mom walked in.

She looked ready to say something but I put a finger to my mouth. She saw Phoenix before she

nodded.

"What were y'all up to?" She whispered to me.

"We we're watching movies. She's had a long day so she fell asleep," I whispered back.

"Did anything happen?" My mom asked. I nodded before I sighed.

"She passed out during gym," I answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" My mom said, raising her voice. I shushed her again before I found myself

looking at Phoenix's sleeping figure.

"I didn't want to worry you. She's fine now," I explained. My mom sighed before she smiled lightly.

"Thank you for taking care of her. I know I'm asking a lot from you, but I can't help but to worry about

her," my mom said softly.

I worried about her too.