Dove's eyes fluttered, but the weight of exhaustion seemed too much to bear. She shifted slightly on her pillow, blinking at Dae as she muttered, "I'm sleepy, but I can't seem to fall asleep." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as if the quiet of the room made it easier to let her guard down.
Dae, who had been sitting nearby, didn't hesitate. He leaned in a little closer, his gaze softening as he reached out, gently caressing her cheek. His fingers brushed away a few strands of hair that had fallen across her face. He could feel her warmth and the slight tension in her features, the way she was trying to fight the drowsiness.
"You don't have to force yourself to sleep," he whispered, his voice calming, almost like a lullaby. "Just relax and rest. You deserve it."
He lightly massaged her scalp, the gentle pressure easing the tension in her head. Dove sighed, the sensation making her feel a little more at ease, like she could finally let go.
Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, and soon enough, her parents arrived. As Dove lay in her hospital bed, her fingers absentmindedly traced the pattern on the blanket. She had barely processed the fact that her parents had finally arrived before they sat her down for a serious talk. They had spoken in hushed voices, full of concern, full of apologies-things she hadn't really known how to react to.
But now, the conversation had taken a sharp turn.
Her mother's voice was calm but firm. "We've been discussing it, and we think it's best if you switch schools."
Dove blinked. Then, her brain caught up.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait-HOLD UP." She shot up from her reclined position, wincing slightly but too caught up in the moment to care. "Switch schools? Just like that? Are you serious?"
Her dad sighed. "Sweetheart, you got hurt. You've been dealing with so much. We don't want you in an environment where you're constantly looking over your shoulder."
Her mom nodded. "We think a fresh start might be good for you. A place where you don't have to deal with people who want to tear you down."
Dove let out a sharp laugh, more out of disbelief than humour. "Look, I get it. There are people here that I absolutely can't stand, but that doesn't mean I want to leave. For the first time in my life, I actually have good friends."
Her parents exchanged glances, clearly surprised.
Dove ran a hand through her hair, exhaling. "KISS is my fresh start. I know it doesn't look like it right now, but it is. I fought so hard to be here, and I don't want to throw that away just because things got hard."
Her mother frowned, hesitant. "But, Dove-"
"No." Her voice was steady now. "I know you guys think you're protecting me, but if you take me away from my friends, it won't fix anything. It'll just make me feel even worse."
There was a beat of silence.
Her dad sighed again, rubbing his temple. "We just want you to be safe."
Dove softened, her voice quieter now. "I know. But being safe and being okay aren't the same thing."
Her mom pursed her lips but didn't argue right away. Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to understand.
The silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Dove could see her mom's lips pressed together in a tight line, her mind clearly working through a dozen counterarguments. But before she could say anything, her dad let out a deep sigh.
"She's right."
Dove turned to him, surprised. Her mom did, too, shooting him a sharp look, but he held up a hand before she could protest.
"Dove's happiness is above all," he said firmly. "She's our daughter. Of course, she isn't a quitter."
His words settled something deep inside Dove, something that had been shaky and uncertain ever since this conversation started. Her dad got it. He knew who she was-knew that no matter how hard things got, she wasn't someone who just gave up.
Her mother exhaled sharply, clearly torn. "But-"
"We have to trust her." Her father's voice was steady. "She's strong. And she's telling us what she needs."
Dove swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn't expecting to feel this emotional, but hearing her dad stand up for her, to believe in her, made her chest feel tight in the best way.
Her mom still looked reluctant, but the fight in her eyes had dimmed. "I just don't want to see her hurt again."
Dove offered a small smile. "I know, Mom. But I'm not going to let this break me."
Her father squeezed her shoulder gently. "Then that's all that matters."
And just like that, Dove knew she was staying.
Dove's dad turned to her mom, his gaze softer now. "Have you ever heard or saw her this happy?"
Her mom didn't respond right away. She folded her arms, her expression still tense, but she didn't look as certain as before.
"Think about it," her dad continued. "Every time she calls us, she actually tells us about her day. About her friends. About the things she's doing. When was the last time she did that?"
Dove watched as her mom hesitated, her fingers tightening around the hem of her sweater. She didn't need to say anything-they all knew the answer. Before KISS, Dove barely talked about her life at all. Conversations were short, sometimes forced. She never had anything to say because there was nothing she wanted to share.
Her mother sighed, her shoulders sinking slightly.
"She's happy here," her dad said gently. "Even with everything that's happened, even with all the challenges-she's still happier than she was before."
There was another long pause. Dove held her breath, watching as her mom's resistance finally cracked.
Then, finally, her mother let out a slow exhale, closing her eyes for a moment before looking at Dove. "You really want to stay?"
Dove nodded without hesitation. "I do!"
Her mom pressed her lips together, then sighed again, rubbing her temple. "Fine," she murmured. "You win."
Dove's heart leapt in relief. "Wait, really?"
Her mother gave her a pointed look. "I swear, if anything like this happens again-"
"It won't," Dove cut in quickly. "I mean, I can't promise nothing will happen, but I can promise that I'm not going to let it ruin everything for me."
Her mom shook her head, but there was the smallest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "You're so stubborn."
Her dad chuckled, patting Dove's shoulder. "She gets it from you."
Dove grinned. "I like to think it's a family trait."
And just like that, the weight in her chest lifted. She was staying.
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I am back! It's still busy, but I'm having my sports this week, so I will be able to post!
I love this story, but the slow burn is burning a little too much lmao.
I was rereading the chaps, and I just think it's suddenly going a little too slow.
So, expect a little bit of fast forwarding.