Her Crescent Ascent

Chapter Two

    Derek and I had continued to text throughout the week and finalized plans for our date. We had decided on drinks at The Stage around 9pm next Saturday. I needed to get through my papers this weekend and he was going out of town, so it was perfect. A small part of me wondered about what it would be like bringing him home to my family and introducing him. I cringed at the fact that it would probably be a disaster of mass proportions. The last time I brought someone home it was a nightmare. After what seemed like a million questions about literally everything, they stated that 'they liked him and hoped it was long-term'. They were devastated when they figured out that we had broken up, but not on my behalf.

    I collapsed in bed after finally getting home around 10pm from the library. It was Friday and that meant the girls and I would normally hit Broadway, get extremely drunk, and Gwen would end up calling Callen to fill him in on how I was doing. Gwen had an annoying crush on my eldest brother. But this Friday was different. I was staying home in hopes that I could catch up on sleep and maybe finish the last two papers before Mock trial started. I sat up as my phone lit my dark room and buzzed incessantly. Callen. Again. This time I decided it was best to answer it. Gwen had opened her mouth; I just knew it.

    "What do you want, Callen?" I rolled my eyes and prepared myself for a long conversation.

    "Can't an older brother just call his one and only, precious baby sister without getting met with an attitude?"

    "When you call me at 10pm knowing that I'm not with Gwen and Caroline, that would be a no. So, again, what do you want?" There were a few minutes of eerie silence before I heard my other brothers in the background pressuring Callen about something. "Callen? What's going on?"

    "Kass, you need to come home." There it was. The never ending bullying from them to come home.

    "Callen, for the millionth time, I am not coming home. I thought I made it clear to everyone that I wanted to do something with my life other than get married, have babies, and be a doting housewife."

    "Kassidy, you need to come home. It's not up for debate." He was absolutely serious. Something was wrong, very wrong.

    "Callen, just tell me what's wrong so I can figure out if I actually need to come home or if this is one of your tactics to get me back to Athens." I took a deep breath to steady my mind.

    "Kassidy, something happened to mom and dad. We weren't sure if it was worth telling you since the doctor's weren't even able to tell us what exactly was going on but you need to come home. We all need to sit down and have a very serious conversation about what exactly happens now and where we go from here." His words scared the absolute hell out of me.

    "I'll pack a bag and be there first thing in the morning." I felt my eyes filling with tears as my mind raced with a million and one possibilities that could warrant a serious conversation between my brothers and I.

    "I'll let Preston know that you'll be back. He will want to talk to you too. Please be safe. I love you, Kassidy." He hung up and I shot out of bed. I ran to my bathroom and got into the shower. I wasn't going home smelling like a mess. I quickly washed and conditioned my hair, washed my face, and shaved. Why are you thinking about home? Are we going home? Crescinda was back again. I knew she would be as soon as the conversation with Callen had ended. "Yes, we're going back home, Cres. Something happened."

    I grabbed a suitcase and duffle bag from my closet. This wasn't going to be a short trip judging by the tone of Callen's voice. I quickly packed an assortment of clothes from casual to dressy. I took my black lace gown from my closet and stared at it. I hadn't intended to bring it with me back to school but it was too nice to just leave behind. I put it in a garment bag and zipped it up. I grabbed a pair of black heels, sneakers, and flats. If I needed anything else, I would just go and buy it. I threw everything in the bags. I got dressed in a pair of black yoga pants, an old t-shirt, and threw a hoodie on top since it was a little chilly outside. I slipped on a pair of sandals and headed for the door. I practically ran to my car, tossed the bags in the backseat, and listened to the roar of my Camaros V8 engine fill the garage. I shifted into reverse and made my way to the one place I swore I would never return to.

    The drive took an exhausting 5 hours. I had stopped a couple of times, once to get coffee and the second time was for gas plus another coffee. My mind wandered to texting Derek and letting him know that I would be MIA for a few days until I wasn't surrounded by my overbearing brothers. I loved them but they were one of the factors in my choice to leave home. I got off on exit 137 and followed US-129. I forgot how beautiful Georgia was in the early spring. You should tell Artem and Callen that you're almost home. I dialed the phone and Callen immediately answered. "I wanted to know if I was making the drive all the way to the house or if you all were somewhere else."

    "We're at Grady Memorial in Atlanta but Preston asked if you could meet him at the house. He needs to talk to you before you go anywhere. Where are you at now?"

    "I'm about 25 minutes from the house. I'll drop my bags and talk to Preston. I kind of already know what it's about. Do you all need anything before I head to Atlanta?"

    "No, but please listen to Preston and don't give him attitude. The last thing I need right now is you getting in more trouble and causing even more issues than what we currently face."

    "I understand, Callen. I'm not the same hot headed girl I was when I left home." He hung up as I drove down the driveway. I wasn't ready to face Preston and get an ear full of whatever punishments he had for me but I wasn't here to stay. I needed everyone to know that I was going back to Nashville as soon as I could. I pulled through the archway and parked my car. Preston was waiting on the front steps when I got out.

    "Kassidy, it's good to have you back where you belong." I tucked my hair behind my ear and looked at the ground. I knew the rules and didn't intend on causing issues just because everyone thought I was a problem child when I was younger.

    "Thank you, Sir. I don't intend to cause any problems and will keep to myself, I swear."

    "I'm not worried about you causing problems, Kassidy. I'm worried about what pain it causes you to be back here. I'm not here to chastise you or punish you, even though Callen would expect it since you abandoned your station and your parents went through hell trying to convince you to come home. I understand why you left and you certainly aren't the first, although they all ended up back here eventually." He chuckled lightly and smiled at me.  "Kassidy, look at me." I lifted my gaze from the ground and met his chocolate eyes.

    "I'll be fine. It's a lot easier being back than I thought it would be." I half smiled.

    "I know that you haven't had an easy go at things lately. Just because you don't communicate with us doesn't mean Crescinda doesn't. I know you've been struggling to stay ahead and that you've just buried yourself in your studies but sometimes it's nice to just let go. You'll kill her if you don't. I know you want to be normal and there is nothing wrong with that given what we are but Kass, if Crescinda dies then you will literally feel your heart and soul shatter. Is being normal worth killing half of you?"

    "I understand everyone's concerns but I am not fit for this life. I never have been the girl who was going to find her soulmate, settle down, and become the doting housewife that just has kids and finds something to pass the time with like every other female here. I have always been different and it was one of my reasons for leaving." Our conversation was paused by his phone ringing. Preston turned his back to me and walked towards the backyard, as if I wasn't allowed to know what was going on.

    "We need to get you to the hospital. The situation has changed and Callen needs you there immediately. It'll be easiest for me to take you as I need to be present too. So, take my keys and start the car please." He tossed me the keys to his Audi and I grabbed my purse from the car, making sure my phone was inside. I slipped into the front passenger seat and pressed the start up button. I fidgeted in the seat as Preston slammed the door shut as he climbed in. "I'm sorry that this had to be the reason that brought you back." I didn't understand what that meant but I felt like I was going to as soon as we got to the hospital.

    We made it there in record time. We sat in silence the whole car ride as I texted Derek to tell him that I had a family emergency and would keep him updated in case I had to cancel our date. Preston broke me from my thoughts about how far behind I was going to get in my studies but knowing my professors would understand and the fact that I was already ahead in coursework. He placed a hand on the small of my back to guide me towards the nurses station. The air didn't smell like a normal hospital filled with disinfectants and such. It smelled like it would after it rained mixed with a hint of mint. I brushed it off as a perfume or cologne that someone had to have been wearing. "We're here to see William and Lydia Duncan."

    "Callen told us you were on the way, please, this way." One of the nurses stood up and escorted us to the elevator. She pressed the button that said 'ICU' and my heart sank. "Doctor Townsend should be in shortly. He's overseeing the case as a personal favor. I am so very sorry." The doors opened as Callen, Lucien, Kaydyn, and Braxton were standing there. They had been waiting for us. Brax had a tear stained face as did all of my brother's except Callen. He had never been an emotional person, not even when he got married.

    The smell of rain and mint filled my nose again and it distracted me from listening to Callen. Around the corner walked a man wearing navy scrubs and running his hands through his jet black hair. Kassidy, it's him! Crescinda screamed into my head. His eyes found me and we were locked in a trance until I felt a hand on the small of my back again and someone whispered into my ear. "Kassidy, are you okay?" I heard Preston's voice and it brought me back to reality.

    "Um, yeah, I just spaced out. I'm sorry." I looked up at Preston. He had always been fond of me and it wasn't a secret but he was my superior and it was frowned upon for him to be so personal with me especially given that he was in a relationship before I left.

    "Kass, this is Erik. I don't know if you ever met him but he's one of Evelyn's older brother's. He's taken mom and dad's case as a personal favor to our family. Erik, this is our sister, Kassidy." I tried to focus on Callen's voice as best as I could.

    "I don't think I had the chance to meet the famous Kassidy Duncan before she left." He reached out his hand but I didn't take it. I was scared to touch him knowing what would be expected now.

    "It's, um, nice to meet you." My voice was shaky which triggered Preston to become possessive by wrapping his whole arm around my waist. Erik's cause sight of it and I swear I saw him stiffen. I don't like Preston touching you, Kassidy. That voice was definitely not Crescinda. I felt shivers run down my spine as I realized who that voice belonged to as Erik stared at me.