In Your Time

Chapter 14

By the time Braden and I got home, I was drained. Being briefly pulled back to the future really did a Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

number on me. Elizabeth dropped us off at the house before going to run errands. The first thing I did

was go to my room, change out of my school uniform, and check my bruises. My suspicions were

correct. They looked worse than before and my ribs ached. Hopefully there would be some time before

the next pull or I was going to break a rib at this rate. I hissed one a breath as I poked at my ribs.

"Shit, when did that happen?" I heard from my doorway. I looked over to see Braden standing there

looking at my exposed torso. I quickly pulled my shirt back down.

"It's nothing," I lied. I knew I didn't have a valid excuse to explain where the bruises kept coming from.

No one was beating me up, and I couldn't say that I got the bruises from time traveling. Braden walked

into my room and lifted my shirt slightly to look at my back.

"How did it get worse?" He asked. I lowered my shirt and took a step away from him.

"You don't need to concern yourself with this," I snapped at him. I was frustrated. Braden managed to

catch and see everything I was trying to hide. He stopped and watched my quietly. It was a moment

before he sighed and grabbed my arm.

"Come with me," he said as he dragged me out.

"Why? Where are we going?" I asked as I tried to pull my wrist out of his hand. It was a futile attempt.

He didn't say anything more as brought me to his room and sat me on his bed before he disappeared.

When he finally came back, he was holding a few gel ice packs. He set one on the bed before laying

my back on it and placing one on my stomach. I laid there quietly as he went to sit in a computer chair.

I couldn't help but notice the guitar in the corner.

"Can I hear something?" I asked. He looked at me confused before noticing where my gaze was

directed.

"As my one and only supporter, I guess it's only fair," he said as he picked it up and sat back in his

chair. He strummed a few chords before doing a cover of a song from this year. His voice was crystal

clear and beautiful like it was in the future too. I closed my eyes with a smile as I listened to the whole

song. I couldn't help but to enjoy my own private concert from a soon-to-be international superstar.

When he played the last chord, I moved the ice away and sat up.

"You have an incredible voice. I think it'll take you far," I smiled at him. He sighed before putting his

guitar back.

"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," he said disheartened.