BIG MOMENT BETWEEN ALINA AND RAPHAEL NEXT CHAPTER SO STAY TUNED!

6 weeks later.....

ALINA'S POV

Today I'm finally getting my stupid brace off, well hopefully.

I've had my routine check ups over the past couple of weeks and the doctor was happy with how I was healing, so now is the moment of truth.

I might need to stay in the brace for an extra 2 weeks if she thinks my foot needs it as it hasn't healed fully.

I have not and will not be telling her that I refused to use the crutches, and just hopped everywhere as I can guarantee she'll keep me in the brace.

If my family was around, I was carried, so I haven't done much walking.

My whole family is in the room with me, hoping we get some good news.

Having this brace on is such a pain. I can't do anything fun!

The doctor said that my shoulder is healed, which is great!

As she unwrapped the tight bandage from around my chest to check my ribs, I saw my families eyes darken.

I saw their eyes turn away as they noticed all of the scarring left over.

My bruises were gone but scars had taken their place. They were old but still very visible.

Matheo and Romeo clenched their fists as they saw me flinch at the feeling of the doctor checking my ribs.

She said that they were all seemingly in good positions and that they were stable.

I was hoping they would be or I would have worn that constricting bandage for months for nothing.

It was the most uncomfortable thing ever.

My ribs actually felt pretty good.

The best they ever had.

It didn't hurt to breathe anymore, and whenever I touched them there wasn't intense pain that flowed through my body.

I could sleep peacefully nowadays.

And my chest was actually it's normal colour, not black and blue.

It was an odd sight to see.

It hurt like a bitch the first week of healing but it gradually got better.

The only thing that aggravated me was the long scar on my side from the surgery. That itches a lot, but I can't scratch it or it'll become infected.

She finally moves into my foot and I cross my fingers behind my back.

Please let me get it off today.

"Okay Alina, I'm going to remove your brace and we're going to try and walk on it" my doctor tells me.

She removes my brace in a matter of second with efficiency.

I hop down off of the bed to come face to face with a set of parallel bars in front of me.

"I want you to start off nice and easy using the bars, and if you feel okay doing that we'll try it without them. Does that sound good?" She asks me.

"Yes, thank you."

I sigh as I set my bare foot on the ground, lifting it back up straight away, not used to having no support there.

I grab the railings with both hands and ready myself.

My doctor is at the end and my family is gathered all around the bars watching on.

I take my first step nice and slowly, making sure I keep my death grip on the bars.

I really don't want to fall.

Not only would it hurt but it would be embarrassing.

My foot doesn't really hurt as I move it forward but it makes a cracking sound every couple of steps that only I can hear.

It sounds bad but there's no pain.

If that's the only issue I'll have, I'll be very happy.

It takes a while for my knees to adjust to my walking as well, as I'm automatically limping from having the brace on for a long time.

So I take it slow.

I see hands shoot out in front of me every time I stop, as they think I might fall.

After a few slow lengths on the bars my doctor feels happy for me to start walking without any bars.

She took my hands in hers as she started guiding on walking up and down the room.

It was going good, really good.

Until she let me go.

Apparently, she wanted me to try and do it myself.

Well, it backfired because as soon as she did that, I face planted.

Right into the hands of my brother Adrian who had launched his leg across the floor in order to soften my fall which I was incredibly thankful for.

Otherwise I think I would have lost a tooth or ended up with a broken nose.

It wasn't even a second before I was swarmed by my family all fussing over me, checking if I was ok and such.

"I'm fine guys, honestly. I just took a tumble, you can't expect me to get it right on my first go!" I reassure them.

It takes a lot of effort to reassure them, and even more for them to stop glaring at the doctor.

"I'm so sorry Alina. You had such good balance that I thought you could take a couple of steps by yourself. I'll hold you this time" she tells me with a scared expression on her face.

"No, I want to try it myself again, please" I tell her.

She hesitated as she looks at my family before nodding at me and getting out of my way.

I see my dad make his way to the end of the room before crouching down.

"Walk to me bambina. You can do it!" He tells me reassuringly.

I can do this.

I have to be able to do this.

I take little steps to start off with before advancing to bigger steps.

I'm about halfway to my father, and it's kind of tiring. I have to really think about the steps I'm taking.

My foot keeps wanting to turn in so I have to really think about where I want to place it before I do.

I don't give up though.

As soon as I'm in an inch of my father he picks me and twist me around.

"Amazing bambina. I knew you could do it!" He tells me as he kisses my forehead.

My brothers join him as they give me words of praise.

I felt like a baby taking my first steps to my dad, and you'd think I was with the attention I'm getting.

"Guys, stop it. I walked about 10 meters, it's not that big of a deal!"

They had a lot to say to that.

I do a couple more lengths before my doctor tells me that I'm all good to go.

Everything's healed, but I just need to take things slow to get back into the groove of things.

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On the drive home, I finally decide to ask my parents the big question.

Because they're rich we go everywhere in a big car so everyone faces each other, so my brothers also get to be included in the conversation.

"Mom, Dad, I have something I want to ask you." I start

I see their eyes shine, probably as this is the first time I think I've ever asked them for anything.

"What is it baby?" My mom asks me excitedly.

"Um, so you know how the doctor cleared me of my injuries?" I tell them as I wring my fingers in my lap.

"We'll there's this gymnastics competition with my old club and my coach said that my place is still open if I want to come and compete because I signed up for it months ago and there's a big prize if I do well and it'll be so fun!" I tell them all in one breath.

I wanted to give them all the good details as soon as I could.

Which probably should have been weeks ago not in one breath today.

But, timings never really been my thing.

The chaos begins soon after that.

"No way!" "You've been injured for months!" "You started walking today!" "That's not safe!" "Where is it?"

All of my brothers speak over each other, trying to get their point or question across.

"SETTLE DOWN!" my father screams, in order to be heard over all their chattering.

"Do you really think it's a good idea, Alina? I mean you've only just been cleared and it was only 20 minutes ago that you took your first proper steps. When is the competition?" my mothers als me concern laced in her voice.

"A........week from now" I tell her looking down.

"That's way too soon!" Marco tells me with a serious look on his face.

"I wanted to ask you before but i didn't know when I'd get my braces off, and there was no point asking then because obviously I wouldn't be allowed to compete covered in braces and bandages" I tell her feeling guilty about telling them so late.

"Well we'll have to think about it Alina. I don't know if I feel comfortable with you going and competing a week after being cleared. What if you hurt yourself again, and more permanently this time?" She asks me, her voice full of emotion.

I need to make a compromise. That will hopefully change their minds.

"Well what if by the end of this week if I manage to do all of my routines in front of you with no injuries, falls or slips and without pain, I compete. And if I'm not ready, we still go, but we just watch?" I try and compromise with them.

My parents are silent for a minute as they look towards each other, conversing silently.

"Ok, but if we see an even a slither of pain on your face, you're not doing it, deal?" My dad tells me as he places his open palm in front of me.

I take his in mine as I shake it.

"Yes, yes, absolutely yes! That's great news, thank you guys! I'll make you guys proud if I do compete, I promise!" I tell them excitedly

"I bet you will sweetheart" my mom tells me.

"Do we get to come?" Luca asks on behalf of all of my brothers who look on with hopeful faces.

"Of course! Why wouldn't you be?" I ask them seriously.

"We know it's overbearing sometimes having 6 brothers, especially in social settings" Luca tells me.

"Oh you guys don't need to worry about that. I want you guys around me, always!"

"Thanks squirt!" Rocco tells me with a smile on his face as he ruffled my hair.

I can't wait to tell coach Anastasia! She's going to be delighted.

I've kept in communication with her as she was hoping I could compete, but also because she also wanted to see how I was doing and if I was settling in nicely.

I'm so happy that my body is healed! I have so much more freedom now!

I suddenly gasp to myself as I realise what this means.

"Romeo, you finally get to teach me how to fight properly now! I can move on from just punching!" I beam at him, excited for what his lessons will hold.

Silence falls in the car, and not the good kind.

"You taught our baby sister how to fight!

without us!?" Matheo basically screamed at Romeo trying to climb over the seat to reach him.

Rocco pushed him right back, and he slumped in his seat with a pout on his face.

"If we knew, we could've taught her lots of great tricks!" Adrian complained at him.

"You guys can still teach me! It's just that Romeo was the best option at that time!" I reassure my brothers who all have solemn faces.

"I'm the best option all the time, suckers!" Romeo boasts as he tries to flex in front on his brothers which almost gets him killed.

My parents chuckle, used to them fighting.

"So that's how you aquired those skills you used on Lucia. I thought we agreed that we'd train you once you were healed" my mom tells me with narrowed eyes.

"I needed something a little bit earlier" I tell them reluctantly.

"And you can't be mad because it paid off!" I tell them with a smirk on my face.

"We're not mad, just disappointed you chose Romeo over us!" My dad tells me with a sad face.

I feel bad when I see his face, so I give him a cuddle, but I realise it was all a ploy.

"Seems she loves me the best!" He tells my brothers as he hugs me tighter.

I roll my eyes at his childish antics.

I wish things could have stayed like this for longer.

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After finally getting home, I headed straight upstairs as I needed to get ready to go out.

Our whole group has been invited to Bianca birthday bash.

We've all gotten a lot closer these past weeks, me and Reese especially.

We've gone on a couple of dates together a local pizza restaurant and the movies.

My brothers have always been lurking around the area, spying on us from the parking lot or even sitting at the back of the movie theatre, trying to stay hidden.

By brothers I mean, Matheo, Marco, Romeo and Luca.

They're not very good at being discrete.

They don't like Reese for some reason,

Our dates have actually been really fun. He usually manages to find a way to hold my hand or place his arm around me in a comforting matter.

I had to pay on our first date as he left his wallet at home.

He felt really guilty about it, so I forgave him.

And from then on he did bring his wallet, so he was trustworthy which is why I didn't mind paying the first time.

From then to date, we usually split the bills.

He did make me pay for the popcorn at the movies because I was the only one who wanted it.

I thought that was fair, but when he started to eat some, I reminded him of his logic.

He wasn't happy with my snarky comment and ignored me for the rest of the date, and from then we haven't gone on another.

But I'm going to think about Reese behaviour tonight as I'm going to have a great time with all of my friends.

Apparently we're going to spend the night playing video games, making Tik Tok's, staying up late and a whole lot more.

She said there's going to be lots of candy and sodas to keep us high and wide awake.

She said she was only going to invite a couple of others and that her parents would be home but just upstairs.

I think that's why my parents are happy for me and Adrian to go.

She did tell us that we should come wearing something nice though as her parents wanted birthday photos and that we could put our pjs on later.

So I'm wearing a nice floral dress with a denim jacket whilst Adrian is wearing a smart but casual sweater with baggy jeans.

This is our first party! We wanted to look good!

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"We expect a text ever hour. If you are not comfortable then phone us and we will be straight there!" My parents tell us as our brothers stand behind them agreeing.

"Are you sure you don't want me to camp outside in the car down the street for the night?" Matheo asks us.

"For the last time Matheo, we'll be fine. We will keep in contact all night, we promise!" Adrian says trying to reassure him.

I think our family is a little worried.

It's our first night away from home, and they're scared.

Raphaels mom is taking us there as it's on her way to Biancas house.

We're interrupted by a guard telling us that Raphael and his mom was here.

"We've got to go but we will keep in touch, we promise!" I tell them.

I still have my bracelet on so they'll be able to track us if anything does go wrong.

"Marco, let the kids go" my dad sighs as Marco tries to hold us back.

"Fine!" He says as he drops to the floor like a dead weight.

"Bye, love you!" I shout back as we leave.

Me and Adrian sigh before bursting into laughter as we get outside.

It's not like anything bad will happen, it's just a birthday bash!

Right?

"Hey guys!" Raphael greets us as we get into the car.

"You guys excited!?" He asks us.

"Of course! We've got loads of candy!" We tell him.

"Great minds think alike!" He smiles at us as he brings out a 2lb bag of Swedish fish.

"No way! They're my absolute favourite! Can we share!? I'll share some of mine with you! Pretty please" I beg him.

I am an addict for Swedish fish. I ate the once he gifted me in my snack basket as soon as I could.

"Of course! I probably won't each much, so there'll be a lot for you" he tells me.

"You're the best Raphael, thank you!" I tell him.

"However many I eat of yours, I promise to repay you with my own candy!" I tell him. I don't want to take all of his candy.

"If you repay me with Brownie ice cream, I'll allow you to eat as much of my candy as you like" he tells me smirking trying to make a deal with me.

A deal I happily agree to.

We spend the whole drive there talking about how much fun we're going to have with everyone and trying to guess who the other kids Bianca invited are

"Have fun kids! But not too much! Don't make yourself sick on candy, please!" His mom tells us before we leave the car.

We all agree.

As soon as we make it to the porch, the car starts to drive off.

The blinds in Bianca's house are closed but we can see multicoloured lights shining through the bottom of them.

We could also her some music as well, but it didn't seem too loud.

"I think Raphael should go knock" Adrian says as we reach the front door.

He raises his eyebrows at Adrian but ultimately complies.

He knocks on the door 4 times, and we wait patiently.

"Should I knock again?" Raphael asks me as no one comes to the door.

"Yeah, maybe do it a little harder this time" I tell him.

Maybe Bianca's parents are hard of hearing?

Just as Raphael was about to knock on the door, it swung open, just like our jaws.

Bianca giggled as she let us in.

This is not what I expected.

Not at all.

What!? ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

A/N - BIG PART BETWEEN ALINA AND RAPHAEL COMING SO STAY TUNED!

Next chapter will be action packed I promise!

I'm sorry if this one is a little slow and boring!

What do you think of the ending?

Let me know if you enjoyed it!