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"I have to go after her," I say, trying to push away from Jeremy.
"Now is not the time for that. She needs some time to cool off," Jeremy says and tries to stop me, but I wrestle free of his hold.
"No, I need to fix this." I dash out of the room. Jeremy is about to follow me, but Damien restrains him. I see Ella by the poolside with Anthony, who’s trying to appease her.
"Ella, please. Let me explain."
She turns, eyes blazing with anger. "Explain? There's nothing you can say to make this right. You've ruined everything!"
I take a step closer, pleading with her. "Ella, believe me, it wasn't planned. I didn't plan for any of this. It just happened."
"It just happened? Let me guess, you were sitting all by your lonesome self one day, when my father’s sperm flew inside you and you got pregnant?"
"Ella, please. I know you’re furious. But it's not that simple. Your dad and I?—"
Before I can finish, Ella turns her back on me. It breaks my heart that it happened on her birthday. Today is supposed to be a happy day, one she shared with her friends and her dad. Instead, I’ve stolen it and instilled it with an ugly memory she would remember for the rest of her life.
"Shut up! That’s my father, for crying out loud! Of all the men out there, it’s my father that you chose to sleep with. And you were stupid enough to end up pregnant on top of it! How cruel can you be? You know how I’ve been trying so hard to have a relationship with him, and just when I thought…" Her voice cracks, and it feels like a punch in my gut.
"Ella –"
"Don't you dare try to justify this, Chloe. You're supposed to be my friend, not someone who’s trying to break up my family. I never want to see you again."
"Ella, I met your father –"
"I don't want to hear it. I trusted you, Chloe. This is a nightmare!" She turns to leave but I grab her hand, halting her movement.
"Ella, listen, this didn’t happen–"
She turns and shoves me away from her. It comes as no surprise. I deserve it after all. But the chaos of our fighting is interrupted by my falling. There’s a sharp pain in the back of my head, then everything becomes quiet. I can’t make sense of it. I can see and hear, but everything is blurry and the noises are muffled. Even the sounds that I’m sure are screams have grown deeper, and softer. I can’t make out words, only noise.
I open my mouth to call out, but my lungs are instantly assaulted. I twist on the ground this way and that, trying to figure out what’s wrong, trying to stop the burning in my throat, my lungs. But I can’t tell which way to look, or who to ask for help.
One voice comes closer, close enough that I can barely make out the words before I drift off.
"Oh my god! She’s gonna drown!" I hear Anthony’s voice somewhere nearby.
I’m what? I’m drowning? I pray he doesn't jump into the pool to save me. I don’t want him to hurt Ella any more than I have but trying to save the traitor that I am. Maybe if I die, she’ll finally have her dad all to herself. I just can’t be the reason for their fallout. I’ve caused enough damage. I don't mind dying. I stop struggling and surrender myself to whatever is waiting for me.
My head is throbbing. Is that blood around me? My lungs burn for lack of air. I feel a hand on my waist dragging meup. When I break the water’s surface, the screams become real once more. They hit my ears with full force, confusing me even further. I gulp in some air, spewing all the water I drank.
"Chloe, are you okay? Can you hear me?" It's still Anthony’s voice.
"Yes," I try to say, but the words won’t come out over the force of my coughing. I lean at the edge of the pool with him still supporting me.
Ella's face softens a bit. Despite being angry, I can tell she’s terrified. That actually gives me hope.
"What the hell happened?" Jeremy and Damien rush to the pool.
Jeremy stares at Ella, his face tight and murderous. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t my plan! God, please help me. I don’t want to be the reason for their first fight. Even though Jeremy hasn’t been the father Ella envisioned, they’ve never fought before, and I don’t want to be the reason for their first fight.
"I tripped and fell in the pool," I manage to rasp as Anthony helps me up the wide steps in the shallow end. Jeremy’s eyes snap back to me. He’s not glaring anymore. His eyes are soft and filled with concern, but I don’t want them to be.
I shiver, partly from hitting my head and choking and partly from the consequences of my actions. I’ve shattered an already fragile family and left only fragments of it behind. That’s all that remains of a family that I inadvertently tore apart.
Seeing her father’s concern for me, Ella goes back to her raging fury and yells "Now get out of this house, you whore !" But Jeremy grabs her hand, turning her to face him. He levels his murderous eyes at her.
"Ella that’s enough!" Jeremy stares at her like he can’t believe what he’s seeing, the muscles tightening in his jaw. Ella flinchesand starts trembling uncontrollably. Jeremy is scaring her. This is the first time he’s shouted at her.
