Chapter 84
1613words
Kayden has been entertaining everyone with his random outbursts.
Carolina has been talking to Charlotte for the past five minutes with a serious facial expression.
Charlotte and I came down the stairs and were inseparable until Carolina walked up to us.
"Aspen, I need to see Charlotte. It's an emergency" Carolina said not once looking at me.
She sounded urgent so I let her go but now I just want to know what the hell they're talking about.
"Aspen, come on, we're about to start the countdown" Kayden says interrupting me from my daydream
I let him grab my wrist and drag me back into the living room where my mom is pouring everyone glasses of champagne.
Kayden drags us up to my mom and she laughs.
"I'll only allow this today" she says to Kayden and I before pouring the both of us a glass
"Ten," a group of my Mom's friends start to chant
I hear our front door open which makes me spin around towards it.
"Nine, Eight, Seven" they continue as I hear the door close but see no one walk in
That's weird.
"Six, Five, Four" they continue to count as I slowly walk towards the door
Please, don't kill me.
Please, don't kill me.
Please, don't kill me.
"Three," They yell
I step onto the Mahogany wood floor.
"Two," They chant even louder
I peak around the corner and you wouldn't guess who I come face to face with.
"One!" They scream at the top of their lungs
My eyes widen as she smirks at me.
"Happy New Year!" Everyone in the living room screams at the top of their lungs
I feel all the color on my face drain and my throat go dry.
This can't be happening!
"Surprise" Maddie says with a wicked smirk as she slowly struts to me
When she reaches me she tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and leans down so that she's the same height as me.
"I'm back and I know all your secrets" She whispers in my ear before brushing past me and walking into the living room.
What the hell just happened?!
Is she really-?!
I'm frozen in my spot as I continue to freak out and panic.
I feel my breathing begin to quicken as my hands begin to shake.
No.
No.
No!
This can't be happening!
This can't be real!
Not her!
Anyone else but her!
"Aspen" I faintly hear someone call in a panicked tone
"Aspen, are you okay?" I hear them ask but I can't respond
"Carolina, go get Kayden" I hear them instruct before I'm being lifted up and carried out of my home
The chilly post winter air hits my shocked skin which makes me suck in a large breath of air.
"It'll be okay, just breath" Charlotte says as she sets me down on the top stair of my porch
I look her in the eyes as I hear the front door open then shut.
"It's not okay," I say shakily which makes my throat hurt
I hear two sets of feet walk down the steps and stop in front of me.
"She's here, She's in my house" I say as I turn away from Charlotte and reach up to pull at my hair which causes my rubber band to slide down my hair
"Who, babe?" Charlotte asks nicely but seriously
"Who was it?" Kayden asks in a worried tone when I don't answer Charlotte
"Who's here, Aspen?" Carolina asks sternly
"Maddie" I reply quietly as I continue to stare off into space
I feel Charlotte tense against me as all their breaths hitch at the same time.
"Aspen, you're sleeping at our house tonight" Carolina says with a hard tone before she runs up the porch stairs and storms into the house
"I'm going to go make sure she doesn't commit a murder in your house" Kayden says before he runs after her
"It'll be okay, Aspen. I'll protect you" Charlotte says with a determined tone
"You can't protect me from the inevitable, Charlotte" I say in a far away tone as I think of all the possible scenarios that could happen.
I've been staying at Charlotte's house for two days now.
Against my will may I add.
Every time I try to go outside they either don't let me out or escort me out.
I'm literally going insane staying here.
I may not feel safe staying at my house but at least I'll have more freedom, plus my mom is there.
I walk out of Charlotte's room and down the stairs only to hear some hushed arguments.
As I get closer to the kitchen I can Identify that it's Carolina and Charlotte.
Of course it is.
"Charlotte, there's nothing else that we can do" she says with an annoyed tone
"You said that last time and I got shot in the shoulder" Charlotte says with an angry tone
What are they talking about?!
"They've been M.I.A for weeks now" Carolina says in a stressed tone
"I don't care, check again," Charlotte commands before sighing
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I lost her, she's already in great danger" I hear Charlotte say
I'm about to walk a little closer so that I could hear them better when a hand is placed tightly over my mouth and I'm being dragged back until I'm in a gaming room.
They lock the door before turning to face me.
Collin?
"What did you hear?" He asks hurriedly while looking into my eyes with panic
"What?" I ask confused
Why is he so panicked?!
"When did you hear Carolina and Charlotte say?" She asks getting even more impatient
"Nothing, just something about someone shooting Charlotte in the shoulder and being M.I.A" I say which makes his eyes widen
"Shit," she says as she starts to pacing in from of the door before turning his head to face me
"Did they say who?" He asks carefully so that he doesn't expose any information to me
"No" I say which makes him release a breath of relief
Why is he acting so weird?
He's acting exactly like Charlotte and Carolina have been these past two days.
"What is happening? Why is everyone acting so weird?" I ask confused
"No reason" he says way too quickly
Does he really think I'm that stupid?!
"You're obviously lying to me" I say and cross my arms as I narrow my eyes at him
"Listen, Aspen, I can't tell you. It's for your own safety" he says seriously
"Fine" I say with a hard face as I walk around him and unlock the door
I walk out of that room so that I could pack my things.
I'm sick and tired of their lying.
"Aspen, where are you going?" Collin calls out behind me but I continue to make my ways towards the stairs
As I'm making my way up the stairs I hear the beginning of Charlotte and Collin's conversation.
"What happened?" Charlotte asks as she walks out of the kitchen
"She asked what you and Carolina were talking about" he says with a monotone voice
"Did you tell her?" She asks with angry tone
"No, of course not" he says with the same monotone voice
I don't hear the rest of their conversation as I walk down the hall and turn into Charlotte's room.
I quickly pack my clothes before she can tell me some dumb reason why I can't leave.
As I'm zipping up my bag she walks into her room and sighs.
"You do realize that I can't let you leave, right?" She asks with crossed arms as she leans against her doorway
"Well, I'm not staying" I declare as I grab one of my hoodies and throw it over my tank top
"Aspen, I can't let you leave because it's not safe" Charlotte says with an emotionless expression
Honestly, she looks exhausted.
"Then how come the rest of you guys get to leave whenever you want?" I ask as I slip on my checkered vans and grab my bag
"Because we can actually defend ourselves" she says with an annoyed tone which causes me to face her and give her an 'are you serious right now' look
"Is that really what you think about me?!" I ask her with a sarcastic laugh in between
"Aspen, that's not what I meant" she says in a monotone voice as she rubs her temples
"Yes, it is" I say with an annoyed tone
"You know, if I knew you thought this badly of me I wouldn't have even agreed to be your girlfriend" I say with an emotionless tone
I feel my heart start to increase in speed as she stands up from the wall and walks a little closer to me
"Are you breaking up with me?" She asks with a emotionless voice but I can see the pain in her bright green eyes
I probably look the same.
"I don't know, am I?" I say calmly before I brush past her and run down the stairs
My tone said it all.
I can't believe that I really broke up with her.
I rush towards the door before swinging the door open and quickly closing it behind me.
God, what have I done?!
This has to be one of the dumbest things that I've done.
I feel a couple of tears fall on my cheeks but I quickly wipe them away.
Stop it, Aspen.
Wait until you're in the confines of your room to let your tears out.
