Chapter 6 #2
I couldn’t breathe staring at her numb, ashen body. Her lips had turned blue and her golden skin was turning gray like she was already—No. My throat clogged and blood pounded in my ears when my hands trembled, holding her hand close to me.
Please be all right. Please be all right. Please don’t leave me.
Finally, she sputtered out some water, gasping for air, and her eyes watered. I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding and so did the others who were hovering above us in a circle.
“You’re okay. Ju-just breathe. It’s all right,” I said, wrapping my arms around her body and holding her close when I heard her cry in the crook of my neck. I ran my hand through her wet hair, not caring about the murmurs spreading around us.
I didn’t know who I was telling that to. To her or to myself.
Her throaty sobs pierced my heart and I didn’t want to hear the sound of her voice cracking in my ears ever again. Rio wrapped a towel around her back while the coach settled everyone in the team who were worried about her.
“Hey, come on, Kia. You are fine, Ethan saved you.” Rio tried to cheer her up, causing her to tighten her arms around me. She was still shaken up and scared.
I pulled away and tucked her wet hair behind her ears.
“Bella, you’re all right. I’m here.” She lifted her eyes at me when I cradled her cold face in my warm hands.
Her eyelashes were wet, her eyes red and glistening with tears, and her red lips were quivering when tears streaked her face.
I had never seen her so vulnerable and weak. It almost hurt to look at her.
“Hey, Kiara, you’re okay. You’re fine. Please don’t cry,” I begged, my voice breaking as I wiped away her tears, not wanting to let go of her.
The coach came over to us after settling my other teammates and the crowd that had gathered near the hallway.
“She needs to go to the nurse’s office. Ethan, why don’t you help her and I will take care of him,” she said and gave a pointed look to Liam, who was standing alone glaring at the water. Asshole.
I would’ve fought him, but Kiara needed me right now.
Rio looked between the two of us and said, “I’ll tell Katherine to bring her some change of clothes.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and asked softly, “Can you walk?”
Her voice was weak and croaky when she stammered, “W-would you mind holding me?”
“Never.”
I scooped her in my arms and stood up when she hid her face in my neck, her arms clutching me tightly. She didn’t weigh much and I noticed she had lost her appetite. I promised myself to ask her about that later.
I walked to the nurse’s office and glared at everyone who dared try to take a peek at Kiara’s face or the fact that her white bra was visible through her damp T-shirt.
She wasn’t crying anymore, and my hands tightened around her knees when she stayed silent.
I didn’t know what I should say, so I stayed silent.
Which was worse than saying anything at all.
Nurse Gena checked her while I stayed beside her, holding her hand. Finally, the nurse smiled at us and said, “Well, Kiara you seem perfectly healthy and fine. You didn’t try to swim because of the panic attack, but now—”
“Wait, panic attack?” I looked at Kiara, who was busy looking down at her lap, twiddling her thumbs.
Mrs. Gena nodded. “Yes, it’s perfectly normal to have a panic attack when pushed in the pool out of the blue. Don’t worry, hon, she’ll be all right. Kiara is strong. Why don’t you wait outside while she gets changed or she’ll get sick.”
I nodded and asked, scratching my neck, “Is there anything else I—uh, we need to take care of?”
She smiled. “All she needs right now is some rest and healthy food. She is perfectly fine.”
Kiara finally looked at me, a small smile tugging her lips. “Yeah, Ethan. I’m fine.”
I frowned but nodded nonetheless. Something still wasn’t right, but I let go of it because I didn’t want to push her right now.
I kissed her hand and her forehead. “I’ll be right back, okay? Then I will take you home.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to. I’ll call—”
“Shh, I am taking you home. Go and get changed. I will be back here in ten.”
I left when Katherine, Rio, and Volt came rushing to the office.
I was even surprised to see Vivian, Alice, Becky, and other friends waiting outside the office worried about her.
As I was still in my swimming shorts and a towel, I got lots of long looks when I walked back to the locker room to take a quick shower and get changed into my clothes.
I knew that something was going on between Liam and Kiara. I didn’t trust Liam, but I did trust Kiara. So, if she decided not to tell me about what was happening with her and Liam, I would stay out of it. She would tell me when she was comfortable with me knowing it.
But back in my mind, I was curious to know what she had said to him that made him snap and push her into the pool.
When Liam was still my best friend, they got along well together, and even though they had silly little fights with each other, it never ended up being either of them getting hurt.
And Liam would never push anyone in the pool like he did today.
Especially not Kiara. I didn’t know what was going on.
I was walking back to the office and sighed in relief when the crowd that had gathered outside had disappeared. The hallway was empty. I was about to open the door when I heard the familiar male voice talking to her in a hushed whisper.
I froze.
“Please, Kiara. You have to—”
I turned the knob and opened the door to see Liam sitting on the same chair I was sitting on moments ago, talking to Kiara, who had changed into leggings and my shirt. I couldn’t decipher her expression when Liam was about to say something and stopped mid-sentence, looking at me.
I clenched my jaw. “What the fuck are you doing here?”