Chapter Eleven
Emmie
Everything is spinning, and not in a good way. People are laughing and dancing, and for once, I feel relaxed, like I could join in and be a part of it. And if it wasn’t for Kai, frowning every time I took a shot or spoke to someone, I’d fully be able to let myself enjoy this experience.
I glance over to where he’s watching from the other side of the pool.
A flashback of him pressed against Bella infiltrates my mind and I swallow back the lump in my throat.
I shouldn’t feel surprised, they’re meant to be.
The entire college know it. And I kind of saw it coming after they spent all week together again like they were thick as thieves.
I groan, and now he knows I saw it. And now he knows I’m bothered. Why didn’t I just stay quiet?
“Emmie, hey!” I blink up at the soft voice. Luna is suddenly in front of me with a sweet smile and a plastic cup in hand. “You okay?”
“Peachy,” I say, even though my throat feels like it’s closing.
She giggles like we’re old friends. “We’re about to go in the pool, but you’ll need a bikini. Want to borrow one? I’ve got loads upstairs.”
I hesitate. Something about her feels too perfect, too sugary. But everyone else is half-naked, laughing, splashing around like they don’t have a care in the world. And I want to be in it for once, not looking in from the outside.
“Sure,” I say.
Her smile widens. “Yay! Come with, I’ve got one that’ll look amazing on you.”
Upstairs, she jumps into action like she’s been waiting to do my glow-up her entire life.
“Your hair is gorgeous,” she says as she sweeps it over to one shoulder.
“It’s so long. And is this your natural colour?
” I nod. “Wow. I wish my mum had stopped me experimenting with dye when I was eleven. I miss my brunette days.” She goes to a huge closet and opens one side.
There are hundreds of swimsuits and bikini’s hanging up.
She grabs a red one, holding it up. “Um,” she murmurs thoughtfully.
“I think we need something with more wow factor.”
“What about a swimsuit?” I ask, praying she agrees so I have to show off less skin.
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not. Look, if you want guys like Kai to notice you, you have to show them the goods.”
I wince. My sober brain would roll its eyes and tell her to shove it. That I don’t need a man’s validation to feel good. But drunk me laughs, with warmth blooming in my chest at her attention.
The bikini she hands me is microscopic. It’s black, strappy, and almost nothing, but I take it and hold it up, like that will somehow make it look better.
She gets a similar one out for herself in red. “Matchy, matching,” she coos.
I don’t want to back out now. I want to be bold. I want to be the girl people look at and don’t pity. So I smile wide and repeat her words. “Matchy, matching.”
Minutes later, I step from the bathroom wide-eyed. The material hardly covers anything. And if Ava could see me now, she’d freak. But Luna smiles widely. “Oh my God, you look amazing.”
I take in her fuller bikini in white. “Where’s yours?” I ask.
She waves her hand dismissively as she spins me around to face the mirror.
“Oh, I can’t pull it off like you,” she tells me, gripping the back of my bottoms and tugging them into a thong-like state, wedging half the material up my backside.
I wince and she laughs. “Uncomfortable, right? But totally necessary for that wow factor. And besides, you have the best bum.”
Before I can object, she slips her hand into mine and drags me from the room and downstairs.
The moment we step outside into the garden, heads turn, and if I’m not mistaken, the music dips lower. A few people cheer, and I blush as Luna pushes me forward a step, like she’s showcasing her art.
And then I see him . Kai. His eyes widen, and his jaw tenses like he’s clenching his teeth in anger. He marches over, “What the hell are you wearing?” he demands, and my confidence falters.
“It’s a bikini, Kai,” I say, my tone tight as I glance around to see if we have an audience. We do. “Chill out.”
“Go cover up. Now.”
I laugh, but it’s sharp and cold. “No.”
He steps closer, his voice low and angry. “You don’t have to do this to get back at me.”
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss, eyes darting around. “You’re embarrassing me.”
“Emmie!” Bella’s voice is syrupy sweet as she suddenly appears at my side. “You’re so brave,” she coos, looping her arm through mine.
“Seriously, this bikini is everything ,” Luna adds, appearing on the other side, her nails cool and sharp against my skin as she adjusts one of the straps.
I barely have time to react. There’s a tug. Then another.
And suddenly, everything’s gone , the bikini bottoms flutter to the ground, my eyes on them wide and surprised. And then the top is ripped from me, as Bella cackles uncontrollably.
There’s a moment of suspended silence, like the whole party is holding its breath. Just like me. And then someone laughs. Followed by another. And another.
My eyes find Kai’s, as if everything is in slow motion. His hand comes out like he’s trying to warn me, but the sounds are muffled by the ringing in my ears.
I feel hands shove me, and then . . .
Splash.
The water is freezing, making me inhale sharply as I hit the surface.
It swallows me effortlessly, as I sink underneath the surface.
My thoughts race at a hundred miles an hour, and before I can make sense of any of them, I emerge from the surface, gasping for air and spluttering, blinking wildly at the sting of chlorine and humiliation.
The laughter is deafening now.
I look up, and all I can see are faces, phones out, mouths open in glee, and Kai, frozen on the edge, looking like he’s going to murder someone.
But it’s too late.
Everyone’s already seen everything.
Kai
It all happened too fast.
One second, I was arguing with her, whisper hissing, trying to talk some damn sense into her, and the next, Bella and Luna were beside her, too close, grinning like snakes.
Then they pulled. And it was like Emmie and I both realised at the same time.
Not soon enough to stop them, but too late to make a difference.
The bikini dropped away from Emmie like butter melting.
And. I. Froze.
Emmie stood there, bare, stunned, blinking in horror, and I just froze . And then they pushed her. I saw that part coming but reacted far too late to grab her.
The splash echoes in the silence as we all stare at the water, and I come to my senses. “ Emmie! ”
I dive in after her, clothes and all. The water is cold, but I barely feel it. I see her flailing, hair plastered to her face, eyes wide with panic and shame. She shouldn’t even be here. She shouldn’t have been put through this.
I grab her by the waist, lifting her with one arm while kicking us toward the edge. She clings to me, trembling, burying her face in my shoulder.
“Hold on,” I murmur. “I’ve got you.”
I reach the edge and hoist her up, still holding her, water pouring off me as I plant both feet on the ground and lift her like she weighs nothing.
She doesn’t look up. Her head stays tucked into my chest; arms wound tight around herself.
The laughter is still going, and phones are still out, flashes blinding me as I look around in horror.
“ Give me your shirt, ” I bark at the closest guy. It’s Austin.
He laughs harder. “Mate, I - she’s already - what’s the point?”
I see red. My fist connects with his nose so fast it shocks even me. Blood spurts instantly, and he stumbles back with a shout, hands to his face. “Fucking hell , Kai!”
“Shirt. Now. ” He throws it at me with a glare, still clutching his face.
I wrap it around Emmie, holding her against me like she might disappear. She doesn’t fight me. She doesn’t say a word. Just hides.
And they’re still filming.
“You think this is funny?” I shout, turning in a slow circle. “What the hell is wrong with you people?” No one answers. Of course they don’t.
I tighten my hold on her, trying to block out every camera, every stare, every sick grin.
I bend slightly and scoop her in my arms, carrying her inside. She’s shivering, silent, limp, her face still buried in my chest. I could carry her forever like this if it meant shielding her from what just happened. But she’s soaked. So am I. And I need to get her somewhere safe. Somewhere quiet.
I shoulder past a small group of gawking idiots, taking the stairs two at a time. She’s not saying anything, not even whimpering, but her fingers have a death grip on my arm.
I push open the first door I find. It’s a girl’s room, too pink, too polished. Luna’s, probably. Whatever. It’ll do.
I set her down gently on the edge of the bed. “Emmie-”
She leans forward fast. Too fast . And then she’s vomiting all over Luna’s cream duvet.
“Shit, okay, okay, I’ve got you.”
She heaves again, gripping the edge of the bed like it might steady her, tears mixing with the sweat and water on her face.
I move fast, grabbing the rubbish bin and placing it in front of her. I gently rub circles on her back, whilst I tug her wet hair back from her face. “Sorry,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
My heart breaks. She’s apologising like she wasn’t just humiliated in front of the most popular kids in college. “It’s fine,” I say. “Don’t worry about it. Just breathe.”
Once it’s over, I go into the wardrobe and pull out a fluffy towel and some clothes. Shorts and a vest. Not exactly Emmie-style clothes, but at least they’ll cover her up.
I help her out of the wet shirt, careful not to look and upset her more.
I wrap the towel around her and pull her to me again, rubbing my arms up and down hers to warm her up.
I grab the vest and pull it over her head.
Then I gather the shorts and bend down, holding them so she can step into them.
I tug them over her hips, relieved she’s finally clothed.