Chapter 7

Mariah's POV

“It’s been four hours. She should have woken up by now,” I heard a soft melody-like voice

“Shhh. We should let her rest a bit longer.” This time, it was a masculine voice – strong and firm.

“Maybe this trip will be a good change for her.” This person was really worried – her voice cracked at ‘her’.

“Yeaaa- wait, what trip?” the same masculine was a bit confused.

“The one to U- “she was interrupted by my groaning.

“Don’t you people know how to talk softly? Commonly known as whispering? It’s annoying enough that my brain feels like it was blended and then put back in my head. I don’t need- oof.” Two pair of arms were around me and the owners of the arms were sobbing uncontrollably.

“Uhmm, could you minions please let me go?” This only made them hug me tighter. “Please don’t get snot on me,” I said mocking worry. They let go of me, glared at me with their puffy eyes and pink nose. My happiness of being free was short-lived when they lunged at me and continued squeezing the bananas out of me. I looked at the figure that was watching us with amusement – but watching me with precaution. I cleared my throat. He snapped his attention solely on me. “Could you maybe help untangle me from these pythons- that are slowly cutting off my circulation?” It was true. My head was spinning and I felt faint.

“Ok, you two. Maybe give her a bit of space? She just woke up but that doesn’t mean she’s fully okay.” Isaac explained grabbing Lina and holding her against him. I smiled at how adorable they were. My smile faded when I could still feel someone still holding onto me.

“Serena, please unwrap your limbs from around my body.” I requested. She loosened her hold but didn’t fully let go. I heard a sniffle, followed by another and many others.

“Wait… Serena, are you crying?” I pulled her away from me but held her in front of me so I could see her face.

“What? No, of course not. I’m just sweating through my eyes. Of course, I’m crying, you dimwit,” she remarked sarcastically. “You had a flipping panic attack and was unconscious for four flipping hours. We thought you slipped into a coma. So, I apologize for being worried and balling my eyes out,’ she ranted and was out of breath when she finished.

Serena has been by my side since we were 8 years old – her, 8 years and I was 7 years. So, her reaction was totally understandable. She was there for me throughout everything. But, to be honest, her reaction was also surprising. Serena was the cool-headed one out of us. She always managed to keep her emotions at bay. So, seeing her letting out what she feels and watching her cry was unnerving. One thing about Serena is that she NEVER cries. She didn’t cry when she injured her knee-cap in 6th grade. She didn’t cry when she broke up with her boyfriend. She didn’t even cry when her grandfather died. So that means she must’ve been really worried.

“I’m fine. It hasn’t happened for a long time so that’s why my body just shut down for a while. Just… calm down,” I patted her back, reassuring her.

“Can I have a turn with her now? You know, she’s also my friend,” Lina complained from where she was standing at the foot of my bed. “Now stop hogging her all to yourself.”

Serena gave me a last squeeze and then let me go. Lina jumped on my bed and hugged me so tight, I heard my bones crack. I’m not joking. I seriously heard my back crack. I caressed her hair and just breathed in her. Lavender. I know it seems creepy but Lina’s scent always calmed me down. IT’S WEIRD AS HELL.

Throughout the sweet exchange between Lina, Serena and I, Isaac was just standing there, assessing over me for any injuries. He doesn’t smile or anything, just scans me. He stands there for another minute or two and then finally breaks the silence,

“I’m gonna go make coffee… but iced chocolate for you,” he said but then added when he saw the look on my face.

I cannot handle coffee – it’s too bitter – or tea – my taste buds don’t approve of it. The only tea I can handle is Ginger tea – only the one made by my dad. Other than that, NO. I do not do coffee or tea.

Anyways, after he said that, he walked out the room. Okaaay, then. He’s not gonna give me a hug, a pat on the back or head. I turned to the two creating a lake in my room- wait, something’s wrong. This ain’t my room. My room does not look like Shailene Woodley had thrown up all over it. Yep, this is definitely Isaac’s room.

“What happened?” I was confused and hurt Isaac just gave me a cold shoulder. He didn’t say ‘Hi. How are you? Feeling okay?’ Nope. Nothing at all. I had an attack and just woke up. I expect comfort from my best friends, not them storming off after scanning over me. What was that about?

I was utterly confused. I looked over at the tear-faced girls standing before me. They just looked at each other.

“What was that about?” I asked bewildered.

Lina was the one who answered my thoughts, “He was the one who found you. He saw you running towards the girls’ convenience and he also saw Ethan. After giving Ethan a facial treatment, he ran to get you but the door was locked so he ran to the janitor to get the keys and…" she looked at Serena.

“He got there right when you collapsed. You were out cold for four hours and he was going out of his mind. We all were. We were scared, Mari. He called us and told us that he was taking you home. We immediately thought of the worst. We thought that excuse of a human got to you.” Serena continued on.

“He kinda did,” I whispered under my breath.

“What did you say?”

I jumped. Isaac was standing by the door holding the tray of drinks. He put the tray on the coffee table and came over to me.

“What do you mean ‘he kinda did’?”

I relayed the entire incident to the three and the next thing I know, Lina and Serena are blocking the door. They were trying to prevent Isaac from getting out – emphasize on the trying. Isaac was out the door within seconds. I knew the girls wouldn’t be able to stop him and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to convince him to not murder Ethan. So that’s why I ran after him too. Thank God for those days Chase and Isaac made me take a morning run as I was able to pass him and stop him just as he was about to run out the door.

I had my hands on either side of the door so that I was trapping him inside his house. I was breathing heavily. Damn, I'm way out of shape.

“Step aside, Mariah.”

“’Step aside, Mariah.’ You think I’m gonna move just ‘cause you told me to ‘step aside’”

“Mariah. This is not a f***ing joke. He put his hands on you. He f***ing…” He looked at my neck. I was well aware that my neck had a bruise.

“I know what he did, okay? But if I let you out that door, what are you gonna do, huh?”

“I’m gonna f*** up that a**hole.”

"That just sounded so wrong, on so many levels." Not helping, Serena.

Deciding to ignore that idiot.

“And then what, huh? You beat him up, you go to jail and he’ll continue harassing me. Maybe he’ll even start harassing Serena and Lina, since you’re not gonna be around anymore. So now I dare to walk out that door and go ‘f***’ him up." I step aside, directly looking at him.

I could see the war in his eyes. After a minute of contemplating, he finally sighed in defeat and went further into the house. I also sighed but in relief and followed behind him.

He abruptly stopped and said in a very scary voice, “next time, I’m gonna kill him and nothing you say or do will stop me.” He then continued walking.

I saw Lina and Serena looking at me. We were all thinking the same.

He was definitely going to keep his words.