Page 97 of Unfolding Ethan

Katherine hugged me and said that he would be all right. The doctors already checked upon him and said he might wake up any moment and Rio was all right too. He had minor bruises.

The shutters were closed, so I couldn’t see him, but I sat outside, impatiently waiting for him to wake up so I could scold him. Volt was there when it all happened. Ethan was already in a bad mood, so when the whole swim team was leaving for their celebration party, Paul and his swim team teased them and said some things.

One of the things was teasing Rio about his sexuality, so Ethan punched one of the guys and all hell broke loose. Next thing you know they were fighting with each other and even though security came, one of them had smacked a baseball bat on Ethan’s head. I winced when Volt said that. But he was all right because security stopped every one of them and then Ethan passed out when nine-one-one was called.

We all waited, and I wasn’t surprised to see Dad in the hospital in the middle of the night, who came to check up on Ethan. He assured all of us that he was going to be okay. I would believe that when I saw him with my own eyes and talked to him. His mothers were in the room, sitting with him, and Evey was taken to her aunt’s home. Ryan and Carter came too with food for all of us, but I denied it. I couldn’t eat. I had no appetite.

I took a deep breath and wrapped my arms around myself as the stench of medicines surrounded me in heavy air. I tucked my hair away and Volt squeezed my hand in reassurance.

Ethan had woken up half an hour ago and was talking to his mothers. Even Rio, who got stitches on his forehead, was waiting with us to talk to him. I sat up as soon as Julia walked out of the room.

“How is he?” I asked. “Can we see him? Can I talk to him?”

She smiled at me and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I am sorry, sweetheart. He doesn’t want to see you or anyone right now. He said he wants to be alone for a while.”

I nodded and sat down, ignoring the way my heart squeezed in my chest with hurt. Did he still hate me for telling him that I had kissed Liam?

“Why don’t you all visit him tomorrow? Your parents must be worried and Rio, sweetheart, go take some rest,” she reassured everyone. “I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to talk to you all tomorrow.”

I hugged them goodbye and knew I couldn’t sleep without seeing or talking to him. I stayed and sat on the chair, hugging myself and hoping he wouldn’t hate me for telling him the half-truth.

Twenty Six

I am Too Special

Ethan

Ilistened to the beeps of my heart monitor and how it got fast when I thought about Kiara and her hurt stricken face when I said those things to her. I had never hated myself more than I did at that moment, lying to her and seeing a tear slide down her cheek just because I was being an asshole.

I wanted to see her and apologize to her as soon as I said that, but I was so mad and angry. Even Liam scolded me for saying that to her when she left us. And I took all that anger out by fighting with some guys who were teasing Rio with harsh words just because of his sexuality. I couldn’t take it anymore and I snapped at them.

My mothers scolded me when I came out of the unconsciousness, and I hated hurting them, seeing them sad because I couldn’t control my anger. So, when they said Kiara and everyone was waiting patiently to talk to me, I bailed. I told them I didn’t want to talk to anyone and wanted to be alone.

I didn’t want Kiara to see me like this. She would get sad and I didn’t want to cause her more hurt or pain.

I had closed my eyes and I was counting my breaths when I heard someone open the door. I saw it was Kiara peeking in to check up on me. My breath wavered and I swallowed the lump in my throat seeing her. Her hair was messily braided, leaving strands framing her face, her warm golden-brown eyes glistening with tears, and I knew she had cried a lot.

I did that. I made her cry.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to wake you up. I was just checking up on you.” She took a shuddering breath and looked away from me. “I’ll wait outside.”

“No,” I said and cleared my throat. “Stay. Come here. I . . . I want to talk to you.”

Kiara paused her hand on the door and looked me straight in the eye. I saw the turmoil of emotions in her eyes and the slight clench in her jaw. I wanted her to be mad at me and scold me for being an inconsiderate asshole and judging her as soon as I saw her with Liam. And I needed to apologize to her for comparing her to Ariana and thinking she would do the same.

I sighed in relief when she stepped inside and walked to the chair beside my bed. I was about to sit up, but she gently laid her hand on my shoulder. “No, Ethan, you should get some rest.”

She pulled her hand away when I lay down and saw her sit on the chair.

“How are you, Bella?” I asked her when she looked over the bandage around my head and knuckles.

“I am fine.” She chuckled and shook her head. “You’re the one in the hospital bed and you’re askingmeif I am okay?”

I raked my eyes over her and said, “I amsosorry, Kiara. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I didn’t mean any of them. I was angry seeing you with Liam, who was holding you, and then you said you had kissed him and I . . . I snapped at you.” I closed eyes shut. “Iamreally sorry.”

Her soft, warm hand held mine, and I looked at her kissing my knuckles and staring at our adjoined hands. “I am sorry too for never telling you about it.” She took a deep breath. “I liked him. We kissed once and then the whole school knew he was with Ariana. Nothing else happened, E.”

I nodded, wanting the scent of her black vanilla and coconut closer to me. “I know, Bella. Come here.”

---