Page 35 of Only When It Breaks

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 seeneverything.

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 theypulled.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 Ijust 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. “Fuckinghell, 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’restill 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. Somewherequiet.

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.

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