The New Arrival

Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

*A Week Later*

It had been a week. A week since the news. A week since I saw him. A week since my heart was played with before it got thrown into a garbage can and ripped apart by a group of rodents. 

It was also a week since I had left my bed for any other purpose than food and hygiene.

My mum was going crazy not knowing what was happening to me and I decided that telling her wasn't going to do any good. Her and Ana had a good friendship and I didn't want to ruin that. She knew it had something to do with him though considering the numerous amount of times he had come knocking on our front door and I had told my mum to kick him out.

It felt good to have him try so hard and fail. I knew it was hurting him and that's exactly what I wanted. I wanted for him to feel as broken and as helpless as I had been feeling for the past week.

My friends on the other hand had come every day after school to visit me. They'd ask how I am and if I was feeling better. I didn't say much. That's because apart from my hatred for Luke, I didn't feel anything. Plus, I was scared that if I started talking I'd break down and spill about the night before the BBQ. I was scared of doing that; scared of how my friends would react. 

I felt like I was voluntarily placing myself in a psychiatric unit. I refused to talk to anyone and sat in my room all day. Surely everyone around me was thinking I've gone mad. I had to stop this. I had to get my sh*t together and go back to my usual self. I had to show Luke that he meant nothing to me.

Step One: I actually had to get out of bed and get dressed in something different than the oversized band shirt and tracksuits I've been wearing for the whole weak. So I slipped on a grey knit jumper, a pair of black ripped high waisted shorts and a pair of all-black low leather converse.

I already felt better. Or was I just lying to myself?

Step Two: I had to leave the house.  I decided to text my friends and let them know to meet me at McD's.

As I walked downstairs I was met by my mum's smile. "Finally sweetheart. You're out."

"Yeah," I forced one too. "I'm going to meet El and Han."

"That's a great idea. Have fun sweetie."  It made me upset to know how much it meant for my mum to go out. Had me staying in my room really effected her that bad?

~***~

Hannah and Ellie were already sitting in our usual seats, grinning as I entered. I hugged them both before taking my seat.

"You're obviously feeling a bit better." Hannah smiled.

I nodded. "Yeah, look, I'm sorry for the past week, I've been selfish to act the way I had, pushing you away and all."

Ellie shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry for. You're hurt and upset and we can't possibly blame you for that."

"Yeah," Hannah agreed. "What Luke did was unfair and he's the one who's selfish, telling you he likes you while having a girlfriend on the side? That's not right--"

"I slept with him." The words left my mouth before I could even try to stop them. Hannah stopped mid sentence, like someone had cut off her breath and Ellie's jaw dropped while her face turned pale white.

"You did what?" Hannah asked.

"I slept with him." I repeated, this time quieter. I felt shame flood me.

"Please tell me this is a joke." Ellie pleaded.

I shook my head. "It's not."

"How? When?" Ellie questioned.

I sighed. "The night of the carnival."

Hannah gasped. "That's why you came together to the BBQ! You slept over!"

I nodded. "He invited me in for a catch up. I confronted him about not talking to me. I mentioned the time when he told his mum to pass on a hi to me but it turns out he never even did that." I swallowed, my throat was clogging and I knew that the tears were building up. But I had to keep them back. I couldn't break down.

"You must be kidding me." Hannah shook her head in disbelief. 

"He generally didn't try to contact me in any way over the whole 6 weeks." I confirmed.

"But you were so broken.  So angry. So upset. How did that leave to you two--"

"I told him how much I missed him. How much he means to me and he just kissed me." My first tear rolled down my cheek, I quickly wiped it away. "From there on it was like this had to happen. Like the tension and connection was too much. Like nothing could stop us. And how I wish someone did." I cried. "I never imagined that I'd be regretting and crying over the best night of my life."

Ellie walked around the table and sat next to me, cuddling me. "I cant believe he did this."

"If I knew about him and Allysha I would never-- I swear I would never--"

"We know, we know." Ellie cooed trying to calm me down. I was now crying out waterfalls and it didn't seem like it was going to stop.

"You didn't do anything wrong Chloe." Hannah told me. "You've got to understand that. You can't blame yourself. It was all him. He's the cheat. He's the liar. He's the horrible, heartless person that is putting you through this."

"Has he come to see you?" Ellie asked.

I nodded. "Everyday but I never let him in."

"What about school how are you planning to deal with that?"

"I'm coming in on Monday." I told them. "I just need to be strong. I can't give him the satisfaction of how much he hurt me. I have to show him he's irrelevant to my life."

Hannah grinned. "That's our Chloe."

"You know we're always here." Ellie reassured. 

"I know. You're the best." I smiled and I didn't even have to force it.