Until Death Do Us Apart ➪ 𝔼𝕣𝕚𝕔 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕖𝕣

Chapter 9: Falling Hard

You were warming up in the pit with Christina and Will when she asked, "So, were you at Eric's last night?"

I blushed and kept stretching.

"You guys are gonna get caught," Will said.

I cocked my head in confusion. "Caught?"

He rolled his eyes. "It's against the rules for an initiate to date one of their leaders."

I stood up. "Good thing I'm not dating him."

Will rolled his eyes again, and the three of us moved with the rest of the group toward the mat. It was fight day. Again.

Eric glanced at the clipboard in his hand. "Will and Peter."

I grabbed Will's arm before he stepped up. "Kick his ass."

He gave me a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

I rolled my eyes but smiled.

The second they raised their fists, they went at it. Peter launched a punch, but Will caught his arm and countered with a clean hit to the face. Peter grunted, grabbed Will's shoulders, and kneed him hard in the gut, knocking him down.

But Will got back up fast.

He locked his hands together and slammed them into Peter's chest, then followed it with a kick while Peter was down.

"Will wins," Eric called out.

I clapped and smiled as Will stepped off the mat. "Nice one," I said.

"Thanks."

"Jordan and Brandon."

I sighed. Great.

I stepped onto the mat, fists up. Brandon went for my face, but I ducked and slammed into his middle, knocking him down. I went to pin him by the neck, but he grabbed my foot, yanking me down with him. I landed hard.

Before I could fully stand, he hit me—right, left, uppercut. I hit the floor again, blinking up at the ceiling.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Eric flinch with every hit I took.

Brandon was coming to finish me, but I twisted and side-swiped him with my legs, knocking him off balance. I flipped up using my hands, kicked him in the gut, then grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him back down.

Out cold.

"Jordan wins."

Will whooped. "That was awesome."

I laughed through the blood trickling from my nose. "Thank you."

"Fights are done for the day. Go do whatever," Four shouted.

I glanced around for Eric but didn't see him. Maybe he had something leader-y to do.

With nothing else planned, I wandered the halls, bored—until I heard giggling and whispering. My curiosity got the better of me. I crept around the corner—

And froze.

Eric stood against the wall, whispering into some girl's ear. She giggled, then leaned in.

Please don't kiss her. Please don't—

He kissed her back.

My heart cracked.

Tears welled up before I could stop them. I ran. Fast.

Why was I crying? We weren't even dating.
But why would he do that?
Was I not good enough to kiss?

I barely noticed where I was going until I landed in the cafeteria. I sank into my usual seat with a bottle of water. Will and Christina weren't around.

Of course.

I sat alone until Four walked in.

"You alright?" he asked.

I wiped a tear. "Yeah." But my voice cracked.

"No, you're not."

I sighed. "I don't really want to talk about it." I picked at the splintering wood of the table.

"I'm here if you ever do." He rubbed a hand on my back.

I gave a small smile. "Thank you," I whispered.

The door slammed open. Eric walked in.

I turned my face away.

I stood to leave, but he grabbed my arm. "Hey, Jordan—"

I yanked free and walked straight back to the dorm.

I threw myself under the covers and curled up, hiding from everything. From him.

I skipped dinner. I just wanted this day to end.

The Next Morning

I woke to banging pots and pans.

"Get up!" Four yelled.

I groaned, rolling over to see Christina also dragging herself up. My whole body screamed at me to stay in bed—but I couldn't hide forever.

I threw the covers off, grabbed clothes from my trunk, and changed. I braided my hair into two French braids, tugged my hoodie over my head, and left.

Will and Christina were already gone.

Thanks for ditching me. Again.

I walked into the pit, ignoring Eric's stare boring into my back. I sat apart from everyone, stretching alone.

"Okay, everyone gather around," Eric called.

I moved toward the group, keeping my head low. Our eyes met for half a second before I looked away.

"Today's warm-up: ten laps around the pit. Go."

Groans echoed, but we all started running.

I kept to the back. My legs felt like concrete. With each lap, my body slowed, my vision blurred.

"Hey, Jordan—keep going," Four called.

I nodded weakly.

But then the ground tilted. My knees buckled.

I collapsed.

Eric's POV

I spun my knife lazily, waiting for the initiates. One by one, they arrived.

Then Jordan walked in. Hoodie up. Quiet. Alone.

Something was wrong.

First she ignored me, now she wasn't even talking to her friends. Her usual fire—gone.

"Everyone gather around."

Our eyes met. Just for a second. But it was enough. She looked... broken.

I hated it.

"Ten laps around the pit. Go."

I watched them take off, Jordan lagging behind. That wasn't like her.

Halfway through, she stumbled. Slowed.

Then dropped.

"Jordan!" Four shouted.

I ran.

Dropped to my knees beside her and pressed my ear to her chest.

Heartbeat. Thank God.

"I'm taking her to the infirmary."

I lifted her in my arms and carried her straight there. A nurse rushed over.

"Oh dear."

She inserted an IV. "Her blood sugar crashed. She's going to be okay."

I exhaled. Relief and guilt hit me all at once.

Once the room was empty, I brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead.

I lingered.

Then left, heart pounding.

What the hell is this girl doing to me?