Chapter 16

Chapter 161

The doorbell rang; Arianna went upstairs to wash her face.
“One second!” I called, drying my hands on the dishtowel before flinging it over my shoulder.
It rang again and so I rushed over to answer, “I said one goddamn sec—”
“Hi.” It was Cole.
I paused a minute, feeling a blush run to my cheeks, “What are you doing here?” I asked finally.
He looked a bit hurt.
I shook my head vigorously, probably looking a bit insane, “I mean I didn’t know you were coming…”
“Well, surprise?” He shrugged, smirking.
What the hell? Why wasn’t he mad at me? Let’s go over the list shall we? First I made him bleed then I run away from him without so much as a word before storming off in Arianna’s car.
I mustered a, “Hah,” then retreated inside the house. He followed me, closing the door behind him.
“You don’t look too happy to see me,” He commented, “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no,” I told him, “I did, and I’m really sorry.”
“No you didn’t.” He shook his head.
“Last time I checked I made you bleed and ran like a maniac.” We talked while I put some dishes away.
“It’s okay, it was my fault.” I wished he would have stopped blaming himself. It was my fault.
“No, mine.” I argued back.
“I’d like to take the credit for our downfall if you don’t mind.” He grabbed the right side of my waist spinning me around so that I was only an inch from his face.
“What. The. Hell.” I heard Arianna’s voice from the kitchen doorway, “Get out! Get out! I look like Captain Shitface!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Captain Shitface? HA HA HA!
Cole turned away from me fast, laughing so hard I thought he was going to die.
“Are you—pfttt AHAHAHA!” I spluttered all over the place, trying to ask if he was okay.
“Both of you shut up!” Arianna yelled, “Anika come with me. Cole you wait in the living room.” Uh oh, Arianna plus pregnancy hormones equals Anika’s in trouble. Oh, boy.
“I’ll be right back,” I laughed, following Arianna up the stairs, not that I had a choice since she had me by the arm.
“I can’t believe you did that!” She whispered angrily.
“What?!” I asked, “I didn’t do anything!”
“Cole is bad news! What are you doing letting him in here?!”
“Yeah, like your boyfriend is so much better!”
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
“At least Cole doesn’t beat me!” I spat, watching my venomous words sink deep into her pores and then into her bloodstream before heading back downstairs.
I could hear her sputtering nonsense from the top of the stairs. When I entered the kitchen Cole was neck deep in the refrigerator.
“What are you doing?” I asked, now in a not so wonderful mood.
“Uh, nothing!” Cole said, as he pulled his head out of the refrigerator too fast resulting in him bumping it on the top of the shelf he was under.
“Ah!” he yelled, “God damn it!”
I busted out into a fit of laughter, “Are—are you okay?!” I attempted.
“Yeah, fine.” He said as he rubbed the back of his head.
“Uh, wanna get out of here?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure.” He said as a smile spread across his face.
“Alright,” I smiled back, “Let me get ready. I’ll be right down.”
“Haha, okay, I’ll wait in the car.” He waved as he left the kitchen and out the front door.
I ran upstairs quick to find Arianna’s door shut tight. Her sobs were audible from the hall, I felt bad but not really. After I shook her out of my brain I went into my room and changed fast. 2

“Hey, so where do you wanna go?” Cole asked as I slid into the passenger’s seat.
“Let’s go to the park!” I exclaimed. The park sounded like a good place to talk and I haven’t been there in awhile.
“The park…?” Cole asked, quirking an eyebrow, “What about my place? My parents aren’t home. We could, you know… watch a movie?”
“No, the park. It’d be a great place for us to talk and get to know each other better.” I smiled.
“Right, get to know each other better.” Cole said as he shifted the car into drive, “Sounds good.”
“He doesn’t want you. He’s going to use you for sex and then throw you away like a piece of trash.”
“No he’s not! Shut up!” I screamed loud after hearing the obnoxious voice that I forgot no one else could hear.
“What are you talking about…?” Cole looked at me like I was crazy. Which I am, but that’s beside the point.
“You’re not using me, are you?” I asked in a low voice looking down at my feet. His cars floor was covered with food wrappers.
“Huh? Using you? Nah.” He shook his head absentmindedly.
“Can you take me home?” I asked, he took too long to answer and I really needed to get back to Arianna… I was supposed to take her to the doctor today.
“What? Why?” Cole turned his head towards me.
“Watch the road!” I yelled, “I need to get back to Arianna. I did something I shouldn’t have and I have to fix it, okay?”
“Uh, yeah, whatever.” He said, turning the car around.
“Thanks.” I smiled for a brief moment.
“Yeah, sure.” Cole rolled his eyes and focused on the road.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He pressed down more on the gas.
“Fine.” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest and turning towards the window.
When we pulled up to Arianna’s house I got out of the car without saying a word. I hate his little attitude, it pisses me off.
I walked into the house and straight up the stairs to apologize to Arianna.
“Hey, Arianna?” I asked, tapping on her door.
There was no answer and I couldn’t hear anything. Maybe she fell asleep. I turned the knob slowly and peered into the room.
“Arianna! Oh my god, Arianna!” I screamed horrified at what I saw. “Why did you do this?!” I yelled, even though I knew she wasn’t waking up any time soon and this was definitely not good for the baby. She was lying across her floor bleeding out; a crimson knife lay in her right hand. “God damn it!” I couldn’t stop screaming. I was scared. Horrified at the fact that I was probably the cause of this.
Hospital! Doctor… I need a doctor. An ambulance. I tore my phone out of my pocket and dialed 911 as fast as I could.
“Hello, 911, what’s your emergency?” the voice sounded too sweet for my ears.
“My fucking emergency is that my best friend is bleeding out on the floor!” I scream at the lady.
“Ma’am, please stay calm. What’s your friend look like, is she pale or—”
“She’s pretty pale her arms are bleeding! I don’t know what to do! Help me…” I started to cry. What had I done?
“Just relax. We’ll send someone over right away.” She seemed not to care in the least. How could she not care?
“How am I supposed to relax?! You try coming home to your best friend bleeding out on the floor and be calm about it!”
“Ma’am, I’m sending someone over now.” She says before the line goes dead. A few minutes later I could hear the sirens coming up the street and stopping in front of the house.
Why do our parents have to be gone at a time like this? Ugh. I ran quickly down the stairs to open the door.
“Where is she?” they ask as soon as they step into the house.
“The room right in front of the stairs,” I told them, pointing.
“Holy good God…” I heard one of the women gasp after opening the door.
“Go get a stretcher, Rick!” I hear a man call down the stairs then the door opens and slams shut.
I sat in the living room the whole time just listening. I didn’t know what else to do. What to say. I just knew I felt the worst that I’ve felt in my whole life.
“Way to go.” Oh, great. Because this is what I need at a time like this. “You know, if she dies, it’s all your fault.”
“I’m sorry…” I whisper, tears falling down my face.
“Not good enough… Not good enough…” His voice fades away.