• Chapter 13 •
"The more anger towards the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present."
-Anonymous
I cough once more as the the remaining water drives up my throat.
"I got you- I got you." Peter soothes as he holds me so I am sitting up.
My mind struggles to absorb all that's happened; and my heart is racing. I'm in such of a state of shock that I don't even notice that Peter is shouting at me- trying to get my attention.
Then slowly my brain refocuses; my ears begin to pickup sound and my eyes break the place where they were frozen.
"Where are they!?" I jump in fear.
Peter holds me down as I shake violently. "They're gone! Don't worry."
I look at him with hope. "They- they are?"
"Yes, I took care of them."
My eyes spin around, picking up every detail of my location."What did you do? They were just here!"
"I, I can't tell you." He exasperates, dangling his head in shame.
"Can't tell me!" I gasp. "Those bitches tried to murder me! They were even friends of Claire's and-"
Oh crap.
"Claire! She could be hurt, what if they got her!" I scream, flailing my body upwards trying to get up.
"Brennan!" Peter speaks loudly; attempting to calm me. "I swear on my life that you will never see those girls again! Just trust me on this- and Claire is fine."
"I-" And then if it was possible, it seemed the night got darker. The wind picked up; making my soaked body turn to ice.
Peter's eyes turn quickly to stare at the river. He almost looks afraid.
"Come on." He says scooping me up in his arms. "I have to get you out of here."
"W-why? W-whats go-ing on?" My teeth chatter.
"It's not safe here. Plus your freezing and hurt, so you need rest."
I notice he is making his way over to the car. "Stop!" I yell with my horse voice. "I c-can't leave w-without Claire."
The breeze hit's my skin again and a layer of goosebumps appear.
"We don't have time. I need to get you back."
"P-Peter... She's in t-there completely wasted! We can't l-leave."
He huffs and begins running us back towards the house. Inside the music is so loud I can barely hear my own thoughts. Peter sets me on my feet but doesn't remove his hand from my back; obviously afraid that if he does I will fall apart. Which actually could be a true prediction.
My sleepy eyes scan the crazed crowd. They move from the people stuffing their face with snacks to the drunk girls grinding all over the guys. Then I spot Claire.
"There!" I shout to Peter; pointing towards the drink bar. He nods and carefully begins to push me through the dancing crowd.
"Claire!" I yell her name. She sloppily turns to face me.
"Brennan!" A smile creeps on her face. "I met this really attractive-"
"No time Claire." I interrupt. "We're leaving.
"What; hell no. I still need to chat with Molly!" She hiccups. Then she raises an eyebrow. "Girl? Why are you all wet?"
"It's nothing. Let's go!."
"Ohhhh- you hooked up with someone?" She snickers and winks.
I snap my head up and disgust swarms my feature. "Oh my God no!
She laughs. "You liar, who was it?!" She looks straight at Peter who stands next to me. "No effing way." Claire gasps. "You and Peter!"
An embarrassed blush covers my cheeks as I gape at her. "No!"
She squeals. "I knew you guys had a connection!"
I fill with anger and this awkward situation. Peter suddenly pushes past me and flings Claire over his shoulder. She laughs and begins talking to herself- totally out of it.
"Let's go." He says. I try to follow as close as I can behind him but my legs feel numb that I barely can walk.
We are out of the house and Peter is already down the street putting Claire in the back seat as I fumble trying to move down the stairs. When Peter turns around expecting to see me at his side he frowns and jogs back over to me.
"Sorry." I mumble as he slings an arm under my shoulders supporting me.
"Don't apologize."
The minute he turns on the car, the air conditioning blasts. I take in a sharp breath as my body shudders. Immediately Peter turns the knob from cold to hot, and begins to speed away.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
"What a-am I going to t-tell her mom?" I gasp wide eyed, staring back at the unconscious Claire. My wet haircicles still drips on my shoulders.
"That you went to a party and she got drunk." Peter says bluntly as he pulls the car into her driveway.
My eyes flutter in disbelief. "So basically you want me to throw her under the bus?"
"Yep." He says popping the 'p'.
"I can't do that! She's my friend, and last time I checked- that's not what friends do."
He ruffles his brow. "Actually that seems like exactly what friends do."
I shake my head. "No, it's not." Then I go into deep thought. What am I going to do?
"I guess... She could stay the night at Nic's." Peter forces out the sentence.
"Really!" I gasp.
He shrugs. "The guys wont be excited about it." He presses his lips in a line. "Especially not Stephan, but whatever I say goes."
"Thank you." I sigh with much appreciation as he pulls the car back out.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Finally we make it back to the house and I step out of the car. The night is breezy and my body shivers against the cold air. Peter hustles around and holds my shoulders; supporting me.
"C'mon. Let's get you inside-"
"Peter!" A pissed Stephan yells marching from the house. "Where the hell-" Then he seems to analyze the situation. "Brennan what happened?"
"Molly." Peter seethes.
"Holy crap." Nicolas shouts coming out the front door. He eyes my physical state. "She did the usual?"
"Nicolas! What happened to your face?" My eyes widen at his bruises. He shrugs unconfortably and makes a quick eye contact with Peter.
"Nothing to worry about. We should be more concerned with you!"
I narrow my eyes and shake off my curiosity. "What's the usual?" I gape confused.
Peter sighs. "This isn't the first time those despicable water hags have drowned someone."
My stomach drops. Peter seems to notice the nauseous look on my face because he holds me tighter.
"Okay let's go in." He says. I nod and begin to make my way up the steps. "Oh wait." He stops and turns to Stephan. "There is someone in the backseat that you need to carry in."
Stephan looks puzzled as he opens the car door. "No! Absolutely not! She can not stay here!"
"She can and she will." Peter states firmly.
"You don't understand!" Stephan panics. "When she wakes up she will know exactly where she is; and it will be a horrible dejavu." He then looks over sadly, to the unconscious Claire. "I can't do that to her."
"Stephan?" I ask slowly. "Did you two have a thing?"
He freezes and thinks to himself for a second. Then his body relaxes. "Once upon a time- yeah. It's a long story. If you need an explanation I'm sure Claire would rather you hear it from her."
"Here." Peter says as he hands me a mug of hot tea.
"Thank you." I smile burying more into my blanket on the couch.
"Does anything hurt? Do you need any pain medicine?"
I shake my head no. "A small headache but sleep will cure that."
Standing I nod and go to the stairs. "Your right, I should get some rest."
Peter follows me to the bottom. "I hope you don't mind that Claire is sharing the room with you."
I laugh. "Of course not, it would be just like a sleepover."
He smiles and begins to walk away.
"Peter-" He turns around.
"Thanks for saving me. I, I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."
He shoves his hands in his pockets. "Well I didn't really want another 'teen dies at wild party' news broadcast."
Rolling my eyes I start up the stairs.
"But seriously." He continues. I turn around and look back. "I wouldn't let you die like that."
I smile. "Goodnight Peter."
"Get some sleep."