Our Deep End | ✔️

CHAPTER 9

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey! Please don't hesitate to leave comments. I'd love see what you guys think. Also I'm still unsure how often I should upload but I suppose I'll figure it out when I get more readers. Anyway, enjoy!

Elle's POV

"So much for making it up to me" Christian speaks up, breaking the silence. None of us had spoken a single word during the whole car ride back to my house. His face was littered with questions, but I can tell he wasn't trying to push me. Erratic behavior isn't really something I'm known for, but seeing Hunter tonight set something off in me. I've never felt this awful before in my life. Christian parks in my driveway, and turns the car off.

"I'm so sorry I-"

"It's fine, champ" he cuts me off. "Not really sure what all that was about, but it's clear you didn't mean it."

I can't help but feel like a terrible person. I ruined his night, and forced my tongue down his throat against his will.

"No, you deserve an explanation" I sigh.

"Before we left the dance, I saw Hunter. I don't know if what I'm about to say will make sense, but seeing him lit a fuse in me I didn't even know existed." I feel my throat begin to tighten, and I silently pray that I don't cry again for the millionth time tonight.

I continue. "Seeing him, and Olivia-, Ugh, it just made me feel terrible. This heartbreak thing is new to me. I just wanted him to feel what I felt, and I guess that's where kissing you comes in."

I know I sound incredibly stupid, but this is all I got right now. Hunter doesn't give a fuck about me, or who I'm with. I was silly for thinking otherwise.

"Moral of the story, I was stupid and I'm sorry." I take a deep breath and unbuckle my seat belt. The embarrassment of my actions were starting to creep, and I wanted nothing more than to disappear.

"I feel you. Love makes people do crazy things, but hear me out, he doesn't deserve you. From what I see, he never did."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. Was he right?

"And don't apologize about the kiss. It was a solid eight out of ten" he chuckles, and I punch his arm. I appreciate him being so understanding and trying to make light of the fact that I blatantly used him.

"I'm gonna head inside, come with me?" I offer. Maybe we can salvage the remainder of this shitty night. Plus I see no other cars in my driveway, meaning no one else was home.

"Actually I'm meeting my dad tonight, he's back from Singapore" he replies with a frown.

Oh. I'm a little disappointed but I figure I can use the time alone. I've got a pint of chocolate ice cream in the freezer calling my name and a face mask or two. Maybe a glass of wine while I'm at it.

"Okay, text me when you're home then?" I ask, and he agrees.

"Oh hey champ, I've been meaning to ask, did you know that Esme girl?"

I'm caught off guard by his sudden question. There's still an uneasy feeling that brushes past me whenever someone mentions her name. What happened to our town is the type of thing you read about in books, or watch in movies. Someone I grew up with was murdered. Instead of walking across the stage with us at graduation, we'll be honoring her memory. She had so much life left to live, and someone selfishly stole it from her. I did know Esme. We all knew Esme.

"Oh uh, yeah. Why?" I reply shortly. I didn't wanna get into it. I was never close with her, but I think about her every day and feel extremely phony for it. I didn't care this much about her when she was alive, but I guess that's the ironic part.