Escape the Covenant || Shawmila [Completed]

Chapter 24

The moment Shawn is out of my sight, my body shakes with hysterical sobs. I go home, running in the early night while fat tears stream down my face blurring my vision and confusing me. Glancing around me, I'm relieved to know nobody is out to witness my breakdown, but I bet that the old nosy ladies of the neighborhood are watching it from the window, ready to talk about the young Cabello's pathetic collapse on the street. I ignore that thought, not really caring about the town gossiping, and just stride home.

I enter the house still crying, ready to spend the night on my bed and lose every drop of water in my body through my eyes. But my not so quiet sobs catch the attention of my grandmother. Only a step inside the house and I'm met with the worried face of Estella Cabello. «Camila, what happened, dear? ». She walks towards me, forgetting whatever she was doing, and I crawl to her wrapping my arm around her torso. I know that lately there's been some tension between us, but right now I need my grandmother's comfort.

«Gran... ». My words die in my throat as an ugly cry leaves my mouth. I simply hide my face on her chest, sniffing against her like a little girl.

She wraps her arms around me, lulling me in her embrace even if she has no clue on what is going on. «Oh baby, don't cry». But I can control it and I spend what feels like hours struggling for air against her, listening to her soothing words. When I calm down, my head hurts, my eyes are swollen, and my throat is sore. My gran moves a few strands of wild hair from my face, and with the gentlest voice I ever heard coming from her, she asks: «Would you mind telling me what happened? »

«Granny, I - » I can't think about what have been said, I can't think about Shawn's face, about his dad's threats... another lump forms in my throat, but I swallow it. «Granny, I need your help. I don't want to feel like this anymore, I just want to be numb»

The woman purses her lips, debating something in her head. «I'll think of something, but for now just stay at home, sleep as long as you want, eat whatever you want, but don't go chasing that boy. You need to rest your heart and mind». I didn't even have to mention Shawn's name for my gran to understand that I was talking about him, but I think that's understandable since my life has been pretty boring until his arrival.

I follow her suggestions, so I go to my room and just sink on the mattress. In this moment I wish the ground would open and swallow me in. My chest is hurting from heartbreak and I'm scared because I've never felt this way before. I'd never have imagined that my biggest weakness - what would have dragged me down to the bottom - would be a simple crushover a boy. I always thought of myself as a loner, I had all these walls all around me that protected me from the rest of the world. Then Shawn arrived and he knocked them down without even trying.

And now more than ever, it kills me to know that we can't be anything more than friends. This thought breaks me in so many different ways and the amount of pain my soul is facing, makes me realize that this must be love. I have fallen in love with Shawn, there is no other explanation, otherwise this wouldn't hurt so much. He's always on my mind, I dream about him, my very essence is constantly reaching for him. I can't get enough of him, of his presence, of his scent, of his touch. Only one simple kiss with him that almost cost me my life, but I would do it again and again. That's why it must be love or else I could just give him up.

I lay down on my bed and I wince as a jolt of pain shoots from my wrist. I look down and I see the fingerprints of Pete Mendes on my skin. I can't help it but wonder what's happening to Shawn right now. Is he in trouble because of me? I know his grandpa is not a fan of me – or of the rest of the coven – but he acted surprisingly nice. I can't believe he defended me from his own son. Moreover, he didn't send me away from his property once the shouts quieted down. He simply stared at me while I convinced his grandson to go back inside.

I have the feeling that Gerard Mendes is not the one I'm supposed to fear, at least as far as Shawn is concerned. But what about his son? I bet Shawn is getting an earful from his father, the biggest brainless jerk I've ever met. He talked to his own child spitting venom, like Shawn isn't the most beautiful, almost perfect human on this planet. He has to be a bonehead to not realize how precious his son is. Then the memory of his palm ready to slap me flashes in front of my eyes, and I hope with all of me that Pete has never done something similar to Shawn. He told me his father has never been a violent man, and I trust him on that, I just wish that's not going to change. 

The bruises on my wrist are not that bad, I mean it's nothing that a little bit of ice can't fix. What really bothers me now are the events of the previous hours. I had a beautiful date with the guy I like – or love – but it has been ruined by a stupid argument. I admit that I had slightly twisted his words now that I think about it, but I didn't expect him to act like he didn't care about our situation. I was literally about to unfold him on a possible way out from this madness, and he ruined it. Maybe I overreacted, maybe I am the one to blame, and now he's probably paying for my mistakes. 

I bury my head on the pillow and groan. I'm such an idiot! But my self-pity moment doesn't last very long, because all of this drama has drained my energies, and as my eyelids slowly shut, I feel my body relax and fall into a deep slumber.