Fractured

Chapter 15

I wake up to the sun shining on my face and bury it in my pillow and groan. I smile thinking about how my day is going to go.

I kind of expected Rowan to be next to me, but when I tapped the other side of the bed it was just empty. I sighed wondering why we always get into fights and why he always has to make a big deal out of everything. I get out of bed ready to face whatever is going to happen next.

After using the bathroom I go to the kitchen and make some pancakes for myself. While making my pancakes I try to see if Rowan is home. After I'm done making it, I sit down with a cup of milk and watch Cobra Kai while eating. Once I'm done I realize that Rowan actually isn't home. He knew it was birthday and he missed it. I can't tell if he did it intentionally or not because he's upset. To be honest I kind of want to not understand him but I do. Can you blame him, I technically lied to him.

I think of it all while a tear slides down my cheek. I wipe that tear off with my sleeve and scold myself for being such an immature pathetic child and always crying. I pick up the phone and call Emily. After a few rings she picks up.

"Heyyy. Wanna spend the day together or something?" I ask.

"Well I can't spend the whole day together but of course I can spend a few hours with you like maybe up to 4 pm since it's 10 am right now. But birthday girl, aren't you supposed to spend this day with your beloved Mr. Clay?"

"I'll tell you what happened when you come over, love you."

"Ciao, ti amo."                                                                                                                                                                           (Italian: "Bye, love you")

...

After telling Emily everything she starts making ramen for lunch. "Bastard!" she says loudly.

"I can't believe he's still not here. What an asshole, he's just a bitch. Fuck him honestly. Who cares? You can do better, I say you should break up. Like I hate to be the one that wrecks relationships and stuff but this is so toxic. He's so toxic."

"I'm not breaking up with him, Emily. He's my boyfriend and I love him. Sure he has some ups and downs, and he is toxic sometimes but there's nothing completely wrong with that. Kind of."

"THERE'S EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. HE'S A WALKING RED FLAG!"

"Jesus, calm down. He's not a red flag. And you shouldn't be saying anything about MY love life."

"You're right," she sighs as she pours both of us red wine.

"Hmm red wine, someone is in a mood."

"Dealing with this shit and it's your birthday, please you need it." and to that we toast.

An hour and two glasses of wine later I hear the doorbell. My heart races with the idea of thinking that it's Rowan. When I open the door my shock replaces everything even though a new level of happiness stirs.

"SURPRISE!!" the three of them shout at the same time.

"Oh my hell. You guys came to Italy for my birthday? For me?" I ask

"You think we'd ever miss your birthday" Darren snickers as he hugs me tight.

"Hey, move along my turn." Emma says as she hugs me tight. She whispers in my ear as she lets go "It was all Quinton. The whole thing. His idea.".

"Happy Birthday, sweetcheeks." Quinton says as he hugs me tight.

"So where's prince charming?" Darren asks, leaving me with a look of confusion as to who 'prince charming' is.

"He means lover boy. As in Rowan." Emma says.

"Oh." I try to come up with an answer but a lie comes out "Working, uh we spent all night and morning together but he had to go work now."

"Huh." Quinton says. I lead them to the kitchen, taking snacks out and pouring more wine.

"So how long are you guys staying for?" I ask.

"One day." Darren says.

"One day!" I exclaim.

"Yep, sorry sweetie we were rushing. But it's fine cause you'll visit right?" Emma asks.

"Mhm. So that means we have to do everything today. Goddamn, ooh I have to introduce you to Emily and Ajax." I say

"Who the fuck is Ajax, no offense. Just I hate that name. It sounds so childish like a monkey in a cartoon." Quinton says furrowing his eyebrows.

"Okay, asshole let's go." I say grabbing his wrist leading them to the door.

...

We're at the bar right now and we're trying to come up with a plan to spend the rest of the night, when an idea comes to Emily's mind.

"I've come up with an idea. So I heard Rick saying there was a party on the beach tonight, and anyone can come." she says.

"I love you." Emma says.

"Hey that's my girlfriend." Ajax says.

"Please, your name is Ajax." Quinton snorts as everyone laughs at that.

"I thought we were past that! Didn't you say we were friends." Ajax says

"I did, and I make fun of my friends half of the time. I mean just ask Darren." Quinton smiles nodding his head as Consume by Chase Atlantic plays through the speakers. Darren rolls his eyes chuckling.

...

"So where are you guys sleeping for the night?" I ask Quinton as we keep dancing on the beach.

"We got a hotel." he mumbles. I grab his hand and make him grab Emma's and I grab Darren's and drag them to the water. As soon as I do that everyone starts splashing each other. Quinton lifts me up just to throw me in the water again. "QUINTON. I'm so getting you back for this." I shout trying to find him.

I look around seeing many bodies but not his. Smiling I feel someone's hands grab me from the back and pull me to them spinning me around. "You scared me for a second." I said before I started splashing him.

"Okay, I get it. Okay. Stop, stop." he said laughing before pulling me close into him making me gulp. My eyes widened, pushing myself away, pressing my hands on his chest "What are you doing?" I whisper.

"Nothing, there was a person moving behind you and I had to pull you out of the way." he said looking around.

"Oh" I say.

Once we're all dried off and done with the day they drop me back home. I hug all of them shedding a tear.

"Oh my gosh, sorry I'm such a baby. I'm just going to miss you guys so much. I love you."

"We love you too." Emma says.

We all share our goodbyes as I enter the house. I look up to see Rowan's hand fisting the chair as his other hand has blood dripping down on it. I look below his hand to see crushed glass.

"Rowan, what happened?" I ask softly. He turns around scaring me with the deadly look on his face. In a second I was standing in the middle of the room and now his hands are wrapped around my throat with me pushed up against the wall.

A/N:OOP. HEYYY. I love chase atlantic. I hope this didn't offend people with the name Ajax. Do you love Chase Atlantic? When's your birthday? Also all my translations now and in the future chapters and future books are from google translate so apologies if they don't mean what it said. OH and do you agree with Emily?