Blue Ribbon

Chapter 40 - Our First Dance

"I loved you as Icarus loved the sun. Too close. Too much."

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Lilly's POV

After I finally got the chance to breathe without it burning my lungs anymore, Chase gathered me up in his arms. He had picked one of the folded towels from over the lounger and used it to dry the water off me. My lower lip trembled slightly from the sudden surge of cold hitting the bare skin of my arms. Chase noticed my shaky state so he immediately took off his suit jacket and placed it around my shoulders, covering me up as much as he could.

He kept his arm around me, scared if he let go this time, I would sink back into the water again. Something so negative vibrated off him, and if it wasn't for me, he would've exploded all over the place. But to keep me calm, he tried to control himself. I wanted to tell him that I was calm though. I wasn't angry or scared, not even one bit. I just felt so drained, both physically and emotionally. I just felt so turned off, because on that second when I was close to passing out, right before he pulled me out of the water, I had faced my worst darkest nightmare and well, it turns out that nightmare wasn't as scary as I gave it credit before.

So, I am...okay. Partially. But, I am okay nevertheless.

My gaze flickered to Chase beside me as he busied himself with fixing the jacket around my body. When he noticed I was looking at him, he paused in his movements and gave me his full attention. His eyes softened almost instantly, the look in them reflected that he was ready to give me and do anything I would ask for now and my heart trembled yet again.

I leaned closer to him, seeking his warmness, "Can we go home?" I mumbled, my voice low, my throat still felt raw and scratchy due to the amount of water that was forced into it.

He nodded his head, "Yeah, sure," His voice was just as low, the muscles of his jaw working and I brought my hand up, my fingers resting over his cheek, my smile weak but there nevertheless, "Hey, I am fine," I said, needing him to be less worried and scared, "Nothing happened."

"That was not nothing, Lilly," He grated out and shook his head, the anger climbing up the walls of control he surrounded himself with, "If I had gone to look for you only one minute later, just one minute late and-" His jaw ticked and he breathed out harshly, looking away from me and unable to carry on the rest of those words...if I was one minute late, you'd be dead. It was too heavy for him to say out loud.

"Well, you didn't, and I am fine," I added but it seemed that nothing I'd say would erase that raw emotion from his gaze.

Instead of arguing over it, he kept an arm wrapped around me, tucking me closer to him as he walked me out of the room. I turned my head back, looking at the pool I was under just minutes ago, my gaze flickered to the exit door at the other end, the one that was left ajar as whoever attacked me ran out when he probably heard Chase getting closer.

It doesn't need rocket science to figure out who my attacker was; it was either Nathan himself or someone he had sent to do his dirty work for him...

I carelessly shook the thought away as Chase walked me back toward the gym room where the party was still going on. Chattering deafening sounds rushed from inside the big hall, and light music played in the background, setting the mood as it enveloped every edge of the place and merged with the people's conversations; those who were trying to catch up on everyone's whereabouts, those discussing their accomplishments, and those reminiscing the good old days, those dancing, those hugging, and those laughing...

I silenced everyone's voice, stuffing my ears with imaginary cotton, and walked inside from the entrance at the other end of the room, so as not to grab attention to my messy state. I tried not to look around, I tried to stay in one spot as Chase reached to grab my purse and coat, more than ready to get out of here as well. Conner was close by, he was the one to notice us first, his gaze flickered from Chase to me, and confused lines etched his forehead. He rested his drink over the round table and inched closer, only then that I noticed Zack, standing on his other side, the same confused look in his eyes as he looked at me...God, I must look like a total mess.