Coming Up for Air (cole caufield x oc)

Twenty-Eight

𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙚

Messages

Conversation with Tate O'Connor

Cole
i just sent josh money to get
frey's phone fixed.
how is she doing?

Tate
not good. what do you expect?

Cole
you're right, im sorry. i'm just
worried about you guys and want
to help.

Tate
well thank you for last night, but
we're fine now. we don't need any
more of your help. i'm taking frey back
to her mom's place today.

Cole
okay, thats good.
if i can do anything else, will
you just let me know? or Nick?
he's worried too.

Tate
maybe.
good talk.

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Messages

amigos

Cole
either of you guys seen Freya
today? sorry again for calling
you out of the blue. i would've
gone myself if i wasn't so far away.

Brady
seriously, don't even mention
it. if my gf was ever in trouble
like that and i couldn't help her,
i'd be sending anybody i could
find.

Josh
yeah, it wasn't a problem. i went to
knock on their door but the brunette
girl answered and said they were fine,
so i didn't actually see freya

Cole
okay, that's all right.
they're strong, i know they
will be okay on their own. but if
you see them, just lmk how they seem
if you can

Brady
of course.
she's gotta get a restraining
order or something against that
guy. he put his hands on her.
did you know about him?

Cole
i knew she left florida to get away
from an ex, but i thought it was
just like a bad break-up or something.
did she seem hurt at all?

Brady
for the most part, i don't
think so, but i didn't really ask
for specifics about what he did.

Cole
that's okay.

Josh
you guys aren't dating?

Cole
no.

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Messages

Conversation with Riley (Mike's GF)

Cole changed contact name to: Riley Davis

Cole
hey, you doing okay?

Riley
better than tate and frey, ig

Cole
is there anything i can do? or
that nick and i can do?

Riley
you can tell me the truth

Cole
what?

Riley
did you know that Kirby was fucking
jessie over?

Cole
absolutely not.
i've been kicking myself
for not figuring it out
somehow, but i swear there
were no signs.

Riley
then why did he tell Jess that
you and Nick knew?

Cole
i seriously don't know.

Riley
like if i understood why he said
that, like if there was a reason, then
i might be more likely to believe you.

Cole
believe me, i know.
i can't even look at him.
i don't know that he would
even be able to give me answers
if i asked.
nick tried to talk to him
but he just like brushed it off.

...

Cole
also, i should have texted sooner
to say i'm really sorry about you
and michael. you deserve
better, though.

Riley
that's nice of you to say.
and i agree, i deserve someone
better. i already have a little crush
if i'm being honest.

Cole
well now you've gotta tell me
more. do i know them?

Riley
yes but that's all i'm saying
on the matter! i plead the fifth!
that's what you and the americans
say right?

Cole
haha, yes.
all right, well maybe one
day i'll get it out of you.

...

...

Riley
hey cole?
i believe you.

Cole
you do?

Riley
yes.
and i think deep down
freya does too. she might
just need some extra reminding
that you care about her. obviously
once her phone is fixed it will
be easier.

Cole
i hope so.

...

Cole
can i actually ask a favor
of you?

Riley
shoot.

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𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕪𝕒

Freya decides fixing her phone can wait. She has Tate take her straight home, which is empty when she arrives around noon. Her mother is at work, and she imagines Mac is somewhere with friends. She doesn't know how she'll tell them everything that happened. Some small part of her fears—irrationally—that they'll be angry at her for some reason. As if she put herself in the position to get hurt.

Still in yesterday's clothes, Freya drags her aching body to the shower. There, she undresses and surveys the damage on her skin: there are marks from Dalton's fingernails along her forearm her waist, where Dalton had grabbed her.

The worst pain, though, is in Freya's head. Her scalp is aching, and she worries that Dalton might have ripped out a clump of hair when he yanked her head back.

No amount of scrubbing in the shower seems to wash Dalton off her skin. Sobbing—from both pain and exhaustion—Freya washes out her hair, wincing as the suds sink into her follicles. When she turns off the water, she stands still in the shower for several long minutes, as if it's still running.

Then, sighing, she steps out, returning to her room and climbing into bed, her pets snuggled close beside her.