𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐑 |

chapter twenty-five

Vera

As if the darkness wasn't bad enough, my vision was blurred due to the waterfall of tears that wouldn't stop falling. I frantically wiped my cheeks, sobbing harder when the wetness wouldn't stop. My bag slipped from my arm, everything inside spilling out.

"Shit!"

I dropped to the ground beside my things, swiping at the shedding tears then pushing my hair out of my face. The events of tonight just left me so defenseless, helpless. Everything came crashing down on me with no warning and I was left with the bruises and scratches from the damage.

I fumbled around and grabbed my phone, managing to dial Jesse's number. I brought the phone against my ear and looked around as the air got caught in my lungs.

The phone rang for way longer than I liked and I almost lost hope. Until I blew out a sigh of relief when Jesse finally picked up.

"What's up, Vee?"

"I-I need a ride," I choked out, my eyes scanning my environment for a second time. There's no doubt that I sound like a madman and I couldn't control anything at this moment. "I'm stranded on a damn sidewalk, it's dark and I–"

"Okay, okay. Vee, I need you to breathe and send me your location, okay? Stay on the phone with me."

His keys jingling were the last thing I heard before I pulled the phone away from my ear to send him my location. I put him on speaker and tried to take his advice of calming my breathing. But every breath I took burned my chest and just made me cry harder.

I tried to erase tonight's events out of my mind completely but it all kept racing back to me. The look on Enzo's face, the things him and his mom said—It made my body ache. Now I'm stranded outside in the pitch black; the cherry on top.

A car slowly pulled up beside me, the driver's door flinging open once parked. Jesse stepped out and rushed over to me, taking in the sight before fully focusing on me.

"Jeez, Vee...What happened?" He asked, picking up my things.

I couldn't speak. Could barely breathe. The question just set me off and I buried my face in my hands, hiccuping when a sob ripped out of me.

One of his arms came around me and he helped me up, bringing me to the car. He tossed my bag in the backseat after putting me in the passenger seat then jogged over to the drivers side.

The door shut and he left the car in park, not saying anything. I wiped my face with my sleeves and stared down at my lap. It was easier to not look at Jesse because I can already predict the look he'd give me. I don't want to see the pity and I don't want him to ask. But I already know he will.

"Where do you want to go?" He asked quietly, clearing his throat.

"To Katherine's. I need clothes," I rasped, rubbing my nose.

The car was put back in drive and it pulled off. Everything passed by in a blur, making this ride easier for me to deal with. Going to Katherine's house alone would just make me feel worse but I wanted to get out of these clothes and scrub tonight off of my body and mind.

I felt Jesse's eyes occasionally moving over to me, silently checking on me. Knowing him, if I looked back, that would start the conversation about what happened and I didn't want to deal. I physically couldn't deal.

The car came to a slow stop and I sat up straighter, pulling off my seatbelt. My heart fell to my ass and I quickly pushed the door open.

"No, no, no..."