Faking It For Real ✔

Ch 24

I could barely think, barely see, barely breathe as I made my way back to the beach house. Everyone else was still at the beach. Nobody knew. But I was sure everyone will. There's no way Bella would shut up about this. But I didn't care. I didn't care about any of that.

I was so frustrated with myself. Because even after everything, I knew I still cared about him. Even when he had broken my heart. Even when he had betrayed me like this. Even when my chest hurt this bad that I wanted to scream and cry and break everything in sight.

All I could think about was the way he called my name. The feel of his touch and his kiss and the way his eyes didn't shine anymore when his voice was full of regret.

The silence was deafening when I entered the beach house. 

The only sounds being my sniffles, and my steps towards the bedroom.

As I stepped inside the room, the sight of the bed hit me like a punch in the gut. 

The memories came flooding back, each one a painful reminder of him and how he had betrayed me.

My body trembled but I rushed around the room, grabbing all my stuff and putting it back into my suitcase. 

My hand were shaking but I managed to zip it up, the sound echoing in the empty room. I couldn't stay here a moment longer. 

I needed to get away, to put as much distance between myself and him.

I pulled my stuff down the stairs and into Hannah's room.

I stumbled towards the bed, collapsing onto it as the sobs wracked my body. 

I buried my face in the pillow, trying to muffle the sound of my cries, but it was no use. The pain was too much.

It felt like hours passed as I lay there, crying until my eyes were swollen and my throat was hoarse. 

But eventually, the tears began to subside, leaving behind a numbness that was almost worse.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind replaying every moment I had spent with Ethan. All those laughs, flirting, winks, touches and kisses. 

It flooded through my brain like the blood that rushed through my veins.

I curled into a ball, hugging my knees to my chest, as the ache in my heart intensified. 

It felt like my entire world had crumbled around me, leaving me lost and alone in the rubble.

How could I have let myself fall so hard for someone?

How could I have trusted him so completely, only to have my heart shattered into a million pieces? 

The questions swirled in my mind, taunting me.

The door cracked open and I knew who it was.

"Ava." Hannah's whisper echoed through the room. She clicked the door close and I could hear her steps approaching me.

I sat up straighter now, wiping at my tear stained face as I asked, "Can I stay in your room?"

Sitting on the bed beside me, she said, "Of course you can." Before I could thank her, her arms came around me.

I didn't know how much I need that hug until her warmth enveloped me. It was like something cracked and I started crying again.

She held me as I sobbed into her shoulder. She didn't say anything or press for more details, she just let me cry.

When my tears finally subsided, I pulled back, feeling a little lighter but still weighed down by the ache in my chest. 

Hannah handed me a tissue, and I blew my nose, the sound echoing in the quiet room.