GRAYSON'S POV
The wind had sped up and the sky was dark. The gloominess of the morning gave off anxious vibes. Something didn't feel right.
My phone vibrated on my night stand, startling me out of my zen.
"Hello?"
"Grayson, it's Violet. Have you seen Chloe?" Her voice sounded frantic.
"No, what's wrong? Is something wrong?" I sit up.
"Her mom called me. She never came home last night."
My heart started pounding and I could hear the wind picking up outside.
"I'll come pick you up. W-we'll go drive around and look."
———
Think, think, think.
I kept trying to pick out places she could've been at. Violet was sobbing and looking out the window.
"Where could she be?" Her voice was trembling.
"I-I don't know," I sigh.
"Have you ever been to the shore?" I ask.
"No, I haven't even seen the whole city yet," she chuckles. "Oh, yeah. I forgot," I smile.
"Oh my gosh," I step on the gas. "What?" She jumps. "I know where she is."
———
The drive took forever and the beach was deserted, so it probably wasn't worth coming here.
Waves crashed upon the shore and clouds kept getting darker by the minute.
"Chloe!" I call out. "Grayson, it's no use. She's not here. Why would she be here?"
"She has to be! Just believe me, damnit!"
I clench my jaw and walk further down the beach, hoping for a sign or anything. I look ahead and see something in the sand.
It looked like a person, but there was a lot of sand covering it. I run closer to it, and the closer I get, the more I see her.
"Chloe!" I panic. I drop to my knees and frantically brush sand off of her. I turn her onto her back and see bruises and blood everywhere.
"Oh my god," Violet comes running up to us.
"Chloe," I shake her shoulders and her eyes slowly open up. I pull her to my chest and start tearing up. "Are you okay?!"
"What happened?!" Violet says.
"I-I don't..." She stutters. "Shh," I comfort her in my arms. I shake my head at Violet, gesturing her to stop talking.
———
Violet frantically drove us to the nearest hospital. I'm not sure why I let her drive my car.
It's a Porsche Panamera and she could crash it any minute, considering her frightening driving skills. I don't have the money to replace it.
Chloe couldn't stop shaking. I wish I knew what to do. I really wish I knew what happened so I wouldn't be sitting here being useless.
I knew a lot about anxiety, considering I have it, and my mom would always squeeze me tight when I was having a anxiety attack.
That didn't seem to be helping Chloe. I think she's rather traumatized than having an anxiety attack.
———
"I'm fine!" She rages. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, holding her so she wouldn't attack anyone.
"Miss Varela, you aren't fine. The results from your drug test were not okay, especially for your health," the doctor explains.
"I am fine!"
"Your parents should be here soon. We are contacting the police."
"Please don't," she sobs. "Okay, I'll ask you again," he takes a seat on a stool.
"How did this happen?"
She ponders for a moment, looking down at her lap. "Exactly. One of the possibilities is you were attacked and drugged."
"I was not!"
He casually gets up and leaves the room, only leaving her to cry harder. "Why," she muffled into my arms.
"I've only been here for two weeks, Grayson," she looks up at me, "two weeks."
———
Monday came and Chloe had to stay in the hospital. She's most likely going to spend the rest of her week there.
Last night, she told the doctor she'd overdose if they called the police, and that really frightened me. I barely know her and I'm suddenly seeing the morbid side of her.
However, they did call the police without her knowing, and they hid all medication from her for her own safety.
I couldn't focus on anything but her. I didn't even tune into what Mr. Carpipabichi had to say, whether it was math or an inspiration speech.
"Hey." I look up and see Scarlett hovering over my desk. "How's Chloe?"
"She's doing o-" I stop myself. I furrow my eyebrows and look at her again. "She's fine."
"That's good! I'm glad she's okay," she grins and walks back to her seat. I was not worried anymore, I was now furious.
"Dolan," Mr. Carpipabichi calls out. He gestures me to come up his desk, and I do so. "Are you and Chloe close? I know you guys just met and all, but," he shrugs.
"Y-yeah, we are. Why?"
"I was wondering if you could take her homework to her. Where is she, by the way?"
"She's sick," I grab the papers from his hand. "Oh, okay. Well, I hope she feels better. Make sure she study's for the test she didn't take on Friday. She still needs to make that up."
"Okay," I nod in annoyance and walk back to my seat. I see Olivia, Allison, and Scarlett talking secretively, but they quickly stop when they see me looking at them.
Things are slowly adding up.
———
CHLOE'S POV
"You missed a lot today. You missed three tests and a presentation."
"You seriously went to all of my teachers to get my homework?"
"Uh, yeah," he chuckles, "gotta make sure my heroine addict friend is recovering but also studying."
"I hate you," I smile and look through the pile of work. "There's no way I'm doing any of this," I look up.
"Um, yes you are. I'm gonna help you."
"Are you even smart?"
"You'd be surprised," he smirks.
———
