Swear || a.i [editing in progress]

Chapter 24 "It Starts"

I woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare.

I had a dream where Jess took Ansel away from me and my mother killed my brother, forcing me to watch it play out.

My head was beaded with sweat and I forced myself to kick off my blanket from my hot skin. Tears streamed down my face and I struggled to breathe.

"Elliot?" I shouted for my brother. When he didn't come, I stood up from bed with wobbly legs and walked toward the door, gripping onto anything I could find for dear life.

I went to Elliot's room and realized the lights were turned on. I nudged the door gently and it opened easily, revealing my brother sitting on his bed with a frown on his face as he read his book.

"Elliot?" I said again, closing the door behind me and walking toward Elliot.

His head shot up and his lips parted to say something but nothing came out.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" He asked. I shrugged and sat on his bed.

"And so were you."

"I couldn't sleep."

"I had a nightmare." I scoffed. Elliot paused for a second and placed his book on his nightstand and tucked his legs under his body.

"Wanna talk about it?" he asked concerned. I shook my head and kept my gaze on the wooden floor.

"I'm scared. Ashton called me a while ago." I sighed and rubbed my eyes tiredly.

"Really? What did he say?" Elliot asked again. He scooted closer to me.

"Nothing much." I lied.

"Bay, I know you're afraid that Ashton might not be the dad. But I can tell you that whoever becomes your baby's dad, will take care of him well and you have nothing to worry about."Elliot comforted. Well,barely.

"It's not that. I know he will be in good hands." I exaggerated my arm movements and looked up at the ceiling.

"It's that, I don't like Calum the way he wants me too. But I don't want to hurt anyone or cause more damage than I already have." I sighed.

"Bay, do you really want to be with Ashton?" Elliot looked me straight into my eyes and asked. As if he didn't already know the answer.

I nodded after a little bit of hesitation.

"Then tell them."

I shook my head vigorously.

"I can't. I can't talk to them." I buried my head in my hands.

"Why not?"

"They said so!" I retorted.

"But they have already called you, haven't they?" Elliot pushed on. I groaned and lay back on the bed.

"Can we not talk about this now?" I silently prayed that he would let the topic go. Which he did.

"I can't believe Jess would do such a thing." Elliot shook his head in disbelief. Well I didn't think anyone did.

"What about Oliver?" I questioned. I pitied Oliver for some reason.

"She broke up with him before she came here." He rubbed his temples and let out a breath.

"It's been so long since I've seen mom." my voice cracked. I still stared at the cream colored ceiling, thinking about everything that has happened.

"Me too. That was scary." Elliot laughed a little. I cracked a small smile. That was horrifying.

"There's so much that Jess is capable of." I yawned mid sentence and my eyes started to droop again.

"You should go to sleep and try not to think about it too much." Elliot prompted me. I nodded and closed my eyes. Letting myself fall asleep on his bed. It didn't take long until I was immersed into a deep sleep again.

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Next morning, I decided not to call Ashton or Calum. I didn't want to and neither did I need to.

I just let things be. Though Ashton flew through my mind every second of the day.

I remembered when we went baby shopping for Ansel and when we had our first intimate talk. Then I thought of when we were in his car that night when we met. Talking about nothing and whatever all night.

I wanted things to be that simple again.

Then I realized that I haven't talked to Clem and Rachel in a long while. But they were working now and there was no use calling them if they wouldn't answer.

The door bell rang and I went over to answer the door. I didn't bother looking through the hole and just opened it.

"Hello?" I greeted. A mail man stood in front of my door holding a box and a slip of paper that required my signature. I signed the paper and took the box in my hand before closing the door.

It had a note that read 'For Bay Quinn,from your beautiful besties Clementine and Rachel <3'

I smiled widely and opened the box to reveal an array of chocolates. Mmm chocolates.

I reached for a heart shaped white chocolate before Elliot swooped in and took the piece of chocolate, popping it into his mouth and eating it.

I stare at him jaw dropped and offended. He just laughed at me.

"That wasn't funny." I frowned and searched for another chocolate that looked pretty enough to eat.

Just as I reached for another piece, Elliot swatted my hand away.

"Don't eat it." Elliot deadpanned. His once playful expression morphed into a stern one. He rushed to the toilet and slammed the door shut.

I rushed over to the door and knocked on it.

"Elliot! What happened?" I knocked on the door again. Worry filled my thoughts.

A loud yelp came from inside the toilet.

"Bay, take me to the hospital."

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We sat in the doctor's room an hour later. By we, I mean Oliver and me. As I was in no shape to drive, I called up Oliver and he took us to the hospital.

Elliot was getting rest in a ward while Oliver and I waited for information. It frightened me how I almost ate the chocolates that caused Elliot to be in pain.

The doctor flipped through his folio and cleared his throat before looking up at me and Oliver.

"Mr Quinn had severe diarrhea and was bleeding. We had given him some liquid treatment awhile ago and have him anesthesia to numb the pain and to let him sleep." We continued to listen to the doctor's description of Elliot's condition.

Apparently, there was a type of chemical in it that caused diarrhea and internal bleeding. It could also cause either death or loss of unborn child in more serious cases.

I sat next to Elliot when he woke up and told him about everything the doctor had explained previously.

I struggled not to stammer and cry. Clementine and Rachel would never do that to me.

"Oh but Bay, that isn't Clem or Rach. I can tell you that. It's Jess. It has started."

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Double update aye.

Another chapter to make up for the short one posted yesterday. I actually like chapter because something actually happens lmao.