where the water meets the moon | e.d.

sixty-one

addy

"and so then i fell, which was so embarrassing in front of my stage group," evan shakes his head, causing me to laugh at his high school stories of his theatre days.

"what would happen if a set just like, toppled down or something—"

i don't register what happened next much, but it certainly takes me by surprise as i feel a hand strike the side of my face forcefully, definitely leaving behind a mark.

i look up wide eyed and reach to clutch the cheek that now stings.

kendall stands in front of me, eyes full of pure rage.

and before anyone can react to anything that just happened, she's lunging at me with full force, just about tackling me to the ground. i thankfully regain my balance against the wall and try to tune out evan's yelling and avery's loud footsteps.

"get off!" i hear ethan's familiar yell, and kendall gets yanked from off of me. i blow strands of hair from my face and watch as she struggles to release from ethan's tight grasp around her stomach. she kicks, but he holds her in place.

"what the hell was that?" i can't help but shout.

"hey! rule number one, no fighting on the boat!" avery's loud, rumbling voice appears in the hall while i try to regain my composure and state of mind from what just happened.

"let me go!" she squeals out, trying to break ethan's hold.

"kendall, just calm down—" evan starts to soothe, clearly startled.

"she slept with him!" she rings out.

i feel the color drain from my face, and it's almost as if time stops for a moment.

every movement feels in slow motion as i whip my head around, seeing everyone's reactions like it's a scene in a movie.

kendall's hysterical yells and tears.

ethan's eyes close as he swallows deeply.

avery's head shake between us.

evan's widened eyes that seem like they don't know who i am when they meet mine.

kendall suddenly stops fighting ethan as everyone looks directly at me, and i feel myself shrink back so much i fear i might dissolve into the wall.

"addy," evan whispers. "you didn't. tell her you didn't. that you wouldn't... do that..."

i give him an apologetic look as tears threaten my eyes. i'm sorry, i mouth, and a blank, unreadable expression takes over his face.

"this isn't her fault!" ethan yells, coming to my aid.

but it's definitely my fault.
ethan was in a relationship. i knew that. and i continued to go behind kendall's back and let down everyone anyway.

"so now you're protecting her?" kendall shoots back, looking up at him angrily.

he hesitates before nodding. "yes. i am."