Once Upon A Night (ON HOLD)

Chapter 7

Chloe

The wind was blowing harshly making the cold deep through my skin but that was the least of my problems right now. The unanswerable questions about my dads current situation buzzed around in my head almost causing another round of tears to break free again as my brain thought of new ways to torture. I had a weird way of discovering the worst scenarios ans making it seem like it had a big chance of occuring.

I tried my best to distract myself by staring at the small storm brewing outside. The rain seemed to get heavier with every tick the clock planted on the wall sounded  most likely matching the turmoil in my head. I wrapped my arms around myself in an attempt to acheive some warmth, my mind drifting to and fro to my dad and the stranger who helped me with my "episode".

"listen, don't focus on anything else just that" he whispered, the words rolling off his tongue perfectly like it had been rehearsed one too many times.

I still couldnt get air into my lungs as I focused entirely on the fast beating of his heart. The thoughts were accelerating inside my head. I want the horrible thoughts to slow in my head so I can breathe but they won't. My breaths were coming out in gasps. I clenched my fingers together tightly that my nails dug into my palms.

Breathing was hard. Really hard.

I cried harder, my chest growing tight. The stranger pulled me away from his chest now looking directly into my hazel green orbs. His features softened, one of the hands he placed on my shoulders now stroking my hair gently.
"Its not the place bothering you its the thought"  he whispered. My heart pounded as my chest heaved,my vision getting disfigured.

I could still see the stranger but his figure was getting  blurry. I could still hear the words coming from his lips but they were slowly becoming an echo.

"I'm going to count to 5 and on 5 I want you to take in a large intake of air with me" he said and all I could do was nod.

We repeated the process until I was sure I could get air into my lungs without restriction. I felt my breathing stabilize and soon enough the heaving of my chest calmed but my mind was still racing back and forth to my father.

"Thank you" I muttered.

A warm cloth draping over my shoulders zapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see the same guy only this time he had a tight fitted t-shirt on. "Are you okay" he asked, his voice soft as his eyes roamed up and down my body. I nodded my head wiping the remainder of my tears with the back of my palm trying my best to pull off the 'im okay' look but it was too obvious how broken I looked right now.

"Could you please lend me your phone" I pleaded to which he nodded pulling out the device from one of his pockets. I could feel his gaze on me as I dialed my moms number, the dial tone ringing twice before she answered.

"Hello" she said. Her voice wasnt its usual cheerful tone, it was  plain and hoarse like she'd been crying. I bit down harshly on my lower lip, my mind making up the worst scenearios on what to expect. "Mom its me" I mumbled. I could hear her take in deep intakes of breath from the other end before she spoke up again.

"Chloe could you meet me at home" she said, her voice threatening to crack at the end, not giving me a chance to to ask why she hung up.

"Thank you for everything but I have to go" I said handing him the phone simultaenously slipping the warm quilt off me, the cold penetrating through my skin again causing me to stiffen.

"Come on I'll drop you off" he offered but I declined quickly shaking my head.

      He had helped me enough as it is

A small laugh of disbelief escaped his lips, his eyes drifting to the weather outside then back to me. "You'll be lucky not to get hypothermia the second you stepped out especially in that" he gestured to my dress "and let's state facts it'll be hard to get a ca-" he began cut off by the sound of his phone.

"What" he groaned staying silent as he listened to the other person speak from the other end. His eyes met mine   momentarily "cancel it" he concluded slipping the phone back into his pocket.

                     Cancel?

"I- its okay you dont have to cancel whatever it is" I stuttered, my voice turning to a whisper at the end of my sentence. He ignored my statement walking away from me and into another door in his room, exiting with a cloth in his arms

"Put it on" he tossed it to me. It was a large sweatshirt big enough to fit two of me but i was not planning on complaining. It looked cozy enough and my dress wasn't exactly the best for the weather.

"Where to?"he asked, slipping on a black hoodie.

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I couldnt stop the shaking of my hands as well drove no matter how hard i tried. From my side view, I could see the stranger glance at my shaking hands then back at the road.

"Do I take a left or a right" he asked once we reached a junction.

"Left" I muttered to which he nodded in response swerving the car to the left. We were getting closer to my house and all I could do was send a silent prayer, hoping for the best.

"Here" I said, once my house came into view. My heart pounded against my chest, the thought of loss startling it.

"Breathe ur shaking" the stranger whispers into my ear, his voice startling me slightly and his hot breath caressing my cold skin.

"OK" I answer breathily taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart. "D-do you want to come in" I ask him, not wanting to leave him out in the cold. He opens his mouth to say something, the ringing of his phone cutting him off, again.

"Speak" he growls into the phone. He stayed silent listening before he turns to me

"I have to go" he mouths and I nod in understanding.

"Thank you so much for everything"I whisper to which he smiles, the dimple in his left cheek popping. I exit the car walking up to my house as I hear his car speed away making me realize something.

         I didnt even get his name

I take in another big breath, raising my arm to knock at the door, knocking thrive. The door swings open revealing my mom,her hair in complete dissaray and her eyes big and puffy.

"Khloe its your dad" she said making my heart stop.

A/N:-im sorry another late update but I can assure you the next chapter will be sooner.....how bout a goal for this chapter?

8 votes and 4 comments?....please?

Unedited.