So happy for all the views, it means a lot. Sorry this chapter is short, it's loaded though so i figured this would be enough to process.
Nine
The first thing I see when I wake up is dried blood on my arms. One arm was in front of my face, giving me a close view of the scratches the glass made. All the memories of last night flooded back into my mind.
I take in a sharp breath through my teeth.
I sit up and immediately regret it as my head starts spinning. I slowly lower myself back down into my pillow. I hear Kai's gentle breathing beside me, he's still fast asleep. I look over to the alarm clock on my nightstand, it's 5:30. Our room our still dark, the sun not yet up. I don't know why I'm awake; lately I've been sleeping so deeply. I wake up at 9, go to bed at 10.
I sit up slowly this time, my head a little better. I swing my legs off the bed, my feet meeting the soft carpet. I walk to the bathroom that adjoins our room with the kitchen. I close the door before turning on the light, not wanting to wake Kai. I turn the tap on and splash water on my face. There's no way I'm going back to sleep. My mind is already spinning, all the memories, and events form yesterday twirling around each other.
I turn the light off and go out the door that opens into the kitchen. I walk over to the door, I need to go somewhere. I pull my tennis shoes on; I leave the laces undone because I can't reach down with my stomach. I pull the door open and head down the hall towards the stairs. I climb up the stairs, reaching Theron's floor. I make a bee line for his door.
I don't care how late it is, I rap my knuckles on his door. He doesn't answer for a few moments, I still wait. After a minute I raise my hand again, but the door swings in. Theron's stood there, holding to door open a few inches. When he sees me his eyes widen then relax. He doesn't move though.
"Hey, um, are you gonna let me in or what?" I ask him. He seems to shake out of a daze and nods, opening the door.
"What are you doing here?" He asks once the door is shut again. I walk a few steps farther into the room.
"I need to talk to someone about last night and Kai's asleep." I tell him; now that I've said it out loud it seems stupid. Theron was also asleep but I had no problem waking him up to talk. He doesn't point it out though.
"Um, okay," He scratches his messy hair, "What do you want to talk about?"
"Well I think…um," I think over my sentence again and begin to doubt it, "I think I might know who was shooting at us." Theron's eyebrows shoot upwards. I wring my hands in front of me before continuing.
"Well, we never did catch the person who tried to shoot yo-" I'm cut off by a sneeze from the direction of the bathroom. I'm confused; I look to Theron who looks like he's seen a ghost, "Who-"
Theron runs a hand through his hair, "It's nothing, nothing happened." He runs a hand down his face, I'm not sure why he looks so stressed and most of all, scared.
"Theron, I don't understand." He finally meets my eye, what has he done? I take a tentative step away from him and further into the house. Theron doesn't look like he's going to stop me as I move closer to the bathroom. Pain flashes through his eyes and I have to turn away. I reach for the handle and pull the door open.
At first I'm confused, and then everything seems to slow down. Things click into place and I take in a shuddering breath. I stumble away a few steps then turn back to Theron.
"WHAT THE HECK! What are you thinking?" I yell at him. I stalk up to him so we're only inches apart. A tear slides down my cheek, my heart burns with remorse.
"Nine, nothing happened, I swear!"
"Do you really think I'm going to believe that when I find-"
"Nine, calm down! I'm telling the truth!" He takes a step back, "I'd never do anything, I wouldn't...Nine…please. Nothing happened…" I start to feel anger burning a path through my chest. I don't know what to say, I need to get away. I storm out of the room, flying down the stairs as fast as my pregnant self will allow.
As soon as I'm back in my apartment I let everything out. I scream and drag my fingers down my head. I hear the bedroom door fly open and I'm in Kai's arms. I rip myself away from him and grab a glass from the counter; I throw it at the wall but feel no satisfaction as it shatters.
Kai curses and grabs my arm, forcing me to look at him. I don't realize how many tears are on my face until Kai pulls me close and brushed them away. With Kai this close I seem to melt. I lean my head on his chest as he holds me for a moment.
"Why are you mad?" He asks, I pull away so I can look at him as I answer.
"I went up to see Theron and talk but I found…" Slow tears trickle from my eyes, "Pua was there."
Kai
My mouth drops open, Pua?
No way, Nine must have gotten it wrong. Pua would never do anything like that, right? Finally I remember how to speak, "What, are you sure?" Nine lets out a shuddering breath as she nods.
"Yes, she was there." Nine tells me, a thousand things go through my mind, but one thought over rules all of them; I'm going to kill Theron. It sounds so right in my mind right now, but I know I can't. Pua can take care of herself; besides, me and Nine fell asleep together back on the island.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knuckle banging on our door. Nine's eyes dart to the door; we're thinking the same thing. It could be Theron. I pull away from Nine and pull the door open. Instead of Theron, Pua stands there. As soon as we meet eyes she starts speaking.
"Nothing happened, I swear."
"How am I supposed to believe that?" I ask her. She steps farther into the house.
"Kai, I would never lie to you, didn't you and Nine fall asleep together?" I'm not sure how she knows about that, "Well, it was like that."
"So you didn't-"
"Absolutely not! Kai, you know me, seriously?" She answers me. I read her face then let out a slow breath I didn't realize I was holding; she's not lying. But why would she have gone down to Theron's in the first place? She was down with mom and dad in the evening.
"Did you know what you were doing though?" Nine seems to have the exact same question on her mind as well.
Pua didn't answer as soon as I'd expect, but her blush answered Nine's question. I threw my hands up in the air; this was a completely different situation than when me and Nine fell asleep.
"So you knew what you were doing the whole time?" Nine asks, concern laced through her voice. Pua nods slowly and a tear is released from the corner of her eye. Nine immediately wraps her arms around Pua, probably still upset but not letting it show.
"It's okay; it's not the worst thing you could do." Nine reassures her. My mind is still spinning and I'm struggling to find the correct emotion to show. I finally end up feeling sorry for Pua; she's probably worried about how we all feel, mom and dad especially. I step forward and pull her into my arms as well.
"I'm sorry." She tells us, "I just-"
"Shh, it's okay." Nine tells her, "Does Miri know?" Pua shakes her head quickly while pulling back from me and Nine. She doesn't have many tears on her face, but the ones that are there are quickly swept away.
"No, and please let me tell them when I figure it out." She tells us.
"Are you really going to tell them?" I ask, Nine hits my arm, "I mean, my lips are sealed."
"Thanks," She tells me, "I'm gonna go for a walk, watch the sunrise, ya know." Nine nods and looks to me.
"Yeah, have fun." I tell her, I lead her to the door and open it for her. She steps out of the room and when I close the door Nine looks to me with concern etched on her face, "She needs to tell mom and dad."
Nine nods and looks to the floor, her eyes darting as her thoughts fly. "Yeah, but maybe we shouldn't be so hard on her. Besides, she knows the consequences, and she'll get to live with them." I nod, she makes a good point. Pua knows what she's gotten herself into, she can deal with it.