Bella:
My heart skipped a beat as Hazel stood frozen for a moment, then I watched Noah walk away without turning back. He walked away before she could reject him, that bastard!
I felt a surge of anger up my spine, making me want to punch him in his face. I wasn't the one getting rejected, but I could feel literal chills in my spine because it was so unexpected, and I had always dreamed of a relationship like theirs.
Hazel's legs failed her, and she slumped, but I caught her before she could fall to the rocky ground.
"Hazel," I called out in a soft tone as I watched her clutch her chest with tears rolling down her cheeks, her breathing intensifying as she gasped for air.
"We need to get you out of here. Please tell me you can walk," I said to her, but she stayed mute, clasping my hand while shutting her eyes.
I tried to make her stand, but I wasn't strong enough to lift an entire human in this form.
"Hang on," I said to her, then I let go of her, gently placing her on the ground while I rushed to the back of the stall as fast as my wobbly legs could carry me.
There I found the triplets still bickering about what had happened.
"Bella," they echoed, turning to face me with their brows wrinkled, which made the guilt within me worse than it was. But then I couldn't lose focus on the reason I was here, because my best friend was in agony.
"I need your help. Noah rejected Hazel, and..."
"He did what?" Ryder asked, cutting me off before I could finish. Then he scoffed, and I looked at him with my brows crumpled. "Let me get this straight, Noah Crowley? The four-eyed dweeb?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes.
"There is no time for that. Hazel needs help to get out of this environment now," I said, panic frantic in my voice. "Come on, let's go," Kai said, and I turned around with my feet kicking high in the air as they trailed behind me, while I wondered when they got so nice.
We got to the scene at once, and Hazel was still there, groaning from the pain in her tender heart. The boys helped her up, and Finn slung her across his shoulder, causing a weird feeling to wash over my body as I imagined being lifted up in that manner in his muscular arms.
"We need to take her back to school," Ryder said, and we glanced at each other, giving a nod.
"I have my dad's keys, and that is our only shot at getting her back. My father won't be happy, but he won't be disposed to take her back either, so let's go."
When he said this, we all hurried to the car park. There we located the black BMW with "Alpha" written on the plate number, parked in an executive spot reserved for Alpha Frederick.
Ryder pressed the button on the keys, causing the car's lights to flash briefly with a beep. He grabbed the handle of the back seat, pulling it open for Finn. I got in first, then Finn gently placed Hazel into the back seat with her head on my lap, while he got in, lifting her legs onto his lap. Kai got in front with Ryder, who turned the ignition on, and we zoomed off from the carnival grounds.
"I hope we make it back on time, or I'm toast," Ryder said as he sped on the way to the school.
In no time, we were on the school premises, and Ryder stopped just in front of the dorm. They got out at once, with Finn carrying Hazel again. As we all walked to the room, I admired how committed they were to doing the things I wanted, and it made me feel like we were bonding better. The air was less awkward, and they were helping my best friend.
Soon we got to our room, and I opened the door. Finn walked to Hazel's bed and laid her on it. Then I sat close to her, holding her hand.
"I'm sorry, Hazel, and I hope you get better," I said in a low tone, and she opened her eyes for the first time in a while.
She muttered a thank you, which brought a smile to my face as I held onto her hand, but the bond was short-lived when my phone rang, causing my expression to go sour as I checked the caller to see that it was my mother. I ignored it.
After the call ended, she sent a series of text messages, which I also ignored, but then Ryder's phone went off.
"Shit!" I cursed under my breath. "That should be my mum, and I think I need to go. She has been buzzing my phone for a while now," I said, standing up, but then Ryder walked out of the room with his face scrunched up, slamming the door.
I glanced at the twins, and they both shrugged, so I sat back down on the bed with Hazel, slipping my hand into hers. Ryder returned shortly, and then he spoke without looking at any of us.
"I need to return to the carnival, and Bella, your mother wants to see you, so are you coming or what?"
His tone was rather harsh, but I excused it, getting up at once.
"I will stay back with Hazel, because I think I have had enough of the carnival," Finn said, and Kai seconded.
This left Ryder and me alone, so I bade Hazel goodbye, then left with Ryder, who walked a million paces ahead of me with heavy steps, as if I had done something terrible to him. I chose to ignore his attitude until we got to the car. He opened his door, got in, and slammed it hard.
"Get in! I don't have all day!"
His stern and heavy tone scared me, but I had no choice, so I got in, drew the seatbelt across my chest, and sank back into the seat, closing my eyes to relieve myself of the activities that had taken place.
Once the ignition was on and the car wheeled out of the school gate, Ryder stepped on the gas, causing me to jerk forward. This made my eyes fly open, and I glanced at him to see his face expressionless, with his hands tightly gripping the wheel.
"Are you trying to kill us? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I yelled in a loud tone, but he wouldn't turn to look at
me.
My heart flinched with each turn and each overtake, making me feel like we were going to crash into a car. "Ryder, please! You are going to kill us both, please," I said, my voice cracking as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Then I grabbed his hand, causing him to step on the brakes, and the car came to an abrupt stop by the side of the road.
I grabbed my chest, panting heavily as I looked straight ahead, refusing to look at him. My entire body quivered with fear as I felt my heart literally pop out of my throat.
"Bella," he called out, reaching for me, but I slapped his hand away, curling up by the door. "I didn't mean to, and you would never understand. My entire life I have driven my hate towards you because I held onto one thing, wanting it never to happen, and I excused the cause because I didn't want the love I had to die, but today I received the most disheartening news, and..." he paused, causing me to look at him, and then I saw tears escape his eyes.
He threw his head away, resting it on the seat while he held his forehead, sobbing silently. Then I slowly reached for his hands, my heart racing. As soon as my fingers met his veiny hands, he turned around, pulling me into a hug, gripping my back tightly and resting his head on my shoulder.
"Bella."
My name was the only word he could say...