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Chapter 25
First Love
thirteen years ago, summer
Darcy felt his heart throbbing intensely as he hid behind the door to his room, listening to his parents talking to Dr. Young.
“Chest infection,” Dr. Young said. “Pneumonia. All she needs is an antibiotic and a lot of rest.”
“It must be from the drowning,” James said.
Darcy felt tears sting his eyes and his stomach hollowed. At that moment, he hated himself so much that he wanted to beat himself.
How could he let this happen to his Snow? How could he let Alaina and Tara push her off the cliff? How could he just stand there in the distance and watch as she fell into the sea? He was a coward. A nuisance. A no-good weakling who didn’t deserve to be called a Princeton. He was ashamed of himself.
Darcy hugged himself into a ball in the corner of his room and cried his heart out, crying for his Snow and hating himself at the same time.
He had missed dinner, and thankfully no one had come looking for him. He knew everyone was too shocked with what had happened to worry about dinner. What would Dad do to Alaina and Tara? He’d punish them; he was sure, which they deserved. And Sakura? What was going to happen to her after this?
It was dark, and Darcy couldn’t sleep. His heart was still racing and his mind was still on Sakura. That was when he couldn’t take it any longer and got out of bed. He needed to see her. He needed to make sure she was all right.
He was out of his room and heading to Sakura’s room across the hall in an instant. He quietly opened her door and poked his head in.
There, he saw her slight, pale form in bed, sleeping. He noted she was having difficulty breathing, and his heart ached for her.
“Snow,” he whispered.
He slid in and closed the door behind him. He came around to her and touched the back of his hand on her forehead. He nearly jumped because her skin was burning hot.
“Snow,” he said, tears brewing in his eyes. “Please be all right.”
“Darce,” she whispered softly in her sleep. “I didn’t do it. I didn’t push Alaina.”
Darcy bit his lip, his heart trembling with pain in his chest. “I know you didn’t,” he said, his voice shaking. “I know you didn’t.”
He reached out and took her little hand in his, holding on to her tight. Then he noticed she began to whimper in her sleep, shaking her head and body as if she were having a nightmare.
“Snow,” he whispered. “Snow.”
She kept shaking her head and whimpering brokenly as tears fell from her eyes down her cheeks.
Darcy knew he had to comfort her, had to protect her from her nightmare.
He climbed into bed with her and scooped her into his arms. With her feverish body against his, he hugged her tight. “It’s all right, Snow. I’m here. You’re safe with me,” he whispered against her forehead. “You’re safe with me.”
A few moments later, she calmed down. “Darce,” she whispered. “Please don’t leave me.”
“I won’t leave you,” he replied, tightened his arms around her.
“Please love me,” she begged.
Darcy’s heart was crying out in agony, and his body shook with the powerful emotion. “I love you, Snow,” he said. “I love you so much it hurts.” Then he moved his lips to her forehead and kissed her there. Slowly, he moved his lips down to her nose and kissed her there, too. Then, as if he couldn’t control himself, he moved his lips to her mouth and kissed her ardently. Her skin was hot against his, and he felt himself burn with her. He stroked her face and prayed to God she would be all right as he continued to kiss her.
When he finally stopped, she groaned and her lips searched for his, begging for his touches. Darcy was pleased and fulfilled her wish by kissing her again. This time, she responded by tightening her arms around him and whispering his name. “Darce, you do love me. I’m your Snow.”
When he moved his lips back, he whispered, “Yes, you’re my Snow. You’ll always be my Snow.”
She seemed to relax at his reply and snuggled deep against his chest as she fell into a deep slumber. Soon, Darcy too fell asleep, hugging her against him, never wanting to let her go.
When he woke again, it was morning, and he noted that her body was hotter than ever and her breathing was even more labored, as if this was her final hour. He panicked, rushed out of bed, and ran to get his parents.
Oh, God, he thought, please let her be all right. Please!
Alone, Sakura groaned softly. Her chest hurt. She felt so very hot and so very weak. She opened her eyes, and the first thing she thought was that she had to get out of here. No one wanted her here, so it would be best if she left.
Without thinking, she sat up, and instantly the world spun around her. She touched her forehead, trying to get her bearings. Once the world had decided to stop spinning, she put her feet to the floor and got out of bed.
Slowly and dazedly, she wandered out the door, down the stairs, and then out of the mansion into the hot summer outside.
Birds were chirping, and the cool breeze was wonderful. In the distance, she saw the endless green land and blue sky. Yes, she needed to go. She needed to get out of here.
She didn’t know where she was going, nor did she care just as long as she was out of this place where no one wanted her. She had thought at first that they wanted her, that they loved her, but now she knew better. None of them wanted her. They all hated her. Even Darce.
It was so hot, and she was thirsty. Her chest hurt. Why did it feel like she had a ton of bricks on top of her chest?
She coughed and the pain intensified. It was truly unbearable. She groaned in agony.
Why is it so bright out here? She blinked and stared up the endless sky. Suddenly, the world spun before her again. She sighed, feeling awfully helpless. At least I’m going to see my real mother now, she thought and collapsed there amongst the overgrown grass in the middle of nowhere.
