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“Yes, Tempest?” he asks tiredly.
I know he hasn’t slept, and I shouldn’t hound him with questions, but I can’t help myself.
“Who was she with the afternoon these bruises happened?” I ask carefully.
Levi is quiet for so long, my eyes shoot over to him. He looks as if he’s fighting himself on whether or not to tell me.
“I know just about everything there is to know about this girl. Every secret she was comfortable telling me, even about what you two were up to, so don’t think you’re protecting her from me,” I whisper softly.
Levi looks as if he’s been slapped before he nods. “She left Holy Cross to spend some time with her parents, according to her grandmother. Mother Cross kept saying she thought Chastity had earned her redemption, so she was happy when she left with her parents. She wouldn’t explain what she meant. Do you know?” he asks.
Staring at my best friend, I swallow thickly as a fresh wave of tears hits me. There’s only one thing Chastity would leave Holy Cross for and not look back.
“Angel… Oh God, Chas,” I whisper. Gasping a breath, I look back at Levi who is staring at me intently. “Her daughter is her redemption, I think. They took her from Chas, and she hasn’t seen her since she was born.”
“Shit, that’s not completely true though. Her brother brought the baby to see her. Chastity told me then that it was her first time holding her baby, and all I could think of was how odd that was,” Ash says, looking stricken. “I found out about her daughter that day. She told me about the horror of her birth. Her family ripped her baby from her, and punished her for getting pregnant. Fuck, I was such an ass that day.” Ash looks lost in his memories as he stares down at Chas’ pale form.
“Ash,” I snap, and his eyes jump up to mine. “What else did you do?”
“I blackmailed her, and Chastity told me she’d never forgive me for using her daughter against her. I can’t help but feel that because I used Angel against her, I also shut down any conversation she would have wanted to have with me about her family,” Ash laments.
Jonas looks destroyed as he realizes how far Ash is willing to go for his family. I always had a feeling Chas shouldn’t trust these guys, especially after they got me kicked out of Holy Cross.
“I can’t stand to look at any of you,” I confess. “Chas cares about you all in different ways, and you all used her.”
“Hey,” Levi snarls at me, and I shake my head.
“You may care about her now, but you were terrible to her. Can I… just have some time with her, please? It sounds silly, but there’s things I need to tell Chastity,” I explain to them. I’m only slightly lying. There are things I need to tell my best friend alone, but all of this testosterone and intrigue is making me really angry.
I should really try to keep it in check.
The guys stare at me for a moment before Jonas sighs. “I’m not surprised we aren’t your favorite people right now, Tempest. We did a lot of shitty things to both of you, and while I have always been Team Chastity, I’m not surprised you lump me in with the sins of my brothers,” he tells me.
“Guys, let’s give her some space. We asked her to come all this way for Chastity, so let’s leave Tempest to talk to her best friend,” Levi says.
Ash grumbles under his breath, but gently kisses Chastity’s forehead as he leaves. It makes my heart squeeze because way down deep inside, I can tell he cares about her. As the last of the guys leave, I mutter to Chas.
“Please give ‘em hell, girl. They’ve got big dick energy, but your vagina is golden.” Smirking to myself, I rub her hand. “Babe, I have so much to tell you. Mom made me go live with King and his dad, and told me she was going to cut me off if I didn’t. Except… I don’t belong in a small town like that. The chapel hated me, my dresses were too short, and King’s girlfriend hated me,” I tell her.
Chas’ pinkie twitches, and my breath hitches. “I need you. I need your smiles, and your ride or die personality. God, I need your optimism that things will be okay, even when they’re shit. Please… Chastity,” I whisper. “I love you. You’re my best damn friend, and seeing you lying here so broken is killing me. I left so you’d have an easier time without me, but I was wrong in so many ways. I’m sorry I left and didn’t say goodbye, but your grandmother forced me to leave.”
Tears run across my cheeks as I look down at her. “Someone hurt you, and that’s inexcusable. I want names, and who I need to unalive. I’m a needy bitch, Chastity, and my whining is making me annoyed at myself. Can you maybe put me out of my misery and wake up? Please?”
There’s not a twitch or any movement this time, just the sounds from the machines doing their thing to keep my best friend alive.
“What if I’m too late, and you think I hate you? I don’t.” I whimper as I sob, shaking my head. “Not at all. You’re everything I have in this world. You believe in the best of me, even when I’m being an idiot. And I really need you to wake up to hear about how badly I fucked it all up this time, Chastity. Please.”
I lose it, laying my head on her chest as I cry. I can hear the steady sound of her heartbeat, and I’m still holding her hand.
All of a sudden, Chas squeezes my hand and her body arches off the bed. Sitting up, I see her eyes are open, and she looks panicked.
“Oh, my God… you’re awake! Don’t fight the tubing. Just wait, babe. I’ve got you.”
Chastity is trying to breathe, and is choking on the tube down her throat. Running out into the hallway, I break the peaceful quiet of the hospital by screaming for help.
“Nurse! Doctor! She’s awake, please help!” I scream.
A nurse races to me, eyes wide. “Chastity is awake?”
