Chapter 19 - Worst Birthday Ever (Part 1)

For a moment, my whole body is frozen. I try to react, to move, but it seems physically impossible. No words leave my mouth. My eyes see what is happening, but my mind refuses to believe. My heart itself seems to cease beating.

Riley and Niall?

Should I have known? Is that why Niall was avoiding me?

It makes sense and yet everything is nonsensical.

Only when I feel a hand on my shoulder do I break out of the trance. My body jerks backward as my knees buckle. But before I can fall, Jordan holds me. I look up at his face, but his eyes are looking elsewhere. I shake my head and plant my feet firmly on the ground, and a twig cracks beneath my foot, grabbing the attention of the couple.

I know Niall is looking at me, but I refuse to look that way. My ears are buzzing with a strange noise. I struggle out of Jordan’s arms and run.

I run through the forest, between the bare trees in the darkness as if someone is chasing me. But I want to get away, as far away from them as possible. I nee