Page 57 of Our Elliana

Noah must not think Jackson is either because he rushes in after him. He’s only just flipped him over when Jackson regains consciousness all at once. And what’s more, as soon as Jackson comes to, he cries out.

And I don’t mean a brief startled yelp. He lets loose a blood-curdling terror-fueled shriek.

Everyone in sight stares at us, no doubt wondering about the commotion, and Jackson only stops shouting once his lungs empty of air. His green eyes are as wild and hysterical as I’ve ever seen them.

When he realizes he’s still in the water, he shoves Noah away—which, let’s face it, due to his size barely moves the boy at all—and scrambles out of the pool as if it’s scalding him. Soaked to the bone, he races off, and I’m so stunned it takes me a second to go after him.

Fortunately, Noah has faster reflexes than I do and zooms off on the same trajectory.

Tristan takes my arm to give chase, and together we clamber over to find Noah standing by Jackson as my guitarist bends double clutching at his knees. It’s the kind of scene that makes me pause. Apparently on the same page, Tristan nods at me and as we approach, we’re on our guards.

“It’s going to be okay,” Noah is saying to Jackson on repeat. But Jackson just shakes his head continuously.

Whatever’s going on, it can’t be good.

Because of the lower temps, we’re all wearing jackets, but Jackson’s black leather version and ripped jeans are completely water-logged, so I’m sure he’s freezing. And yep, as I examine him more closely, I can see that he’s visibly shivering. I don’t detect any injuries, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have some.

Also, all the color has drained from his features. And the right side of his mouth and cheek are jerking upwards in what appears to be a facial tick.

What in the ninth level of hell is that shit?

When I can catch Noah’s eye, I mouth silently, “Is he hurt?”

All Noah does, though, is lift his hands helplessly.

“Jackson,” I start, edging closer. Tristan stays right on my ass as I do. “Are you injured?”

He goes on shaking his head, but I don’t necessarily think this is in response to my question. He hasn’t peeked up at me or anyone else even once.

“How about we go get you checked out? Make sure everything’s on the up and up?” I suggest, thinking about the emergency room. The closest one would be at the George Washington University Hospital.

“N-no,” Jackson says, at last. But that’s not what I want to hear.

“I think we should,” I tell him, and Tristan backs me up.

“Listen to the lady, would you?”

“Sh-shut up, Tristan,” Jackson barks at him with an outrage that far outpaces anything it makes sense for him to experience. Even with his teeth chattering.

Noah extends a hand like a stop sign and speaks to him in a low patient voice. “Buddy, he’s worried about you just like Elle is. We’re all worried. We just need to make sure you’re all right.”

“I c-can’t...” Jackson stammers, and I can’t tell if this is due to being chilled or something else. “I can’t get dunked like that.”

I mull over his explanation but can’t make heads or tails of it.

“But that kid didn’t dunk you, he crashed into you is all.” Tristan replies with a frown. Trust Tristan to go with the tough love solution.

For the first time since our arrival, Jackson looks up. “Yeah, and he did it into the fucking water, for Christ’s sake. And I don’t do water. Not when I can drown...” he suddenly stops speaking and storms off, this time not moving with as much speed.

“What? Can’t you swim?” Tristan calls out to him using an incredulous tone, and I smack him on the chest. Hard.

But Jackson remains speechless. He offers no comeback as his shoulders droop. It’s easy to shadow him while keeping our distance, so the rest of us do, watching him as he shuffles off toward my Infiniti.

When he gets there, he simply waits by the passenger door, still not saying a word. Noah and Tristan each send me an inquisitive glance, and I unlock the doors, shrugging. Only once we’re inside and in our own perfect cone of silence do I propose anything else.

“Lunch or home?”

Jackson says nothing and stays twisted away from us as he peers out his window.

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