Page 113 of The Darkest Note

The hell?

Don’t they understand the words coming out of my mouth?

“Out of the way!”

I sprint down the hallway, knocking aside anyone who’s foolish enough to stay in my path. Hurling through the back door, I take a short cut to the athletics area.

She has to be okay. She has to be okay.

It’s the only line in my head.

I was driving to school when Cadence’s text came in. At first, I thought it was a joke, but there was this feeling inside. Something telling me to check it out.

That’s when a video of Cadence falling into the pool lit up my cell phone. Before I could even think about what I should do, I was already running like a maniac away from my brothers.

“Cadence!” I roar. My voice bangs against the wall and echoes back to me.

Without stopping, I pump my arms at my sides and dive straight into the water. The shock of cold hits my skin, but I barely feel any of it. Whipping around desperately, I freeze when I see Cadence still and floating in the deep end.

Her hair curls on top of her head as if a part of her is still reaching for the surface. Her eyes are closed and there are no bubbles coming out of her nose.

Damn it. Damn it.

Swimming over to her, I hook a hand around her stomach and propel us both back to the surface. I explode out of the water, taking a deep breath. Cadence’s head lolls.

I don’t think she’s breathing.

Carrying her limp body to the edge, I set her down gently and jump out after her.

I set a finger under her nose. Only a shallow puff of air hits my skin.

She’s barely breathing.

“Cadey. Come on. Wake up!” I push down on her chest, calling on my faint memories of CPR that I did a few summers ago.

I hear the panic in my voice. It’s bouncing against the walls like a game of ping pong. But screw it. I don’t care what this fear deep in my stomach is saying about me, saying about what I feel for her.

I don’t care about anything but seeing her big brown eyes open and knowing she’s alright.

“Cadey. Wake up,” I growl. “That’s an order.” Clipping her nose, I press my mouth to hers.

A moment later, she chokes up water.

I hold her upright, patting her back while she gets everything out. Her eyes are hazy and her skin is pale.

“Cadey, are you okay?”

She doesn’t answer. Her body goes limp again and she falls into my chest.

That’s not a good sign.

Footsteps thud in the distance. My brothers charge toward the pool. Their eyes bug when they see me, dripping wet and holding an equally drenched Cadence.

“What the hell happened?” Finn explodes.

“I’ll explain later. I need to get her to the nurse.”

“Here.” Zane whips his jacket off and hands it over to me. “Her lips are blue. Her body might be going into thermal shock. You gotta keep her warm.”

---