Chapter 28: Chaotic hearts

I froze.

Both my hands were held by Ethan and Klaus and they were staring at each other like they were having a deadly staring contest.

How the fuck does klaus always find me. Is he a stalker or something?

“Let her go” Klaus finally spoke. His voice is dangerously low.

“She's my date,” Ethan replied, matching his aura.

I glanced at both of them and yanked my arms free.

“Leep on glaring at each other like that and I swear one of you would start shooting lasers from your eyes” I said rubbing my arms “I can't do this right now I'm going home”

I stood up and took my bag to leave but Klaus pulled me back. He looked right into my eyes and they looked just like the way they did that night.

The night he said he loved me.

“Tessa you have to listen to me” he spoke softly but ethan stood up.

“She doesn't have to klaus, it's her choice” he spoke standing closer to me.

Everyone in the ice cream now diverted their attention to the real life love triangle trope movie at the corner.

I remained quiet.

“Let it go already” he added

“Stay out of this Ethan," Klaus said without averting his gaze.

“Oh come on, you had your chance” Ethan's voice was sharp “you made her believe your lies then made her cry and now you show up here?” he laughed “you really have some nerve”

Klaus finally turned to ethan “stay the fuck out of this” his voice was dangerously low and almost immediately, he turned back to me and his gaze softened “tessa I never said those things about you, whatever you heard it's not what it looks like I promised”

His eyes locked on mine. My chest tightened. I could feel the sincerity in his tone but the anger in me burned it off in an instant.

“But you stood there” I said softly, my eyes already gathering tears “you stayed quiet and you allowed those bastards speak so lowly of me like i was nothing” my voice cracked “you said you loved me!”a tear dropped and I immediately wiped it off.

Show no weakness.

I pushed him aside and left the ice cream shop before we get kicked out for disturbance.

They both went after me yelling my name like I was their long lost poppy.

“Tessa” I heard klaus voice right behind me “I should've shut them up the Moment they opened their filthy mouths, I'm sorry”

I turned and the light captured his face clearly. That's when I saw it.

Bruises on his lower lip and right knuckle. I moved closer and saw the small cut on his eyebrow.

I raised my hands. My fingers slowly traced the bruises on his face. “What happened?” My voice softened despite my flaring anger.

He lowered his gaze “I'm sorry ai allowed them say all those things before beating the shit out of them”

He actually fought for me ?

Ethan's voice came from behind “ great so you're the hero now?”

“I never said I was” klays replied then turned to me “tessa I meant it when I said I love you, I really do”

Ethsn scoffed.

“No you don't” he turned towards me “tessa, you dont know him the way I do , we literally grew up together” he moved closer “klaus is bad news”

I stood at there Confused.

“So you're last resort is sabotage, how the mighty have fallen” mlays said and before I could blink again, eyhan had already grabbed Klaus’s shirt with a threatening look.

“Don't do anything you'll regret ethan, people are watching”

He lt Klaus go and dusted himself.

“You think you can just walk in on our date, say a few lines and steal her from me” ethans voice was filled with hurt and it sliced something in me.

“I try to be good for both of us everyday since I've been born only for you to always Sabotage my efforts and thus one thing I'm doing for myself … you can't let me have it”

My arms wrapped around my chest and a sudden cold waved by me.

Both brothers had always been who they were for each other but it was different this time around.

What made it different?

Me.

My heart felt heavy. Not metaphorically, literally.

My breathing increased it's pace to super speed mode, my vision became blury and their voices began to fade.

Soon after my legs gave In then everything went dark.

I slowly opened my eyes. White walls, beeping machines and the smell of antiseptics.

I blinked twice and saw my mom by the bed holding my hands tightly.

“Mom” I managed to say and a sudden relief strikes Ok her face

“oh thank God tessa , you're awake”

I sat up wincing At the slight headache I now had “what happened”

“You had a panic attack” mom said rubbing my knuckles “I was so scared. Then last tike you had those you were so young, you had a seizure” mom took a deep breath “I'm so glad you're okay”

“How did I get here?”

“It's probably ethan, the hospital called me and they said they didn't get the name of the guy that dropped you off but I know it was ethan since you left the house together”

“Yeah you're probably right”I said but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was klaus instead.

I brushed off the feeling and got up.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm fine now, were leaving” I said and wore my shoe

“One more check up and we're out"mom said “please”

I grudgingly accepted and I wasn't diagnosed with anything serious.

Without wasting much time, we checked out and headed home.

The drive home was quiet. Given the fact that my brain still hadn't processed the fact that I was coming in between two brother who clearly had a tough love for each other.

And the only way I was coming in between them was by simply existing.

“So…how was your date” mom asked trying to keep her tone casual.

I remained quiet for a dew seconds then finally gave reply.

“Chaotic”