55 | Z A C K

Tiffany got out of the room and quietly shut the door behind her. I broke out into a cold sweat as I stared at her expectantly. "Everything's normal. There's no problem and I think in a few hours, we'll discharge her. As you requested, I didn't inform her. I believe in you and I hope you tell her exactly what happened. She deserves to know. In fact, maybe she has some answers."

I smiled in reply before she walked away. It was the morning after and I had just returned from home after taking a long shower, changing for the day and having breakfast. I stayed all night by her side. My parents insisted that I go change and come back while they watch her which I did. On my return, I met Shawn and Peyton. For a few minutes, we discussed about what happened at the party and the possibility that someone drugged Daisy. After all, the people that attended the party went home sober.

I had to stop Tiffany from telling Daisy the truth. Luckily, she agreed. I promise myself to investigate and find the culprit. This is no ordinary situation. Forcing someone to have a miscarriage is a criminal act.

When I opened the door to the recovery room, I felt a strange sense of peace hit me. But the sight was the best. Daisy was sitting on the bed in a hospital gown looking perfectly normal. In fact, she was happy as she talks to my parents. They kissed her goodbye and left to give us some privacy.

"What? You thought I was dead? Your parents just told me that you literally shredded tears. What a shame." She joked.

I simply rushed towards her and engulfed her in a big hug. I was glad everything turned out okay. I tightened my hold around her body to make sure that She's real. "I miss you so much. I was scared." I whispered against her hair and I burrowed my head in her neck.

"I know it, dumbass. I'm glad the baby's okay. I can't believe I just collapsed. What happened, Zack?" She pulled away but her hands still on my shoulders as she looks into my eyes expectantly.

"How are you?" I asked instead as I brush her hair back from her face.

"Fine I guess. Just cramps but not as painful as the ones I had the first time. Our baby is a warrior I guess." She took my hand and placed it on her bump. I stared at it as I rub my hands against it. It feels so good to know my little princess is still in there.

"Daisy?" We heard a manly voice ample with emotions and what seems like surprise.

I spun to the door to find what I assumed to be Daisy's brother standing there with a gloomy expression. Daisy looks like him but his manly features differentiate them. He was definitely a few feet taller than me and has a low stubble he probably got after a long work day.

His body was built like that of a firefighter or a construction worker. His blue eyes are darker than that of Daisy and from the tanned body, I could tell he works outdoors. He was casually dressed in a jeans, a white T-shirt and a thick sweater. His dirty blond hair and angular jaw gave him a bad boy look and I could tell he gets a lot of attention from the opposite sex.

"Cole? What are you doing here?" Daisy panicked as she hesitantly glanced at her brother.

I stood up when Cole said nothing. "Will give you guys space to talk, okay?" I said and she nodded. I pecked her on the temple and got out of the room.

Not once did Cole spare me a glance.

***

After Daisy got discharged, we took her back home. And by home, I mean my home. My parents were persistent in reaching out to the Coleman and at the end, they were successful. Daisy's parents gave a lame excuse about going on a trip this morning and would come back in a few hours to pick up Daisy. Daisy was happy she gets to stay at my place. And so was Cole.

My parents invited him over for lunch after we got home and he agreed. Daisy had introduced us and he seemed nice but I still had no idea how she spilt the beans about being pregnant without informing him. Not once during lunch did he talked about his parents. When Dad asked a question relating to his parents, he bluntly said he wasn't close to them. Of course that made my parents to shut up and mind their business.

It turns out I was right about his working criteria. He works as a mechanic and controls a descent car washing company. He was very passionate about his career but but not as the way he cared for his sister. He barely allow her to walk. And while we were eating, he asked her every single minute if she was okay. Daisy was annoyed but I could tell she's used to him bring overprotective. But I'm glad that she has at least a family member that is willing to risk his life for her.

"Thanks for inviting me over. I enjoyed the lunch and it's time to go." Cole said as he stood up. He looked satisfied as he rubbed his hands on his stomach. "Mr Coleman, Mrs Coleman, thank you so much for caring for my sister while I was absent."

"It's okay. By the way, Daisy is such a lovely girl. She's part of the family now and we like having her here." Mom said and Daisy flushed.

"You're going back to Detroit now?" Dad questioned and Cole nodded in response.

"Yeah, I have an urgent meeting to attend and Clients are on high demand. Once again, thank you so much for caring for my sister. You owe me." Cole stared at his sister as she smiled at him. My parents insisted it's no big deal and finally convinced Cole to stop expressing the gratitude.

At the same time, we heard the doorbell rang. It was just my parents, Daisy, her brother and I. Eden went to stay with grandma for the weekend and Maya and Kassy went on a shopping trip. Maybe my friends are here to check on Daisy.

"I will go get the door." I simply stated and got up and left to get the door. Just as I was about to open the door, a hand stopped me. I looked up to find Cole standing before me and gazing at me softly.

"What you did was unacceptable. You can't just destroy my sister's life by your stupid 'mistake' of been drunk. But I'm glad you decided to be responsible for your actions. I appreciate that you took good care of her and made the right decisions by staying in her life. You make her happy and helped her in not only coping with her personal issues and the pregnancy but in her studies. Thank you." He curtly smiled before opening the door and leaving me astounded there.

I was going to explode from excitement for making a good impression on him. This isn't just appreciation though, it was also permission granted to date his sister. A hand waved in my face, trying to get my attention. Eric was confusedly staring at me. I looked behind him to find Korbin, Shawn, Leslie and two of Daisy's close friends, Abigail and Peyton each hiding a bunch of different flowers and sweets and chocolates.

"Hey." Leslie stated in a strange tone.

"You okay?" Eric asked and I realised that they all had the same look pegged on their faces.

Peyton chuckled lightly and all eyes were on her. "What? You made a bad impression on Daisy's brother?"

She earned a smirk from me. "It's quite the opposite actually."

"How's Daisy? Where is she? You can't tell me she went back home already because I'm not going there. But I brought her these." Abighail proudly shows off the chocolate box and bunch of lily flowers she was holding.

I gestured inside the house. "You girls go in. The boys will follow shortly after." They didn't think twice before leaving us alone. We got out of the house, quietly closing the door behind. It was a surprising sunny day and the fog had disappeared. The snow is slowly melting but it was still everywhere.

We sat on the patio chairs in silence for a minute before we heard Shawn let out a deep sigh. "Look man, I'm really sorry about what happened at the party but I swear none of the drinks were alcohol. In fact, Mom helped me make the drinks. And none of the ingredients were alcoholic."

Eric gently tapped Shawn on the back to relax him. "Relax buddy, nobody said it was you. It wasn't your fault. We already figured out that someone must have put the drug in her drink."

"He's right, Shawn." I clarified as I observed the two boys playing with their husky from across the street. "Don't blame yourself. She drank a lot of the grapes spritzer."

"Hold on, guys. It isn't just about Daisy. I informed everyone that upstairs is restricted. But when my cousin, Lexi found out that someone went through her closet. It wasn't the way she left it and three of her dresses and her sweater were missing. To make matters more complicated, a four thousand dollars and her diamond earrings were no where to be found. Someone obviously stole them."

"Wait... What?" I was utterly transfixed. Over the past couple of years, my classmates had thrown parties but not a single case of theft was reported. We enjoy the parties but we respect each other's boundaries.

"The fuck? I didn't saw anyone go up there though." Eric confessed, looking totally surprised.

Shawn sneered. "Well, you were busy making out with some girl to notice."

"Guys," Korbin drew our attention for the first time. "Last night, Kayla and Jenna came to the party. I invited them. Kayla's dress was ruined after Naomi spilt her drink on her, so I offered she go upstairs to your cousin's room to change. Sorry man, I forgot to tell you but she's the only person that went upstairs."

I remember seeing Jenna and Kayla at the party and they were intensely talking. Once, I caught her glaring at Daisy and me. When our eyes met, she evicted her gaze and acted like it never happened. "Could it be possible that Kayla stole them?"

Korbin shrugged and raised his hands in surrender. "Your words, not mine."

We heard a groan from Shawn as he massaged his temples. He raised his head and glared daggers at an innocent Korbin. "Why do you have to be so dumb at the wring time? Why would you let the psycho's friend into my house? She's Jenna fucking Coleman's best friend. Don't you realise that a psychopath's friend is also a psychopath?!" He stood up and advanced towards Korbin but I held him back. "Why would he invite her to the party?"

Korbin confusedly stood up. "What the hell, man? She's Jenna's best friend and not Naomi's. Jenna is not a psychopath."

Shawn let out a humorless laughter as he point a finger at Korbin. "So she brainwashed you? Pitiful I know."

"Pitiful my ass but you have no right to talk about Jenna like that in front of me!" This time, Korbin was completely pissed off.

"Shut up!" Eric yelled and pushed Korbin away who was trying to hit Shawn and start a dangerous fight. "Korbin is oblivious. He knows nothing, Shawn." Eric nodded at me. "Yes, it's time you explain to him. Shawn, you need to calm down."

Shawn shrugged away from my grasp and adjusted his shirt. We took a moment to relax before we take back our seats. I was sitting, facing a curious Korbin. I didn't want to hurt his feelings and ruin his chance with the first girl he went out on a date with but he deserves to know the demon she is. It's better I tell him than have her reveal to him that she was just using him to get to me.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my raging heart before I spilt everything to him. I told him about the Naomi drama and her confession during our study session. I didn't leave out a single thing. I tried to be as calm as I can to make it easy for him to understand but form the pain in his eyes, I know it broke him.

"And guess what? Nobody cares if you think we're lying to you. And no, we didn't make this up because we want to tear you apart. We told you this as your caring friends." Eric affirmed him.

"All those dates, her beautiful smiles, it was all fake. She used me to get to you." He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I thought she liked me. I thought she was different from all the girls."

"Look, we're sorry about what happened but this is not the time to talk about her. Someone's out there trying g to get rid of Daisy's pregnancy. We need to think fast before it's too late." I anxiously enlightened him. I'm afraid something will soon happen to Daisy and I want to find the culprit before it's too late.

"Shit!" Korbin cursed as he stared between the three of us in shock. We stared back at him confusedly. "I need to tell you something which might help."

And he spilt the beans about his encounter with Jenna and how she offered him her 'untouched' drink which was 'coincidentally' the same as the drink Daisy wanted.

All I know is I got to save Daisy before it's too late.

Long chapter, double update!!

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Hope you enjoy. See you in the next chapter❤