All Chapters of The Us Between Chaos: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I grabbed my bag and quickly headed out of the house. While locking our front gate, I almost jumped at the sudden sound of a car horn. I turned and saw a car parked in front of our house—Hade and Jarred leaning on the hood, arms crossed, trying too hard to look cool.I laughed quietly. They were really trying, but not gonna lie, they did look cool. I slipped the keys into my bag and started walking toward them.My eyes scanned Jarred’s face. There was a patch on his right forehead, barely hidden behind his short bangs. A band-aid clung to the corner of his mouth. I caught a glimpse of a bandage peeking through the collar of his polo—tight and white around his chest. I wondered where it ended.He texted me last night to meet at the café to make up for yesterday. So what is he doing in front of my house?“I thought we’re meeting at the café?” I asked as he opened the door for me. He just smirked and gave a small shrug while I got in. I watched him walk around the front of the car to the

I’ve never met Tycen in person, but being close to Hade feels almost like being with him. They’re different, of course, yet Hade somehow stirs the same emotions I felt when I was still in contact with Tycen.Maybe it’s because of how Hade’s been acting toward me these past few days. Whatever it is, it’s bothering me. I can’t even look at him or talk to him without these strange thoughts creeping in.I know it’s ridiculous—but how can I stop when Tycen is all I can think about? How can two different people share the same kind of presence? They’re not alike in every way. I’ll never truly know; I never met Tycen.And what if the Tycen I knew wasn’t even real—just the version of him I created in my mind? Wouldn’t that make it easier to let go?My spiral of thoughts was cut off by a knock on my table. I looked up to see the ghost sitting across from me, grinning from ear to ear."What now?" I asked. He faded, then popped up on my bed."I don’t know if this is a side effect of being outside

It was so bright. I closed my eyes again. Everything felt heavy—my body, my breathing, even my thoughts.When I opened my eyes, unfamiliar faces came into focus. White coats. Stethoscopes hanging around their necks. They were talking to me, but their words were nothing but muffled noise.I turned my head and saw Mom. She looked worried—too worried. She shouldn’t be here. She should be resting at home. Who the hell brought her here to see me like this?I tried moving my fingers. Nothing. My whole body was numb. My throat was locked, my breath shallow. A machine beeped beside me.Someone in a white coat placed an oxygen mask over my face. The air helped, but all I wanted was to close my eyes again—let them panic while I slipped back into peace.—---"I’ll take Lianne and Paris home, then I’ll come back. Stay here until I get back."My eyes shot open. I tried to get up but couldn’t. A hand pressed gently on my shoulder—Jarred. He smiled. I expected him to be mad that I hadn’t listened, bu

I rode in Jarred’s car. Mr. Agnello had insisted we all ride in one car, but luckily, Hank and Jarred insisted on using their own, saying it would be easier to get home after dinner. Hank didn’t argue when Jarred announced that I would ride with him.As we crossed the road, my heart raced faster than usual, pounding in my chest like it might explode. I placed my right hand over it, hoping to calm myself.“You good?” Jarred asked, eyes focused on the road. I nodded, knowing he’d catch it in his peripheral vision.“Don’t be nervous. We’re just eating,” he said. Easy for him to say. I let my hand fall to my lap, trying to steady myself.Still, the questions lingered in my mind. How would I even start investigating? How could I figure out who put Hade in a coma? Was it an accident… or something more deliberate?—When we arrived at La Push, we were the last to reach the table. Everyone else was already seated. I ended up between Hank and Jarred, Jackson to Jarred’s left, and Mr. Agnello to

After we talked to the staff of Arrow Publishing for the upcoming event, I told Jarred that I wasn’t coming back to school, and he dropped me straight at my house. I felt too tired to do anything else. When I entered, the house was a mess. I wanted to whine, to get mad, to unleash my frustration, but I didn’t have the energy. I just stared at Paris as I walked past her, not even bothering to greet Mom.I twisted the doorknob of my room and entered. Instantly, I locked it and flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling while my stomach growled.I bet there was nothing edible in the kitchen. I have money, sure, and I could order anything I wanted. But if Dad found out that I was earning now, he wouldn’t hesitate to come home and claim his “retirement.” And guess what his retirement plan was? Me.I picked up my phone to check the messages. Speaking of which, he had messaged me.“As soon as I get my paycheck, I’ll send it to you, but for now, I really can’t find anyone to help me out. I’m