Chapter 72 – Fall

AN: Warning! The next few chapters are going to be tough. I cried when I wrote this so please proceed with caution.

Nef’s POV


I went to the Caps-Panthers game with my father. He didn’t actually acknowledge my pregnancy even though mom had made it clear that she wanted us to clear the air. During the pre-game warm up Sasha went though his routine stopping in front of my section to say hi. He smiled at me and closed his eyes and I knew that he was thinking of his hands over mine on my stomach. I could almost feel his skin touch mine. My dad looked at us but said nothing. He nodded to Sasha which was more of an acknowledgment that either of us had hoped for. Throughout the game Sasha would glance toward us. I could tell that he wanted to know how things were going. Every time our eyes met I gave him a stern look that meant focus on the game. His attention didn’t need to be divided.

When I went to his house the following morning I expected it to be awkward. He's been injured during the game last night and we put off telling them last night. We were both nervous about telling his family. What I did not expect was what greeted me. I walked to the front door to be greeted by Nadiya.

”What’s going on here?” I asked Sasha.

”Nadiya’s staying with us for a little while,” his mother answered.

”I didn’t know she was coming here.”

I turned to walk out of the door but Sasha grabbed me and pulled me upstairs to his room.

”I didn’t know she was coming. I didn’t invite her here. I’m just as surprised as you are.” His words were rushed, like he couldn’t get them out fast enough.

I heard footsteps coming up the stairs and I turned to see Nadiya. She had a haughty expression on her face. Like she knew her presence would cause trouble.

”You’re not staying here. Take your things and leave.” Sasha almost shouted.

”Come on now Sasha, I thought we worked past this the last time we were together.”

”Nadiya, I’ll only say this one more time. Leave. Now.”

She walked up to him and I wanted nothing more that to push her away from him.

”I’m surprised you two worked it out. I thought that after that night after the bar you two would be done for good.”

”Nadiya, I really think you should go,” I said speaking to her directly for the first time.

”Unless you didn’t tell her.” Tell me what? ”You didn’t tell her, did you?”

Her eyes were falsely innocent. They were too wide, too bright.

”His mom called me one night to pick him up from a bar. He’d gotten so drunk after talking to you on the phone. He said that if you thought he would cheat on you then he would. We went back to his place and -”

”Enough!” Sasha screamed. ”Get out of my house, now!”

”Sasha what is she talking about?”

”I don’t know.”

What do you mean you don’t know? She’s lying, right?

”Tell me she’s lying.”

”I don’t know.”

”What do you mean you don’t know?” How could you not know if you slept with someone or not? I back away from Sasha. He slept with her? After he swore to me he didn’t?

”It was the night before we talked to Jesse on the phone. I was so drunk I don’t remember much of that night. I just remember Nadiya taking me home from the bar. Nef I swear to you I -” He reach toward me to stop me from backing away from him.

”Don’t touch me.”

I had to get out of here. No, this couldn’t be happening. I remember running to the stairs. I remember Sasha trying to follow me but Nadiya getting to me first. I remember her smiling before she reached her hand up to slap me. She hit me hard across the face, hard enough that I fell backward. I threw my hands back to catch myself but nothing was there. I was at the top of the steps and there was nothing there to brace myself against.

I remember hearing Sasha scream before I hit my head on something. After that it was just black.




Sasha’s POV


No this can’t be happening. I don’t remember sleeping with Nadiya. I don’t remember most of that night. I should have told her the truth. I should have been honest. None of that matters right now. I ran to stop Nef from leaving but Nadiya got to her first. I took a hit to the thigh in the game last night and I couldn't move very fast. All I saw was Nef falling backward down the stairs. Oh my God. Please no. I couldn’t reach her before she fell. I saw her lying at the foot of the stairs. She wasn’t moving.

”Nef!” I shouted running down the stairs, ignoring the pain that it caused. She flinched and tried to turn. I held her still. She had hit her head on the floor hard.

”Stay still, please stay still.” I begged.

I shouted to my father to call for an ambulance. He handed me the phone when the dispatcher came on the line.

“Please hurry, she fall down the steps. The baby.” I heard both my parents gasp.
Nef turned on her side and clutched her hands to her stomach. I could see blood beginning to seep through her jeans.

“No,” she screamed. “Oh God, no.”

I didn’t think. I picked her up and put her into my car. The hospital, I need to get her to the hospital. I don’t remember stopping at red lights. I don’t know how fast I was going. I just remember pulling up to the ER at the hospital, shouting for a nurse and telling her that Nef was pregnant and that she’d fallen down the steps.

Please God, let them be okay.