Chapter One: What Happened In Dubai

Tuesday, June 7th.

11:58p.m.

Gold Swimming Pool at Mandarin Oriental Jumiera, Dubai.

Truck's POV

A blood curdling scream spilt through the air. I froze in my tracks. My head whipped around so fast, I was surprised it was still attached to my neck. My long legs turned into a stride as I made my way towards where the scream had bellowed from. I could feel my heart hammering away in my chest and a queasy feeling tied my stomach in a tight knot. Something wasn't right. And I knew better than to ignore my own gut feelings.

Panicking, my frantic walk turned into a chaotic run. I had only been gone for no more than five minutes. What the hell could have happened in that short of a time frame? Gem should still be nestled on the love-seat sandwiched between Isla and Quinn, two of her chatterbox best friends. No-one gossiped as much as those three girls together- not even Wendy Williams. It was almost midnight and I wanted to give Gem her final gift at precisely that time. I could picture her camera worthy smile flashing up in my anxious face as I slipped my gift on her.

My bare feet skidded to a halt when I noticed Dove's blank expression. She stared over towards the pool and I swore my heart was now in my throat. She stood frozen in place, her gaze never leaving the sparkling crystal water. I was too afraid to follow her gaze, scared that I would see something I didn't want to. A single tear rolled down Dove's rosy cheek. And that was all it took.

My head turned, my eyes wandering off in the direction of Dove's eyes. My feet wobbled, my mouth felt wadded up with cotton balls and I could no longer hear the drumming of my heart in my ears. The blood seemed to rush up to my face and I stood there rooted just like Dove, immobilized by fear and uncertainty.

Without thinking, I dived into the chilly water, the only thing imprinted on my mind was I had to get to Gem. Gently, I pulled Gem to the surface of the pool. I half-expected her to cough up water and when that didn't exactly happen my mind drew a blank. An out of breath Quinn came rushing up to us. The air was knocked from his lungs but I was sure that the expression he wore was similar to mine. I couldn't lose Gem. She was my everything.

Quinn wasn't someone I had cared for in the past but when Gem insisted on him being apart of her birthday celebration, I had all but caved. Anything for my princess.

Quinn had worked as a life guard briefly one summer so he was well versed when it came to mouth to mouth resuscitation. He took Gem from my torpefied hands that shook ever so slightly. Quinn immediately sprung into action. First he laid Gem on her back with her chin and head tilted upwards in an attempt to clear her airway.

His mouth clamped over Gem's heart shaped ones, breathing life into her. His hands pumped her chest and repeated the mouth action. I knelt beside him, groping for Gem's child-like fingers. Her fingers felt cold to the touch but still I held on to them. My fingers travelled up to her now cold wrist. Waiting with anticipation, my breath quickened when I realized that there still wasn't a pulse. And then began the most awful headache I had ever experienced. I felt nauseous and weak at the same time. How could Gem leave me like this? How?

Without thinking, I pushed Quinn away and gathered a frail Gem in my arms. My tears soaked Gem's recently done hair and I knew she would have cursed at me for ruining her hairstyle, a part of me desperately wanted that to become my reality.

I vaguely remember Ashli coming up to us saying something about contacting the police and ambulance. Something, I realized in my dazed state, that neither of us had done. I was a mess. Is this what losing Gem would do to me? There was no me without that girl and as cliché as that might sound- that was my truth. She was the reason why I kept going each day, why I began each morning with a fresh perspective. She knew this. She knew my ugly and instead of leaving, chose to embrace me instead. That was just the type of person Gem was. She accepted you. She knew how much I needed her. So why wasn't she opening her eyes? Was this some kind of prank for her stupid YouTube channel?

A firm hand landed on my shoulder. I turned around, my eyes ready to glare daggers at whosoever dared to interrupt me. My expression relaxed a tad when my eyes landed on the paramedic dressed in white. The man's face softened. If was as if he understood my pain. "Why don't we get her to a hospital?" he suggested in a barely audible tone. My brain just about registered what he said. Everything was all fuzzy and hazy. By far, the worst nightmare ever. This was nothing but a sick prank that had gone too far, right? Right?

Man, if only you knew the lengths I had gone through just for Gem to notice me and then I got her to fall in love with me. No way was I losing her like this. No way was this the end of us. A fresh wave of tears coated my eyes. No way, man. My eyes were still glued to the paramedic when I felt someone's warm hand encircle my bicep. Hope filled my eyes as I turned them on Gem. Not even death had marred the girl's beauty; she was still so wonderful to look at. She was perfect. My dream girl.

"Ashli also called for a Careem."

I looked up and saw Becca's lips moving. "We can follow behind in the ambulance," she added, noticing my blank stare. But still I didn't move. I couldn't. What was I supposed to do with my life now that Gem was gone? My world laid in my arms, dead. What was the point of even living?

Before I could process what was happening, the paramedic had already whisked Gem away to the ambulance on a stretcher whilst Javid all but dragged me to the waiting white Careem, parked on the curbside just outside of the lavish hotel.

Inside the car, the once chatty group was now unusually quiet. Dove who was almost never silent, sat tight-lipped staring ahead. The night's happening weighed heavily on everyone's minds. I was glad for that. I was never one for unnecessary chatter. Silence at this time was golden.

Without thinking, my slender fingers entered the pocket of my swim shorts. My index finger looped through a round band, the stone pressing aggressively against my already taunt knuckles. How ironic that Gem never had the opportunity to see what her last present from me was.

For the umpteenth time that night I asked myself how Gem expected me to live without her.