x
When I opened my eyes, I didn't know where I was for a few minutes. I was staring at a ceiling, but it was angled strangely. Shifting, I realized I was on my back, the floor beneath me hard. Slowly, I flipped onto my stomach and lifted myself up. The hallway I was in was small, but I could hear everything. I heard the shouting, the screaming, and finally, the gunshot.477Please respect copyright.PENANAr0APYuk3w1
477Please respect copyright.PENANADuK0a1tOfY
Silence filled my head and for a moment I thought I had gone deaf. My entire body stopped working, because the fear took over, and my brain told me who it was who had gotten shot. I squeezed my eyes shut and my knees gave out. I was back on the floor and I didn't move, didn't see, under someone touched my face with trembling hands.477Please respect copyright.PENANA2W6givKJwz
477Please respect copyright.PENANA8F2h3Fp2hD
"Kendall, we have to call the police, and an ambulance or he isn't going to make it."477Please respect copyright.PENANAGfv9rkJiUN
477Please respect copyright.PENANA4QHdhSBJQg
At these words, I opened my eyes, and looked into a pair of hazel ones. Christian sat crouched in front of me, his entire face etched with worry and panic. He kept glancing behind him at the bedroom, his lips forming a thin line.477Please respect copyright.PENANAoOgSrPA63E
477Please respect copyright.PENANAx1yD37xkZ7
"You're alive," I whispered. Then I threw myself at him, kissing him like I hadn't seen him in years. He returned the gesture and held me tightly. "God, I thought you got shot."477Please respect copyright.PENANAN2FSy1YM8Q
477Please respect copyright.PENANAw9BTFYXN3q
He stopped kissing me, then, seeming to remember why he came out here. Gently he drew away from me and touched my face, his eyes searching mine, and then he spoke.477Please respect copyright.PENANAJgUIvOF37J
477Please respect copyright.PENANAtFsrDlnLDK
"Kendall, it's Jude."477Please respect copyright.PENANAJjXRUHbiRu
477Please respect copyright.PENANADQbF2Udyqr
My eyes widened at his words, then I noticed his clothes, and the red specks on the fabric. It was blood. Jude's blood.477Please respect copyright.PENANAtx5EyCRGiW
477Please respect copyright.PENANAH1Wy129Eed
"He saved me," Christian explained, bringing me to my feet. "But not without getting shot. Seth got him right in the chest. I'll call for help and you watch him."477Please respect copyright.PENANAC1uEoVQTwk
477Please respect copyright.PENANAQAD3UiBwuM
My legs shook and I gripped the wall for support. "Seth," I muttered. "Where is he?"477Please respect copyright.PENANAC5IXWAEcfd
477Please respect copyright.PENANAfnvBSa2zsN
"He's not here," Christian said angrily. "The fucking coward jumped out the window."477Please respect copyright.PENANAFDo2B2ZLFA
477Please respect copyright.PENANAnjXiGTn2wS
I nodded, starting toward the door. I didn't even have to go all the way into the room to smell the blood. It was so strong that I nearly gagged. The first thing I saw was a shoe, then I heard a muffled cry. I saw Jude laying there, his chest covered in blood from the wound, and his eyes, those forest-green eyes, were staring at me.477Please respect copyright.PENANANOfQ89sMwW
477Please respect copyright.PENANA6mgt2PdVwd
I dropped to my knees beside him and automatically grasped his hand. "It's going to be okay," I said, trying hard not to cry. "Christian's calling for help."477Please respect copyright.PENANAFJugaVfZn4
477Please respect copyright.PENANA91YGwgKmrT
Jude's eyes, for the first time, looked full of terror. His breathing was erratic and his body trembled. Then he opened his mouth.477Please respect copyright.PENANAZchsKe6itJ
477Please respect copyright.PENANAd4tLksyoYk
"I'll be with Abbie," he whispered, a smile on his lips. "I'll get to see her soon. It's what I always wanted."477Please respect copyright.PENANAgDxvpoWOBh
477Please respect copyright.PENANAdlyznPOjkc
"No," I said, shaking my head. When I looked at him, his eyes mirrored mine with tears. "You're not going to die, Jude. It's not happening. We're going to get you to the hospital and you're going to be okay."477Please respect copyright.PENANA67gPfrwTWz
477Please respect copyright.PENANAqtmBl3cmVC
I heard the sirens, and then all I remembered was them taking Jude away, while I sat outside wrapped in a blanket. Christian sat beside me, our hands linked, and for the first time in my life, I prayed.477Please respect copyright.PENANAOzf6hqcaxb
477Please respect copyright.PENANAg1iHJVs6iY
477Please respect copyright.PENANAO1d1jwAADb
Whether or not Jude went to the other side at all during the operation to remove the bullet, I didn't know. When we were finally able to see him, he was still asleep. Christian went to get some sort of food for us and when he got back he explained what he could. Seth had taken him from his own yard, drugged and carried him to his car, and just before the unconscious settled down on Christian, he remembered being stuffed into a tight space. Then he woke up in a bedroom with Seth touching him.477Please respect copyright.PENANAx7puyfNzBE
477Please respect copyright.PENANAgafRDARpW5
I was sitting in a cushioned chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, when the hospital room door opened and one of the nurse's came in. She shook her head. "He's very lucky to be alive," she said to us. Then she looked at me. "Someone is here to see you, Kendall."477Please respect copyright.PENANAy6sIVFXw5S
477Please respect copyright.PENANA7gOWaVvmOc
"Who?" I asked suspiciously.477Please respect copyright.PENANALnRxhnC2aR
477Please respect copyright.PENANAAJM1xDBmjU
"Your mother."477Please respect copyright.PENANAfidLTheHGN
477Please respect copyright.PENANA2UwtcUKgeF
I blinked at the nurse a few times, glanced at Christian, and stood up. I followed her out the door and down the hall. There was a figure standing near the automatic doors. She burst into tears when she saw me.477Please respect copyright.PENANABWLk4Gad9f
477Please respect copyright.PENANADySHZUbGRi
We didn't exchange words. She cried, hugging me. She smelled minty and she didn't seem to be stumbling. She was, for the first time in two years, completely sober. When I hugged her back, her little intake of breath told me that she wasn't expecting that at all. When she asked me what happened, I just told her that my friend got shot. She surprised me by asking if it was my boyfriend.477Please respect copyright.PENANAS8smUolF6H
477Please respect copyright.PENANAXQNVSrObAn
When I returned to Jude's room with my mom, Christian stood, his eyes narrowed. When my mom saw him, she frowned.477Please respect copyright.PENANAiSUz4kwt3z
477Please respect copyright.PENANAqGGyq20AbA
"Please don't be mad," she said softly. "I know what I did and said was wrong. You can forgive me if you want later."477Please respect copyright.PENANAAUFiuvqvii
477Please respect copyright.PENANA57Cynd2arW
Christian's mouth opened slightly in disbelief. I went over to him and tapped his chin with my finger. He shook his head and looked at me, reaching for my hand. We sat and waited for Jude to wake up while my mom announced she was going into rehab.477Please respect copyright.PENANAcaOu4JUolD
477Please respect copyright.PENANAjOxwP8HPM0
477Please respect copyright.PENANAkgvPPyTGcR
After Jude had woken up at some during the night, I cried against him and thanked him for saving Christian. He laughed at me and told me to stop being so dramatic, then to my surprise, he shook Christian's hand.477Please respect copyright.PENANAbTmyZgbfz6
477Please respect copyright.PENANATn3l7aAAyy
I couldn't wait to sleep. I was exhausted. We dropped Christian off and headed home, neither of us speaking. My mom unlocked the door without saying anything to me, then went to her room. I went into the living room to fall asleep with the TV on. When I flicked on the light, a terrible scream escaped my throat.477Please respect copyright.PENANAbex9IOuEna
477Please respect copyright.PENANAa7wipeqwYW
Seth was staring at me with a crooked smile and amused golden eyes.477Please respect copyright.PENANAeybnJOa40t
ns 3.172.37.22da2 477Please respect copyright.PENANADuK0a1tOfY
Silence filled my head and for a moment I thought I had gone deaf. My entire body stopped working, because the fear took over, and my brain told me who it was who had gotten shot. I squeezed my eyes shut and my knees gave out. I was back on the floor and I didn't move, didn't see, under someone touched my face with trembling hands.477Please respect copyright.PENANA2W6givKJwz
477Please respect copyright.PENANA8F2h3Fp2hD
"Kendall, we have to call the police, and an ambulance or he isn't going to make it."477Please respect copyright.PENANAGfv9rkJiUN
477Please respect copyright.PENANA4QHdhSBJQg
At these words, I opened my eyes, and looked into a pair of hazel ones. Christian sat crouched in front of me, his entire face etched with worry and panic. He kept glancing behind him at the bedroom, his lips forming a thin line.477Please respect copyright.PENANAoOgSrPA63E
477Please respect copyright.PENANAx1yD37xkZ7
"You're alive," I whispered. Then I threw myself at him, kissing him like I hadn't seen him in years. He returned the gesture and held me tightly. "God, I thought you got shot."477Please respect copyright.PENANAN2FSy1YM8Q
477Please respect copyright.PENANAw9BTFYXN3q
He stopped kissing me, then, seeming to remember why he came out here. Gently he drew away from me and touched my face, his eyes searching mine, and then he spoke.477Please respect copyright.PENANAJgUIvOF37J
477Please respect copyright.PENANAtFsrDlnLDK
"Kendall, it's Jude."477Please respect copyright.PENANAJjXRUHbiRu
477Please respect copyright.PENANADQbF2Udyqr
My eyes widened at his words, then I noticed his clothes, and the red specks on the fabric. It was blood. Jude's blood.477Please respect copyright.PENANAtx5EyCRGiW
477Please respect copyright.PENANAH1Wy129Eed
"He saved me," Christian explained, bringing me to my feet. "But not without getting shot. Seth got him right in the chest. I'll call for help and you watch him."477Please respect copyright.PENANAC1uEoVQTwk
477Please respect copyright.PENANAQAD3UiBwuM
My legs shook and I gripped the wall for support. "Seth," I muttered. "Where is he?"477Please respect copyright.PENANAC5IXWAEcfd
477Please respect copyright.PENANAfnvBSa2zsN
"He's not here," Christian said angrily. "The fucking coward jumped out the window."477Please respect copyright.PENANAFDo2B2ZLFA
477Please respect copyright.PENANAnjXiGTn2wS
I nodded, starting toward the door. I didn't even have to go all the way into the room to smell the blood. It was so strong that I nearly gagged. The first thing I saw was a shoe, then I heard a muffled cry. I saw Jude laying there, his chest covered in blood from the wound, and his eyes, those forest-green eyes, were staring at me.477Please respect copyright.PENANANOfQ89sMwW
477Please respect copyright.PENANA6mgt2PdVwd
I dropped to my knees beside him and automatically grasped his hand. "It's going to be okay," I said, trying hard not to cry. "Christian's calling for help."477Please respect copyright.PENANAFJugaVfZn4
477Please respect copyright.PENANA91YGwgKmrT
Jude's eyes, for the first time, looked full of terror. His breathing was erratic and his body trembled. Then he opened his mouth.477Please respect copyright.PENANAZchsKe6itJ
477Please respect copyright.PENANAd4tLksyoYk
"I'll be with Abbie," he whispered, a smile on his lips. "I'll get to see her soon. It's what I always wanted."477Please respect copyright.PENANAgDxvpoWOBh
477Please respect copyright.PENANAdlyznPOjkc
"No," I said, shaking my head. When I looked at him, his eyes mirrored mine with tears. "You're not going to die, Jude. It's not happening. We're going to get you to the hospital and you're going to be okay."477Please respect copyright.PENANA67gPfrwTWz
477Please respect copyright.PENANAqtmBl3cmVC
I heard the sirens, and then all I remembered was them taking Jude away, while I sat outside wrapped in a blanket. Christian sat beside me, our hands linked, and for the first time in my life, I prayed.477Please respect copyright.PENANAOzf6hqcaxb
477Please respect copyright.PENANAg1iHJVs6iY
___
477Please respect copyright.PENANAfAKN5gtxOX477Please respect copyright.PENANAO1d1jwAADb
Whether or not Jude went to the other side at all during the operation to remove the bullet, I didn't know. When we were finally able to see him, he was still asleep. Christian went to get some sort of food for us and when he got back he explained what he could. Seth had taken him from his own yard, drugged and carried him to his car, and just before the unconscious settled down on Christian, he remembered being stuffed into a tight space. Then he woke up in a bedroom with Seth touching him.477Please respect copyright.PENANAx7puyfNzBE
477Please respect copyright.PENANAgafRDARpW5
I was sitting in a cushioned chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, when the hospital room door opened and one of the nurse's came in. She shook her head. "He's very lucky to be alive," she said to us. Then she looked at me. "Someone is here to see you, Kendall."477Please respect copyright.PENANAy6sIVFXw5S
477Please respect copyright.PENANA7gOWaVvmOc
"Who?" I asked suspiciously.477Please respect copyright.PENANALnRxhnC2aR
477Please respect copyright.PENANAAJM1xDBmjU
"Your mother."477Please respect copyright.PENANAfidLTheHGN
477Please respect copyright.PENANA2UwtcUKgeF
I blinked at the nurse a few times, glanced at Christian, and stood up. I followed her out the door and down the hall. There was a figure standing near the automatic doors. She burst into tears when she saw me.477Please respect copyright.PENANABWLk4Gad9f
477Please respect copyright.PENANADySHZUbGRi
We didn't exchange words. She cried, hugging me. She smelled minty and she didn't seem to be stumbling. She was, for the first time in two years, completely sober. When I hugged her back, her little intake of breath told me that she wasn't expecting that at all. When she asked me what happened, I just told her that my friend got shot. She surprised me by asking if it was my boyfriend.477Please respect copyright.PENANAS8smUolF6H
477Please respect copyright.PENANAXQNVSrObAn
When I returned to Jude's room with my mom, Christian stood, his eyes narrowed. When my mom saw him, she frowned.477Please respect copyright.PENANAiSUz4kwt3z
477Please respect copyright.PENANAqGGyq20AbA
"Please don't be mad," she said softly. "I know what I did and said was wrong. You can forgive me if you want later."477Please respect copyright.PENANAAUFiuvqvii
477Please respect copyright.PENANA57Cynd2arW
Christian's mouth opened slightly in disbelief. I went over to him and tapped his chin with my finger. He shook his head and looked at me, reaching for my hand. We sat and waited for Jude to wake up while my mom announced she was going into rehab.477Please respect copyright.PENANAcaOu4JUolD
477Please respect copyright.PENANAjOxwP8HPM0
___
477Please respect copyright.PENANAAQFABJfw4a477Please respect copyright.PENANAkgvPPyTGcR
After Jude had woken up at some during the night, I cried against him and thanked him for saving Christian. He laughed at me and told me to stop being so dramatic, then to my surprise, he shook Christian's hand.477Please respect copyright.PENANAbTmyZgbfz6
477Please respect copyright.PENANATn3l7aAAyy
I couldn't wait to sleep. I was exhausted. We dropped Christian off and headed home, neither of us speaking. My mom unlocked the door without saying anything to me, then went to her room. I went into the living room to fall asleep with the TV on. When I flicked on the light, a terrible scream escaped my throat.477Please respect copyright.PENANAbex9IOuEna
477Please respect copyright.PENANAa7wipeqwYW
Seth was staring at me with a crooked smile and amused golden eyes.477Please respect copyright.PENANAeybnJOa40t