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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAK5RMSrdPP8
593Please respect copyright.PENANANc39Ow7nqR
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAKbOVAcplc9
593Please respect copyright.PENANAngxGc23B2n
"Kendall, we have to call the police, and an ambulance or he isn't going to make it."593Please respect copyright.PENANAE1DPKRKBzj
593Please respect copyright.PENANAVPf9Gnyrnh
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAv0kAUlzT7j
593Please respect copyright.PENANAm1BFYx8fqE
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANATNTXY7e5PW
593Please respect copyright.PENANAGndWf65tQg
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAOnA2XszkWX
593Please respect copyright.PENANABToSwA6Hcv
"Kendall, it's Jude."593Please respect copyright.PENANAJlzVMmkHrN
593Please respect copyright.PENANAMnE5SklYtU
My eyes widened at his words, then I noticed his clothes, and the red specks on the fabric. It was blood. Jude's blood.593Please respect copyright.PENANAAqbLsajulA
593Please respect copyright.PENANABGZXv24z07
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAKatWnPIiEn
593Please respect copyright.PENANA23ainwdhj6
My legs shook and I gripped the wall for support. "Seth," I muttered. "Where is he?"593Please respect copyright.PENANAax66OvJNBN
593Please respect copyright.PENANA5EP37jXEDO
"He's not here," Christian said angrily. "The fucking coward jumped out the window."593Please respect copyright.PENANABklGKDjkgs
593Please respect copyright.PENANAb5RvWfUOGI
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA3aJamHNGkx
593Please respect copyright.PENANAIb39i1MoTt
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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAZZfRrEjXSN
593Please respect copyright.PENANA8Go9J6bqdy
Jude's eyes, for the first time, looked full of terror. His breathing was erratic and his body trembled. Then he opened his mouth.593Please respect copyright.PENANA0NjeXA1HQC
593Please respect copyright.PENANAO2HBFvLn2v
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAfV0muMw6Qf
593Please respect copyright.PENANAyrc1mwjOsu
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAUgu9K8hjAY
593Please respect copyright.PENANAXzgtWayEib
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAGGy7vlU2Ob
593Please respect copyright.PENANAvFUIAXet3H
593Please respect copyright.PENANA4FOC7HE3Ps
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAuCXIONKSPK
593Please respect copyright.PENANADfc0EFQBcM
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."593Please respect copyright.PENANA29KH0NaG8L
593Please respect copyright.PENANABZU6bzsM6d
"Who?" I asked suspiciously.593Please respect copyright.PENANAoyAQPxWbRT
593Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ0DBmuukA
"Your mother."593Please respect copyright.PENANAzQQKB1TrI8
593Please respect copyright.PENANACBci8YkqmK
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA2dGS5eN1yd
593Please respect copyright.PENANAKmfJNufoKy
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAVoCivLKF6l
593Please respect copyright.PENANAvj5N9dIzKb
When I returned to Jude's room with my mom, Christian stood, his eyes narrowed. When my mom saw him, she frowned.593Please respect copyright.PENANAzOOi9Bhdee
593Please respect copyright.PENANAiwtAOQdMTN
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAdpWbvCDir6
593Please respect copyright.PENANAxsSaR3Hj1p
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAgASwr5COZO
593Please respect copyright.PENANAxgtreuJuQh
593Please respect copyright.PENANACeddQJJM1v
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAQBOiRYCkOt
593Please respect copyright.PENANAGSk1w2Yx4T
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAqVpPjHZWZD
593Please respect copyright.PENANA70FV9T4iR0
Seth was staring at me with a crooked smile and amused golden eyes.593Please respect copyright.PENANA2ofE5gsgT1
ns216.73.216.39da2 593Please respect copyright.PENANANc39Ow7nqR
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAKbOVAcplc9
593Please respect copyright.PENANAngxGc23B2n
"Kendall, we have to call the police, and an ambulance or he isn't going to make it."593Please respect copyright.PENANAE1DPKRKBzj
593Please respect copyright.PENANAVPf9Gnyrnh
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAv0kAUlzT7j
593Please respect copyright.PENANAm1BFYx8fqE
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANATNTXY7e5PW
593Please respect copyright.PENANAGndWf65tQg
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAOnA2XszkWX
593Please respect copyright.PENANABToSwA6Hcv
"Kendall, it's Jude."593Please respect copyright.PENANAJlzVMmkHrN
593Please respect copyright.PENANAMnE5SklYtU
My eyes widened at his words, then I noticed his clothes, and the red specks on the fabric. It was blood. Jude's blood.593Please respect copyright.PENANAAqbLsajulA
593Please respect copyright.PENANABGZXv24z07
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAKatWnPIiEn
593Please respect copyright.PENANA23ainwdhj6
My legs shook and I gripped the wall for support. "Seth," I muttered. "Where is he?"593Please respect copyright.PENANAax66OvJNBN
593Please respect copyright.PENANA5EP37jXEDO
"He's not here," Christian said angrily. "The fucking coward jumped out the window."593Please respect copyright.PENANABklGKDjkgs
593Please respect copyright.PENANAb5RvWfUOGI
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA3aJamHNGkx
593Please respect copyright.PENANAIb39i1MoTt
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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAZZfRrEjXSN
593Please respect copyright.PENANA8Go9J6bqdy
Jude's eyes, for the first time, looked full of terror. His breathing was erratic and his body trembled. Then he opened his mouth.593Please respect copyright.PENANA0NjeXA1HQC
593Please respect copyright.PENANAO2HBFvLn2v
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAfV0muMw6Qf
593Please respect copyright.PENANAyrc1mwjOsu
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAUgu9K8hjAY
593Please respect copyright.PENANAXzgtWayEib
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAGGy7vlU2Ob
593Please respect copyright.PENANAvFUIAXet3H
___
593Please respect copyright.PENANAtoE11BK2hK593Please respect copyright.PENANA4FOC7HE3Ps
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAuCXIONKSPK
593Please respect copyright.PENANADfc0EFQBcM
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."593Please respect copyright.PENANA29KH0NaG8L
593Please respect copyright.PENANABZU6bzsM6d
"Who?" I asked suspiciously.593Please respect copyright.PENANAoyAQPxWbRT
593Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ0DBmuukA
"Your mother."593Please respect copyright.PENANAzQQKB1TrI8
593Please respect copyright.PENANACBci8YkqmK
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANA2dGS5eN1yd
593Please respect copyright.PENANAKmfJNufoKy
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAVoCivLKF6l
593Please respect copyright.PENANAvj5N9dIzKb
When I returned to Jude's room with my mom, Christian stood, his eyes narrowed. When my mom saw him, she frowned.593Please respect copyright.PENANAzOOi9Bhdee
593Please respect copyright.PENANAiwtAOQdMTN
"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."593Please respect copyright.PENANAdpWbvCDir6
593Please respect copyright.PENANAxsSaR3Hj1p
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAgASwr5COZO
593Please respect copyright.PENANAxgtreuJuQh
___
593Please respect copyright.PENANAQEV1PSKwHl593Please respect copyright.PENANACeddQJJM1v
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAQBOiRYCkOt
593Please respect copyright.PENANAGSk1w2Yx4T
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.593Please respect copyright.PENANAqVpPjHZWZD
593Please respect copyright.PENANA70FV9T4iR0
Seth was staring at me with a crooked smile and amused golden eyes.593Please respect copyright.PENANA2ofE5gsgT1