“Then what are you doing here now?”
“Jay, what’s with the third degree. I can see Elizabeth whenever the hell I want to. I don’t need your damn permission.”
I eye him suspiciously because I feel like something’s up. “Is Liz ok?”
“No, she’s not.” Ryder glares at me for asking such a stupid-assed question. Of course she’s not alright. I treated her like a grade-A asshole last night.
“Look. I would love to stand out here and shoot the shit with you, but I promised Elizabeth I would see her this morning before school. So,” he trails off and turns to walk back to her house.
“Shit. Ry, wait. Let me come with you. I need to apologize.”
He keeps walking. “Do you think that’s a wise idea? Maybe you should give her some space.”
“No. I’m not going to give her some space. She’s my fucking girlfriend. We had a fight. I want to apologize.”
Ryder turns around and pushes against my shoulder to stop me from following him. “Whatever, man. But if she wants you to leave, you leave. Understand. Otherwise, I’m not letting you take one step inside.”
I grit my teeth in annoyance but acquiesce. “Yeah. Fine. Got it. I just need to see her. Please, Ryder.”
We walk up onto her porch together but Ryder jerks to a sudden stop and presses his face to the sidelight window next to the front door. He rips his keychain out of his side pocket to unlock the door. We all have had keys to each other’s houses since we were teenagers.
“Ry, it’s early. Why don’t you knock first?”
Ryder ignores me and throws the front door open when he’s finally able to unlock it. The first thing that hits me is the smell.
“What the fuck is that smell?”
“Elizabeth! Are you in here?” Ryder shouts.
I turn my head to the side and grab Ryder. “Holy shit! Holy fuck!” There’s blood everywhere. I gag. Ryder pulls his arm out of my grasp and runs upstairs to Liz’s room. I hear him yelling for her, calling her name out over and over.
“Liz!” I shout for her. “Liz, you in here baby?” Terror and panic claw at me from the inside out. I follow the trail of blood from the foyer into the living room. “Jesus Christ! Ryder!” I hear him racing down the stairs. He collides into me and we both stand there, horrified, not knowing what to do.
A small sound has us both turning toward the dining room and kitchen. I take out my phone and dial 911. I don’t know what I say to the dispatcher, but I’m pretty sure I give them the address.
I hear Ryder’s anguished cry and drop my phone, running to where he’s kneeling down on the floor. I blink. I must be asleep or something. This isn’t real. I’m having a nightmare and when I wake up, I’ll be cuddled next to Liz in her bed. I’ll kiss her bare shoulder before tangling my fingers through her long, blond hair. I’ll hear her sweet giggle before I roll on top of her to get lost in her beautiful green eyes.
Ryder’s cries pierce through my mental fog. He’s lifting Liz’s limp body into his arms. Jesus, there’s so much blood. Oh, god, Hailey. I can’t look. I think I’m going to be sick.
“No, no, no, Elizabeth. Please, baby. Please. You’re going to be ok. Please don’t leave me. Please Elizabeth. I can’t live without you. I love you so much. So, so much, Elizabeth.” Ryder raises his head and screams at me, “Jayson, call 911!” He’s sobbing violently. “Hold on, baby. We’re here. I’m here sweetheart. Just hold on.”
I can’t move. I’m frozen in place. No. That’s not my Liz. He’s mistaken. Not my Liz. The girl I love more than life itself. He shouts her name again in agony. My legs give out and I fall to the floor next to them. Her body’s dangling in Ry’s arms. She can’t be dead. Not my Liz. Not my girl. I slide next to Ryder and take Liz’s head in my hands and press my face to her jasmine-scented hair crusted with blood. “Liz, baby girl. We’re here. You’re safe. I love you. We’ve got you, princess. Just hold on. Help’s coming.”
The sound of sirens can be heard in the distance. I try to give her hope. “See, baby. Just hold on. Help is coming. Hold on. Don’t leave. We need our princess. We need more next times. I’ll hang a thousand stars on our tree. I’ll fill a million jars with stars just for you.”
Ryder and I are mirror images of one another – sobbing, pleading, praying, making promises, begging, telling Liz we love her.
Before the paramedics forcibly pull us away from Liz, I swear I hear her say “I love you.”
Ryder and I try to push our way back to Liz, not wanting to leave her for a second when one of the paramedics yells out, “We're losing her!”
Epilogue
A Year Later…
Ryder
Julien walks into the kitchen, takes a cold bottle of water from the fridge, twists it open, and guzzles the entire thing down. His shirt and shorts stick to his skin which is drenched with sweat. I’m standing at the stove scrambling eggs to go with the bacon I just took off the burner. Julien grabs a piece of bacon and leans against the counter island.
