Caught in the Middle

Chapter 20

"Can we talk?" I asked him, looking down at the covers.

He didn't say anything so I decided to continue, "I'm leaving Gav."

He glanced at me, his jaw tightening.

"It would be safer for everyone here if Jackson and I left." 

Gavin sat up and walked towards the bathroom, his back to me, "I understand."  He stopped in the doorway, "I hope you know what you are doing, Julia."  He stepped into the bathroom and shut the door with a slam, making me flinch.

"Are you coming Jules?" Jackson asked coming from the hallway.

I nodded, "Yea, let's go."  I grabbed a duffel bag from the corner and stuffed as many of my clothes in as possible.  Before I left the room, I looked back at the bathroom, wishing he would come out.  When there was no movement, Jackson grabbed my hand and pulled me downstairs.

I quickly wrote a note to Mason, telling him that I would somehow keep in touch, but this was for the best.

Once we had packed everything that was needed we headed for the driveway and jumped in the truck.  As Jackson started backing down the driveway, I looked up in Gavin's window to see him standing there looking down at me. 

I placed my hand on the window as we drove away from the house and away from that life.

Two weeks later

We were staying at a rundown motel when my cell rang again.  I didn't have to look to know who it was.  Mace kept blowing up my phone, but I never answered.  I was hoping to hear from Gav, or to see how he was doing, but he never called.

I couldn't say that I blamed him.  I just up and left with Jacks and didn't even bother to say goodbye.  It didn't help that he caught Jacks and I kissing.

I couldn't get him out of my head, and it was killing me.  Seeing his shaggy brown hair and his chiseled features in my mind about drove me crazy, especially since we didn't go anywhere.  Jacks had made a rule that we were not to leave the motel room, for safety reasons.

We hadn't really talked very much either.  I kept thinking that he was mad at me, but I would see him looking at me every so often.  As if something was on his mind, but he didn't know how to say it. 

I was about to get up to use the bathroom when a news flash came on the t.v. screen.

"Jacks, turn up the tv."  I said since he had the remote.

He did as I asked and I stared in horror of the sight before me.

"We come to you tonight in a quiet and wealthy suburb.  Fire has spread throughout this subdivision in a matter of minutes.  Firefighters are on the scene trying to get everyone to safety.  They think that some people may have not survived." 

I started at the screen harder and saw the camera point to Mace's house.  I fell in front of the tv putting my hands on the screen, tears streaming down my face.  The news reporter had started talking again, but I didn't hear what she said as I pulled on my sweatshirt and shoes and ran out of the room. 

"Wait up, Jules!"  I heard Jackson scream behind me shutting the motel room door.  I ran towards the car and jumped in, driving away as Jacks chased after me.

I gripped the steering wheel so hard that my knuckles started turning white, I couldn't lose them.  They couldn't be dead.

I arrived an hour later to see the fire still blazing strong.  I pulled up as far as I could and ran towards the carnage.  People were screaming, police screaming and giving orders, and the sirens of the ambulances' wailing.  It was dark out now, so the fire lit up the street like it was daylight.

I ran towards Mason's house when I was grabbed and pulled back.

"Miss, you can't go through here."  A police officer said as I struggled against him.

"My brother!  That's my brother's house!"  I screamed trying to get loose from him.

He held me tighter as tears streamed down my face, "Miss, the fire spread quickly, but they may have gotten out in time."

I was looking at the house and noticed that the house before Mason's was fire free, but the fire spread on down the row. 

I looked up at the officer, "Where did the fire start?" I asked and he looked at me with pity in his eyes.

I pushed away from him and wrapped my arms around myself, I already knew the answer.   I fell to the cold ground and pounded the pavement.

"No!" I screamed.  I knew people were watching me go into hysterics, but I didn't care.  They killed my brother.  They couldn't find me or Jacks, so they killed my brother. 

I looked back up at the house, "Gavin."  I whispered as I felt something break in my chest and I couldn't seem to breathe.  It felt as if someone had cut off the oxygen flow to my lungs.  I collapsed on the ground and I heard someone yell, "We need help over here!"

I opened my eyes to meet a blurry figure and felt an oxygen mask put on my face. 

"Gav."  I whispered.  It was the last thing I thought about or said before everything went black.

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So what do you think?  I told you someone was going to die, who do you think is dead?  All of them?  Just one?  Comment and Vote!  Let me know what you think!!!