Little Montgomery: A Station 19 Story

Chapter Thirteen: Barely Breathing

NICK'S POV:

I can't stop thinking about what Travis said last night. I love Hartley, of course I do, but I can't tell her that. She's so terrified of love because of her past that she'll freak out if I tell her. But I can't hide it from her forever, or she'll think our relationship isn't going anywhere. I don't know if I should tell her. I need to talk to someone about this.

Mr. Wheeler: Nick? Nick?

I'm torn out of my thoughts.

Nick: Huh? Yeah? Sorry, I zoned out.

Mr. Wheeler: I know. Class is over.

Nick:Oh shoot, I-I'm sorry, I promise it won't happen again.

Mr. Wheeler: Nick are you alright? Would you like to go to the nurse?

Nick: No, I'm fine, I was just thinking about some stuff. Anyways, see ya later Mr. Wheeler!

I grab my stuff and rush out of the room before he can question me further. I somehow get through the day and only zone out a couple more times. Hartley doesn't sit with me at lunch because she has to work on a science project, but I get a text from her asking if I can hang out with her at the station after school. Since Travis and Emmett work there we're allowed to sit in the lobby. Ripley loves her, so he lets her answer calls so the firefighters can go on rescues.

*time skip*

After school I grab anything I'll need for homework and start the 20 minute walk to the station. On the way there I take a shortcut through an alleyway and see these guys that look like they're about 18 or 19 beating up this kid I recognize from school, he's a freshman on the Mathletes team. I only know him because Hartley's captain. I run up and try to stop them but I realize they have a knife and are making cuts on the guy's arm, he looks so scared. I manage to pull one of the guys off of him and get a couple punches in before he pushes me off. The other two start coming towards me so I yell to the kid.

Nick: Run! Go! Now!

He runs away as the guys get closer to me. I try to fight back but there's too many of them. I go to grab the guy's knife when I feel a sharp pain in my side and hear a bang. They all look shocked and run off. I feel the blood on my side and try to make my way to the station. I make it just inside the door.

Hartley's POV:

While I'm waiting for Nick I hear what sounds like a gunshot, but I can't be sure. It was probably just someone watching TV upstairs, so I go back to my homework. A few minutes later I hear the door open, but when I look up I see Nick, with blood pouring down his side, struggling to get in the door. I rush over to him just as he collapses.

Hartley: Nick? Nick, what happened?

He tries to respond but all I hear are shallow, shaky breaths.

Hartley: Nick, hey you're gonna be okay, okay? Please just stay with me. Travis! Travis! Help! Travis!

Travis and Jack come running and see Nick on the floor. They push me out of the way and start to help him.

Travis: Where is all this blood coming from? Hartley, what happened?

Hartley( shaking): I don't know, he came in here like that.

Jack cuts Nick's shirt off.

Jack: Travis, are you seeing this?

Travis: That's a bullet wound, he's been shot. Hartley, go get Ben for me, okay? Go find Ben.

Hartley: Okay.

I run upstairs to find Ben.

Hartley: Ben? Ben?!