Crazy Love

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bzz-bzz

"Huh?" I said. Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket.

I sighed and answered, "Hello?"

It was quiet and then I heard a faint voice. "....Derek..."

"Who is this?" I asked. I didn't recognize the voice, But it is a girl's. another moment of silence. "..It's....Tavonda.." I heard.

Jesus. Really God? Are you serious??

I started to hang up before I got chills all over my body as she said in a quivering voice, "Please don't hang up!"

I put the phone back up to my ear. "What Is it?" I asked.

Silence. "Okay. Spill. Before I hang up. You're wasting my time." I said.

"....Is it true? ....What you said...." she asked.

I could hear her muffled sobs.

"Yes." I answered. "I meant every fucking word. Especially that I don't give a single fuck what happens to your stupid ass. Fuck off." I said as I hung up before I could hear her argument...Or breakdown.
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At school the next day I saw Tavonda. She didn't look okay.

....My...fault?

She was wearing black sweatpants, a black t-shirt that said 'normal people scare me', and converse. We made eye contact and I kinda felt my heart break. She had lost weight and had dark circles under her eyes.

ShīRee ran up to her and looked like she was about to cry. "Tavo!! Are you okay?! It looks like you've gotten worse!! Oh my god!" She said. Tavonda looked at ShīRee and looked as if she might breakdown right there.

"Show me your wrists." ShīRee demanded. Tavonda moved her bracelets up on her arms and flipped her wrist upward for ShīRee to see. "Oh...Tavo...." ShīRee said covering her mouth. "It's not that bad." Tavonda said.

Not that bad?! Who does she think she's kidding? That's awful!! She doesn't seem to realize that she has six gashes on each of her wrists!!

Later I was walking to eighth period and noticed Tavonda wasn't there. "Hey, Garrett. Where's...Tavo?" I asked. He looked at me. "Oh. Are you guys together again?" Garrett asked.

"No.... Don't be stupid you little shit.... but have you seen her or not?" I asked getting frustrated. He looked like he didn't believe me at all.

"She was going to the football field. She looked like she was about to lose it.... You sure you want to mess with her?" He asked.

"Yeah.... I need to talk to her." I answered before walking out the door.

I got to the bleachers at the football field and saw Tavonda propped against the bathroom door. I got halfway up to her and saw she was having a breakdown. Her backpack was at her feet. She was sobbing and shaking violently.

I ran to her and as soon as my hand touched her shoulder, she looked at me. My heart shattered.

What have I done?

Her eyes grew wide and more tears flowed out of her puffy, red eyes. "Get away from me!" She yelled. "No..." I said.

She started to back away from me and fell over her backpack.

I stepped towards her and held out my hand to help her up.

She put her hand at the waistline of her sweats. My eyes widened as she pulled out a gun and pointed it towards me. "I SAID GET AWAY!" She yelled as she stood up not letting her aim off of me. I froze.

"C'mon Tavonda. You don't have to do thi-"

"SHUT UP!" She cut me off. And put the gun to her head and took a step back. My heartbeat sped up and I looked and saw she was standing on the edge of the stadium bleachers.

I have to stop her. If she takes another step then she'll fall down six rows of concrete stadium seats. that'll surely break her neck. If she pulls the trigger on that gun, then a bullet will go through her head.

I took another step towards her. "I said. Get. Away." She said with tears rolling down her cheeks. We both jumped when we heard ShīRee at the stadium entranceway, "TAVONDA!! PLEASE NO!!"

I used ShīRee as a distraction and jumped towards Tavonda.

"Let me go!! Don't touch me!!" She screamed as she fought me to let go of her. I had my arms wrapped tightly around her from behind and she was jerking around to get loose. "Stop! I'm not letting go of you until you drop that damn gun! Fucking put it down!" I demanded.

She managed to elbow me in my ribs really hard. I let go and put my hands on the right side of my ribes. "Ow! God. That hurt!" I said. "Good." Tavonda said. She was looking at me with a pained expression.

She put the gun, I was fighting to take away from her, to her head. I started to jump up but she kicked me right in my boys. I fell to my knees and yelped in pain. I reached my hand up towards her.

"Please....please don't do it.. I'm b-begging you..." I pleaded. "How many times did I have to beg you not to leave me? And you still did it anyways. Huh?! How many?!" Tavonda yelled.

"It's my turn to ignore your pleading." She said coldly.

"NO!! I LOVE YO-"

I didn't even finish my sentence as she pulled the trigger. It seemed like the gun hit the ground in slow motion. And then her knees hit the ground. And then the rest of her body fell over. Lifeless.

I didn't even realize I had started crying. I had no idea what I was feeling or if I was saying what I was hearing. It was me that I was hearing. I took a deep breath and let out a blood curling scream, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

"NO! BABY!! NO. NO. NO!!!!" I was screaming and shaking my head and I crawled towards her pale, lifeless body. "PLEASE BABY!! PLEASE WAKE UP!!" I begged.

"Please...open your eyes..."

-----------------

"Derek! Wake up! Derek!" I heard. I woke up and saw Tavonda above me with a worried expression.

I sat up and hugged her so tightly she had to tell me she couldn't breathe. "What happened?" She asked. "I lost you..." I said shivering at the realistic memory. I was shaking. "Lost me?..." She asked.

"We were at school. You killed yourself. Because of something I did! Because I was being a dick!" I said feeling a lump forming in my throat.

Tavonda wrapped her arms around me. "Well. It was just a nightmare. I'm still here. And I'm okay. You're okay." She said in a comforting tone.

"I'm glad the kids are at my mom's for the weekend..." I said.

"Me too." Tavonda said before she kissed me.

"I love you, Baby." I said tightly hugging her. "I l-love you too....c-can't b-breathe..." she whispered. "Oh. Sorry. I loosened my grip but didn't dare to let go.

"Man... we were completely retarded in high school..." I said.