Another Alternative

Bruised and Scarred

TRIGGER WARNING: Abuse, Minor Character Death

Troye's POV

I heard Grace's cry mid-drink and nearly choked. Tyler ran over first and I followed not far behind. As soon as I saw Hannah, laying down and bleeding from her head, I turned back to Mamrie.

"Go get help." I urged her and she froze. "Now! Go!"

Mamrie turned and ran out the door, knocking over a glass on her way. I turned back just in time to see Tyler, bruised eye and bleeding brow, receive a wristful of glass. Chester spat on my shoe, punched me in the side, and ran out the door.

If the punch didn't take my breath away, the sight of Tyler definitely did. The whole world spun at the highest velocity I could imagine. I kept insisting it hadn't happened. It couldn't have. I just found him, really found him, and he's gone? I wouldn't let myself believe that. I fell to my knees and let the tears fall. I took the hand that wasn't hurt and held it when I heard the door swing open.

"Troye? Troye, are you okay?" Mamrie ran back in with a boy trailing just behind her. He looked just as worried as her. I stayed silent. It wasn't that I couldn't speak, I just didn't know what to say. Mamrie and the guy ran over and stopped when they caught a glimpse of Tyler.

"Go." I spoke quietly and steadily. I don't know why I said it. I didn't want to be alone. I don't think I could handle it. The boy obliged and ran out the way Chester had gone. Tyler darted his eyes around in disbelief of what was happening.

"What?" His breathing slowed as he looked at me. "What's happening?"

"I," I tried to explain when I realized I didn't know how to not say he was dying. His blood was in a pool around us, just about to reach where Grace lay unconscious a few feet away.

"T-Troye?" He slowly curled his fingers around mine, but the action held no strength. "It's okay. You don't have to say it."

"I'm so," The words caught in my throat but Tyler seemed to understand.

"I know." His eyes went blank and it hit me. He was gone. I couldn't do anything about it. I fumbled around frantically for a pulse and as I realized his was gone mine sped up.

"No no no no no no." I felt Mamrie's hands on my arms pulling me away. Tears flooded my cheeks as she brought me into a hug. I buried by face in her neck and tried my hardest not to look.

"Shh, it's okay. It's okay." She stroked the back of my head gently. It was all in vain, I couldn't be calmed down. He was my best friend. My best fucking friend and that bastard tore him away. What was I supposed to do with myself? I'm not strong enough to get through this, let alone do anything about it. I'd never felt anything as bad as this before.

That guy Mamrie brought burst back in and broke me out of my thought. He had blood in his coffee hair and dripping down from his viridian eye. He walked with a limp and sat in the booth closest to the door.

"Jesus, Con." Mamrie ran over and started checking his injuries. He brushed her hands away.

"Go check on your friends." His voice was husky and strained. I stood up and wiped my tears, trying to seem tough and not like I'd shied away from the fight.

"Hey, uh, you okay?" My hands shook at my sides.

"Yeah," He laughed at my nervousness. "You should see the other guy."