I've Got Your Back

Chapter 23

Chapter 23:

He was alive.

I was on a rollercoaster of emotions and I didn't know how or what to feel. On the one hand, Tyler was alive. On the other, I didn't want to start being hopeful because if this would ever get taken away from me, I would never be the same again. But on the other hand, he was ALIVE.

"Ava? Did you hear me?" David said

"He's alive." I whispered leaning back in my chair, tears threatening to spill over.

"Yes, and in 3 more hours we'll be there to rescue him from these monsters. I'm not saying it'll be easy, in fact it probably won't be. We can find him, and we will." Hanna said soothingly

I nodded and took a deep breath staring out the window as David continued to drive. Sometime in the 7th hour Trey woke up, and Hanna had fallen asleep, but I was wide awake. I refused to close my eyes and sleep. The nightmare of Hunter dying in my arms didn't leave me when I was awake, it surely wouldn't if I was sleeping.

I saw him in everything I laid my eyes on. In the water over the highway I saw our last good moment together before all hell broke loose, when he tried teaching me to skip rocks. In the trees all I could think about was our first date. The way he held my hand as we walked through the park. Everything screamed his name to me.

A new wave of pain washed over me realizing that Hunter was truly gone. We would never get to do things we planned, he would never become a surgeon like he dreamed of, he would never even make it to his 18th birthday. It wasn't as if we discussed marriage or anything, but I couldn't imagine my world with anyone else. Now that nightmare had become my reality. My heart ached with such pain I didn't even know the human body could handle. I just felt so alone. I know that in reality I wasn't , Hanna, David, and Trey were all hurting as well and I could talk to them-but I didn't want to.

The only person I wanted to talk to was Hunter. Realizing I would never be able to again brought a whole new wave of anguish over me. The tears silently fell as I kept my eyes out the window. I saw David look at me worriedly through the rear view mirror from the corner of my eye. I prayed he wouldn't say anything, I just wanted a moment to grieve by myself. He didn't, and for that I was grateful.

What Hunter and I had, no one would ever understand. There is never the same love twice, and nobody, not even myself will get to experience this again.

It wasn't fair.

I loved him, I truly did. And I know in my heart that Hunter died loving me, I never want to forget that. Why did he have to go? Why is it always the best ones that leave first?

I just want one more day with him. One day was all I was asking for. If I could have one more day I would hug him tighter than I ever had, kiss him longer, because I knew it was the last day. It doesn't mean it would hurt any less, because god knows it wouldn't, but we would be able to say goodbye to each other properly. What happened with Hunter was cruel and heart wrenching. His life was ripped away from him just as he was reaching up to wipe my tears. Now I wiped them on my own picturing him still as a stone on the ground as I tried to blow life back into his lungs. I shook my head, shaking the image out.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. I had to pull myself together, if not for me than for Hunter. It was hard but I could practically hear his voice in my ear saying, 'C'mon Ava, Tyler needs you now. I need you to be strong, he needs you to be strong.' I listened to that imaginary voice in my head, wiped my tears and tried to smile as I said to the guys;

"So, you guys know where this place is?''

They seemed surprised, like they weren't expecting me to talk.

"Sort of, the sweater showed us his GPS coordinate and now we're headed there, but we don't exactly know which building but we'll figure it out don't worry." Trey said

"I'm not worried." I said and patted him on the back

He made a face and said, "What's up Ava...." cautiously

"Oh nothing, lack of sleep probably. If I'm acting weird I apologize."

"Weird? Not at all." He said shooting David a look

"Hey Ava, we only have like an hour and a half left to the ride. You wanna play a game to help me stay awake?"

"Sure." I said

"Okay, I'm gonna say a word and the first thing that comes to your mind you say. Got it?"

I nodded and he began.

"Dog." he said

"Neighbor."

"People"

"EW." I said disgusted

He laugehd, "Fire"

"Hot guys."

"Water."

"The Little Mermaid"

"Hands."

"Stress."

"Stress? How the heck do you think stress?" He said laughing

"Well, I think of manicures, and manicures stress me out like crazy. Like there are so many people there and for what, getting something painted on my nails? No, I could be doing do many more productive things." I said matter of factly

He shook his head as if to say, 'girls..'

"Okay, how bout the color green?'' he said

"Grass"

"Buildings"

"Manhattan."

"Time."

"Not enough."

"Skateboards."

I sighed deeply, "Tyler,"

David didn't continue.

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