Gym Class Sorrow [Book 2]

With Just You Around, Your Heartbeat's The Only Sound

Tate's P.O.V.

I was frantically pressing a hand to his chest, trying to stop the blood. God, there was so much blood. He just wouldn't quit bleeding. Thankfully the ambulance was on it's way and I could hear the distant wail of the sirens getting closer with each passing second. Chris was laying unconscious, bleeding to death in front of me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as the paramedics showed up and took him away from me. They pulled me into the back of the ambulance with Chris, my hand being the only thing keeping him from bleeding out completely.

I tuned out the EMT workers and thought back to the events of earlier this evening that led to this moment.

*Flashback*

The night had crept up faster than I thought. I had gone out for a few drinks with some friends from college at a run down bar in the red-light district. After laying my eyes on the shady characters at the bar however, I changed my mind and decided to stay sober. To say this part of town made me uncomfortable, would be an understatement.

There were junkies and prostitutes that roamed the streets and lately, a bunch of serial muggings had been taking place. There weren't really any parking spaces near the bar, which meant I was going to have to walk three blocks to my car.

*Beep, beep, beep*

I made it to the old torn down theatre that used to be a huge attraction for this part of town. Seeing the lot empty and filled with trash brought a sense of dread to me so strong that I quickened my pace so I wouldn't be around the old lot any longer than I had to be.

I was within sight of my car, when a gunshot rang out. It sounded from my left and I heard a man scream. I reached for my car door about to leave when a man collided with me. He had a gun in his right hand and a bloody wallet in his left.

*Beep, beep, beep*

My eyes met his for a fraction of a second before he bolted. I realized I was shaking. I had just been face to face with a crazy gun wielding junkie and lived. However, I also recognized that wallet. I had numerous dinners with the owner of it. Had my heart broken by the owner of it. Chris.

I forgot about my racing heart and near death experience in an instant. That wallet had blood on it and that wallet definitely belonged to him. I pulled my phone from my coat pocket and dialled 911 as I ran towards where the man had come from.

*Beep, beep*

The sight awaiting me, almost made me throw up. Chris was laying on his back in a pool of blood. He was clutching at his chest, choking on his blood.

"Chris, stay with me!" I begged him as he slipped into unconsciousness and I shoved my hands against his chest to staunch the bleeding.

*End Flashback*

The ambulance arrived at the hospital and the EMTs took Chris into the emergency rooms' trauma bay.

"We got a GSW to the left center chest! He's bleeding out!" the EMT at the front yelled. A horde of nurses and doctors ran towards us pulling Chris from us. I watched as his body was pulled from under my hand and taken through a series of corridors to surgery.

*Beep...*

I was out of breath and I didn't know what to do. I sank into a waiting room chair and stared at my bloodstained hands. A nurse came by and wiped my hands for me, but all I could see was the blood. It was everywhere, invading my memories and my consciousness. Finally sometime later, I regained my senses and pulled out my phone.

I needed to call Richard.

*Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep*

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Lol. I decided not to prolong the suspense.