This Old Coffee Shop - A Before You Exit Fanfiction

Chapter Four; You Take My Breath Away..Literally

-Carter’s Point of View-

After Clara and I had literally dashed out of Starbucks and into my Cruiser we sped out of the parking lot and onto the main road; beginning our thirty minute drive home.

I messed with the radio, but gave up quickly when nothing good was playing. Clara remained silent so I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel and hummed to myself. Still silence. I tightened my grip upon the steering wheel and sighed, catching a glimpse of her.  “Why are you being so quiet?” I finally asked. I watched her frown twitch into a forced smile and she gazed my way.

“I’m fine...just tired.” She lied through her teeth.

“Clara.. I know when you’re lying. What’s wrong?” I demanded an answer from her. She turned her attention towards the window, facing opposite of me, and remained inaudible.

“I’m seriously just tired..WATCH OUT CARTER!” Clara shouted before swerving the steering wheel to the left, causing us to collide into the left side of the road.

If there were two thing’s I was absolutely sure of I’d be that A) My life flashed before my eyes, and all I got were images of me beating someone up. I’d have to fix that. And B) the thing  that caused my life to flash before my eyes was a black mercedes parked in the middle of the goddamn road.

My breath was hitched in the back of my throat as I tried to regain my normal breathing, but Clara was colored a ghostly white as she searched desperately for her inhaler. SHIT! I don’t think she has a spare one with her, plus her purse with her main inhaler was sitting on the coffee table back at home.

“Calm down Clara, just breath. In. And out. In. An Out.” I chanted while doing an example of the method.

“Carter, I need air!” She gasped while reaching for the door handle and dropping out onto the floor and wheezing for air.

Clara hadn’t had an asthma attack this badly since the 9th grade. Someone had tried fighting me and she intervened, simply because if I got into one more fight I was going to be expelled. She stepped in and got the wind knocked out of her when the girl I was involved with decided to punch Clara in the stomach. It caused her body to go into shock and an ambulance was rushed to the school. She was in the hospital for the night. After that, everyone hated the girl, mostly because everyone loves Clara and she did nothing wrong to deserve being hit.

Connor and Riley were rushing to the car and when they noticed Clara gasping for air on the floor, you could instantly see their faces wither and turn to panic.

“Oh my God,” Riley gasped as he dropped to Clara’s side instantly, “Is she alright?” he questioned while wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her up, setting her down on the front of my car.

My stomach twisted at the sight of Riley touching Clara like that. Wait why would it twist? He was helping her, so I must praise this boy.

“I don’t know what one of you idiots decided to park in the middle of the road, but if it wasn’t for Clara, we’d probably all be dead.” I spoke quickly in an icy tone. I was pissed and nothing was going to calm me down.

Clara gasped loudly and Toby, Connor, Riley and I turned to face her. Her skin was even paler than before, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell backwards against my trunk.

“Someone do something!” I screamed. I didn’t know CPR and I don’t know if Clara was basically dying or not.

I placed my ear against her chest and could hear a heartbeat but barely. It was very weak.

As I opened my mouth to announce what I just discovered Connor shoved me to the side and pressed his lips to Clara’s. Man, if Jordan found out about this Clara would really be dead. And Connor.

He un-pinched her nose, placed one hand on top of the other, upon her chest and did three strong thrusts before going back to forcing air down her throat. On the third attempt she finally snapped back to life and Connor was flushed.

She just stared doe eyed at all four of us surrounding her.

“I’m not sure what happened but I can breathe now..” She whispered. My eyes traced back to Connor. He still looked overwhelmed, but you could see a faint smile at the ends of his lips.

“So who wants to explain why yous’ were parked in the middle of the road? First to explain will die last.” I warned, watching Clara to be sure she was alright. She sat criss-cross upon the trunk, throwing her knotty hair into a messy bun to prevent herself from overheating.

“We ran out of gas and the car wouldn’t start.” Toby quickly informed me.

“We were going to push the car to the side and begin walking, but that’s when you guys came, and now we’re here.” Riley finished.

“You three are idiots, you know that!” I stated more than questioned.

*

After Clara and I watched Connor, Riley and Toby intensely push their Mercedes to the side of the road I got into my car and began driving away until Clara slapped my shoulder. I rolled my eyes and stopped the car, beeping the horn to let them know we’d give them a ride. Even after they almost killed her she wants to help..I will never understand the goodness within her heart.

When they finally reached the car Riley tapped on my window and said, “Since you don’t know where we live should I sit upfront to give you the directions?”

Before I could object Clara unhooked her seatbelt and climbed into the back seat, sitting in the middle of Connor and Toby. I gave her a death glare, but before she could notice Riley slid into the passenger seat. I sighed deeply and began driving again. Clara was basically passing out on Connor’s shoulder.

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Thank you all so much for reading. Alicia and I have been working so hard on this, and all the views, so far, is amazing. Please keep it up and please let people know about this story. Please, also favorite and leave a comment. The next chapter should be up soon. (: