Saved (a Hayes Grier fanfic)

Chapter 31

Hayes froze from pushing my chair. I turned around and looked at the boys. Some had angry expressions, some had scared one.

"Brandt?" I called into the room because Hayes had stopped pushing me.

He came running out.
"Beth" he hugged me. "Are you ok?" he said into the hug.

"I'm fine Brandt" I assured him. Even though I haven't talked to him since he beat up some of the guys, it was comforting to see him. My mom came out and saw him hugging me and me hugging him back.

"Um Beth" my mom started and Brandt released front the hug.
"The doctor came by a bit earlier and said you don't need the wheelchair anymore. And your test same back, you should be good to go home tomorrow morning for sure" she smiled weakly. I knew she was uncomfortable with Brandt around.
Brandt helped me up out of the chair and I wrapped my arms around Brandt's neck. I forgot all the boys were standing there so I let go and said "um guys, Im going to talk to Brandt. I'll be right back."

The boys nodded and went into the room, giving Brandt nasty looks on the way in. Hayes remained in the hallway.

"Beth" he began.

"I'll be ok Hayes. I'll be right back" I assured him. He leaned forward and gave me a quick kiss.

"Come on Brandt I need some air" we walked towards the elevator.

"Beth I can't believe this happened to you" he shook his head.

"I'm ok now Brandt. I just want to forget about it." He nodded.

"Let's go to my car" he suggested and I nodded.

I smiled when I saw his car. I remember when he first got it. He would pick me up and drive me places I would drag Ali with me. His parents got him the car for his fifteenth birthday and promised he could drive it as soon as he got his license. His parents were the kind that got their kind anything they wanted but were away on business a lot. His parents worked all day and got back late at night and went away on business trips all the time.
The night he got the black jeep, he picked me up and we went up into the mountains, even though he didn't even have his permit. It was one of the best nights of my life. Maybe that's why I love jeeps so much.

I opened the door of the jeep and he helped me in. He ran to the drivers side and got in.

"I've really been missing you Beth."

I looked over at him and smiled. "Brandt you know I'm with Hayes now."

"Do you love him Beth?" He asked sounding angry "Do you love him like we used to love each other?"

"Brandt-"

"No Beth don't 'Brandt' me. I know you don't. You act different now. Do you even wrote poems anymore? Do you go out and party and have fun like you used to?"

I looked down, not knowing what to say. I remember smoking in Brandt's car all the time. Before school, after school, after he picked me up from cheer, at parties, on my birthday, when I was happy, when I was sad. And he always knew when I was sad. I reached under the passenger seat where I knew he kept his stash. I pulled out the metal superman lunch box that he has had since he was six. He used to keep army men in it, now he keeps his weed in it.

I opened the box and he had already rolled joints in it. I took one out and he watched me light it. I took a hit and handed it to him.

He leaned back in his seat. Taking it in.

"I miss the old you"

"I'm still me!" I half yelled.

"No you're not. But it's ok. You changed. You changed so you can change Hayes. You want to be a better person. And that's ok."