I'd Kill You First: when bad meets bad

Chap. 35

SODA:

I continued to drag myself across the dark street, head spinning and eyes streaming with tears of pain every time a movement stretched out my leg. I was almost there. So damn close. All that illuminated the streets around we was a street light, but otherwise, all was dark, empty, and still. All I could hear was the sound of my body scraping over the asphalt as I dragged myself backwards.

Finally reaching my destination, it took everything I had to reach up for the slot and shove in the quarters, yanking down the receiver and dialing the only number I could remember. It rang only once before he picked up.

"Princess?"

I almost cried in relief at hearing his voice, but bit my lip to keep it in. "Matt," I croaked, knowing I sounded awful.

"Where are you?" was all he said.

"Leving Town, Brooks Street by a payphone," I wheezed feeling every intake of breath in every part of my body. It actually hurt to breathe.

"Ten minutes, baby," he said firmly, "give me ten minutes. Keep talking baby, stay with me."

I could already feel my body trying to black out yet again, so I held onto his voice. "Matt," was all I could get to come out, trying to get in air.

"Yeah baby, I'm here, I'm coming," he said soothingly. "Just breathe, Soda, breathe."

I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Okay."

The payphone voice came on, signaling time was up. I slumped back down onto the sidewalk and dragged in oxygen, fighting to stay awake. I don't know how I knew, but something was telling me if I passed out, I would never wake up again.

That thought terrified me.

If I died right here, right now, Matt would never know I never stopped loving him. I would never get to tell Keenon that I had been falling for him all along. I wouldn't get to tell Cheryl I was sorry for yelling at her that day before Keenon's fight. I would never get to rough house with Brody again, or apologize for the fight outside Club 21, or tell him I forgive him for everything and make sure he knows I mean it this time. I would never get to dance with Jasmine again, or kiss sweet Kyle, or laugh with Lacy and see her with Lance. I would never be able to tease Toby about being a naked drunk. I would never be able to apologize to Keenon for putting his kitten, Mr. Bubbles, in a shelter because I'm allergic. I would never get the chance to set things right with Trace. I would never see my father again, never be terrorized by him, but I would also never be able to look upon him again and miss the days when he came home from work and little me ran to him with open arms. I would never race again, or work for Boss again, or-

I yanked my eyes open, realizing I had slowly been letting myself die right there on the street corner. No! I would NOT go down this way. They couldn't take me out like this, not on my watch. If anything, I was going to live just so I could hunt down Boss and watch the life leak out of his cold eyes while I kill him slowly. He. Would. Pay.

The roar of an engine reached my ears, and then Matt appeared. Oh, how I had never been so happy to see him. He looked really good today, his muscle shirt making him look hella sexy. His hair was messed up, all cute and ruffled like he had been running his hands through it.

"Oh baby," he choked out, and for the first time, I saw a tear slip out of the corner of his beautiful blue eye and slide down his cheek. Why was he crying? No, don't cry Mattie, please. It's okay. He was making my chest hurt so bad at the sight of that tear.

"I called an ambulance," he said to me in a shaky voice. "They'll be here in five minutes, baby."

He cradled me in his big arms and rested his forehead on mine, the most pain filled expression I've ever seen all over his handsome features. I tried to say something to make him feel better, but for some reason, all that came out was a whimper. This seemed to make Matt even more upset as his face scrunched in agony and several more tears slid silently down his face and onto mine. He pulled away from me a bit, blood now on his forehead. Why did he have blood on his forehead? When had he gotten hurt? I tried to ask him about it, to reach up and touch him, but nothing would move. No words came out, no body parts worked. Nothing.

"It's okay," he whispered, eyes still brimming with tears as he looked all over my face. What was he looking at? Why was his voice so hoarse?

A heard sirens in the distance, but then suddenly so many people surrounded me, tearing off my clothes and touching me. I began to panic. Was it happening again? Was Boss here, trying to get more people to kill me? I struggled against them as they began to move me, making hot, searing pain radiate everywhere. I screamed and cried out, clutching onto anything within reach. My hand found Matt's.

"Baby, calm down," he said in a steadier voice, but agony was plastered on his face as I cried out again. "Please, Soda, it's gonna be okay."

His voice was the last thing I heard before something stuck my arm and the images before me blurred together and my eyes slid shut for what felt like the last time.

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