Won't Let You Go (BWWM)

Chapter 4

(Note: This chapter describes a bit of violence such as shooting and also death. Just a heads up in case something like this was triggering for you.) Anyway, enjoy.

Leah's pov

After I get out of the shower, I get dressed and fix my hair. I put on a pair of shorts, a black t-shirt and my black converses. I check my phone and see a text from Zach.

I'll be there in about 10 minutes.

I put on my earrings, grab my purse and head downstairs. I sit on the couch next to my dad.

"Hey dad."
"Hey. Where you going?"
"To the harbor with my friend."

"What 'friend'?" Dad asked suspiciously. "Have I met them?" "No, I just met them not too long ago," I explained.

It's not like Zach and I are dating, it's just that if my dad knew I was going out alone with a boy then he'd freak out. So I just left out exactly who Zach is.

"Alright, well i'd like to meet this friend some time," Dad says. Then I hear Zach beep his horn outside. "Alright dad, see you later." "Bye. Be safe," he says.

I walk over to Zach's car and see him smiling at me through the window. It's not a date.

"I didn't know you drove a Honda," I said, after getting in the car. "Yeah. It's not a big deal though," he said. "Yes it is, this is a nice car." "Thanks."

"Why do you say that so much?" I asked. "Say what?" "That something's not a big deal." "I don't know. It's just a habit, I guess." He replied.

It was quiet for a couple minutes, then I broke the awkward silence, "So, what's your family like?"

"They're pretty cool. It's just me, my mom and my sister Taylor most of the time. I don't really see my dad much but I don't mind," Zach said. "What about you?"

"Well my mom is a dentist and my dad is a car salesman. But it gets pretty boring around the house since no one's home after school most of the time."

"So you don't have any siblings? I didn't know you were an only child," Zach said.

"Well I didn't used to be," I said. "What do you mean?" He asked.

"I used to have an older brother named Marcus, but he got killed in a school shooting."

"Wow. Oh my gosh, I'm sorry I asked."

"No, it's fine. You didn't know," I said. "Are you ok?" He asked. "Yeah i'm fine. It's ok, really," I said.

It's been almost 3 years since Marcus was killed. I was only in the 8th grade when it happened but I still remember every second of it.

Marcus was in the 12th grade at the time, so we were both graduating. We were supposed to go shopping for our graduation outfits that day.

Marcus usually picked me up at 3:30 . It was almost 4:30 and he still didn't show. I decided to just take the bus home. When I got home, no one was there. Back then, my mom worked at a day care center, so she was always home at that time. That's when I knew something was wrong. I was scared and worried.

I tried calling my mom on the house phone, but she didn't answer. A couple minutes later, Dad comes bursting through the door.

"Daddy, what's going on? Where's Marcus?" I asked. "Marcus and mom are at the hospital," He said. "Come on, let's go."

I was still scared but I tried to convince myself that he probably broke his ankle or something, nothing too bad. But I still knew that something terrible had happened.

When we got to the hospital, mom told us everything that happened and that we could go in and see him. When I went into his hospital room, I burst into tears. He was dead.

All I could ask was why? Why Marcus? Why did they have to take my brother away from me? I didn't understand why anyone would want to hurt Marcus. He was a great person and an even better brother.

Later my parents and I found out that the 3 guys that were shooting claimed that they didn't intentionally shoot Marcus. Him and a couple innocent students were killed and injured.

The first year of Marcus being gone was tough and depressing for my family. We all loved Marcus. He was my best friend.

He was super intelligent, had a great life ahead of him. I would've loved to see him go on to college to be a lawyer. That was his plan. He'd be a great lawyer too. I know he would've. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I still think about Marcus a lot, but I don't let it get to me like I used to. I'd cry myself to sleep sometimes, thinking about how much I missed him. But then I realized that he's in a better place and I know he wouldn't want me crying over him like that. He hated when I cried.

"Leah? Leah?"
"What?"
"Aren't you gonna get out of the car," asks Zach.
We were at the parking garage already. "Oh yeah. Right. Sorry."

I know this chapter was kinda short, sorry. I'm trying to make the upcoming chapters longer. But I'm thinking that I should put the story on hold for a while. But not too long. (The picture is Nadji Jeter as Marcus)