Stuck in the Middle

The Accident

(*Tyler's POV*)

My phone rang as I picked up Caleb. We were going to see Justin.

It was Riah. I answered it.

"Hey Tyler, Could you pick me up?" She asked me.

"Sure where are you?" I asked as Caleb got into the passengers seat.

"I'm walking to the mall. Pick me up there?" She asked.

I heard the pitter patter of rain in the background.

Then all of a sudden I heard tires screeching and Riah scream, then the line went dead.

"Mariah?" I asked into the phone.

Mariah!!!!" I screamed into the phone, beginning to panic.

I was breathing hard. I was in shock.

"What happened?" Caleb asked. He seemed like he was miles away.

"Tyler what happened?!?!" Caleb asked, panicked.

I didn't answer him.

I called the police and told them about my phone call.

They called back and told us that Mariah was in a car accident.

The cops said that she was in critical condition and offered to give us a ride to the hospital.

I was numb during the car ride until we drove up to the scene of the accident.

It was horrible.

The impact of the hit was so hard that the windshield and the front of the car was broken and bent in.

There was blood on the windshield and about ten feet away, there was a pool of blood and my heart dropped.

Was that Mariah's blood?

I felt tears blurring my vision.

I closed my eyes.

I'm not religious but I was desperate. I prayed to whoever was watching over us and asked that they take care of Mariah...

(*Caleb's POV*)

I got into Tyler's car when I heard a scream come from his phone.

It was really loud.

It was Mariah. My breathing was shallow.

I asked Tyler what happened but he looked at me as if he didn't recognize me.

This is bad.

I heard him call the police and tell them about the phone call.

My body felt numb.

Mariah got into a car accident.

I shook my head, almost denying it.

This can't be happening. Not again.

Not to someone I love.

The whole drive there I thought about Mariah, hoping she was doing ok.

Then the scene of the accident came around and I had to look away.

Memories of Allison, my little sister began to flood back.

I promised to protect her and I couldn't.

I cried silent tears.

Mariah has to be ok...

*****

The police escorted us to Mariah's room and I almost collapsed.

She was unconscious. There was a bandage wrapped around her head and her leg was in a cast. She had stitches on her face and arms.

I looked away.

Tyler had it worst.

He fell to his knees next to Mariah's side.

Crying freely.

I sat on the ground. I wasn't strong enough to stand.

I cried freely with Tyler. I felt and knew the same pain he was going through.

*****

(*Tyler's POV*)

Caleb and I stood next to Mariah in silence until her parents came in.

Her mom fell onto the floor when she walked in and screamed.

"No!" She screamed, tears running down her face.

"Mariah my baby!!!" she sobbed.

Her father had sunglasses on, trying to hide his pain, trying to hide his tears. Trying to stay strong.

I felt a tug on my sleeve and saw Anna, Mariah's little sister, standing there and looking up to me with.questioning eyes.

I cradled her in my arms.

"Ty-Ty" She asked.

"Yes?" I whispered, trying to stay strong for her.

She pointed towards her sister.

"What happened to Rrrryah?" She asked, looking at Mariah's face.

"She w-was hit by a car." I told her softly.

I cried slightly.

Anna put her hands on my face and tried to wipe my tears away.

"No! Don't cry Ty-Ty!!! Rrrryah strong!" She said, trying to cheer me up.

I cried as I brought Anna closer to me.

She patted my back and whispered in my ear.

"No cry Ty-Ty." Repeatedly.

It was sad. Knowing that Anna is too young to understand what's going on.

She doesn't know that Mariah is in a life or death situation.

I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly.

Mariah will survive. She's strong.

She still has so much more life to live...