Love at Camp Sight

Part 35

Taylor

I blast Fall Out Boy's song Centuries loudly while I drive to the library to check out some more books. I park my car then head in. 

I scan the covers of the books in the teens section trying to find the perfect book. I pick up a book called Looking For Alaska. I read the synopsis then put it back. None of the books I'm picking out seem to interest me. I make an exaggerated sigh.

I hear a little laugh coming from the doorway. "Can't find a good book?" Someone says. His voice sounds just like Cameron's. I smile and turn my head towards him. My smile quickly fades when it's the tall guy I bumped into 1 month ago. "Sorry to displease you," He says.

He walks over to me, but I keep my eyes on the bookshelf.

"Here," He says. He pulls out a book. "Try this one."

I take the paperback book (I Am Number Four) from him and read the synopsis. 

"Thanks," I say. It does sound like a good book.

"No problem, I'm Zander by the way."

"Taylor,"

"Nice to meet you. What grade are you in? I haven't seen you around school."

"I'm a junior, and for your information I'm homeschooled." 

He looks shocked like as if I don't look like I should be homeschooled. 

"Oh, that's so funny, I am too. I don't usually tell people that right when I meet them."

"What do you do if you ask what grade we're in?"

"I just say that I go to a different school."

I nod my head slowly.

"See you around, Taylor." He says when I walk away.

"Bye," Is all I say.

I get in my car and drive home. 

There are flashing lights down my road. There's someone on a stretcher getting wheeled into the ambulance. I can't tell who it is. Maybe it's the new neighbor who moved in across the street from me; maybe it's some old person who fell; maybe the paramedics are just pretending. 

As I drive closer to my house I notice Mom crying and Dad talking to everyone. Alexis surprisingly isn't on her phone. Andrew and Daniel are comforting the younger ones. I see everyone there, but not Lilly.

Lilly. 

No.

No. 

No gosh, no.

It can't be Lilly. Why?

I park my car in one of the neighbors driveways and walk to my house.

"W-what happened?" I try to keep my voice steady, but it's not working.

Mom stares at me, her deep brown eyes pooled with tears. She keeps opening her mouth like she wants to say something, but no words come out.

"Mom," I say. Tears are starting to fill my eyes too. "Is L-Lilly alright?"

She doesn't say anything. She just shakes her head. Finally, she speaks, her voice is quiet so I have to strain my ears to hear her. "Lilly couldn't breathe. She was talking, then she started," She takes in a deep breath unable to finish her sentence. "She s-started" Then she bursts into tears again. 

"What happened? What did she start to do?"

I hold my breath. I know what happens. 

"She started choking, unable to breathe. No one was paying attention to her anyways, then we heard a thump, and" She looks to the sky. "She fell. She fell dead."

Then, I hug her so tight that I'm pretty sure I would've choked her if I kept hugging. 

My breath is still held by the time I get into my bedroom. 

Then I pass out on the ground.