Fracted (Book #2)

Chapter 22: Strike Two

I felt a sudden rush travel through my body like I forgot something. Eiffel. I stood up and grabbed Jason's shoulder. "I gotta go," I said.
"Why?"
"I was with someone."
"GF?"
"Whatever, dude." I shook it off and held out my hand for him to hold on to so we could teleport back.
"Can't you stay any longer?" I gave him the look. "Fine, I'll take you back to Hawaii."
"Thanks for the quick trip to, uh..."
"Golden Gate Bridge--you're welcome, though. Looked like you needed it anyway."
"Okay, let's go. Don't want to keep the perfect person waiting."
Yes, I gave it away because I felt sorry about thinking that I'll never see him again. But no worries, he'll pop out anytime.
"I guess this is goodbye, right?" he said.
"What, you're just gonna teleport me back to Hawaii without you coming with me?" He sadly nodded.
"I've got things to do. So bye, friend."
"Bye."

I feel the hot sun burn my eyelashes. People's footsteps that sounded like an elephant's thumped in my ears. The hard and rough pavement scratched my soles. The people around me were running, similar to a panicking manner. Most gathered in one place. The Place where I was supposed to be. Walmart. I felt nervous all of a sudden, thinking about what had happened earlier.
The blood.
The guts.
But the bridge though, I couldn't let anything go to waste. I guess I have to recharge myself. But regret drizzled over me. I should've bought Eiffel's charger sooner. But getting lost helped me learn my mistake. However, I didn't know exactly what my mistake was.
I backed away at least fifteen feet. Someone reached for my shoulder with a firm grip, very much like Eiffel's strong hand-holding. I turned and it really was her. I wrapped my arms around the girl I missed, even though it was only half an hour. She tiptoed in order to stay steady. My hug was so tight she could barely speak.
"What? Did...you miss me?" she asked.
Obviously she was weirded out. I couldn't help it, it felt like I haven't taken insulin in months. I needed a second hug at least.
"Nothing." I let go of her. "I just...had a rough day--I'm sorry I didn't get your charger. Promise I'll make it up to you next time."
"It's okay, Jess, I bought it on my own because there was extra from what you gave me...if that's okay with you."
"Yeah, that-that's fantastic. Good. Really...great."
I couldn't keep myself steady, nor my breath. My whole body shivers in nervousness. I couldn't hide anything. I wanted to go back to the top of the bridge, this time with Eiffel.
"It's okay, Jess. Come on, I have five bucks for change."
"You can keep it." I said, glancing back at the people gathered around the entrance of Walmart.
"Thanks--but what's with the crime scene tape surrounding Walmart?" she asked suspiciously.
"Jess, what's going on? What happened when I was gone? You have to tell me because 'no more secrets' you promised."
"Something happened."
"Yeah no, duh, Einstein. Just tell me in one little quick sentence."
I let out some air through my mouth in one blow. And then I spilled like guts. No more secrets, I thought surely and final.
Tell her everything, I said to myself.
Everything.

I was exhausted of walking away from the crime scene and telling. My back felt sore from standing up straight. When I slouched my bones cracked like split wood. No matter what, Eiffel still held on to my hand. Her trust was unwavering.
"How come you're not running away in fear?" I ask her. "Don't you think we're criminals? Or fugitives?"
"No, Jess," she looked up at me.
"Things were said--and they were all false."
"So you still think I'm trustworthy? I can be deadly at times, you know, I don't want to see you get hurt."
"Look--I trust you not because you were my only choice, I trust you because you're...you. You're important trust me."
Those words sugar-coated my rough day. I would've thanked her but I wasn't all finished.
"If I fail, everybody dies," I looked down and sighed. "And it's all gonna be my fault. I can't have that."
"I wouldn't think like that if I were you. It's just gonna ruin everything. Don't focus on the problem, just think of a solution and you'll get out eventually."
You know what? I thought to myself. I'm tired of being just me, the depressing kind. I will be new. And I have to be strong. Crying is unacceptable. This won't be hard. I just have to keep things balanced.
I figured that I had to stop relying on other people to seek happiness. I can be my own source of joy. My very own friend.
"Eiffel," I called.
"Yeah?"
"Wanna do something fun?" I grinned at her, in which she got nervous at.
"Please, no heights."
It's like she read my mind. So calling Jason would've been useless. Also, I didn't know how to contact him.
"Maybe some other time. I starting to have second thoughts about spending too much money." she said.
"Okay. Let's just get the group something to eat. Us too. Let's just all have brunch."
We heard police sirens heading towards Walmart, which was five blocks behind us. Anxiety lunged towards me and I walked fast, dragging Eiffel with me. I couldn't stop looking back, but after two more blocks, a police stopped infront of us, tires squeaking in the middle of the small road. Cops at the front seats threw their arms around in frustration. I looked up and the light had already turned red.
I gritted my teeth and I got more nervous. The two looked at me like some person I never wanted to be, a criminal. Eiffel bit her lower lip. We stood frozen on a hot day, melting in the middle of the road. They honked at us to move. Cars behind and infront of us drove fast across. We were trapped. All the vehicles behind the police car honked and screamed as well.
The cop opened his door, giving us a dirty look.
"Jess, go! The coast is clear!" Eiffel announced.
I pulled her arm and stretched it out as I started running towards the safe haven which was the sidewalk that ended our crossing.
"We have to get to the hotel now!" I said.
"I've got two people on foot! I need backup--three men down!" The cop yelled at his speaker walkie-talkie.
"I think he means five." Eiffel said.
"This is so exhilarating!--I remember the first time I got chased by a cop, I got handcuffed. My first ever crime."
"There it is!" Eiffel yelled while pointing at the entrance from thirty yards away.
"Almost there, almost there--we're gonna make it!"
"Yes we will!"
Two guards stepped out of their vehicle. We ran five times faster than before. My heart trying to break free from my ribs. My legs didn't feel like working like they used to before, my face drenched in molasses-like sweat.
We crossed the street but the light was already red, again. Multiple cars have blocked us. Front and back. We were in the middle again, trapped. As the coast cleared, we reached two-fourths of crossing, and then came the eighteen-wheeler truck. One step I took and the humongous vehicle honked at us. It drove forward.
Faster.
Massive.
Vicious.
I squinted and saw our horrible demise. Except that's not exactly what happened.
"Thank goodness I was there at the right time!" Jason said. His slightly built arms around me and Eiffel.
I see the green smoke scattered all over our hotel room floor. Those glaring eyes--I was very sure he was more infuriated. Once I felt my entire presence in the room, I started seeing complete darkness. A blackout. It wasn't because I lost too much energy. Or because of my lack of oxygen. It was Jackson.
My face ached, the quarter of it. His knuckles were as firm as a boulder. I used to admire them, but everything's changed. It's like I broke the most important rule of all--oh wait, I did. I wanted to feel sorry, but I was too knocked out to feel anything.