Lifted (Lock And Key #1)

Chapter 22 - All Your Fault

I can't think straight as Zac grabs me to stop me from lurching to Tyler. I scream for what seems like ages until the ambulance arrives. When they free his body and place him in a stretcher I'm still in hysterics. I hold his face and cry, yelling at him to wake up, despite all the blood on his head and hands. They pull him into the ambulance and I start to climb in with him, they stop me and I look at them wide eyed, "Are you family?" I shake my head at their question,

"No, I'm-I'm a friend." They push me away when I try to step in and close the doors on my face. I watch numbly as the ambulance drives away.

I can't move and I barely feel it when Zac holds me to his chest, "Oh my gosh." I softly whisper when everything dawns on me. Zac holds me tighter as I burst into tears again, "Oh my god!" Loud sounds erupt straight from my chest, so much that it hurts. But I don't care; this pain is nothing like the pain Tyler feels.

"Shh." Zac runs his hands through my hair as he attempts to soothe me. "He'll be okay. He's on the way to the hospital now." I shake my head vigorously.

"He could be dead, or dying. It's all my fault, I distracted him..." I cough through my tears to get the words out. Zac just keeps running his hands through my hair,

"He's fine. He'll be fine." I shake my head at Zac's words; I doubt anymore will come from me. I grip onto his shirt not wanting to let go of the one anchor I have left in this world. "We should go see him." I nod slowly and he grips my face so I have to look in his eyes. "He's going to be okay." When he directs me to the car I bite my lip nervously.

"Ah..." Softly, I pull away from Zac and shake my head vigorously, trying to stop more tears from claiming my feelings. I hug myself tightly to take the attention away from Tyler, "C-can we walk?" I mumble helplessly.

Zac sighs, "That's an hour long drive, let alone walk. Tess," He reaches for me and I almost pull away, but accept his touch, "Whatever is going to happen," We look into each other's eyes, "You have to face it with me. You can't shut me out, we have to," He grips my hands and swings them, "We have to deal with this together." I bite my lip and hook my arm around his neck. Leaning my head up, I kiss him softly.

"Okay." I lead myself into the passenger seat of my car. I can't trust myself behind the wheel, I know something will happen. After a while Zac settles himself in the front seat and adjusts it to his level, my breathing is shallow and Zac grips my hand which makes it better.

He nods to me and drives into the road. All the cars seem to build up around us and a scream erupts from inside me as I imagine all of them hitting us. Zac swerves into the side of the road, surprised. "Tess!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I just, I can't think straight." I almost yell. "Fuck!" I punch the centre console helplessly. "Just go Zac."

"Wha-"

"Zac!" I look at him, "I need you to go now. I'm fine, I won't freak out. Just. Go." I take a few deep breaths and close my eyes. I can feel Zac's hand in mine and I smile.

"I'm proud of you." He says and kisses me on the cheek before starting the car again. Even though my eyes are closed, I can feel that he means it.

"Hm..." After a while of driving not much has been said and it feels like the perfect time. "Zac, I don't know how to tell you how much I care about you. But you mean everything to me; you're the only thing that's constant in my world. Sometimes it seems that you are my world. I just want you to know that, through everything, I do care about you." I smile at being able to tell him.

"I know Tess, in your own special way, I know." He strokes his thumb over my hand.

"Hey," I snap at him, opening my eyes quickly, "Keep both hands on the steering wheel." I see Zac's face and add sweetly, "Please." I close my eyes again and take another calming breath. "This is a good way to take car rides."