Forever Young

17. The Hospital

~McKinlee's P.O.V.~

Austin and I were panicking driving all over L.A., trying to think of every possible place Lily and Mason could be.

Mason is the sickest and most twisted person ever! If he hurts her, he will pay! I kept thinking in my head of positive thoughts but it was kind of hard when your best friend was missing.

I was sitting there in the car shaking with fear when Austin's phone rang. It was from Ty.

"Here, answer this." Austin said handing me his phone.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, McKinlee? I've already called Will and Brooke. I found Lily, but I'm in the ambulance now. Lily and I are on our way to the hospital meet us there. Lily's alive, but unconscious. I'll explain when you all get here." Ty quickly said and then hung up, before I could reply.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"They are at the hospital and Ty said he'll explain when we get there." I stated.

"Hospital? Is Lily okay?" Austin asked, worriedly.

"She's alive, but unconscious." I replied.

"Please God, let Lily be okay." I sighed as Austin stepped on the gas.

Austin and I rushed to the hospital as fast as we could. I saw someone pull up beside us on the highway and like us, they had their flashers on too. It was Will and Brooke.

I looked down at my phone and saw that I was getting a call from Brooke. I quickly answered it.

"OHMYGOSHTHISCANTBEHAPPENING!" I panicked.

"McKinlee... Kinlee, I know... But we have to stay calm. It's going to be okay." She soothed.

"Will and I are going to swing by the beach house to get Lily some extra clothes. We will meet you at the hospital." She explained. I pulled myself together and said.

"Ok, we'll see you soon. I call you when we get there."

"Ok! See you soon." She declared and her and Will veered off the highway, taking the exit towards the beach house.

"McKinlee, it's going to be alright." Austin said, taking my hand in his.

"Thank you, Austin." I half smiled.

"No problem, babe." He smiled, kissing my hand.

I sighed and thought nothing but positive thoughts the rest of the drive to the hospital.

~Lily's P.O.V.~

Ouch.... Was all I could think about. Everything was dark. And I couldn't really remember much, but I new everything that had happened, happened because of Mason. I could feel the presence of someone, but I couldn't see them. I also felt something or someone holding my hand tightly in theirs. As I laid their, blinded by everything, I realised I wasn't blind at all. Slowly fluttering my eyes open, I saw that Ty was the one keeping my hand warm. When I saw his battered up face, everything came flooding back to me. Being kidnapped. Being slapped. Almost being raped. Enduring the torturous slaps and kicks and punches. Being slung down on the ground. I remembered laying there, ready to die, when Ty found me. I remembered how he saved my life. How he stood up to Mason. How he risked his life to save mine. And how he finally got rid of the person that's haunted my nightmares for weeks.

I squeezed Ty's hand and his head jerked in my direction.

"Lily... Hey, sweetheart." He smiled, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Hey, my hero." I smiled, but my voice cracked a little.

"Shh..." He soothed and I could see his eyes glistening with tears. I reached my hand up to his face and lightly brushed my thumb across his cheek.

"Why are you crying?" I asked.

"I almost lost you." He choked, staring deeply into my eyes.

"I'm not going anywhere." I replied with a small smile.

I saw a tear slide down his cheek and wiped it away.

"I-"

"Shh...." I said motioning with my finger for him to come closer.

He looked at me for a second, making sure that I was serious. I smiled and nodded. He leaned in a little and I placed my hands on the back of his neck. He leaned in more and I felt his lips just brush against mine.

I almost died, stop teasing!

Finally he looked me in the eyes one more time and placed his lips onto mine. The kiss was slow, sweet, passionate. He traced my bottom lip with his tongue, patiently waiting for entrance. I parted my lips and our tongues danced. I've never had a kiss like this before. It was almost perfect until he pulled away. I didn't want him to pull away, but he did. I guess for just a second he felt guilty, because I still wasn't ready for a relationship and here he was kissing me. I told him about my single status before Mason took me and I for sure didn't want a relationship now. Not yet at least.

"Lily..." He said with fire and lust in his eyes.

"I know you aren't ready for a boyfriend. And I respect that decision. But when you are ready, I will be here. Because.... I'm in love with you." He said pouring his heart out to me. I genuinely believed him.

"Ty, it's just-"

"I understand, Lily. I'm in love with you. You don't have to say it back. But I wanted you to know the truth. I almost lost you tonight and I don't want to ever be in a situation where I feel like you'd never know how I really felt about you."

"Ty, you are an amazing guy. Why don't you find someone you love that already loves you back?" I asked.

"Because, I'm in love with you, Lily Nicole Austins. Only you."

I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. I could tell that by the way Ty was looking at me that he knew how I felt. I pulled him back over to me for a quick kiss when McKinlee, Austin, Brooke and Will all walked in.

"Well, look who finally decided to wake up." Brooke smiled, jokingly.

Ty and I just smiled back. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it a little. He turned to me and sincerely smiled at me.

Even though Mason has traumatised me in the past, he's gone now. And as I looked around at all my friends; all I could think about was how blessed I was to have amazing friends and someone who truly cares about me.