487 Jade Lane

Chapter Five: We Discover the Nasty Secrets of Lee (Gwen)

Author's Note: Hi guys! There are several things that need to be changed in this chapter, but I am posting it how it is currently to get feedback! Gwen's recounting is meant to be in italics, as well as a few typos here and there. I notice the problems that are there, but I would appreciate feedback on the overall story (where relationships drag, interest level, etc.) thank you always! XOXO -See you tomorrow!

Chapter Five: We Discover the Nasty Secrets of Lee, While I Recount My Kidnapping

The second Max pulled the trigger, the second I heard the gun shot, my knees went weak and I fell forward. Max raced forward to catch me, and catch me he did. I began sobbing, the phantom cool pressure of the knife still on my throat.

"God Max," I sobbed. "Max, did you kill him?"

Max didn't answer, and I knew his brown eyes were focused on the figure behind me, presumably lying on his back, and who I presumed dead. I didn't know where Max had aimed, or where the bullet had hit. I knew it had hit though, because the tight hold around my waist had gone slack, and I'd been free to fall only for Max to catch me.

"Max?" I wept.

"You're alright, I got you," he said absentmindedly, his voice sounding distressed and distraught as he kept his vision forward.

"Max?" I said again, my tears finally slowing down, the realization of death had hit me, and I had re found appreciation for life. "You saved my life," and although I'd determined that it was time to be a big girl about this, I was pulled into fresh tears at least for another three minutes, while Max held me, his gaze never straying forward.

"No problem," he said inattentively after a while, and it took me a second to try and remember what he meant. "Max," I began, and he turned towards me, tears in his eyes. "What? What is it?"

"Oh god, don't cry, please don't cry," I begged, trying not to react immaturely to the coldness of his tone, but being feeling slighted and embarrassed for feeling so. Max was one of the smartest kids in my grade, and also one of the sweetest. But sometimes there was a tone to him I never expected. (Elaborate more here) "God, don't cry Max, please," I pleaded, the biggest hypocrite on earth as I cried myself.

"I killed him," and when his brown eyes met mine, they were very sad. No tears, but it was evident something had happened to make him very upset.

"Are you sure you didn't knock him out?"

He nodded, for which I was grateful. I wasn't ready to feel dumb again, all the while that I was crying.

"Max, you saved my life,"

"This gun," he pulled it out and looked at it, no expression on his face, only tedium in his brown eyes. "Gwen, this gun was given to me loaded, with five bullets. I've never shot it once, until tonight,"

I nodded at him, and he made a line with his lips, contemplating on going on. Finally he sighed. "I should've shot his hand instead, I was so friggin certain you were going to die, and I didn't want that to happen to you," I felt something in my stomach do a flip, but then I was reminded that yes, Gwen, it is good that he didn't want you to die, and in fact, many other people don't want you to die either.

"So I aimed at his shoulder. Hit an artery probably. Humeral Circumflex artery," he fell to the floor on his knees, focusing the body that I couldn't truly see in the darkness.

"How do you know that?" I asked, feeling small.

"I took a human anatomy class," and he didn't say it snobby, or exasperated that I didn't know. It was almost devoid of anything, which somehow was worse.