Butterflies (A Before You Exit fanfiction)

Chapter 37

MARIA'S POV

Okay, so here I am, back in Orlando, packing a picnic basket to go see my father at the cemetery. I just really missed him and I've always done this on the day he died. So, long story short, I flew out here at night to spend a day with Dad, and will take the 6pm flight back. I told the others that they didn't have to go with me but they insisted on coming. Why? I have no clue whatsoever.

As I skated over with my picnic basket, I got teary eyed. It has been 13 years since he's died. 13 years since I've had a real father.

I sat down by his grave and began unpacking what I made. I packed enough food to feed two people, even though I'll be the only one eating...

I heard a rustle of leaves behind me. Then, Jenna, Kris, Jeremy, and Tam sat beside me without a word. I saw in Jenna's hand a picnic basket too. I guess they packed food too. I leaned my head on Kris' shoulder and wrapped my arm around Jenna. Tam didn't look hurt that I was leaning on my friends and not him for support. Some things you just need your friends for, others you need your boyfriend for. This is one of the friends things.

We all sat there for a long time, just in comfortable silence. Then, I heard another rustling. It was the person I least expected to come here.

Braiden.

As soon as he came to sit with us I started crying, more like sobbing. I was so blessed to have the people I cared about most with me. My life may not be perfect, but the trouble I went through is so worth it for the five people who love me and each other surrounding me.

Brai took me into his arms as I began to soak up his shirt. He patted my back, not knowing what to say. No words were needed anyway.

I heard another noise. Jesus, can't these people be more quiet when they come, my God. But, as I come to think of it there aren't any other people that care about me or that I care about.

Just then I heard another noise.

I think everyone else got fed up with the noises by then. Me, along with everyone else, turned to see with dickhead was making the noise.

Motherfucking hell.

She was standing with her little minions with bows and arrows, pointed at Jenna, Kris, and I. Their red, black, and brown hair was blowing in the wind as they glared at us.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I want you five dead, well you three most of all. I thought you were smarter than that." Kaitlin said, laughing with Tess and Kylie.

"You know what I mean." I growled.

"We want fame and fortune. We want everyone to bow down to us." Tess snarled.

"So you decide to kill five innocent people to get?" Kris asked.

"Why don't you do it the hard way?" Jenna questioned.

"Because we want it the easy way. And you five aren't innocent. You're getting in the way of our plan." Kylie said.

"Yes, you are. Now it's time to take out the three that matter most." Kaitlin growled.

"How dare you?!" I screamed. "How dare you try and kill me at my father's grave?! How dare you be so cruel!"

They laughed. "All the more reason to kill you here." Kaitlin said.

As Kaitlin, Tess, and Kylie began to arch their bows, I saw Tam get ready to run.

"NOOOOO!!" I screamed.

But the girls didn't listen, and neither did Tam.

The arrows came flying to the girls and I. But Tam jumped in just time to block all three from hitting us.

I screamed and sobbed as he feel unconscious on my dad's grave.

Kaitlin, Tess, and Kylie quickly ran off as soon as they heard the sirens.

I guess one of the guys called because it came right after Tam was shot and they were silent the whole time.

I took Tam's head in my lap and kissed him.

"Don't die on me, Tam. I need you." I cried.

"Please. You've done so much. You don't deserve to die."

I sobbed and screamed until the guys had to hold me back so the ambulance people could take him. I insisted on riding with him. They obviously knew that I would end up punching someone if they didn't let me go with them.

-

When we finally got to the hospital the parametics took Tam right into surgery. Apparently one of the arrows hit his heart. And the other two hit arteries. They said the chances of him surviving were slim, but I refused to give up hope.

I waited in that disgusting waiting room all night long with the others as the surgeons took Tam in and out of three different surgeries. Each of them trying to get the arrow safely out of his heart.

At 8 in the morning the surgeons took Tam in for the last surgery his body would be able to handle. I sobbed until no more tears came out. He was the first boy that never broke my heart. The first one that treated me right. The first one that made me feel absolutely beautiful. I love him. But this may be the last time I'll ever see him alive.

2 hours later, the surgeons wheeled Tam out. By the looks on their faces Tam had not made it.

I raced over, the others not close behind me, and sobbed as I cling to his body. He sacrificed his life for all three of us. I didn't deserve him. He was too good for me. But he's gone now. I'll never see him again. I'll never hear his voice again.

"It's going to be okay, Maria." a voice said.

I haven't heard that voice in 2 months, since he was calling me and the girls a liar.

It was Toby.

"What are you doing here? Why are you here? You all need to leave before I make you. And don't even try to push me, I'm not in a good mood." I growled at Toby, Riley, Connor, and Thomas.

Jeremy and Braiden held Kris and Jenna back from hurting the guys.

"I believe you." Toby whispered to me.

"I believe everything you said that night we left. I believe that Tess and Kylie were hating on you all. I believe that they planned to kill you guys. I believe that she was using me to get to the rest of the guys. I believe that all she wanted was fame and fortune and well, us. I believe you. I believe you, Jenna. I believe you, Kris. I believe you, Jeremy. And I believe you, Tam. We all do." Toby said, the rest of the guys nodding in agreement.

"And we're sorry. We are so sorry. We all have been moping around for the past week, since we found out. We have felt sick to the stomach. Believe or not, we all felt so sick that we threw up. We couldn't believe that we left you guys." Connor said.

"And again, we are so sorry." Riley and Thomas said.

"I'm not talking about this now. My boyfriend is dead. He just sacrificed his life for Jenna, Kris, and I. We will talk about this later. When the girls and I feel better. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, RIGHT NOW. But, if you are lying we are moving again. And not back to New York." I warned them as they all raised their arms in the air.

"You are welcome to stay if you want. But if this is some trap to kill us then I hope you all die in the process." Jenna said.

"Why would she do that? Kaitlin wants you three, well, four, to suffer as much pain as you can. She will not kill you now. She will wait until she's made you suffer a huge amount of pain, all of you, that counts you too, Jeremy and now Braiden. B, you put yourself in a lot of danger coming out there today. You don't know what she has in store for you." Thomas said, his voice shaking.

"What is he talking about?" Kris asked Brai.

"Like Maria said, we'll explain everything later. Right now, you all need some rest." B replied.

"Yeah. You should stay at our place tonight." Connor said.

"You pinky promise you don't have some shit plan to kill us?" I asked Toby.

"I promise." he replied as we linked our pinkys together.

"What help is that gonna do?" Jenna asked.

"Maria and I made a blood oath to never break pinky promises that we made to each other." Toby explained, giving me a small smile that I returned.

"Good. Because we need something that will ensure our safety tonight. And we all know that Toby will never lie to Maria." Kris said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Toby and I said at the same time, then laughed.

Kris rolled her eyes.

Yes, we were joking around when Tam's dead body was still in front of us. But, that's what he would have wanted. Tam wouldn't have wanted everyone to waste their time crying over him. He liked to live in the moment.

And while I looked at everyone around me, I knew that I would get through this alright. I gained four of my friends back. I may have lost one, but that makes two guardian angels with me at all times up in Heaven. Plus, Tam's in a better place now. He doesn't deserve to suffer.

As I skated back home with the rest of my family a few tears slipped out of my eyes. They were both happy and sad tears. Sad because of Tam's sudden death, but happy because of how blessed I am.

That night I crashed early with the rest of my family. It was about 9pm. We spent the hours in between that goofing off and telling stories of the times we've missed. For once, I felt like I didn't have a fear in the world. Everything was perfect. I fell asleep with the rest of them on the rug, all of us snuggled with each other. It was a horrifying, yet perfect night.

I seriously think that Tam brought us back together as his first job as an angel in Heaven. I think that God, and Jesus, and Daddy, and Tam knew that we would be able to beat Kaitlin and the rest of her crew together rather than apart. We were, and still are, stronger together, now stronger than we have ever been before.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLOT TWIST OOOHHH! omg it was so hard to write this chapter! Tam was one of my favorite characters, but this is all part of my story;);)

okay, IDK IF YOU GUYS WOULD WANT TO SEE WHAT THE CHARACTERS LOOK LIKE BUT I MADE A VIDEO OF THEM SO LOOK IF YOU PLEASE! AND KAITLIN ISN'T SUPPOSED TO LOOK GOTH (I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST GOTHS BUT THAT ISN'T THE TYPE OF LOOK I'M GOING FOR IN MY STORY) SO YEAH DON'T TAKE THAT PICTURE THE WRONG WAY

and would you guys actually vote if I dedicated each chapter to someone who voted? idk if I should do this but I would really like more votes with my now 36 chapters... please tell me what you think!

no outfits today. the girls were wearing sweats that day and the next so yeah

ilygsm

~Maria<3