Saving Ally

Chapter 41

--Drew Borden
Everyone hates the third quarter. Everyone's coming from stuffing their faces with Christmas foods and crying from Christmas gifts to the dullness that is hell; also known as school. Why would anyone want to go back to the place that gives them so much stress and sadness and drama? Of course, we have to though. So, we force a smile and walk through the halls, attempting to be enthusiastic. Some people end up being a little happy, only due to their friends. Others though, like Ally, can barely fake their happiness.

When Ally and I walk through the double doors, all eyes are on her. Everyone knows what happened. Her dad almost killing her and going to the hospital twice, and her new sister and her dad coming out of jail. Some people's faces are filled with guilt or pity while others are filled with fear. Why fear? Merely because Kate decided to spread that Ally might be the one responsible for her mother's death. Even though it's completely ridiculous and unrealistic, some decided to let the juicy gossip seep through their pores and take over their way of thinking.

So, we walk through the halls, Ally gripping my arm, while people whisper or walk away. I tell Ally to ignore them, but her anxiety is stronger than my words, controlling her like a puppet.
I go to hug Ally, but end up hugging air. I look around for her, but all I see is a vacant hallway with the lights flickering. I turn around 3 times shouting Ally's name before I hear her scream and cry. I look down the hallway and see Ally on the ground in a ball underneath a single light crying. Her arms are bloody and her dad's standing over her. I run towards her, but it seems like the hallway just gets longer and longer. I reach out for her, but I can't reach her. Then I fall on the ground and watch as her dad drags her out of the light.

I sit up in bed quickly, sweating. I place my hand over my heart and try to slow down my breathing. I turn on my lamp and look across my room at Ally's bed. I want her to be laying there, sleeping peacefully.

I get up and walk over to her bed and lay down. Everything smells like her. I close my eyes on her pillow and try to imagine her laying here with me, but I can only picture her crying.

Someone knocks on my door, and my dad comes through. "Morning. You have to get up or you're gonna be late," he says.

"Do I have to go?" I ask.

"Drew... I know this hurts, but you can't let it hold you down," he says.

Rage bubbles up inside of me, and I sit up and look at him. "Are you serious? We don't know where Ally is and you're just gonna tell me not to let it hold me down?! What if she's dead?!"

"Drew, she's not dead," he says calmly, then sighs. "You have to go to school today. I'm gonna figure out where Ally went, ok? Don't worry."

I nod and get a good look at him. His eyes are droopy and red, he hasn't shaved in a couple of days, and his shoulders are sagging.

"Are you ok?" I ask.

"Yea, I'm good," he responds. He leaves before I can ask him again. Maybe he's just as worried as I am.

-

Walking into school, I look around expecting everyone to give me weird looks, but surprisingly it's the opposite. Lots of people come up to me and tell me I'm brave and strong for saving Ally and fighting her dad. Girls, especially, tell me that. Arrin finds his way to me and puts his arm around my shoulders.

"Bro, You've got all the hot babes coming to you. You have to take this opportunity and get some," he says.

"No," I say, shaking his arm off. "I don't know where Ally is and I'm not going to cheat on her and break her heart."