Breaking Free

Chapter 37

"Taylor," a voice gingerly calls, shaking my shoulders lightly. I automatically jump up, startled. I must have fallen asleep due to sheer exhaustion.

"What is it? Is it Carter? What happened," I ramble, facing the person who tried to wake me. Rage wells up inside me when I see Jake facing me.

Not only did he ruin things between Carter and I, possibly to no repair, but now he woke me up when I finally got a tiny bit of piece. He must have some nerve.

"No, nothing happened with Carter. I just wanted to talk to you- and everyone left to get breakfast, so I figured now is probably the best time," he mutters.

"There's nothing to talk about," I snap. "Now I've had a very stressful day- oh let me rephrase that- a very stressful life. I don't care about your problems right now because the boy I love could be dead or dying right now and that totally overrules anything you have to say to me. And it was real nice of you to wake me up when I had finally found a tiny bit of peace for the first time in weeks. I really appreciate it."

I sink back down in my chair and turn away from him. Unfortunately, he's fairly persistent.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry-"

"For what? For the fact that you kissed me in front of my boyfriend? Or the fact that you did so on the night where I had to fake my death- which believe me, was devastating enough without you involving yourself in it. Or maybe the fact that my boyfriend might die thinking I didn't love him thanks to you? Save it- I don't want to hear it. Leave me the hell alone or I swear to god-"

But I don't finish my sentence. Tears start spilling out of my eyes as my voice breaks off into a sob.

Carter could actually die. He could die. And he thinks I'm dead. He thinks I don't love him, or he at least thinks I was with Jake behind his back. And he could die thinking those things.

Jake puts his arm over my shoulder, but I shove him away.

"Leave me alone- you've done enough," I whimper. "Just go."

He must leave because I hear a door open and close, leaving me completely alone in the room.

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Ariel's POV

The three girls who must be Taylor's friends or something just stare at me wide-eyed. I ignore them and scoop a forkful of scrambled eggs into my mouth.

"So you- you're Taylor's sister?" One of them asks- I think her name is Joy?

"I think so. No ones really told me much of anything yet," I reply, furrowing my brow.

I still don't know where Mom and Dad are. I haven't seen them since-

It's too horrible to think of. Now that it's over and my mind fully wraps around what happened to us, my breathing constricts a little.

They- those two men- broke into our house. Mom told me to hide under the bed and to not make a sound.

I couldn't see what was going on, but I could hear yelling. Dad yelled at one of the men, as Mom screamed. Then they both fell silent. I stayed as quiet as I could, but I accidentally sniffled.

And they heard it. They pulled me out from under the bed, and started laughing. Then they put a wet rag up to my face, and I started to feel so tired.

Then everything went black.

"Who's the boy who got shot?" I question, hoping they'll be able to give me some insight.

"Carter. He's your sister's boyfriend," Joy answers.

"She's that upset over a boyfriend," I question, tilting my head.

"There is a LOT of history there. She'll have to tell you about it sometime," Joy answers.

I'm very curious to how my parents are going to explain this.

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Carter's POV

Everything is dark, and emotionless. I can't feel anything except the dull pain in my chest.

What happened? Where am I?

Last thing I remember, I was running after a trailer. They took something from me, something important.

Ezhno.

But why do I care? He's not my horse, he's Taylor's. She should be chasing after him.

Then it all comes rushing back-

Homecoming- her and Jake- the police telling me she's dead.

Oh my god- she can't be dead. I can't live without her.

Maybe I don't have to.

Maybe I'll just die along with her.

Maybe.

A/N

Sorry it's not that long! I love you guys! Thanks for reading my lovelies!