We Met Because Of Death

How it All Began

( HAYLEE'S PART)

I never thought my life could be ripped apart. So destroyed in a matter of seconds. You'd think I'd be use to it, after the shit I've been through but I guess not. It's been two years, two years since Max had died and I still felt it all. The agony , the numbness, the thing that had made me human felt like it was all gone.Not even a speck of it left, just gone. I could still remember the way it felt with his hands on my sides his kisses on my lips. I reach and graze my thumb over my bottom lip. All that I could feel now was the space he left behind. Max had meant a lot to me he had always been there, he even went through hell and back for me. I could still remember the day I met him. At the time I had been dating David. I was walking to class with him when I saw Max. He had just moved to LA and was standing at his locker with the school counselor. He looked at me and I remember feeling the chill that had went up my spine. His smile made my heart stop but I had kept walking shoving him out of my head. David had always been the jealous type and I knew he had seen me look Max when be dug his fingers into my arm making me grit my teeth. It was a little while later David was with me and we had been walking out of school. Once we had reached out of sight that was when he let it out. He pushed me into a pole and punched me hard in the stomach. Bending over to catch my breath he picked me up and slammed me back down my head colliding with the pole. My vision had blurred and the pain rang inside my skull. He yelled at me , screamed at me and hit me. All I could do was stand there helplessly, to scared to do anything ,I knew better than to try. When he finally stopped I had felt my legs go limp and I just laid on the side of the curb.
David had left me , and I didn't get up. The feeling through out my body holding me down. I don't know how long I laid there but I know that I saw a car stop and I saw Max. He picked me up and carried me to the car. He sat my head in his lap and he was saying my name. He just looked at me the whole time telling me i'd be okay even after we pulled up to the hospital. The last thing I remember was me being rushed away and Max standing there watching me go. Maybe that's what made it so hard. I didn't get to tell him it was gonna be okay , I couldn't hold him like he had held me. All I could do was watch his body being put in the back and them driving away. All I could do was sit there and cry. I open my eyes when I hear a knock on the door. The pizza delivery girl stands there waiting. Austin's already at the door and takes the boxes. I watch as he smiles at her and thanks her for it giving her the money. The girl smiles at him and starts to twirl her hair around her finger.
" I hope you like it."
Her voice full of seduction making me feel queasy. Austin doesn't even take the bait, he just hands her the money and smile at her again.
" Keep the change."
He then closes the door as she walks down the steps with a sway of her hips. I don't blame her , Austin was the type of guy you don't want to stop looking at. His brown eyes that were almost like chocolate and his touseled brown hair upkept but he made it look good. He had a million dollar smile too. The one you'd always hear about in movies. He even had the built to his figure, he had it all. He walks ov
er to me with a smile on his face. " It smells so good Erica' s pizza is the best."
He sits the boxes down on the table and pulls up a bean bag chair across from me. I grab us both a slice and sodas. I bite into it chewing it slowly. My stomach begging me to devour it. It's been so long since I've ate. Had never felt the need to lately never felt hungry so I just didn't eat. Now though my stomach was aching. My stomach starts to make a loud noise, making Austin raise his eyebrow at me.
" I'd say you're pretty hungry."
" Yeah guess it's been a while since I've ate."
He nods his head but doesn't say anything else about it. I knew he probably knew. He talked to Brittany and Max, they were obviously telling him things and I would believe it if Dave was telling him stuff about me as well. Mom had told me stuff about Austin . She'd talk about him and the other two all the time.
" Hey you alright?"
I look up at Austin realizing I was looking down and had stopped eating.
" Oh yeah I'm fine , sorry I drift it happens a lot."
" What's got you so lost in your head?" I think about it for a moment. Should I tell him? It wasn't nothing that big right?
" I was thinking about what they've told you about me."
" Oh well they haven't told me much. You've mostly told me everything I know about you so far."
Does he know how Max died? Did they tell him about that night? Why I won't cross that bridge anymore?
" They didn't tell me."
" Tell you what?" " Max, Dad told me he was you know... killed. I didn't ask for the whole story though."
" Yeah it's true he was murdered never found the ones who did it though."
" Did they stop looking?"
I nod
" Yeah they found evidence that it was more than one person a guy and a girl but that was it." " Have you...asked Max?"
" Yeah but he doesn't remember all he remembers is walking home and then being hit over the head and a bunch of pain and then it just stopped."
" Im trying to remember Haylee." I hear Max's voice in my head his voice sounded conflicted. Making a part of me want to comfort him but I shove the thought out of my head. I couldn't help that I felt hurt still, it was just too much to take in.
" We should probably get back home."
I look at my phone and realize it's almost eight. I nod my head and stand up. Austin stands and opens the door for me. We both walk out and he waits as I lock the door.
     " We forgot the pizza box."
" Oh it's alright I'll get it tomorrow."
We walk down the sidewalk, our hands in our pockets. I look at his hand wanting him to reach out for mine. Falling asleep in his lap and felt secure. I felt something build inside me as he rubbed his fingers through my hair, telling me it'd be alright. Almost like Max had, I look up at Austin. They both obviously had a lot of differences but they both had the good looks, and the caring side. Other than that though they were complete opposites Max was the goofy, charming guy, who would do anything to make you laugh. Austin was more relaxed, and the type that would listen to you. Austin was a lot of things.
" So tonight was fun."
" Yeah it was I enjoyed it... I'm sorry about earlier though I usually don't cry in front of people."
" No it's okay I'm just glad that you opened up to me some."
I smile at him as we walk up to my house. Mom opens the door as we reach the top step. She looks at me with a frown.
" Haylee you could have at least told me that you weren't going to be home until late. It's nearly eleven."
" Sorry Claire I kept her late at the studio." Mom looks at Austin surprised she rubs her hands on her pants and steps aside.
" Well it's alright but both of you get in here." We both walk in mom closes the door behind us and walks down the hallway bringing back blankets.
" Austin it's late so why don't you just stay here for the night."
" Oh no Claire I should go home but thank you."
       " Are you sure?"
" I think you should stay."
They both look at me, my stomach turning at the thought of Austin walking alone at this time of night. " It's just really late and i'd feel better if you just stay here just in case. Please." Austin's face drops a little but he nods his head and takes the blankets from Mom. She bites her lip nervously looking at me but she brushes it off.
" Alright well I'll call Dave to let him know."
With that she walks out of the room leaving me with Austin who makes himself a bed on the couch.
" I'm sorry it's just Max had left at this time and well you know what happened."
          " Oh Haylee "
Max sounding pitiful in my head, his voice cracking making me hold back a wince. Knowing he was close to his breaking point. Austin smiles at me sadly.
" I understand Haylee."
A shiver runs down my spine as he says my name. What is he doing to me?
" Pretty sure that's hormones sweetheart." I hear Max say chuckling softly. I roll my eyes but quickly cover it as Austin sits up.
" Alright I'm going to bed you two goodnight."
Mom yawns walking up the stairs. We both say goodnight to her and I watch as she walks the rest of the way until she rounds the corner. I look back to see Austin looking at me. I feel my cheeks heat up so I quickly fake a yawn.
" I think I'm gonna go to bed too I'm kinda tired."
" Oh yeah sure um goodnight Haylee."
" Goodnight Austin."

I was back there again. Walking down the street. Calling his name , tears falling down my face. I try to stop, to tell myself to run the other way but I just keep walking. The endless nightmare just keeps going. Up a head I see the bridge as I get closer. I start to panic I scream at myself to wake up or to run away don't go to the bridge I can't handle this again. I watch as my body just keeps going getting closer and closer. I walk under the bridge stepping on the rocks until I see something. Please, please don't do this I can't, not again. I get closer and see Max. I fall to my knees. His lifeless body bruised and blooded. The eyes that I use to love looking into are closed. I beg him to open his eyes scream at him to wake up. My heart shatters and I start to scream his name sobbing. Lights surround me and I hear Mom and my sisters calling my name but all I do is sit there holding him screaming.
" Max please , please wake up don't leave me. We're supposed to get married remember you- you can't give up on me Max please!"
I feel someone grab me trying to pull me away. I scream amd try to fight back.
" No, no he's not dead he can't be Max! Max open your eyes please I love you please just say it back." I sit up in bed, tears streaming down my face. I let out a sob crying harder.
" Haylee baby listen to me I'm here Ik your scared but im here." No you're not here you left me and now you're with her. I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom. I close the door and cry ,slamming my fist against the counter harder and harder. When I stop my hands ache and cuts show on my knuckles. I fall to the floor feeling my heart break over and over. This pain was too much why did he have to die? I loved him, all I wanted was him.
" Haylee go to Austin."
I hear Brittany say in my head her voice soft. I stand up and feel myself walk out the door. I run down the stairs until I see Austin. He could help me he understands he'll make me feel better. He's laying down on the couch asleep but he wakes up when I walk over to him. He looks at me dazed but his eyes widden and he sits up.
    " Haylee what's wrong?."
I run to him as he stands up and wraps his arms around me. I cry into his shoulder. He rubs my back leaning his head against mine.
" Haylee what happened tell me. " " I had a nightmare about Max." I hear him sign and he sits us both down on the couch.
" Austin I can't do this anymore." I cry harder my words become a jumbled mess.
" Haylee I know but I'm here okay I'm not gonna leave you alright." He leans me back wiping my face and then looks down at my hands. His face shifts as he life them up. I look at them too seeing their all red and puffy now. Blood smeared everywhere, Austin doesn't say anything he just walks me upstairs. He sits me on my bed with a first aid kit from the bathroom. He starts to wipe at my cuts putting ointment on them. Not saying a single word at all. I watch as my hands turns a light purple and yellow. Austin begins to wrap up my hand. He looks up at me with tears in his eyes. Making my heart ache and me to reach out to hold his face in the palm of my hand. He stares at me grabbing one of my injured hands gently. He leans down laying a kiss on my fingers. Sending a tingle to run through me. My body reacts before I do. I leans in and kiss him taking us both by surprise but only for a moment. I wrap my arms around his neck, he kisses me back greedily. My body starts to feel light. My lips burn from the touch of his. God I never wanted this to stop. Austin moans against my lips and grips the back of my hair. After a moment Austin pulls away. Making me almost whimper. The kiss had felt too short I wanted so much more but I hold myself back and open my eyes. Austin looks at me and for a moment we just stare at each other.
" I'm sorry."
I say panting Austin then breaks into a soft smile. He leans in laying a kiss on my forehead. He stands up closing the first aid kit and starts to walk to take it back to the bathroom.
" Austin wait... can you please stay , just sleep with me tonight I can't be alone."
" Haylee Im not gonna leave you I promise."
He sets the kit down turning the lights off. He climbs in next to me I pull the blanket over us and curl into him. Austin wraps his arm around me, making me sign in comfort.
       " Goodnight Austin."
    " Goodnight Haylee."