*The Story Of Us*

*The Story Of Us: Chapter 3*

Chapter 3: A Visit to the Hospital

Early this morning at 6:43am, I heard a scream of terror coming from Natalie in the next room...

"AHHHHH!" She screamed. Apparently Zack didn't hear but it woke me up, startled, until she screamed again and woke him up, "AHHHH!" Apparently my parents were out together like they would be doing every week, usually early in the morning.

"Oh my God, Zack stay here, I'm gonna go check on her."

"Uh okay, careful, hun'." He said, quite scared.

"Relax, she probably had a nightma-- OH MY GOD!!" What I saw in Natalie's room was a burglar holding a gun to Natalie's head threatening to kill her if she didn't tell him where I was. The burglar caught sight of me and said, "There you are." His identity was hidden by a black ski mask and his eyes narrowed at me as they started to look red and beady. That look startled me and Zack came to see what I was screaming about and he just froze, right then and there. The burglar had hit Natalie in the head with his gun handle and knocked her out, that just made me furious.

"Natalie!" I yelled her name almost in tears and narrowed my eyes at the tall burglar and grinded my teeth in fury. "Leave my family alone!" I yelled, "It's me you want, not them! Not sure why it's me, but don't hurt them, just do what you want to me."

"Nichole, no!" Zack yelled, sounding overly protective of my safety.

"Shut up, Zack!" The burglar raised his voice toward Zack--how did he know his name? He fired a silent bullet to his arm as he yelled in pain, "AHH!"

"ZACK, NO!" I was practically in tears but then I took all my anger out on the burglar, I lunged for the burglar's face, pinning him down and giving swift, yet messy blows to his face and ripped off his ski mask, shocked to see who it was. Ethan O'Riann.

"Ethan! YOU'RE SO DEAD YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" I cried and went to pick up the gun he had dropped after I had lunged at him. I aimed the gun at Ethan's head but before I could pull the trigger, he leg-swiped me, causing me to fall over on my face, busting my nose causing it to drip blood all over the floor. Tears started rolling down my cheeks rapidly and he aimed the gun at my leg and fired. "AGH!" I cried loudly in pain but I managed to stand up no matter how much it hurt and gave a swift blow to his face and finally took his gun and fired a quick bullet to his head, killing him instantly.

I had fallen to my knees after what had happened, and sobbed. Then I crawled quickly over to Zack and cradled him in my arms, not even paying attention to my gun wound. "Zack! Zack, are you okay?? I'm so sorry!" My tears had dripped off my chin and he looked up at me with his caring eyes.

"Why are you sorry? You just defended me and your family." He made a good point but I felt guilty that him and Natalie were hurt.

"I'm sorry that you and Natalie got hurt. I'm so, so sorry, Zack." I continued to cry but he hushed me with a gentle kiss on the lips as he cupped my cheek with a caring touch of his hand, and I kissed back. Why does he still care? I just killed the school bully. I vowed to myself I would never kill a living soul-- I understand now. I only protected the ones I love and saved their lives. I did the right thing no matter how much pain I went through myself. I love my family, and I consider Zack a member of the family. I slowly broke off the kiss and grasped Zack's hand and circled the top of it with my thumb.

"I love you, Zack. And I'll always protect you." I smiled as my eyes were still flooded with tears.

"I love you too. And I'll protect you, always." He smiled as he looked into my eyes, allowing me to rub his hand with my thumb.