cuffed • g.d

40.

By now Aaron's eyes were closed. I didn't know if he was unconscious, asleep or .... I didn't want to think about Aaron dying especially in my arms. There was rustling in the crowd as if someone was running through, and someone was. Kai stood there in shock then fell to her knees and started to scream and cry. Some older kids come to her side to help her and try and calm her down, reassuring her Aaron was okay even though it was not certain. Within the distance I heard the sirens come closer and closer but it felt like the closer they got the longer they took. I moved my hand up Aaron's body to make sure his heart was still beating, it was. I wiped my eyes free of tears with the hand that was free.With relief in exhaled and gave a quick smile. Grayson was still crying he was talking in sobs apologizing non-stop shaking his head and shutting his eyes tight from time to time.

"Gray, please don't put this on yourself, it's not your fault." I told him trying to sound calm even though I was filled with anxiety and anxiousness. Grayson looked up at me I could see some dried up tears and some freshly formed ones. His eyes were bloodshot and his mouth was quivering. "It is my fault." He says soft. Suddenly 6 paramedics rushed with a gurney to Aaron's side, telling us to get out of the way to move pushing us to rush Aaron to the hospital before he bled out. As they took Aaron from me and Gray my hand was stained with blood from covering his wound. Grayson saw and I could tell his face end numb. I got up and pulled him up and we ran to the paramedics carrying Aaron to the ambulance. "Can we ride with him please?!" I asked, my voice cracking from it being so dry from all the crying. He gave us a nod and helped us in. Inside the vehicle were 2 other paramedics hooking up Aaron to machines and putting him under an oxygen mask. I held Grayson's hand and he held mine tight.

The doors got shut and we were on our way back to the hospital. The ride went with ease no stops, no slowing down, we would be there in no time. Hopefully Aaron would make it. Grayson reached for Aaron's hand but the medic pushed him away so that she could continue to put Aaron on some more machines to keep his heart beat steady. Grayson put his forehead on my shoulder crying, "it's all my fault, it's all my fault." He sobbed. I ran my fingers through his hair a reassured him he did nothing. I lay my head on his and we rode in silence, the noise in the back of the ambulance was the paramedics mumbling to one another and the steady beeps of the monitors which made Grayson anxious, not knowing when or if it would suddenly just stop.

When we arrived the silence broke into chaos, when the doors flew open doctors and nurses were already standing there while the 2 paramedics took Aaron out and set his gurney on the ground and all of them rushed inside the ER. me and Gray right beside them but we were stopped by a female nurse whose name tag read, 'Gwen.' "Sorry no one but the doctors and nurses are allowed back there." She said in a snobby monotone. Her breath smelled of tic tags and her eyes read I don't want to fucking be here. So me and Gray weren't about to argue with a snobby girl after all we've been through today. We sat in the waiting room our feet tapping the ground, legs shaking, we dozed off once or twice.

2 hours pass by and a young man with a clip board approached us, our eyes were barely open but we knew he was here for us. "Are you both here for Aaron Carpenter?"
He says no so sure. Grayson sits up immediately and wipes his eyes, "Yes, yes we are, is he okay? Can we seen him?" He says inpatient already sanding up. The man holts him, "Yes you can see him." He pauses looks at me then back at Grayson. " But he is in very critical condition and needs to recover so I will give you 5 minutes before you need to leave." He warns. Grayson nods and grabs my hand to come along with him. We follow the doctor into the room where Aaron lay. Grayson jogged to his side and grabbed Aaron's hand. He weakly turned to look at Grayson and he smiled through his pale lips. Grayson put his forehead to the back of Aaron's hand and cried I'm so sorry, for a couple seconds but Aaron shook him off. "Grayson, this is not your fault." He say dryly. "Don't blame yourself."
Grayson looks up at him, "I just feel like I could've don't something to st-"
"If you want to do something for me then do this one thing: go. Go and hide because by what Lucas said Ethan is out to get you and I don't want you to go through what I am... or worse." Aaron interrupted talking in a serious tone. The doctor walks in and gives up the ' leave' look and me and Grayson were out the door.