Celebrity Status (currently being revised to 1st person) Walk of Fame-- Book 1

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Crimson paints the concrete,

My heart drops to the floor,

I can't find my breath, it's gone,

I'm not worth dying for." - Bach's Revenge debut album, track 9

Everything was in slow motion. Sebastian stumbled, trying to gauge if there was time to tackle McKenzie to the ground. But there wasn't. Charlie saw the bullet exit the chamber, her vision had honed in on it, like some sort of special effect from Hollywood. Devin began to scream bloody murder.

A fleeting thought entered her mind for the briefest of moments: he had more to offer the world than she did. Instinct propelled her forward before she could make sense of anything.

Because of McKenzie's instability, her trajectory was off and the bullet was probably lower than she'd intended. The impact of the slug threw Charlie backward and she hit Sebastian's body with vigor.

"Ugh," she groaned.

A fire erupted inside her, like a grenade blowing up in her chest, searing her insides. Her head felt like it was in a blender and she began to lose her footing.

"No!" Sebastian's voice was desperate; his eyes wide with panic as his arms wrapped around her and led her to the ground. "Charlie!"

She felt as if she were watching everything from a different perspective. Tally let out a war cry and surged forward to grab the gun from McKenzie, who looked almost astonished that she'd pulled the trigger. Charlie thought maybe she heard McKenzie scream but it could have been anyone. Screams were everywhere.

Devin was manic clawing at Sawyer trying to get her sister.

Sawyer and Robbie held her back even though she fought like the devil, kicking and throwing punches, trying to bite Sawyer's arms until he picked her up and spun her around, gripping her shoulders firmly. "Stay here, it's not safe," Charlie heard him say. "Robbie, make sure she doesn't see any of this. I gotta go and help Charlie."

Sebastian's entire body shook his fingers barely able to brush some hair away from her face. "Somebody call 9-1-1!" He pressed his hands down onto her chest trying to stop the blood. Charlie looked down at them, stained and red. Maybe it would be the last time she'd feel his hands on her; they were warm and she was so cold.

"Baby, oh my God, Charlie. Charlie!" He looked up at the sky, like a kid about to wish upon a star. His voice boomed through the air. "Somebody fucking call 9-1-1!"

Charlie could barely see in the darkness but Sebastian's voice cracked and it sounded as though he was crying.

Lane came and sat calmly on the concrete beside Sebastian, grabbing Charlie's hand. "They're on the way."

"Sebastian-" she said.

"It's okay," Seb replied. "I'm right here."

Saying his name required more effort than she thought it would. She gasped for another breath before turning her head to Lane. He was stroking her arm in a soft and delicate way. Somehow, Charlie wasn't surprised that his touch was so gentle. It made her want to close her eyes.

"Sebastian did a terrible thing tonight Lane, but maybe you can forgive him sometime. I think he needs you."

Lane's eyes filled with tears. For her, for himself, for their shared cruel reality, she wasn't sure, but did it matter?

Charlie looked back to Sebastian, trying to memorize every single detail one last time because she was afraid she'd never see it again. "I love you," she managed.