Do or Die

Got 'em

  I wake up and see I'm in my bed. In my house. I sit up and the cool cloth that was apparently on my head fell on my lap. My head aches but other then that I feel fine.

I look over to see Jack. Ah yes Jack. The person that helped me escape-

And then it hits me.

Everything that happened came flooding back into my brain. I lay back down and Jack walks over.

Jack: "Morning Ellie." He smiles and I scoff.

Eleanor: "Still Eleanor." I roll my eyes and he chuckles.

Jack: "Oh I know."

We stay silent for a minute as I process what had happened and where I was. Then I sit up and a few tears slip down my cheeks

Eleanor: "Th- Their gone... their all dead, a-and it's my fault." My vision blurs from the tears in my eyes and I sniffle. I feel Jacks arm wrap around me and hug me.

Jack: "Harper survived and it isn't your fault." I felt a bit of joy shoot through me when he said Harper was alive but it ended a second later.

Eleanor: "If only I stayed his friend, if only I had-" but Jack cuts me off with a "Hush". I don't say anything and I hug him back, the tears still streaming down my face. I don't know how long he hugged me for but it calmed me down and eventually I stopped crying. He pulled away but still had his hands firmly on each side of my shoulders as he looked into my eyes.

Jack: "They got'em, Derek I mean. They are going to help him get better. And as for Harper she'll need some therapy but so will you and me. Things will be better, this won't happen again."

I nod and after a minute he gives me a slight smile and I give him one back.

Eleanor: "Your a good friend." He smiles wider.

Jack: "Thanks Ellie." I smile and laugh a little at that.

My heart hurts and my brain is confused but I can see Jack is also mixed up a bit. I also don't correct him when he calls me Ellie again, it won't stick I'll make sure but this is a good moment and I don't want to ruin it.

----------------------------------------------
~2 months later~

I walk out of my therapist room as I say good bye. I'm nervous. All of us are.

Today me, Jack, and Harper are going to see Derek.

I'm not scared, none of us are. We know Derek is more under control now but he's not coming out of jail for awhile. Well he's more in a metal hospital. Apparently he was saying he is there for me but I hope when he sees us he'll not say that. That would be kinda embarrassing and plus he tried to kill me too so it doesn't make sense to me.

Once my parents and me go to the visiting room I see Jack and Harper already there. I walk up to them with a nervous expression on.

Eleanor: "Hey Guys." I wave and they look at me with the same look as me. Harper gives me a hug and so does Jack. We stand there for ten minutes before we see Derek.

He doesn't look tired or mad or anything like that just... sad. He is restrained by a guard and they sit him down at a the opposite end of a table at least 8 feet long. Me, Harper, and Jack sit at the other end and look at him. He's only staring at me and it makes me uncomfortable but I pretend not to be.

Guard: "You've got 10 minutes Mr Frank." He says to Derek and Derek takes a deep breath closing his eyes then quickly opens them and looks at all of us then focuses back on me. I notice a lady in her mid 30's walk up next to Derek and stand there looking at him.

Derek: "I-I... I know an apology won't fix anything... b-but I'm sorry..." he stares at us and we just stare back unable to speak. He stuttered so much and seemed afraid which was weird for me and I'm guessing for Harper and Jack to.

The lady looks at Derek and nods then whispers something in his ear.

Derek: "I'm g-getting better... h-how about you g-guys?" He looks at me with pleading eyes, to say something... anything. But I don't speak instead Harper does.

Harper: "We are getting better to. The therapists are very nice and help us through our emotions. Thanks for asking." She says with a nervous smile and Derek nods then turns to me and Jack, but after a minute of us saying nothing he looks at the lady and she whispers something in his ear again.

Derek: "How's the others at high school?"

Eleanor: "The ones you shot are all dead doofus." I spat at him and crossed my arms. He looked at me with the saddest expression I've ever seen and my heart sank. Why did it sink for a murderer I don't know but I felt guilty. The lady gave me a disappointed look and looked at Derek mouthing something reassuring. He nodded and looked back at us his breathing even stuttering.

Jack: "The other high school kids are alright. They don't know what we've been through so they just pitied us for awhile then went back to normal." I see Jack shrug and I uncross my arms looking at Derek who is no longer looking at me.

Guard: "Wrap it up, you have 45 seconds."

Derek: "Good bye Eleanor..." I stand up and give him a sad look and whisper a "goodbye" then walk out. I here the faint sound of footsteps walk out after me as I walk to my parents expressionless.

After that I never heard or saw from Derek again.
I never had another best friend so close than Derek and Ashley.
But what I did have was a pretty good life after...

I just wish I had never left Derek alone in the dark.