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09 | WAKE UP!!!

PART TWO

NICK'S POV

The second I saw Cassie hit the floor I knew it wasn't part of the play. The audience was cheering for her death, but what the didn't know was that it wasn't part of the script.

I ran to her and held her in my arms as she dozed off. Her face was pale, and her cheeks were cold. I couldn't help but shed a tear as she laid in my arms, lifeless.

I didn't know what was happening. All I knew was that I blamed James for this. I shouldn't have let her near him. Now, look what's happened.

James didn't even realize that Cassie wasn't acting. He was still on the floor acting like he was dead. Ironic because I was about to kill him myself. He saw me holding her to my chest and got up immediately.

"Get your hands off her!" he yelled angrily. He tried to pry her from my grip, but I wouldn't let go. I'd never let go. Not of her.

Her eyelids were fluttering like she was having a nightmare. And that's when I thought about the timing. The opening night would've been the two month anniversary of her 18th birthday. The show started at 7, and her dreams start after the sun goes down. I looked up from her face out to the windows. It was pitch black.

I picked her up and carried her off the stage. I turned back only to look at Sage. She's the only one I trusted that had an idea of what was happening. I saw her rush out of her aisle running as fast as she could to get backstage. Noah was screaming at her, pleading with her to tell him what was going on. Sandy had seen Sage's worried face and joined in with him. James followed me off the stage saying something like, "It wasn't supposed to happen like this." I turned around and looked at him fiercely.

"What wasn't supposed to happen this way?" I grumbled.

"Take a guess, Nixon. You and I both know how important she is to the cause."

"One more word out of you, Johnson, and I'll kill you myself on the battlefield."

He laughed in my face. My patience had finally run out. I took the toe of my shoe and kicked him in the groin.

That was the last I saw of James Johnson.

Backstage was hectic. People were swarming me and Cassie to see if she was alright. Obviously, she wasn't. What did people think? That she just passed out in my arms for fun?

I yelled at some random guy to call 911. Then I took Cass back to my dressing room. Technically it's supposed to be for the guys, but I figured they wouldn't care with the circumstances. I laid Cassie on the couch we have in our room and propped her head up on a pillow. I stroked her hair out of her face and let my fingers linger on her cheeks. She's always had the most magnificent face, but she always tries to cover it up by wearing her hair down. She doesn't realize how lovely she is. If only she knew the number of guys on the football team who want her for themselves. She'd be amazed.

I felt my eyes watering as I thought of everything she's gone through. I wished I could take it all out of her life. She didn't deserve any of it.

It only took five minutes for the paramedics to arrive at the school. Sage led them to me, and they put Cassie on a stretcher. Everyone stepped aside as they rushed back to the ambulance, and I saw Cassie's aunt wide-eyed and crying among the crowd. Sage and I both followed the paramedics outside and watched as they loaded up the one person we both care about.

We weren't supposed to ride in the ambulance. We were to follow behind if we wanted, but I couldn't help myself. My feet were moving so quickly I couldn't feel them under me. And then, suddenly, I was sitting next to Cassie and holding her hand.