The Roommate | zdh ✓

Six

EDITED 7.10.2020
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Zach's p.o.v

"It's Ben. There's been a fight."

The words spun in my head, over and over. I'm all in for fights, I love them. I get a rush every time I beat up a kid, or easily get my way. However, when a fight includes my brother? Someone's going to pay.

I hang up on Everly, and I rush out of the apartment. I need to get to Ben on time. Imagining him on the ground, suffering from whatever pain he got hit with–kills me. I may be seen as a bad guy at school, but I will always protect Ben. It's payback for all the times he tried saving me when we were kids. He should've known I couldn't be saved.

I finally get to the dorm rooms where Everly said the party was. I quickly run up the stairs, slowly losing breath.

"I hope he's okay," I whisper to myself.

I see Room 34 down the hall, and I start to sprint. My breathing's all over the place. I should probably work out more. As I barge in the door, my eyes scatter around hundreds of people. How did everyone fit in here?

"Zach, come quick!" I hear Everly's voice,  and I follow it.

I start to push past people who were just standing there. Why couldn't they have done something? I quickly squeeze through the last group of people, and instantly lay eyes on the boy below. I don't even recognize him. Ben is hopelessly laying on the carpet with blood dripping from his nose, and bruises over his eyes. Guilt washes over me as I remember what happened almost two years ago.

*Flashback to winter break*

"Zach, why can't you be nice for once in your life? This is why you don't have any friends." Ben pushes me into the snow, making my backpack fall into slush.

Great.

I groaned. "Ben, don't act all mighty. It's not like you have anyone either. I'm all you got."

I rush to my feet and shove him hard. I didn't think it was that rough until his body landed straight on the sidewalk.

"Zach! My arm, it's bleeding." Ben grabs a hold of his arm.

I instantly kneel down and try to help him up, but he pushes me away.

Ben lets out a small whimper. "Don't touch me. You'll just end up hurting me again."

*Flashback ends*

"Zach! Ben's waking up. Are you just going to stand there?" Everly is kneeling down next to Ben, trying to help stop the bleeding from his nose.

What can I do? Okay, Zach, time to turn all those medical tv shows you watched in high school to reality.

"Okay, uh, someone call an ambulance. I'll try and see if Ben is hurt anywhere else." I hear my voice shake and I pray no one sees me weak.

From the corner of my eye, I see a girl on the phone. She must be calling 911, hopefully. I look down at Ben once more, and attempt to get a few words out of him now that he is conscious.

"Hey, bro. Glad you're awake. Can you tell me what hurts? Or at least point?" I wasn't really good at helping with pain, I was the one who usually caused it.

Ben groans and tries to sit up. I gently push him back down, not knowing what would happen if he got up. I hear him mumble, but that's all I can make out.

"Ben, can you say it a little louder?" I ask. I notice Ben shuffles once more, and I finally make out the words clearly.

His voice is quiet and groggily. "I'm okay, Zach. I just feel really tired," Ben yawns and flutters his eyes closed, "If it's okay, I'm just going to take a little na-"

I instantly shake him to wake up. He can not fall asleep on me. It's probably not the best idea.

I speak slowly. "Ben, you can't sleep yet. Wait until the ambulance arrives."

I watch Ben as he nods and tries to keep his eyes open. I glance at Everly. I see tears start to form in her eyes. Oh god, what am I supposed to do with her? What should I say?

Before I know it, I'm speaking to her. "Hey, Everly? Can you come in the hall with me quick?"

She hesitantly nods her head, and looks down at Ben before getting up from the floor. I can tell she cares about him, a lot. I'm happy for him, but why do I have the pit in my stomach?

As we walk into the hall, I notice Everly starts to fidget with her bracelets. I have to calm her down.

"Everly? Don't worry about Ben. He'll be fine, and the ambulance will be here soon to help." I try reassuring her the best I can.

I see her give a faint smile as she nods her head, "I know he'll be fine. It's just, I was so scared for him. I'm still just shaken up by the whole thing. You should've been here." She glances down to her feet and he face changes into a frown.

She's right, I should've came with her and Ben. He never offered for me to tag along, but I still feel guilty.

I'm about to respond, but stop when I hear the ambulance downstairs. A group of them come up the stairs–too quick for me to say anything, and barge in the door. I walk back in the room with Everly, and watch as they lift Ben in the stretcher. I follow them down the stairs and to the vehicle. A officer meets me down, and stops me from entering the ambulance with Ben.

"Hold up, son. Who are you?" The tall man asks.

I watch Ben being hoist up, and slid into the back of the vehicle. I need to go with him.

"Sir, I'm his brother. Can I please ride with him to the hospital?" I don't want to fight this guy, so I pray he says yes.

The guy glances back to Ben, and then speaks to one of the guys in the ambulance, "Hey! This boy is his brother. He's going to ride along with you guys."

Everyone nods, and the guy lets me go. I take a glance back into the huge crowd of people from the party, and spot Everly. She nods at me, and I give her a reassuring smile.

I climb into the back, and sit close to Ben. Well, driving in an ambulance is a first. I hope he's okay. I want him to be better so I can ask what happened. I need to find out who hurt him this time.

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Hey-o.
It's been a while since I updated :o
Sorry about that!
ALSO: I don't know anything about doctors or medical things whatsoever, SO if this chapter was off or something is wrong about the ambulance, SORRY.
Side note:
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Vote, comment, & add to you library!
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-Izzy xo