BRIGHT

Chapter 55- Greyson POV- A Phone Call

I had received a text from Josh this morning saying that something had gone wrong with Meredith's surgery. I had truly hoped everything was okay.

Cameron and I had decided to go to the weight room today to stay in shape. We always pushed each other to the limits too.

"Come, Grey, one more!" Cam encouraged as I was bench pressing. The music we were blasting from my phone screeched in my ears. I grunted and used all the energy I had to push the bar up one more time. "Yes!" Cam yelled as I pushed it up all the way again. He helped me put the bar away and I threw my legs over the side.

"Thanks for the encouragement, Cam," I said, breathing heavily.

"No problem, Grey. But guess what?" he asked me.

"New personal best and 5 pounds away from second place lifter at nationals last year for powerlifting," he exclaimed.

"Seriously?" I shouted.

"Yeah! Awesome job, Grey!" he pepped.

"Thanks, I'm pumped!" I exclaimed. Then I heard the music stop and my phone stop. Cam walked over and lifted it up.

"Grey, it's Josh," Cam said as he looked at my phone. I walked over.

"Good, I want to know how Meredith's surgery went," I replied, answering the call.

"Josh?" I asked, putting the phone up to my ear.

"Grey. Meredith had an allergic reaction to medicine during the surgery. She didn't make it," he blurted out. My jaw dropped.

"Oh my gosh, Josh. I am so sorry, what can I do?" I asked.

"It hurts, man. It hurts so bad," he vented and I could tell he was crying.

"Do you want Cameron and I to come over? We are lifting now, but we can come like now," I offered gently.

"Please. My mom is stuck in a meeting and I can't get a hold of her and I texted my dad to call me but he said he is in the middle of a meeting as well," he choked out.

"We'll be right over," I promised.

"But, Greyson, there's one more thing. When I drove Peyton and me home, she was trying to hold back her tears, but she thinks what happened is her fault. She was saying really awful things about herself. She ran upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom. She won't let me in and I'm scared she's going to do something to herself," he said through tears.

"Oh my god, we are coming now," I said, grabbing Cam's arm and pulling him out the door with me.

"What about our stuff?" Cam asked me but I shushed him.

"I have been pounding on the door, but she keeps yelling at me to leave her alone. Hurry, Grey. I can't get the door open," he yelled, freaking out. Cameron and I jumped into my car and I sped out of the parking lot.

"Tell her not to hurt herself," I instructed Josh, driving quickly over to his house, which was luckily not too far. I heard the muffled sounds of Josh screaming to Peyton.

"She didn't say anything, but I hear her crying, Grey, please hurry," Josh begged.

"I'm driving as quickly as I can. I'm pulling into the subdivision," I coaxed.

"Oh my god, Greyson," he choked out.

"Did you call 911?" I asked him.

"Do you think I should?" he asked.

"Definitely. I'm pulling into your driveway now. Call!" I commanded then hanging up the phone.

"Greyson, what is going on?" Cam asked firmly.

"Meredith died in surgery and Peyton is about to do something to herself, come on!" I screeched and the two of us ran into the house and tore up the stairs. I saw Josh on the phone, calling 911. I could hear Peyton sobbing. I threw my hand on the doorknob, uselessly trying to open it.

"Peyton, it's Greyson, please let me in," I called to her desperately, but she continued to cry. Josh hung up the phone.

"An ambulance is on its way. What are we going to do?" he asked me.

"We have to try and break the door down. Do you have a mallet or hammer or something?" Cameron asked him.

"My dad has a sledgehammer downstairs, I'll quickly grab it," he said and raced down the stairs.

"Peyton, please talk to me. Let me in," I begged.

"I can't," I heard her choke out. 

"Yes, you can. Please," I said and then Josh ran up the stairs. I grabbed the hammer from him and started to smash the door, splitting the wood like crazy. I continued to slam the hammer into the door until there was a hole big enough for us to fit through. The three of us raced into the bedroom and we saw Peyton sitting on her bed with a knife in her hand. Tears were pouring down her face. I ran to the bed and grabbed the knife out of her hand. I saw the slashes on her wrist.

"Cam, go wait for the ambulance," Josh instructed. Josh and I put our arms around her, and I could see Josh crying too.

"It's going to be okay," I whispered and she cuddled into me. I heard the door swing open and stomping come up the stairs. Paramedics and police officers surrounded the room.

"Move back, please," one of the paramedics instructed and the two of us stepped back. He walked up to her and looked at her wrist.

"It's deep," he said. "Deeper than usual cut marks let's get her onto the stretcher."

"Let us pick you up, honey. We are here to help," another paramedic coaxed and Peyton nodded. They lifted her onto the stretcher and wheeled her out of the room.

"So what exactly happened?" the officer asked us.

"A very close friend of hers died today and she locked herself in the bedroom. I'm her brother and I was screaming at her, but she wouldn't let me in. I could tell she was going to do something to herself. I called these two and they came over as fast as they could to help me break the door down," Josh explained.

"The doctors will fix up the cuts on her and then get her into therapy, where are your parents?" he asked.

"I couldn't get ahold of them," Josh replied.

"Alright, well the paramedics will try to contact them, but I can give you three a ride to the hospital," he offered.

"Thank you so much," I said and he nodded.

"Could you just give us a minute?" Josh asked.

"Sure thing, I'll be outside," he said with a nod. Josh lost it and started to cry into mine and Cameron's arms.

"Oh my god," he whispered.

"I'm so sorry," Cameron whispered.

"This is the worst day of my life," he said.

"I can't even imagine," Cameron coaxed. And I tried to keep myself together for Josh's sake. But it was hard. Peyton had tried to hurt herself. The girl I loved. I had been ignoring my feelings about her for too long. But I still loved her. Just as much as the day I told her I did.

**A QUICK NOTE***

As you just read, Peyton attempts to harm herself in this chapter. I am in no way glamorizing suicide or self-harm. If you are struggling, always remember you are NEVER ALONE. I am always willing to talk to anyone if I'm needed :). If you are anyone you know is planning to attempt suicide, please contact the Suicide Hotline. Remember, suicide is permanent and cannot be undone.

Suicide Hotline- Call 1-800-273-8255

You are beautiful, no matter what anyone says. Really truly believe that. 

xo Tressa