Fixing Her

Chapter XXXXI

She opens Her eyes, panic filling Her when She realizes She's being carried.

"No!" She screams and hits him, making him drop Her as gently as he can. She starts running away, tears blurring Her vision as She runs, the wind whipping Her face and a few branches scratching it.

"Hayden!" She hears the cracked voice of Her best friend shout for Her.

She turns around, Her heart beating in Her neck but slowly falling down to its right place when She sees Dylan about twenty feet away. She runs back and throws Her arms around him, letting his touch distract Her from the faces She saw in front of Her a few seconds ago.

"Come on," he says. "Let's go inside okay? Don't worry, we're safe and waiting for the others."

"What if he finds me?" She cries just as he's about to knock.

He meets her teary, broken gaze and shakes his head.

"He won't. I'll be with you."

"You said it before too. You were all there."

She starts sobbing, crushing his heart into millions of pieces as he thinks about whose emotions to take care of first; his or Hers. Definitely Hers, is his obvious answer.

"I know and I'm sorry. I can never apologize enough, but I promise he won't get you."

She nods halfheartedly, not believing those words as much as She wishes she did.

Dylan knocks on the window and answers Jordan's question as to who it is and is then let inside.

"Hi Hayden," he says, ready to walk over and hug Her, but being pushed away by Dylan.

"Ése, ¿puedes llamar a tu hermano? ¿Le dice que estamos aquí?"

Dude can you call your brother? Tell him we're here?

"Claro," Jordan answers, running to the telephone to call his brother.

Of course.

"Come on."

He leads Her to the room he practically grew up in; playing video games, sharing secrets, studying. He sits down with Her on the blue sheets and grabs Her hands, forcing a smile. "Go to sleep. I'll be outside okay? Tell me if you need anything."

He stands up but She pulls him back, looking skeptically around in the room.

"Don't leave me alone," She whispers. "I don't wanna be alone." Tears roll down Her cheeks as he sits back down, pulling Her to his chest.

"You're not alone Hayden, you're never alone."

"Stay," She whines. "What if he shows up? What if he comes? Please, just this one time, please."

She starts shaking as her fear grows, causing him to tighten his arms around Her.

"No, no, no, of course, don't worry, I'll stay. I'll stay as long as you want me to. You need sleep okay? Come on."