| VEXED |

chapter | twenty nine

 Alex's pov

"everyone start heading to your cars. meet back at headquarters." I demanded and they left the room. "we aren't leaving him." Jackson and Landon replied and I nodded. the rest left the room. 

I pressed my jacket harder, to try and stop the bleeding but there was just so much blood. "Alex," Ethan said again. he grabbed onto my free hand and I looked into his eyes. "im here, e." I responded tightening my grip on his hand. 

"I should have been honest with you earlier, im so sorry." he said slowly, trying to get the words out. "no. it wasn't your fault." I shook my head quickly. "yes it is. if I would have told you when it happened, I wouldn't have hurt you. and we might still be together." he tried smiling, but I saw the tears in his eyes.

he was laying on the cold concrete floor. his hair swept over his face softly, and his face was turning pale. in one single moment, I felt no bad feelings for him at all. fear consumed me more than it ever has. 

"Ethan, stop it." I cried. "car is pulled around front lets move!" I heard Theo yell. "help me pick him up." I ordered and all the guys helped carry him.

we made it to the SUV Theo had and we laid Ethan down slowly in the back. there was a big open space between the back glass and the seats. "Drive." I yelled at Theo as everyone piled in. "Alex there's medical supplies in that big box on the right," he yelled from the front and I nodded.

I grabbed a bunch of padding to stop the bleeding. Ethan groaned loudly. "Grayson come back here!" I yelled and Grayson climbed over the seat. "Theo, I don't think he's going to make the ride home." I began to panic. "Alex you're going to have to get the bullet out now and stitch up the wound," Theo responded.

"im not a doctor Theo!" I yelled. "you took the same medical courses I did, you can do this." I felt him press the gas more.

I breathed in slowly and got a few necessary medical supplies from the bag. "there's no anesthetic." I looked at Grayson, who looked like he was going to pass out. "just do it Alex." Ethan whispered and I nodded.

"but if this goes completely south.." he stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out the ring he had given me. "here. I gave it to you because I loved you, and that hasn't changed." He managed to say those words, but his hand was shaking so bad the ring was about to fall. 

I looked at the ring and back at him. "no need Ethan. you're going to be fine, and one day when we get our shit together and get out of this town you can give it back to me when you're down on one knee, you got it?" I looked at him and his arm dropped slowly. 

Grayson, I need you to make sure he stays awake. I directed and he nodded. I slipped gloves on and picked up the metallic tool that is going to get the bullet out. I cleaned the area with sterilizer and held the tool over the wound. my hand began to shake, I couldn't steady it. "Alex, you've got this," Jackson spoke, reaching over the seat rubbing my shoulder softly. I nodded and slowly inserted the tool in to search for the bullet.

I heard Ethan groan in pain as I felt around for the bullet. he groaned again, then I finally felt a metal object. I grabbed onto it and began pulling on it. he yelled in pain and Grayson grabbed his hands. "you're going to be okay e. this can't be any worse than that one time I shoved you down the stairs when we were 5 and you cracked your head open." Grayson smiled at him and Ethan squinted his eyes tightly. 

"yeah, you're right. this bullet is nothing compared to that tumble." he breathed out heavily. I kept pulling and Ethan yelled again. "almost got it." I spoke up looking at him, then back down to the wound. 

finally, the bullet came out and I dropped it in the tin bucket. Grayson and Ethan both let out a breath of relief. 

I cleaned the area once again and began to stitch it up. "we're almost there Alex, how's he doing?" Theo asked from the driver's seat. "I think he's stable for the most part. he might need a blood transfusion though." I responded looking at the blood all over me.

I finished his stitches as we pulled into my driveway. Ethan opened his eyes as Theo opened the back. Grayson hopped out, then helped me out. "very carefully stand him up and take him to the infirmary." I told the guys, and Theo nodded.

-

"he's going to be okay. he lost a lot of blood, but you saved his life, Alex." Theo looked at me as he walked out of the infirmary room. "I did my best." I nodded. "he can go home whenever he's ready, he'll just need to take it easy for a while." he nodded rubbing my arm and walking away.

I opened the door slowly and walked into the white room. Ethan looked at me and smiled, Grayson looked at me and almost frowned. "ill be outside." he stood up walking towards the door.

"How are you feeling?" I asked sitting on the side of the bed. "better thanks to you." he responded smiling. "Ethan you almost died." I felt myself beginning to cry again. "you literally took a bullet for me." I shook my head looking at him.

"and I would do it again in a heartbeat." he placed his hand on mine. I was still covered in blood, I really needed to shower. I looked down at his hand, and back at him. I stood up quickly and looked at him.

"I really need to go shower and get all of this off of me." I half smiled at him and he nodded. I bent down and kissed him on the cheek. "there's literally nothing I can do to make this up to you e." I leaned back up and he smiled. 

"how about a date?" he smiled looking up at me, it caught me by surprise. "a date?" I asked confused. he nodded nervously and I smiled. "I guess its the least I can do since you saved my life." I joked and he had that sparkle in his eye I haven't seen since before I left for California.

"ill see you soon e. be safe please." I walked towards the door. "you too princess." I smiled to myself and walked out, closing the door behind me.

I saw Grayson sitting on the floor outside the door and I looked down at him. "Grayson he's going to be okay," I spoke and he stood up in front of me. 

"I know." he nodded, trying to smile. "then what's bothering you?" I asked rubbing his arm a little. "seeing that gun being pointed at you Alex-" his voice cracked and his eyes glossed over. "I thought you were going to die." he said just above a whisper, and I saw tears brimming his eyes.

"gray, look im fine," I spoke, but he didn't look at me. I grabbed his hands and rested them on my face. "gray, im okay." I repeated, smiling at him. "this time." he responded rubbing my cheek with his thumb. 

"I just can't imagine a world without you in it Alexandra. I can't." he whispered. "you won't have to. I'll always be here." I tried reassuring him. 

he nodded slowly and leaned in, kissing my forehead. "make sure he gets home safe, okay?" I laughed as his hands fell from my face. "will do." he nodded and I walked away. 

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EEK I honestly cannot with this freaking book. it gives me anxiety and im the one writing it. 

is it better than the first one? I'm curious.