Saving Peyton

This is How it Ends

Chapter Twenty

So this is it, this is how we end? I shake my head, trying to focus on what the teacher was saying. But I couldn't. I just couldn't.

What Mac and I had was great, I thought he really loved me. That I meant something to him. I guess I don't.

I don't let the tears fall that are threatening to spill from my eyes. No. I won't cry here. Not in front of everyone.

"Mac, what is the answer to number 15," the teacher calls on him.

That's it. That does me in. I can't be here anymore.

Quickly, I grab my things and walk out, ignoring the teacher's calls and the stares of the other students. I don't bother signing out.

I throw my stuff in my car and whip out of the parking lot, driving as far away as I can from the damn school.

I go to turn on the radio, to tune out my thoughts to the trip with Mac. I can't bear to think about him right now.

So this is how it ends, this is where it all goes down, this is what "I don't love you" feels like.

Oh no, not this blasted song. Not now.

It ain't the middle of the night and it ain't even raining outside, it ain't exactly what I had in mind, for goodbye.

At a red light in the sunshine, on a Sunday, nothin' to say, don't even try.

I can't listen to this now, but I couldn't bring myself to change the station. So the song was only fueling the fire of my sadness.

Some are comin' home, some are leavin' town, while my world's crashin' down, on a Sunday, in the sunshine, at a red light.

I thought she was gonna say somethin' about that couple kissin', crossin' the street, or somethin' about this beautiful day.

But she just looked me in the eye, said it's over. Didn't try to lie or pick a fight, I might have seen it comin' thata way.

But at a red light in the sunshine, on a Sunday, nothin' to say, don't even try.
Some are comin' home, some are leavin' town, while my world's crashin' down, on a Sunday, in the sunshine, at a red light.

There's a momma calmin' down a little baby in the backseat in front of me. There's an old man dressed in his Sunday best, just waitin' on green.
But I can't see, gettin' past
This red light, in the sunshine, on a Sunday, nothin' to say, don't even try.
Some are comin' home, some are leavin' town, while my world's crashin' down, on a Sunday in the sunshine.

At a red light in the sunshine, on a Sunday, nothin' to say, don't even try.
Some are comin' home, some are leavin' town, while my world's crashin' down, on a Sunday, in the sunshine, at a red light.

At a red light.

At a red light.

At a red light....

I can't stop crying. I can't stop crying long enough to see I'm running the red light. By the time I realize it's red, it's too late, out of the corner of my eye I see the beat up Toyota come barreling at me.

This is it, this is where I die today. Knowing Mac doesn't love me anymore.

And my world went black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Beep...beep...beep...beep.

The beeping in my ear awakes me from my deep slumber. Rubbing my eyes, I notice the IV and the tubes running through it. That's when I realize, I'm in the hospital, again.

"Honey you're awake!" My mother comes rushing over to me, engulfing me into a tight hug.

"Oomf, mom, you're hurting me," I mumble.

"Oh I'm so sorry," she steps back, worried.

"Why am I here?" I ask

My parents look at each other. "You mean you don't remember," my father finally speaks.

"No, why?"

"Honey, you were in a bad car accident, you got t-boned. You ran a red light, what were you thinking?" My father asks.

That's when it hits me. The crash, the car, the song, the tears.

I look at him, tears forming once again in my eyes. "I remember. I wasn't thinking, I was crying, and the tears blurred my vision and I couldn't stop and by the time I realized what I had done it was too late." The words came tumbling out of me.

"Please don't ever drive when you're upset again, you scared us, we thought we lost you again," my mother touches my hand with care.

"I'm so sorry."

"Knock knock," a voice comes from the doorway.

I crane my neck around my parents to get a good look at the person at the door.

It was Harrison.

"We'll just leave you two alone," my mother ushers my father out of the room, quieting his protests.

"Hey," I say meekly.

"Hey, you really need to stop giving us all such a big scare," he chuckles. I laugh along with him.

"Yeah, sorry, I'll work on that."

He leans over and kisses my forehead. "Please stop putting yourself in dangerous positions. I miss you, and I can't stand the thought of losing you."

"I'm sorry, I really am."

He gives me a tight smile, "Thank you. Now I'm gonna go and let you rest."

Just as he turns to leave, his gaze catches something. Following his gaze, I see it.

Sitting on a table, at the far end of the room, was a little blue box. "Uh, do you want me to grab that for you?" Harrison offers.

"Yes, please."

He hands me the box, then walks out, giving me privacy to see what's inside.

Instantly I knew it was expensive, seeing as it is from Tiffany's. Delicately, I pull the ribbon off and open the box. I gasp, it is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.

It was a small silver script key on a simple silver chain, with diamonds encrusted on the script work.

As I gaze at this beautiful necklace, a tiny white card, still in the box catches my eye. I pick it up and read what's on it.

You'll always have the key to my heart. I'm sorry.
~M

I drop the note, and with shaky hands I put on the necklace. He was here. He came here to see me.

Then, curling up into a ball on the hospital bed, I sob into the pillow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hey y'all! So here's an extra long chapter for y'all! Only two more chapters left till the epilogue, Wooo!!

Chase Crawford portrays Harrison, as you can see in the picture.

Thank you all so much for reading this book, it means the world to me!!

Xoxo.