I Have To Protect Them - Cleofis Drisen

Chapter Five: Trapped and Alone Part 3

I tried to stay nonchalant, but I honestly didn't care what anyone thought, and walked behind everyone towards the car we came in. "Excuse me" I whispered as I walked by. I dialed my doctor and got no answer, so I tried again to get the same result. I then dialed my psychologist and nothing. I called several more times and I felt my tears burn my eyes. Panic settled in and I was struggling to breath. I heard a car pass by and I saw Harry's car driving away, then I heard footsteps approaching me. Greg was in front of me within seconds when he saw me on the floor and he put his hands on either side of my face, "Cleo? Shit...Cleo, look at me. You're okay. I'm right here and you're going to be fine. Let's take a deep breath" he said frantically, dropping his hands to my shoulders. We took a deep breath but it didn't help. "I can't breathe. Greg, I can't-" I wheezed and he took off to the passenger side of the car. I slid down to the floor and he came back with my backpack. He puked out the mask and while he tried to put it on my face. I grabbed his wrist while looking around. "Someone might-" he cut me off and pulled his arm out of my grasp. "I don't care. You need to breathe." I let him put the mask on and started to ramble, "they're gone and they're not here. I'm going to die. They all said they'd be here to make me comfortable, but-" Greg cut me off again by yelling "CLEO STOP!" Everyone near us went silent. 'Shit' I thought as he continued in a lower register, "just breathe. I promise we will figure everything everything out, but I need you to just please breathe." He held the mask firmly to my face as I nodded and started to breathe in as much of the oxygen that I could in. I looked around to make sure no one was watching. "Don't worry about them. They're all caught up in their own shit right now. Just look at me and focus on me" he said, pulling my face back to look at him. I nodded and it took me three minutes to stabilize by breathing.

Greg helped me up and as we made our way to the car doors, I stuffed my mask back into the bag. As I was getting in the car, I saw a bunch of people rushing to the bridge by running or riding bikes. "I'm gonna take her home" Greg said to everyone that was with us on the bridge as he walked around the front of the car. They all looked at him and I could feel eyes on me too. When Greg got into the car, I looked up to see all of them staring at me with confused expressions. I glanced at each of them then stopped at Grizz, of course. I looked down at my hands and for the first time I felt ashamed for not telling them. We drove away and I couldn't help but ask "when are they leaving?" I glanced over at Greg and he was smirking. "I think in a couple of hours. Maybe you should talk to Grizz before he goes, just in case" he said, making me sigh and look out my window. "Maybe you're right" I whispered, more to myself then to him. He laughed and said "you think" between chuckles. I scoffed at him. "Shut up and just drop me off at his house" I said, laughing and playfully pushed his shoulder. He drove to Grizz's house and stopped in the driveway. "You sure you don't want me to stay?" he asked as I got out of the door. When my feet hit the driveway I turned to look at him and responded, "no. I should talk to him alone. I'll just see you at home later and I'll tell you what happens." I slammed the car door and watched him pull away. I sat on the edge of Grizz's porch steps and waited for him.

After about 15 minutes, Grizz came walking down the road. I took a deep breath and he froze a few steps from me when he saw it was me sitting there. I gently smiled up at him and he looked taken aback then he walked past me to the door. I stood up and while I watched him open the door I said "I think we should talk." He shrugged and opened the door. "I don't really have time. I gotta pack for the trip" he said, looking over his shoulder at me. I looked down at my feet and quietly spoke, "yeah, about that...Do you really need to go? Like really? Luke will probably be okay without you. Maybe Jason or Clark could go instea-" I was cut of by him chuckling and I looked up at him confused. "Do you really care? I thought you'd be happy that I'm gone" he said sarcastically. His words pulled at my heart strings and I guess my facial expression showed it. I thought about all the ways I desperately wanted to show him how I truly felt, like a kiss, hug, or even just tell him. 'FUCKING SAY IT!' I thought, but I couldn't get the words out. "We'll I might notice and what if something happens and I don't get to see you aga-" I cut myself off by turning away from him because I started to tear up.