The Decuplets

I'm Not Letting You Go

Ella

Gage was the driver, Parker was shotgun, and Scarlett and I were in the backseat, giggling and mocking the brothers.

The scene was familiar.

Gage began to go 90 miles per hour, then 100, then 110 as he smiled big, looking over to us to see our reactions.

"How fast do you think we can go?" he asked, stupidly taking his hands off the wheel.

"Gage, stop," I said sternly. I held Scarlett's hand. "Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"I've learned my lesson," he swore.

The hand of his speedometer continued clockwise. My heart rate was picking up; I thought I was going to faint.

"Please," I begged, "stop it." I turned to Scarlett, but she too was grinning. "Say something!"

"This is so fun!" she cheered, rolling down her window and sticking her head out like a dog.

"Parker?" I asked.

"Gage knows what he's doing," Parker assured.

"No, no, no," I cried, "let me out please!"

"Ella, seriously, relax!" Gage said.

I looked down. My cast was gone but my arm was completely black and blue. My head was pounding and my breathing felt thinner and thinner. My body began to go numb with fear.

I heard myself say "stop, stop, stop," but I didn't feel my mouth moving.

I heard the sound of metal upon metal before I felt the impact. I screamed. I wasn't going to make it.

My eyes shot open. I was sweating and shaking hard. It was just a dream.

I sat up, breathing heavily. I tried to collect myself, but my heart and head were pounding with the same intensity that I felt in the dream.

My efforts to fall back asleep failed miserably. I couldn't shake the haunting screech of metal.

Scarlett was sleeping soundly; I didn't want to wake her up and remind her of what we'd been through. I crept out of bed and carefully turned the door knob, sneaking out of her room.

I realized there was nowhere really to go.

I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, but I didn't trust my shaky hand to hold it correctly.

I considered driving home, but, well...I think you can deduce why that would be a disaster.

I felt terrible, but there was only one person who I wanted to talk to, and I reminded myself he would rather I wake him up than suffer alone.

"Zach?" I whispered as I opened his door. I stepped in, repeating his name.

"Ella?" he asked, propping himself up on his elbow. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

"I had a bad dream," I said, hunched at the end of his bed like a little kid.

"Come," he said, patting the spot next to him. I slipped under the covers and he pulled me towards him. "You're shaking," he noted, brows furrowed in concern.

"Mhm," I replied, snuggling as close to him as possible, which was difficult with a cast.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered. "Was it about the car crash?"

"I was in Gage's car and he started to go super fast, but I couldn't get him to stop, and Scarlett and Parker weren't worried at all. I heard and felt the cars collide but then I woke up." Tears were streaming down my face, and I wiped them with my right hand.

"You're safe, El, I promise. I'm not letting you go, alright? How do you feel now?"

"I feel better," I said sleepily, eyes shutting from exhaustion, "I just wanted to be near you."

"Okay," he said, his voice tired and heavy like mine.

"You're the best," I yawned. "I—" I stopped myself. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Of course, Els," he replied.

Finally, I drifted off into peaceful sleep.