Return ↠ Argent [2]

26. Count Your Blessings

When I was in middle school, I used to play basketball. I wasn't necessarily the best, but I had my good moments that always made my parents proud. Moments like scoring the last basket to win the game and stealing the ball at times they didn't expect it. Yeah, basketball is just a sport, but I learned something from it.

That feeling you get when you look up at the board to see that there's only ten seconds left in the game when your team is down five points never leaves you. It's not just a gut clenching feeling you get from basketball, but it happens all of the time in your day to day life. Either you give it your all to score back those five points, or you can give up and accept the consequences.

I was losing right now. We were losing.

Watching Stiles' face as he stared out of that window made me realize that none of this was a game. This was real life, and now his father had been taken to be sacrificed by our English teacher. The clock was ticking and we were down by a lot more than five points.

"Lydia," I speak slowly, trying to keep a grip on myself. Stiles and Scott were gone now, going to find Derek before Jennifer did. I had stayed here with Allison to make sure Lydia was okay, and right now, she didn't appear to be.

Lydia's eyes were distant; thinking somewhere faraway from here. She reminded me of a doll sitting in the corner that had never been played with, waiting and watching with its glossy eyes for someone to stop by. My fingers reached up and took her hand to get her to snap out of it, but all I felt was ice.

"Lydia, everything is okay now," Allison speaks softly, speaking to her best friend. "You're okay."

Lydia's eyes stay fixed on something behind me, and it wasn't until I followed her eyes that I realized she was staring at the crushed up badge lying on the floor. She notices that I was looking now at it as well, making her talk.

"This is my fault," she breathes, a hiccup escaping her throat. "He was taken because of me."

I turn back to Lydia, tightening my grip around her hand. "Lydia, none of this was your fault. If it wasn't for your scream, we wouldn't have found you and gotten here when we did."

Lydia ignores me as she continues, tears starting to leak down her face. "I didn't try and fight back. I sat here and let her tie me up. If I would have put up a fight-"

"You would have gotten more hurt," Allison finishes for her, staring straight into her eyes. Lydia stares back into hers, and I could tell that Allison was finally getting through to her. "Everything is going to be okay, Lydia. I promise."

As soon as Allison finishes, I hear movement behind me, causing me to turn around and see police officers running inside. Everything feels so off as two of them come over to Allison and I, grabbing us and starting to take us out of the area; out of the crime scene. Lydia watches with sad eyes as two other officers kneel down to her, asking her if she was alright. I wanted to stay with her longer to make sure she would be okay, but I knew that Lydia would have wanted us to go find Stiles' dad.

When we got into the hall, there were people everywhere. The whole audience was standing around and trying to flee the area, and it wasn't until I saw a gurney carrying out a body when I realize that someone else had died tonight rather than Lydia. It wasn't right for me to be glad...that it wasn't Lydia; a life was still lost, and I had failed to save it.

"We'll take care of your friend," one of the officers says to us as they let the two of us go, turning and going back into the room as the door shuts. Allison and I stood there for a long moment staring at the back of the door as the sounds drowned out all around us, leaving us alone with our thoughts.