"Aw, you poor thing," Theo said, squatting down next to you.
You sat chained to the wall, tugging effortlessly at the cuffs around your wrists.
"He'll come for me," you grunted, sitting up.
"Will he, though?" Theo asked. "Because, I happen to know that Liam has a very special liking towards Hayden, and as much as he likes you, I'm just not sure that you can match what she has."
"He'll come for me," you slurred again.
"You keep telling yourself that," Theo chuckled, standing up.
It was another one of Theo's games. Destroying the pack from the inside seemed to be his favorite hobby, so in natural Theo style, he kidnapped both you and Hayden, took you both to clandestine locations very far apart, and started slicing you both up like pieces of sausages. If it sounds familiar, it should. Because it's to most Theo-like play in the book.
Anyway, his aim was to drive Liam insane trying to choose between you. If he chose Hayden, you would die. If he chose you, Hayden would die. So really, it was completely dependent on who he couldn't live without. Before this day, you wouldn't have doubted that it would be you, but as the seconds kicked by, and the puddle of blood expanded, you started to doubt him.
"Well," Theo sighed. You had been drifting into unconsciousness, but his voice woke you up. "As entertaining as watching you slowly die is, I'm bored, so I'm going to go catch a movie. You just sit there, and let me know how this all turns out... if you're not dead, of course. You know what? I'll just ask Hayden."
You sank down to the ground as Theo walked out the door, letting your head rest on the cold cement. It was official. He had chosen Hayden, and you were going to die a sad, lonely, hopeless girl who never even asked Liam Dunbar to homecoming in ninth grade. Or tenth. And the way things were going, probably not eleventh.
You thought of Hayden in some other place, cut up just like you, but probably Liam's arms by now. He was probably taking her to the hospital, with you so far into the back of his mind that he'd have to turn his brain all the way around to remember.
You gathered the last of your energy to let out one last sigh directed at Liam, though he wasn't there to see. You stopped the pressure you had been putting on your stomach wound, and prepared to take your last breath.
"[Y/N]!" Liam shouted, bursting through the door and throwing himself onto the ground next to you. He took over applying pressure. "Don't move, okay? Help is on the way. I already called 911."
"How's... Hayden?" You strained.
"I don't know," he said. "There's an ambulance on the way to get her too, but I came straight here."
"You... chose... me?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I chose you. But don't talk, alright? Conserve your energy. You have to stay awake."
Liam kept talking, but he wasn't really saying anything. You fought to stay awake, and by the time the paramedics arrived, you were going out.
"Hold on," Liam said as you were loaded into the ambulance. "Just hold on."
He slid his hand into yours, and rode with you to the hospital. He almost forgot about Hayden during all the commotion, but managed to ask a nurse while you were in surgery. She was fine.
Liam visited Hayden only once, and then she was discharged because she had miraculously and "inexplicably" healed over the course of one day. Liam stayed at the hospital the entire week, though, just to make sure that you were okay. They wouldn't let him see you for a long time, on account of he wasn't family, but when they did let him in, he couldn't find anything to say.
He sat quietly in the chair next to your bed, and you stared up at the ceiling. He hadn't said a word.
"Thanks," you broke the silence. "For choosing me."
"Wasn't really a choice," he muttered. "I knew exactly what to do."
Your face flushed red, and you cleared your throat. "How's Theo?"
"No one's been able to get at him yet. He's sort of a snake."
"Yeah, I noticed that when he was mincing me up."
Another silence ensued, until Liam finally leaned forwards in his chair and said, "I spoke to Hayden last night. She's doing well. I think she's starting to realize that she's on our side."
"Oh. I thought we had enough people on our side."
Liam snorted, and quickly put his hand over his mouth. You laughed at him.
"We're in eleventh grade, [Y/N]. You seriously still hate her for nothing?"
"I have my reasons."
"Alright, well before I go, I wanted to ask you something."
You waited for him to speak. He waited for you to ask what it was. You both started talking at the same time, and dropped off. You gave him a few seconds, and he started again.
"I was just wondering if, uh, you'd maybe like to go to homecoming with me when you get better?"
"Liam Dunbar!" Your jaw hit the floor. "Are you asking me to homecoming?"
"Yes, I thought that was clear."
"That is very clear, Liam Dunbar, and the answer is yes. I will go to homecoming with you. Me and you. Homecoming. Get ready."
"Okay, great," he said. "I'll come back and see you tomorrow."
"See you," you called after him as he shuffled out.
When he was gone, you took in a big breath of air, and leaned back against your pillow with a smile plastered across your face.
