A Step in the Other Direction

~~Chapter 19~~

~~Cassidy's Point of View~~

I was lost in thought when I started feeling funny. It was nothing more than a headache at first, but then it turned into a full out dizzy spell. My sight was going double. I was losing my way behind Bowen. 

Bowen.

What had happened had caught me completely off guard. I mean I had wanted it, but I didn't think it would happen. He had kissed me! 

But it took me a long time to process what he was saying. He had done something that could have ruined his whole life. He had done something crazy. He had done something with the same goal that I used to have. He wanted everything to end, all the pain, suffering, heartache, and sadness. 

But something had happened when that person came and talked to him. They had made everything change. I understood why Bowen said that some people knew, that he knew. He had gone through this pain and suffering, and then a 'random person' had started talking to him. There hadn't been a person. It was God. 

Thanks. 

Thanks for saving him. Thanks for making sure he would stay alive. Thanks for letting me met him. Thanks for the-

Kiss.

Why did the thunder have to interrupt that kiss?!? And the rain!! And...and me? 

We were back to the woods. I couldn't walk anymore. I propped up against a tree, hoping it would all stop. The world was spinning fast than if I were on a tilt-a-wirl. My hand went over my mouth, trying to keep breathing. My lungs weren't taking in the air that I needed. 

I was getting tired. Really, really....tired. 

I could just make out Bowen saying my name. "Cassidy? Cass-" My knees let out and I collapsed to the ground. "Cassidy!!" 

The world was a torrent of loud shouts and the feeling of falling. I was sinking into...something.

I felt Bowen picking me up, pulling my weight onto his body and carrying me closer to the house. I heard him yelling for help. His voice was to the point of hysteria. 

'Calm down,' I wanted to say, but my voice wouldn't allow me to speak. 

What was going on? Why did I collapse? What was happening?

I was out into the arms of another person. Daddy. 

To be honest I wanted to be in Bowen's arms. His touch was warm and safe. My dad's was full of terror. It wasn't very settling. Daddy carried me up the stairs and into their house. I was soaking wet from the rain that had come out of nowhere. I was laid down on a couch, hands grabbing at me. 

Everything faded after that. I was in the midst of blackness, void for miles upon miles of blackness. 

There were flashes of moments where my mom was standing over me, being in the ambulance, and then the sounds of a helicopter starting up. I was being jarred around like crazy. 

Wait? Was I getting in a helicopter? Why? What was wrong? Thunder rumbled in the distance and I heard the helicopter start taking off. I truly passed out that time. 

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--Bowen's Point of View--

It had been two days since the...incident. Cassidy was in Atlanta at the hospital. Mom and Jimmy hadn't told Saige or me anything. We both asked constantly, but they always said they didn't know. 

It was killing Saige not knowing. We both had school, which was only a couple of days from ending. I couldn't focus in class at all. I had at least three teachers ask me what was wrong. I always had the same answer. "It's a friend." They always nodded. 

It was the second to last day of school when we finally got news on Cassidy. I had gotten a text from mom during the day, and excitement ran through me. When the bell rang I was out the door in a matter of seconds. 

Saige met me at the front door of the school. Jimmy was picking us up today. I told Saige what the text had said. Her face lit up. I saw Jimmy pull up and wave for us. Both Saige and I ran up there, putting our stuff in the back seat and jumping in. 

"Your mom knows everything I didn't hear much of it," Jimmy said before wither of us could get a word out. The car ride was quiet again until we were a few minutes from home and he said, "Do you really want to go to school and watch movies tomorrow or do you want to drive up to Atlanta to see-"

"Atlanta," Saige and I said at the same time.  

"Why did I even ask," he said with the hint of a smile. We pulled up into the driveway a few moments later. Saige and I both hopped out, grabbing our 20 pound book bags out of the back. I didn't have any homework, neither did Saige. Finals were over. 

I was going to see Cassidy. 

I was happy yet terrified at the same time. Was she ok? What had happened? By the look an Saige's face the same things were running through her head. We walked into the house, seeing mom standing in the living room on the phone. 

"Yea," she was saying, turning her head just enough to see us walking in, "Yea. I was about to ask them. You know their answers. They won't be doing anything at school tomorrow so we will drive up in the morning." She paused. "Yea I'm sure. Alright, we'll see y'all tomorrow. Bye." She put her phone down, taking a deep breath. 

"How is she," I asked. 

"Come sit down." Her eyes were almost sad and I instantly filled with worry. The two of us nodded, dropping our bags next to the door, promising to bring them upstairs later. We sat side by side, facing mom. 

"Well," she started, "You know me I can't explain well and Kennedy didn't really tell me much but she said that Cassidy woke up a couple of times. They did a couple of x-rays and CT's but haven't found any reason for what happened to happen. Thats why we're driving up there tomorrow and just going to spend a little time in Atlanta with them." Saige and I both nodded. "I want you two to go pack a bag for at least three days or so." 

"Ok," I said. She nodded, telling us she was finished. I walked and grabbed my book bag, trudging up the stairs with it. 

I packed a few shirts and a few pairs of jeans. I grabbed a pair of Converse and my Nike shoes. I was ready in about 30 minutes. I pushed my bag to the floor, laying out across my bed.  

It was quiet. I felt a small swell down in my throat, signaling another panic attack. I swallowed it down. I couldn't do this tonight. 

I hoped Cass was ok. I closed my eyes, uttering a silent prayer, one that wasn't so silent. Things had changed since that service. The faith I had was back, and I felt as strong as ever. 

She made me strong, and now it was my turn to help her. 

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OMG ya'll, chapter 20 is next...thanks to all that have stuck around through the story!! 

Next update...I'm not 100% sure. I have BAND CAMP next week and won't be back until Saturday and I'm gonna be exhausted. And then school starts back...I don't want it to!!

Updates may get a little slow for the next couple of weeks...sorry!!

Have a great day!!