Alone

Chapter 18

Tears run down my face, making it wet. I hold his face right in my hands and stare into his closed eyes.

"Austin, if you can hear me, I want you to remember this for however long we live." I take a short breath, and start crying again. "I want you to know that I love you. You saved me so many times. At first, I hated you, but hatred turned Into love after so long." I kiss him on the cheek and hold his head in my arms.

•••

Jason's P.O.V

•••

I went to check on Firess, but when I got there, she was cleaning up Austin. When she lifted up his shirt, and her eyes were as big as softballs, I couldn't help but cry. I saw Austin had been bitten. I heard her say that she loves him so much, not to be selfish, but I wish she would say that to me. That's all I ask.

I watch her run into the bathroom and come back out with some string, needles and some rubbing alcohol. She's gonna do it. Herself. She's gonna stitch him up herself.

Tears stream off her face. Her beautiful face. I just wanna hug her, and kiss her, and comfort her.

I look at her concentrating face. Sweat beads drop from her forehead. She starts breathing heavily as she threads the string through the needle eye. She holds the needle an inch from his skin.

"Hmm. *sob* *sob*" She cries as she pushes the needle through his skin. I close my eyes and think back...

•••

10 years earlier

•••

"Jason! Can you come out and play today?" Firess asks me. I shake my head and show her my broken arm. She gasps.

"What happened!?" She screams, rushing towards me. I thought, whenever I saw her in that basement, I thought she was someone else. She was fearless. When we were young, she was afraid of spiders and snakes. Now that helpless little girl has come back out, and is sitting right in front of me.

"I broke it! I was climbing up the ladder at the park, and I saw a pretty flower that I was gonna give to you! But I fell down, and my arm got stuck." I tilt my head down.

"For me?" Firess giggles.

"Yeah, for you." I think, and realize that it was for her.

•••

Aria's P.O.V

•••

I listen to Firess scream and cry as I bury my face into my knees.

"This sucks!" I yell at them.

"No, it's perfect." Wagner says, one of the guys from Cade's group, who Rainy is latching on to. I laugh. I look over to the door where Jason's crossbow is.

Jason was my best friend...or me and Firess's best friend. He told me a secret once, just a few years ago.

•••

5 years earlier

•••

"I'm going to the bathroom guys! Be out in a second!" Firess yells.

Jason grabs my arm and pulls me to the wall.

"Can you keep a secret?" He asks me. I nod my head.

We were 13.

"Aria, I think Im in love with Firess." I smiled at him.

"I knew it." I push him off the wall and walk towards Firess as she walks out.

It was the best moment of our lives. Me and Jason, we had a secret, and you know what? I still have that secret. I will always have that secret. The secret.