Run

Chapter Forty-Three

1 year later

"Alex!"

That night still plays over and over again in my head. Nothing could ever compare to that fear. There's nothing that could stop your heart faster than watching a bullet speed to your chest.

The entire time waiting for the impact, all I could think was "Is this death? Numb, shocking, calm? Am I dead?"

It took awhile to build up the courage and look. I was expecting blood, I was expecting the pain to hit me like a freight train. What I saw was almost scarier than being shot.

I remember Alex grabbing my by the arms and pulling me back towards him, the second he did the bullet that had been hovering and inch from my chest fell to the ground. I still felt numb. I still felt dead, there had been no impact, no blood, but I still felt dead.

I'd never seen a man angrier than the devil had been when that leathal piece of metal fell to the ground, useless.

"You can't touch us, you son of a bitch!" Alex's words ring over and over in my head. He can't hurt us ever again. It was over. Two months of fear and running, and it was finally over.

"I'll get you someday Alex Monroe, mark my words, someday I'll make you pay!"

My shock made it hard to process anything as Alex had dragged me out of the building and into a crowded street. He held me close against his side, my backpack in his hand as we pushed through the crowd. At one point I looked up and found myself staring at the Hollywood sign.

The trip home, I just processed everything. Alex had taken me to the train station to get back to our motel in San Diego, but we found a car waiting for us with all our stuff. It had taken us to the airport where we got on a private plane. We were home before I knew it.

I guess it was a good thing I took my keys with me out of instinct. Mom wasn't home to let me in, and I really needed my bed. Alex stayed with me until she got home, helped me put away my stuff, kept watch while I took a nap, and then of course watched me cry like a baby in my mom's arms.

She believed everything we told her. I elected to not tell her about meeting dad or his deal. I guess it wasn't the right time.

Alex left while we caught up and I started makeup work. He came back that night, smiling like an idiot saying his bike was there when he got home. He took me for a ride and out for dinner. I gave him the house phone number and he called every night for the rest of the week checking on me.

Getting back to school was hard, but with Alex, Jen, and mom helping, I got back on track and graduated.

Alex and I also started publicly dating. It was a major adjustment, to say the least. Mom wasn't sure how she felt, until she saw him taking care of my after a nightmare. I guess she was afraid he'd be like dad, and needed that reassurance.

Two months after graduating, my dad showed up at our door, broke and desperate. He didn't want to be an errand boy so he came to us begging for money. Mom slammed the door in his face, and that was when I decided to tell her everything. It really helped her move on, realizing how little he cared, it motivated her. She graduated a month early and got a really good job.

Alex and I are now taking a gap year, trying to calm ourselves and readjust. We've been at each other's houses a lot, and his parents seem to like me, especially since I've pushed the three of them to reconnect.

Tonight we're at his place watching a movie. I lay with my head in his lap while his fingers run up and down my arm, he's slowly lulling me to sleep.