Pull

“Your call.” Demetri smirked, kissing me softly across the neck. “Movie or make out?”

“No. No skipping out.” Alec approached us. “Don’t listen to him, Alyssa. He’s using his Jedi mind tricks on you. Look away!

Look away!”

I bit my lip and closed my eyes.

“Or that,” Alec said.

“Movie,” I squeaked. I hadn’t been to see in one in over a year. I just rented everything and sat alone at my house.

No wonder I’d lost all my friends.

Demetri grabbed my hand and led me into the theatre.

It suddenly dawned on me how disappointed Brady would be in my behavior. He’d always said I would change the world one day with my constant cheerfulness and positive attitude.

How did I go from that person — a person I don’t even remember being — to someone my parents put on suicide watch?

The smell of buttered popcorn bombarded my senses as we made our way past the ticket counter. The boys wouldn’t let Nat or me pay. Which was weird for me. The only person I’d ever dated before was Brady. We were such good friends that I never wanted to take advantage of him. We always went Dutch. Until now, I’d never understood how good it felt to have someone treat me.

My smile was huge. I couldn’t help it. Demetri walked up to the candy counter and scanned the glass. “One box of Swedish Fish, a bag of Gummi Worms, two bags of plain M&M’s and three sodas.”

“Are we feeding an army?” I nudged him as he paid for the candy and pop.

He grinned and nudged me back. “Nope, just a recovering drug addict with a very serious candy addiction.”

“Thanks, bro.” Alec swiped the Swedish Fish away from Demetri and opened the bag, dangling a fish in front of Nat. She blushed and kissed him before tossing it into her mouth.

“Never mind them. Swedish Fish are kinda their thing.”

Demetri smirked and wrapped his arm around me.

“And worms are yours?” I asked.

“Worms, taffy, soda, Alyssa…” His voice trailed off.

“Too bad I don’t fit in your pocket and give you a cavity.” I sighed.

“You’re short enough to, let’s be honest. And while you couldn’t give me a cavity, you make me want to taste you every second I’m with you.” He licked his lips and grinned.

“Oh.” I felt my cheeks heat as I looked away. Thankfully the movie theatre was somewhat dim, thanks to the crappy lights they used. Otherwise, I would have been embarrassed over the fact that I was blushing like a fool.

We found the right theatre and went to the back. The previews started just as we sat down.

I should have known my perfect day would end horribly.

The screen went green, and then the first preview started.

My chest tightened as I watched the preview unfold. The story so similar to my own. Girl and boy fall in love. Boy dies, but not before getting girl pregnant, and then she’s shunned by her friends until the new boy in school takes her under his wing.

The new boy is a football player.

I smiled at the relationship between the two.

And then that guy gets in a horrible accident, leaving her wondering if she would be left alone again without her love. My breathing was erratic, that much I knew. I tried to close my eyes, but the screeching of metal hitting metal was suddenly too much for me.

I ran out of the theatre, tears streaming down my face. Crap.

Why did I have to cry now, when everything finally felt normal? As if it was going to be fine.

I ran right into Sam, who was standing with Aaron. “Hey, you okay, Alyssa?”

“Fine,” I mumbled then pushed past them. My vision blurred as I tried to get to the women’s restroom in time. I felt like I was going to pass out. The sound of the crash played over and over again in my head.

The way I held his broken body, the way my hands looked so tiny trying to do compressions against his chest.

But it wasn’t enough.

It hadn’t been enough.

I tried to get him to breathe, to get him to do something.

“Brady! Stay with me, Brady! It’s going to be okay! Help is on the way. Can you hear me, Brady?” I tried to speak softly even though I wanted to scream.

“Brady?”

I tried to feel for a pulse, but there was too much blood, and my fingers kept slipping. I pulled his shirt open and continued doing compressions, even though he was lying back in his seat. It was a blessing that at least something was holding his spine in place.

I tried so hard to breathe into his mouth, but it was as if I didn’t have enough breath.

“Brady? Brady!” That time I yelled, hitting his chest harder.

His eyes flickered open.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

“I love you, Brady. Stay with me, okay? Can you keep your eyes open?”

He mumbled something else, and blood trickled out of his mouth.

Oh God, there was so much blood. His hand reached for mine. I didn’t know if I should stop and hold it or keep going.

I kept going.

He had to live.

I needed him to live. My heart was breaking in two. I would have taken his spot in a second.

“Brady? You still with me?” I tried to keep my voice light as I heard sirens in the distance. Thank God.

“Will always…” He coughed up more blood.

“Will always what?” The ambulance had just arrived.

“Love you.” He exhaled one last time as the door was torn open.