As your feelings for someone grow stronger so does your fear for losing someone.

He loved her more than he himself realised, it turned into something hauntingly beautiful.

~♥~

She stood in front of me like a shield, protecting me all this while. Wasn't it me, who vowed to protect her from every problem, Wasn't it me who wanted to cherish an eternity together with her?

Then why was this trail of blood written by her? Should she be hanging between life and death, shouldn't she be with me?

Shouldn't I have protected her but yet, she was my shield, again.

I chuckled lowly. What a tragedy life turned us into, Our parents were murdered by someone so close to us and we were treating him with so much respect and love.

Seeing her lying there in a pool of her own blood, shook me till inside. I can never forget these flashes, she is there because of me.

She is lying between life and death because of me, this thought itself strangled me from inside. She should be making sassy remarks or glare at me for flirting with her.

She should be bossing me around or threatening me, she should not lay there on a hospital bed.

A lump formed in my throat, I tried very hard controlling my tears.

I am helpless but I can't have my own breakdown when here everyone around me were sitting on the benches with a gloomy face, few were trying to act strong yet the fact was not hidden from anyone about how emotionally strong everyone is.

Nick and carter, who just reached Paris were sitting on the perspective benches, red eyed from trying to stop the tears. I felt bad for carter, he genuinely liked Diana and she just...

I sighed and bowed my head down.

Macey, she was pacing around with a panic expression, biting her lips in between to control her sobs. Nick did try to pacify her, but love of best friends is something non understandable.

She loves Alaia like her own sister, her being panic makes whole lot of sense and Maxwell had gone to bring coffee for all of us.

Isaac was sitting here with his head in his hands, I can't even think what this poor man must be feeling.

I saw his restlessness today, when that bastard tortured Alaia. He genuinely looked concerned for her.

And me, well I don't know what the hell was going on with me, it seems so wierd, as if it is a very bad dream and I just want to wake up from it.

I tried pinching myself several times but the pain was real. So all this happening was also real. I smiled sadly, yes...this is all real.

I felt a touch on my shoulder, I turned around and saw max looking at me concerned.

" Are you fine Ashton? " he asked, extending a cup of coffee to me.

I wanted to talk about it, I wanted to scream damn it! I wanted to yell at everyone, but all I could do was whisper.

" I am fine "

I declined his offer of the coffee and looked at the door for maybe the hundredth time of an hour. There she was, fighting for her life.

" She will be alright OK! She has to, after all we have to prick her for becoming such a superwoman and even Macey has to skin all of us alive after she gets fine " he gave a small smile and I chuckled.

She has to. After all too many things are left, some feelings are left unsaid, few secrets are yet to unravel. There are several things left.

I took a deep breath and sat on the metal bench. The cool metal touched my skin, making me shiver slightly at the contact.

I still remember the first time I saw her the way she entered my office in full attitude. I was wondering how is she so confident but why shouldn't she, after all she is Alaia Houston.

Owner of one of the biggest brands of the world. I hadn't even had a glance on her because I thought that even she would be one of those girls who dressed up like a bitch and try to seduce me.

But when I first saw her, I got drowned into her, her eyes were like an yûgen ocean. So deep and mysterious, it was like my drowned life found a shore in her.

Keeping the nights on my eyes, I stayed awake because I felt lonely. I felt as if there was no one to love me, after my parents left me alone, I was all numb and emotionless.

But after meeting her, I did stay awake but this time thinking about her. Unknowingly, she healed me.

Gave me a new reason to call this life beautiful. Just by looking into her eyes I could read the pain she carried.

Before I could not understand but even she was going through the same pain I was going through. But she was much more broken than I ever was.

The time she disappeared from the party, I was a goner. I couldn't think straight.

There was same restlessness in my heart just the way I had few hours ago. When I followed Macey to reach Alaia and let's just thank my luck for that.

I followed Macey and she had went to meet max, there I heard every planning and plotting my little kitten had done.

I chuckled sadly, she really got some dangerous brain.

Her plan was damn good, but she was pretending to be someone else in front of me. I did felt bad for a moment but it is still her, that is all matters.

Her care and eyes were never fake, it was all real. She did not pretend her real self and it touched me. She is still the same Alaia I know.

I never realised that I fell so badly, I knew I love her but I never thought that I love her to this extent. Her existence became a necessity to me and my heart.

I heard some loud noises beside me, turning around I saw all of them surrounding someone, taking long strides I mingled in the crowd.

" Please say she is alright " I heard Macey murmuring.

Oh....he is a doctor. My heart thumped loudly thinking about all the possible consequences.

" Please calm down." he tried to speak but Macey cut him off.

" Is she alright, she didn't suffer any complications right? " she went on with her rambling and here I was freaking out.

Nick slid his arms around her waist and kept his palm on her mouth.

She looked at him wide eyed and tried to brush him off but his hold tightened around her.

" Doctor please speak " he said with a struggling Macey in his arms. Doctor quickly nodded and said

" She is absolutely alright, We have taken out the bullet from her shoulders. Fortunately the bullet didn't destroyed her arteries but she suffered blood loss due to the cut in her arms.

"So it will take some time for her to recover, she will be weak for few days but for now, she is out of danger "

A wide smile formed on my lips, tears breaming corner of my eyes. Macey jumped up from his hold, listening this she almost hugged the doctor but was pushed by Nick who kissed him on his cheeks.

Not only me but everyone was looking at him wide eyed, that doctor rubbed the spot where he kissed him, giving him a wierd look he literally ran away from there.

There was a moment of awkwardness, I looked at Nick whose cheeks had a tint of pink shade. Macey looked funny with her jaw dropped expression.

Carter and Isaac were thanking God, Max ran behind that doctor and I, well my happiness had no bound.

I couldn't be more thankful to God, this will act as a second chance to us. We have gotten this time by luck and this time, I won't let it go.

I heard someone clearing their throat, it was Nick.

" Uh actually, I wanted to clear that it was just a moment of emotions. It's nothing like that. I am straight " he said and I bit my lip to refrain from giggling at his embarrassed face.

" No one asked for an explanation Nick, we all know that it were your emotions " A voice said from behind.

I turned around and saw max looking at nick with a small smile on his face. I refrained myself from laughing at his flushed face.

" oh and Ashton, go back to your hotel and take a bath " Macey ordered and my eyes widened.

I turned around and saw Macey looking at me with narrowed eyes, is she the same girl who was crying her eyes out just few moments ago?

" what! Do you want her to faint as soon as she wakes up? " she said in a dramatic voice.

I scowled but could not agree more with her point as I was still dressed in the same tuxedo from the party.

" OK fine. I will " I said, running a hand through my messy hairs.

" but only after I see her" I heard several of groans and curses followed by, giving me a look they all shook their heads.

" OK fine romeo" they all said in unison and I was taken aback for a moment.

Seems like they themselves were, looking at each others faces they burst out laughing. Heck even Isaac joined them in my leg pulling.

Crazy people I say.

I sighed and turned around to look at the OT theater where she was.

" Excuse me, are you here for Alaia Cooper? " A voice asked from behind.

We all turned around and there was a nurse standing with a clip board in her hands.

" Actually I am here to inform you that we have shifted her to the general ward so if you want, you all can meet her. Her room number is 508" she said and walked away from there.

Huh! Like, when did they even do this? Is there any secret passage from inside or we were so busy among ourselves to even notice our surrounding?

" You know what, let this Romeo meet his Juliet first or he won't take a shower and believe me, he is STINKING" Macey said.

I gasped, she pinched her nose with her thumb and middle finger and made a disgusted face.

" Wow! Just few minutes ago you were crying your eyes out and now again back with your humour? " Issac said and ruffled her hairs.

She pouted and slapped his forearms.

" It was because Alaia was not good but now she is all right. So even I need to get back to my normal self, and I even need to skin few people alive " she just realised what she spoke.

My eyes widened, shit!

" exactly. I have to kill few people too! Ashton " she said and ran towards me as I walked backwards.

" exactly! Even I have to kill him" nick joined in and my eyes widened. God don't ever give this type of best friend to anyone.

" Nick are you really my best friend? " I said, walking backwards.

Unfazed by my question they kept walking in my direction and me backwards.

" Hey it's not only my fault! I wasn't even aware of all there, beat max because he was aware of everything " I said and looked at him who looked back at me shocked.

Nick and Macey looked at each other and then turned back where max stood. Giving each other a look they ran towards him. Phew.

Saved.

They both tackled him and I took that moment to run away from there. While passing around the rooms my eyes snapped at the room number 508, the same room where she was.

All the fun that we had few moments ago just vanished in thin air.

My heart thudded, taking small steps towards the door I touched it's metal frame. A tear rolled down my cheek, with a heavy heart I opened it and my breath hitched for a moment.

There she was, bandage in her hands and shoulders, looking pale as ever. Several wires connected to her hands, my heart pained seeing her like this.

My eyes were fixed on the particular machine, the heart rate monitor. The lines gave a peace

Taking small strides, I sat on the chair kept beside the bed, a lump formed in my throat.

" Alaia " I called out her name expecting a response.

Damn, I am really used to her presence. Tears rolled down my eyes, I caressed her hair.

" I am scared, I can't lose you! And it is your fault dammit. You made me love you, you made me fall for you, you made me let you in and suddenly you wish to leave me! No, you can't leave me. Ever. You are tied to me till our last breath." I whispered.

Taking her hands in mine, I leaned down and kissed back of her palms. A smile adored my lips.

But you are there now, and this time you will be mine. You are MY LIFE.

♥

He got his breath back as he saw her heart beating again, his heart was like a wandering soul and it got a home in her heart. He never thought he loved her so much, maybe this is what love is....

You don't even realise when, how and why you fall, you just notice that you fell really badly.

~♥~

Hush done! And I want to tell you something, after next chapter you will get many light hearted and lovely scenes. Like a happy life.

I am really excited to write that and I hope so are you to read that.

So till my next update take care and stay safe. Byeeeeee