Dakota's pov

"But what am I gonna do?"  I heard my best friend whining like a child.

"Ru,  I'd be back soon.  I promise.  You can watch TV or-"

"Or she can come with me and Emily to the gym.."  mom said cutting me off.

Ru squealed and went upstairs probably to change while I sat down on the table to eat my breakfast.  Adrian was quiet today and I wonder what happened. 

"What happened Dork?"  I asked him, joking.

He looked at me with his brown eyes which were full of grief and sorrow.  I was taken aback. 
Still he smiled and shook his head while muttering that he was 'tired.'

I knew he was lying, and it seriously pissed me off.  I saw mum going to her room and that was the moment I got up and went to his side. 

I sat on my knees and took his hands within mine. 

"We promised. We'd never lie to each other. "  I said softly,  "Please tell me what's wrong?"

He sighed. 

"I proposed Alice. Well it wasn't exactly a proposal but still I blurted out my feelings to which she just stood up and ran away saying that she couldn't.  I didn't understand why did she behave like that... I mean.. Had I misunderstood her friendship with love?"

I was stunned.  It was rare seeing Adrian so broken and vulnerable.  I've never seen him like this. 

"No! Absolutely not! Alice loves you! She confessed that to me in front of Rose!"  I explained.

"She did?"  Adrian gasped.

I nodded my head. 

"Just talk to her today.  Maybe she'll tell you why.."  I said squeezing his hands.

"I'm ready, I'm ready!!"  I heard Ru running down the stairs enthusiastically as she was going to the gym.

I laughed at her cuteness and went back to eating.

. . . . .

School was over and I found myself sitting in a park near the outskirts of the town.  I just needed some time alone I guess.

School had been a hell today. 

I had to bear all the pain and sadness of seeing Chris with random girls, laughing and flirting.  It was like he didn't know me at all.  He wasn't there to annoy me by calling me a stiff neither was he going to comfort me when I needed him the most.

Rosalie was busy with Jake with their project as it was due next week, so it was me and Alice most of the time.  She looked the same.. With terrible bags and bluish pale skin.  I even asked her what was wrong and she just shrugged it off like it was nothing.  Anyone could say that she was lying but I didn't wanna pressure her into telling me.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard some person shouting. 

I frowned and got up to the direction of the voice and soon enough found myself staring at the back of a very familiar person.

"Please! I've done enough! I've caused her enough pain! I did whatever you told me to do.."  I heard him speaking on the phone with raw emotion lacing his voice.

"She's just a girl! For fucks sake I'm already going to kill her because of this! Why are you making me hurt her even more! I can't see my love suffering like that.."

My breath hitched as I gasped.

Who was he talking to and who was his love?

I saw Chris getting up and throwing away his phone furiously onto the ground, letting out a growl.

He sank down onto his knees and his shoulders started shaking..

He cried and was completely oblivious to that fact that I was watching him from behind a bush. 

He took out something from his pocket and looked at it. 

Probably a photo.

"I can't..."

It was merely a whisper but I heard it.

"I love you too much to lose you.."

My palms sweated as my heart sank each passing second.  Whom did he love this much? And why was he hurting her?

He threw the photo aside and walked away.  I saw him disappear and then only came out from behind.

I crouched down on the ground and stared at the photograph.

I froze.

It was like time stopped around me. 

My heart beat frantically against my ribs and I was sure that it was gonna burst out any moment.

It was a photograph of me.

My limbs became numb as I sat down on the ground.

He loves me?

And... He's going to kill me?

I continued staring at my picture, for my mind was going on a frenzy.

I know for a fact that he was forced to do the job, but who was behind all this? Was it Roy?

How come Roy got Chris to work for him?

Why'd he want me dead?

What was the reason that, he couldn't go against Roy?

I felt relieved because he just pretended at school the last time, but also scared that he was in danger too. 

I've gotta go and tell everyone about this.

My phone rang and I picked up without checking the caller ID. 

I widened my eyes to what I heard.

. . . .

Adrian's pov

"Adrian wait!"

I stopped in my tracks.

"Please just wait.."

A hand was slumped onto my shoulder as I heard the person behind me gasping for air.  Suddenly a thought clicked me and I turned around catching Alice in my arms.

"Why are you running like this?"  I snapped, worried.

She looked up and watched me with her electric blue eyes, a weak but beautiful smile gracing her lips as she panted.

"I couldn't let you get away.."  she said breathlessly.

Her health was not too good and I could see,  she was barely trying to stand up. 

I glanced around as I saw the school building nearly empty, and decided to take her to the backyard where we always meet.  I placed my arms around her body and picked her up bridal style.

Alice giggled softly and buried her head into my chest making me smile at her.

Reaching there, I placed her on the ground carefully while I sat down beside her. 

She sighed and looked at me.

"So.. What was it you wanted to talk about?"  I asked breaking the silence. 

She hummed and asked me simply,  "Do you really love me?"

I blinked and nodded.   "I do."

"Will you still love me even if I tell you something that will make you run away?"   she asked in a barely audible voice.

I was utterly confused.   "What are you-"

"I have CHD." 

I froze. 

What? Coronary heart disease?

I looked at her with wide eyes.

She sighed.

"I know, I'd understand if you wanted to run for the hills away from me.. "  she chuckled, "Don't worry,  I'll never blame you.  It's something I can't help. I just-"

I cut her off by placing my lips against hers in a furious kiss. 

I wanted to show all my feelings through the kiss and I wanted her to know that I'd never leave her.

She returned the kiss with as much pressure as I was putting into it.  Our lips were in sync, creating a shiver run down my body.  I felt like I was floating and I earned a breathy moan from her, which made my inner pride swell with satisfaction.

We pulled apart gasping for air.

I watched her flushed face with red lips due to the kiss.  Her eyes were sparkling and suddenly she buried her head in my chest, embarrassed at how she moaned.
I chuckled and hugged her.

"You're foolish to think that Alice.  I love you.  I'd never leave you even if I had to die with you."

"Don't say things like that!"  she snapped, pulling out of my hug,  "I don't want anything happening to you."

I smiled.  "So the day we first met, you were running out of the hospital because of that?"

She nodded.   "I was tired.  I hated being in the hospital all day.  So I ran away.. Although.."  she trailed off,   "My condition is getting worse.  I have to do a heart valve surgery soon or otherwise I'm—"

"No!"  I growled back.  "Nothing will happen to you and you'll be fine! I won't let anything happen to you.  I promise."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she sniffed and hugged me. 

"I love you too Adrian."

Words couldn't describe how I felt.  She made me feel like the king of the universe!

After talking for a long time,  we decided to go back. 

We were walking side by side, holding each other's hands. 

It was a total bliss.

Our moment was cut short when we saw few men standing in front of us.  Each had a smirk on their faces and I knew just then, they were trouble.

"It's that blonde's brother isn't it?"  a man asked to no one in particular.

I held Alice's hand in a tight grip and with the free hand,  I slowly and carefully took out my phone.

"And he's having a delicious angel with him too!"  a man sneered.

I felt my blood boiling and pressed 1, on my mobile which was the speed dial of my sister. 

"Shut up asshole!"  I barked.

Alice was trembling by my side and I was getting worried.  Even if something happened,  I had to protect my Alice.

The phone was illuminated, meaning Dakota had picked up. I just wish she'd come on time.

"I would watch that mouth if I were you." a man growled.

I turned towards Alice. 

She looked scared but she was determined to get out of this.

"Listen to me Alice.  I want you to run as fast as you can when I tell you"  I said.

She scowled and snapped.  "In your dreams bone head!"

Great.

A man started walking towards us.

He was about to grab her wrist when I gripped his neck and threatened him.

"Don't. Fucking. Touch. Her!"

I threw the man away as more started coming my way.

"Alice run! " 

A man came and hit me on the chest to which I fell back. I got up quick and punched him square on the face. 

I kicked another man on the neck and jumped up dodging another man.

But my fight soon ended when three men grabbed me and I saw Alice in another's grip.

I struggled but it was of no use.

"Lame try kid. "  the man grabbing Alice laughed.

Alice was screaming and I could feel her draining out of energy! She was having CHD,  and it was bad.

The man laughed  "Let me give you a show before you die kid."

I growled and struggled.

No!

Alice screamed and thrashed and squirmed but she couldn't do anything.  The man grabbed her face and was about to kiss her when..

"Don't you have any mother or sister asshole?!"

I sighed in relief as I saw my sister standing there with a fierce expression on her face.

"Apparently not.  I guess they are the sons of dickheads!"

My eyes widened as I saw my mother too!

"And as a punishment, they should be sent to a world without lollipops! "  Dakota's friend, Rush, came out from behind her.

I used the distraction as I pushed the men off of me and went for the man holding Alice. 

The man left her and I punched him.  I grabbed his head and hit it with my knee.  I twisted his hand and broke his wrist with a snap.

He howled with pain as I saw my family fighting with the rest. 

I looked at my Alice to see she was unconscious.  I pulled her up on my lap and shook her.  Her breathing was very shallow and I  was engulfed in fear.

"Adrian c'mon!"  I turned my head to see Ru holding out her hand to me,   "We need to get to the hospital!"

I glanced at my family and saw them fighting with the men with enraged howls.

"Adrian! Get your fucking ass up and take Alice to the damn hospital!"   I heard Dakota scream while she dodged a kick.

I took Alice In my arms and went after Rush to the car. 

"Don't worry Alice.  I'd never let anything happen to you.. "

. . . . . .

Dakota's pov

"Pretty intense huh?"   I asked my mother after that terrible fight.

She smirked and nodded. 

We were both bloodied up and tired but we had satisfied grins on our faces.

We kicked their asses off.

"I'd go to the hospital once I clean up.  Adrian said she was serious."  I said unlocking the door to out house.

My mom nodded and took out her phone to see something.

As soon as I entered, I heard a 'thud'.

I turned around to see my mom, on the ground with the phone slipping out of her hands with a pale look on her face.

"Mom what's wrong?! "  I panicked.

"Kidnapped..."   she whispered.

"Kidnapped??"

A/n:  longest chapter ever!!

Whew!

*wipes a bead of sweat*

And guys, I really suck at biology so I really don't know anything about coronary heart disease except a little. So if there are any flaws, bear me out!

*chuckles nervously*

Have fun buddies,

Amy.