I stared at her in shock and disbelief. Unable to comprehend what was going on. Nina with a gun? That's an image I never imagined, never could have imagined. I didn't stay on the floor for long, staring at her. I scrambled on my feet and ran to Carter. He was bleeding profusely, a hole in his shirt. 

"It...it's okay...I"m fine" Said Carter as tears started to make my eyes blurry.

"You take the drugs and leave. I'll handle her" I heard Kaiden say.

Carter brought his hand to my face, wiping away my tears.

"You need to get out of here," He said in a whisper.

"Aren't you underestimating me Kaiden" Said Nina as shook my head no.

There was no way I was leaving Carter behind like this. Especially in the presence of Kaiden and Nina.

"Listen to me, I'll be fine. Get out of here and go find Drake."

"Well sorry to break it to you Kaiden but nobody is leaving until I have the drugs. Also, don't try to do anything smart cause my gang is right now surrounding the house."

I looked up at Nina, her hair damped because of the rain. Anger bubbled inside me. Two people who I trusted had turned out to be monsters today. I wanted to shout at them, ask them why they did it. Did my friendship, my trust meant nothing to either one of them?

"How could you, I was your friend," I said to Nina, my anger burning me.

"We were never friends Eva and I don't have time for any kind of sentimental talk right now."

I felt Carter grab my hand, my gaze shifted back to him and saw his eyes fluttering closed. I could see he was trying so hard to keep them open.

"No..no..no..no, please don't," I said, my chest filled with pain that I have never experienced before.

I didn't know emotions could cause such big pain. 

"The greatest love story of our high school life turning into a tragedy," Said Nina trying to look sad.

I wanted to slap her, shoot her the same way she did to Carter. 

"But finishing off Carter William was necessary and I'm glad I had the honor" 

I looked back at Carter as fear took hold of me again. Stronger than ever. This cannot happen, Carter couldn't be this helpless, couldn't just leave me.

"Anyway back to business. Abel hand over the drugs" Said Nina.

Before Abel or Kaiden could say or do anything there was a loud siren wail, coming closer and closer. Police!

"ABEL RUN" came Kaiden's shrill voice as I saw him throw a gun towards Abel. 

I watched as Nina started shooting after Abel. I tried to move Carter away to a corner so he wasn't hit by a bullet again. He was completely unconscious, his hand gripping mine firmly. The police need to come fast. 

A loud shriek came from Nina, she collapsed on the ground as blood oozed out of her leg. Kaiden shot again this time targeting her hand holding the gun. The gun flew away as the front door flew open. 

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW" shouted the police officer as relief started to kick in. Police were here, we were safe. 

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Kaiden drop his gun calmly, relief on his face too, surprisingly. 

..................................

I was sitting in the waiting room, Carter had been taken in for an emergency operation to get the bullet out. I had called Carter's parents and they were trying to get a flight to fly back home. I could hear my heart beating so loud that I was sure it was sitting right next to me and not inside my chest. I kept my mind numb, not wanting to think anything. Cause if I allowed my mind to think, it wandered off to the possibilities about what could happen to Carter. 

Mason was sitting beside me, trying to calm me down. He was the one who called the police. He heard Nina talk about this plan when he went to her house and then secretly followed her to Carter's place. He called the police when he saw Nina go in with a gun and strange men standing around the house. Nina and Kaiden and a few other men from Nina's gang were arrested.

I heard loud footsteps and looked up to see Drake running towards us. 

"Where is he? Is he okay?" He asked breathing heavily.

"He's in the ICU, their doing an operation to get the bullet out" Replied Mason and I was thankful for that. I didn't have the strength to utter a word.

"What happened" Asked Drake looking directly at me. 

"Eva's a bit shaken up, we can do this later-"

"He got hit saving you didn't he?" Said Drake, malice in his words.

"DRAKE! stop it!" Said Mason standing up.

Drake took in a deep breath and collapsed in the seat next to me. I could feel my tears falling down again now. He did get hurt saving me, if he didn't push me away I would have gotten hit. 

"I'm sorry, its not your fault, I'm just angry and took it out on you" Said Drake as he side hugged me. 

I placed my head on his shoulder, crying a little louder now. Not able to contain it all in.

"I'm sorry" I whispered.

"Hey, its not your fault. I'm sorry I said that, I was scared and-"

"I'm sorry for not being more accepting towards you and Ally. Its was your decision I should have been happy about it."

Drake hugged me a little tighter as I wiped my tears away.

"Its fine, I could see where you came from" Replied Drake.

I didn't say anything else, leaving it there because I knew Drake understood. Mason sat down next to me again and we waited for Carter.

................................

After half an hour I stepped out, phone in my hand and a firm decision in my mind. I stood in the parking lot of the hospital, the pavement and cars all wet due to rain. I needed fresh air to feel alive again. Taking in a deep breath I dialed dad's number. He answered on the second bell. 

"Hey I'm on my way, the traffic is pretty bad because of the rain. Are you okay?"

I gulped in my tears, taking a deep breath as the darkness of the night surrounded me.

"I want you to take the Canada offer" I finally said.

There was a pause before dad replied.

"This is not the time for this talk Eva, we'll talk about this later" 

"NO! I've thought this through dad, I'm in my senses and I have decided. I want you to take the job."

"Eva-"

"Dad life's too short okay? Life's too short to not live your dreams if your lucky enough to have the chance to make them come true. You have dreamed of this for so long and you have gone through so much in your life. You deserve this dad."

Tears were falling again now, fast and furious like the rain before.

"I don't want to hold you back like you never held me. You have always been there dad, always so loving and caring and I'm so grateful."

"Eva-"

"I love you"

"I love you too" 

..............................

Carter's operation was successful, they took out the bullet and there were no complications. He had just lost a lot of blood. He was shifted to a private room where he still lay unconscious. I sat in a chair next to his bed, Drake laying on the couch. Mason and my dad had gone home early in the morning. Dad had tried to convince me to come back home for a few hours to rest. But I wasn't leaving. 

I wasn't leaving until Carter opened his eyes and smiled at me. 

"Why isn't he waking up?" I asked Drake, staring at Carter. 

"Don't worry, it takes time. He's fine now" 

I nodded, my eyes still on Carter. His eyes closed and pipes around him. I hated the grey blanket that was over him. I imagined what our night could have been if this didn't happen. A sinking feeling resurfaced again, a feeling I had tried so hard to push down.

Suddenly the door flew open and Carter's parents stepped in. 

"Oh my God" Said Veronica. Running towards Carter with tears in her eyes. 

"He's fine now Mrs William, nothing to worry about" Said Drake up on his feets now.

I got up too moving a little away so Carter's father could come up the other way. After staring at every inch of Carter, Veronica's eyes shifted to me.

"Are you okay?" 

"Yes" I replied with a small broken smile.

"Have you given your statement to the police?" Said Carter's dad looking at me.

I nodded again, they had taken my statement last night. Drake had prepared it for me. Telling me what I had to say and what not. He said I didn't have to worry about Carter being in trouble because of drugs, that the group that him and Carter belong to will take care of it.

I stepped out of the room wanting to give his parents some privacy with him. As I walked down the long hallway I saw Ally. She stopped in her tracks a little away from me. 

"Hey" 

"Hi" 

"How's Carter?" She asked as a few silent seconds passed by.

"The doctors say he'll be fine"

Ally nodded. Her eyes moving around before they settle on me.

"How are you?"

"I'm sorry about that day, I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that" I said walking towards the wall and leaning against it.

"I was just scared for you. I don't want you to get heartbroken again, I wasn't sure about Drake and I just wanted you to think it all through"

"Eva-" Started Ally but I stopped her.

"Its not that I don't believe in marriage because of my parents. I've never felt that way, infact I plan on having a future too with Carter someday"

Ally walked towards me and leans against the wall too.

"Its just I think marriage is such an important decision a person takes in life that it shouldn't go wrong, it shouldn't be a mistake. I don't want you to feel like you made a wrong decision after some years-"

"I'm sorry too" cuts in Ally.

"I'm sorry for the words I said and I should have understood where all your anger was coming from. I was too lost in the happy parts of it that I didn't realise there were somethings that I needed to think through too. And I was just so angry at you for making me realise that"

She paused and took in a deep breath.

"I was so scared when Drake told me about last night. I...I felt so dumb-"

"Why didn't you tell me about the drugs?" I said cutting in.

I turned towards Ally, looking her straight in the eye but she refused to look back.

"We are best friends Ally, so why didn't you tell me about this? Why would you hide something from me?"

"Carter told me not to. He said it was for your own safety. Its a messed up world Carter and Drake are a part of Eva and Carter didn't wanted you to be sucked in too"

I turned away from her. Watching the door infront of me.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was just scared and didn't want you to get hurt"

"Why would you even take the drugs Ally? It was as dangerous for you as it was for me"

"Carter said it was for a few days and Drake was protecting me"

I nodded calming down a little, I didn't have the energy to keep on going. I closed my eyes, willing the pain in my forehead to go away. Suddenly I felt hands engulf me.

"I'm so glad your okay Eva" said Ally crying.

"I wish I could have done something, why couldn't I have realised that something was wrong. I just got angry at Carter for calling so late and never thought something could be wrong-"

"Stop!" I said hugging her back. "Its not your fault"

"Eva, Carter's awake" came Drake's voice from behind me.

I felt myself freeze.

...............................

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