Love of mine some day you will die
But I'll be close behind
I'll follow you into the dark
Death Cab for Cutie
Prologue
I heard the gunshots echo in the hallway. And I knew. Knew he was out for vengeance. James wouldn't go down without taking me with him. But I clung to the hope that he'd spare Edward. That's all I cared about in the world. I'd die a thousand bloody deaths just to save him from one untimely end.
My beautiful best friend. The love of my life. I had to reach him before it was too late.
I heard the screaming from all around me. People hiding under desks. Crying. But I couldn't concentrate on the hysteria that was unfolding . . . I was fully focused on Edward and the last words he had spoken to me.
I stood up and ran to the door and peeked out. There was a long trail of blood down the hallway. I followed it around the corner and saw Mike Newton laying on the ground in a puddle of blood . . . his face was missing. I strangled back a scream and clutched at my throat. I heard some more distant yelling and another two rounds from a gun. My heart raced as I started running in the direction of the gun shots. My sneakers squeaked with Mike's blood underneath them. I could feel the nausea starting to roll in my stomach and knew I was about to throw up but I swallowed it down. Every second counted I couldn't stop. What if he was already . . .
"No."
I willed my legs to move faster ignoring someone who was yelling my name.
I made it to the other side of the school and I saw James. His back was to me and he was pointing his gun into an open doorway. I heard Tanya begging for her life . . . but I knew that his eyes were trained on the person who would surely be beside her. I saw his finger twitch over the trigger.
"JAMES!" I yelled my voice surprisingly forceful.
He turned his head to me and smirked.
"You've wanted a lot of things from me that I have refused you. But mostly you've wanted me dead to get back at our parents. It's time James. Time for you to live up to the promise you made to me three months ago. If you're going to aim that fucking gun at anyone . . . let it be at me and get this over with."
James turned around to face me now and hateful things were flowing freely from his mouth. But I wasn't looking at him. I was looking into the green eyes that were looking back at me. Edward had entered the hallway behind James. My name fell from his lips in a silent scream. This was it. The last time I'd ever have a chance to tell him. I gave him my best impersonation of his beautiful crooked smile and mouthed the three words that I had kept hidden from him since we were 8 years old.
"I love you Edward."
From the corner of my eye I saw the sun glint off the tip of the rifle and a loud bang. Then everything went dark.