Over the next two weeks, Zack and I met at the studio every Thursday and Friday. We practiced together. We dined together. Every night, he would insist on escorting me home. We shared lots of laughter.
Today, we decided to hike on a forest trail near the beach he led me to last time.
"Little ballerina is so caught up with her practices, she doesn't even go to the states park anymore!" Zack exclaimed.
I was about to shoot back a comment when I heard a shrill cry in from deep inside the green labyrinth.
I gasped. "Did you hear that?" I started into the forest.
"Hey! Where're you going? It's dangerous inside the forest!" Zack admonished.
I twisted my head to meet his stern face, "Well, I can't just walk away. Didn't you hear that? Someone is probably hurt!"
"B-" Zack was cut off by another unnerving cry.
I grew impatient. "You can leave me if you want. I'm not gonna stop."
Zack sighed. "I told you before, I will not leave you. C'mon lets go."
We helped each other through the shrubs and sharp thorns. When we reached the cliffs that went off into the open ocean, we saw a girl standing on the edge, whimpering. She edged closer to the slope, ready to jump.
"Stop!" I rushed forward and pulled her back as she leapt.
"Mads! Be careful!" Zack's shout was fuzzy in the background.
The girl was about my age. She turned to me. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from tears. Her hair were jagged and hung from her head like strings.
"It's okay. Don't try to end your own life. You'll be okay," I attempted to calm her, "I'll get help you."
"Will you really help me?" the girl suddenly questioned in a bubbly tone. The girl was psychologically ill.
I held her hands. "Yes."
Zack rushed to me, "Mads, don't try to do that again!"
The girl abruptly shot him a murderous gaze. Panic whirled. Zack didn't notice the girl's condition. He was still talking when the girl produced a knife from her pocket.
"Stay away from us!" she raged and directed the knife to Zack's chest.
Zack's attention snapped away from me. He was shocked.
"Zack! Move!" I ran in front of Zack. With brute force, I pushed Zack away.
Pain. Pain shot through my shoulder. I reached for my left shoulder. It was wet. Blood. I was stabbed. My body went numb. I fell on my knees.
The girl charged for Zack. It was fruitless. At a drop of a hat, he tackled her to the ground and disarmed her.
I gasped from pain.
"Mads! Hang on there for a second! I'll get help!" Zack shouted.
It wasn't long before sirens came. I was carried on a stretcher into the ambulance. Zack held my hand through the ride.
Throughout the ride, he kept on saying, "Why did you do that? Look at you! You're hurt!" and "I'm so sorry. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been hurt."
I forbid tears from falling out of my eyes. I couldn't make Zack even guiltier.
We arrived at the hospital. A doctor stitched my wound. It was going to leave a scar.
"Oh my God, Maddie! I'm so glad you're okay!" My mom rushed to hug me. Tears watered down her cheeks.
"Ow!" I winced from pain. My mom instantly let go.
"I'm so sorry! Oh my God, Maddie! Thank goodness you're okay! Sweetie, does it hurt? Can you walk?" My mom was hyperventilating.
"Calm down, mom. I'm fine. I can walk," I tried to joke, "I wasn't stabbed on my leg."
"Maddie," Zack came up to me.
"Hey," I greeted softly.
His eyes flickered to my mom and went back to me. "So, you're going home now, right?"
I nodded, "Pretty soon."
"I guess I should go then. Take lots of rest. Listen to everything the doctor tells you, kay?" Zack cautioned.
"Thank you and I will," I said.
With that, Zack swaggered down the hallway with his head down and his arms swinging back and forth.
"Who is that boy, Maddie? I never got to meet him!" My mom started.
"Oh no mom! Not now! He is just a friend, okay? Just a friend," I hurried.
My mom accessed my every action. I didn't blink.
"Really, we'll talk about it tomorrow," My mom's words were steel.
I groaned.
"We better head back home. Careful. The doctor said not to move it or anything yet," My mom warned.