Chapter 54 – Freeze

Freeze.

I freeze in place, staring in horror. My Everything screams in terror, frozen also. My heart stops.

The car swerves.

Heart restarts.

~xXMyElementalXx~

I feel terrible, disgusting, unworthy to be in the position I'm in right now. I freeze in place, letting My Elemental run to me and embrace me. I don't react, running the scene of a mere few hours ago through my head again and again. Each time I pause, freezing the memory on the exact point where I screw up. The one moment that proves that I so not belong, I am unfit to be here, frozen as my Kyla clings to me, crying softly. I automatically envelop My Elemental in my arms, providing what she needs unconsciously before even thinking about myself.

"Oh god, Seth, I was so scared. I was worried that you'd get hurt, or the baby, or the driver…" My Everything's voice fades into more weeping.

I feel stupid, selfish, ugly, evil. How can I face such a perfect being – my Kyla, who was worried about everyone but herself - and say that only one person sprang to mind in that dreaded instant? How could I possibly explain that my first and only thoughts were this;

'Not Kyla,'

'Anyone by My Elemental,'

'Not her, please…'

I am despicable. I couldn't do anything. My Everything needed me, and all I could do was contemplate the worst case scenario. I froze, I couldn't save her, it's a miracle that she's still alive.

It's a miracle I haven't thrown myself in front of a car for putting My Everything in danger like that. Well, I haven't done it yet, anyway.

I hear a quiet sound over My Everything's weeping and I look up, seeing Carlisle Cullen slowly approach us. I hold My Elemental closer to me instinctively and smile at him politely in greeting.

"Is she alright? Nothing broken?" I ask earnestly, my eyes anxious as they search the vampire's golden ones.

"She's fine, slightly scared and a little shaken up. Other than that, she's perfectly healthy," Dr Cullen smiles. I sigh with relief and allow my head to fall on top of Kyla's, protecting her from the world for a few brief moments.

My Everything pulls back and I let her. I open my mouth, intending to apologize, when my lips are suddenly otherwise occupied. My Elemental kisses next to me again and again, her hands grasping at my shirt, my hair, and her breathing ragged. I freeze yet again, trying to understand this turn of events.

Finally, I give up on understanding, give up on trying to protect, prevent, rescue, restrain, focus, even think. I just let my body, my inner wolf, take over. He always seems to have a better grasp on instinct than me.

I sink into the kisses and respond, pulling My Elemental flush against my body and kissing all of her worries and anxieties into oblivion. Eventually, My Everything pulls back from the kiss to stare me in the eye. I open my mouth quickly, determined to apologise.

"I'm so sorry Kyla, I didn't protect you. I failed in every promise I ever made, be it to you to keep you safe, or to me to protect you. I… I froze, and I'm so sorry-"

"Shush." My Everything covers my babbling mouth with her fingers, shushing me with a smile on her face.

"I'm glad that you froze, Seth," She says in answer to my confused expression. "If you hadn't, you would've jumped in to protect me and you would've gotten hurt. I can't stand to see you hurt, Seth."

With that, My Everything buries her head in the crook of my neck and holds me close. I return the embrace willingly, not freezing this time.

I promise myself I'll never freeze again.

A.N. ~

Alrighty, in case this confused anyone, Kyla nearly had a car accident, and Seth is beating himself up because he didn't do something stupid like jump in front of the car.

This chapter in a nutshell.

Lena: I agree with Kyla, it's a good thing Seth froze.

I have nothing witty to say, purely because I'm focussed on the next chapter.

ONWARD

Just until next time

Ja matta!

Jerome :)

And Lena xox