Emma POV
"You killed him!! You bastard!! You killed him!!" I heard someone yell.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw Manny crying. I tried getting up, but winced in pain as I held my stomach. The pain brought back the painful memory of what happened earlier. Not able to speak very well, I tapped Manny on the shoulder. She jumped when she felt my hand.
"Emma? You're ok. Emma, I'm so glad you're all right. I was so worried."
"Manny," I said slightly out of breath, "what's happening?"
"Spinner, he's...he's gone."
I started crying, "Oh my god, why do bad things always happen to me? Spinner didn't deserve this."
'Spinner,' I thought, 'I'm so sorry I put you through this. This is all my fault.'
"It's ok Emma, we can get through this. Don't cry," Manny said trying to hold back some of her own tears.
"How can I not? It's all my fault."
"No it's not. Why would you say that?"
"If I had stayed friends with him, and stood up for him when he needed me, none of this would have happened."
"You can't change what's happened. What's done is done."
I nodded. She was right, I can't change what has happened, but I could do something. I knew that laying here wouldn't solve anything. I had to talk to Jesse. I had to make him stop. I wouldn't allow him to hurt anyone else anymore. I put my arms up to Manny, "Help me up."
"What? Emma, I don't think that, that is a very good idea."
"Help me up."
"Emma--"
I began to grow frustrated, "I said, help me up."
Reluctantly, Manny helped me up. It hurt like hell to stand up. Pain shot through my body like a ton of bricks.
'Lord give me strength,' I prayed.
The scene around was almost unbearable. It took everything I had to keep walking. Spinner lay there lifeless with a puddle of blood around his body. Paige was only a few feet away from him; she rocked back and forth and was crying loudly.
I tapped Jesse on the shoulder, and he turned around, "Emma?"
"Jesse, you need to stop this," I said crying.
"I-I can't."
"Why can't you?"
"Think about it Emma. I held everyone here at gunpoint. Shot you, and I killed--" He hesitated for a moment, "I killed Spinner."
I couldn't look at him. The thought of what he put us through made me sick. But yet, I couldn't help but pity him.
'Why is it so quiet?' I thought to myself.
Without warning several officers entered the cafeteria. They all had their guns raised toward Jesse.
"DROP THE GUN!" one of the policeman yelled.
I heard the clicking of a gun. I was afraid not only for my life, but for his life as well.
"Jesse, please, do what he says," I cried.
"Go away Emma, I don't need you anymore."
I backed up. I didn't want to start an argument, and have someone get hurt. That was just too much of a risk.
"Ok, son, put down the gun, and step away slowly."
"NO! Get away from me! All of you!" Jesse yelled.
One of the officers tried to walk towards him.
"Back up! Get away!" Jesse yelled.
"Jesse, please!" Manny yelled.
"I just want everyone to know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do all this. I never really had the intention to kill anyone or hurt you. I just wanted you all to see what I've been through. You think it's all fun and games and that I'll get over it, but I haven't. It hurts. It always has. I'm sorry. I did this for you," Jesse looked over at me, "I love you Emma, I always have."
He took the gun and raised it to his temple.
"JESSE! NOOOO!!" Manny and I screamed.
Before we knew it he pulled the trigger. He fell down to the ground and dropped the gun.
"Oh my god! Jesse!" I screamed.
I ran over to Jesse as fast as I could.
"Jesse, please be alive. Don't die." I put my fingers up to his neck to feel for a heartbeat. There was none.
"Oh my god."
I cried as hard as I ever had in my life as I held onto Jesse. I didn't care that I was now covered in blood. Manny walked over to me and tried to comfort me.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I yelled. "DON'T YOU F**KING TOUCH ME!"
"Emma I--," Manny couldn't finish the sentence. She, too, started crying.
"Excuse me, please step away from the body," one of the policemen asked.
"Hey!" Craig yelled coming towards us, "Do you have nothing in your heart? He's dead! Can't you see that? Just give her some time!"
"It's procedure. No one can touch the body."
"Screw the f**king procedure!"
"Son, you better watch you're mouth or we will hold you with contempt."
Craig shut up and went over to try and comfort Manny.
"I just can't believe he's gone," Manny said.
"Who really cares anyway? He killed one of my best friends. I'm glad that he's dead."
Manny took Craig's hands off her, "How could you say that? It's Spinner's fault we're even in this mess."
"Regardless of whether or not Spinner teased Jesse, I still don't think that's any reason for Jesse to come in here with a gun. Besides, Spinner isn't the only one who's done this. Didn't you make Emma choose between you two?"
Manny slapped him across the face. "How dare you!"
"I'm sorry. That was out of line. I just don't get why he would do this."
"You wouldn't understand."
"I would if someone would just tell me what the hell his problem is!"
"Do you know how many times I've wanted to kill myself? After the pregnancy, word got around that I was easy. So many guys came up to me asking me to 'give him some'. I was afraid to walk home by myself. I was afraid that some guy would follow me home expecting something. Do you have any idea how that felt?"
"Manny, I'm so sorry. I never knew."
"You're damn right you didn't. I could very well have been in Jesse's position."
"I'm so sorry Manny. I--"
"Just don't talk. I don't wanna listen to anything you have to say anymore."
Manny came over to me and pulled my arms away from Jesse. We sat there hugging each other and cried.
"Manny, call someone. Anyone. He might still have a chance. He could still be alive. We just have to get someone--"
"Shhhh. Emma. He's gone. There's nothing we can do."
"No. I don't want him to be. He can't."
"Emma. Shhh. It'll be all right." Manny ran her fingers through my hair.
I didn't want him to die. I didn't. I really cared for him. I saw how everyone treated him; I just didn't want to mess up my friendship with Manny. It was stupid, I know. If only I had done what was right. I have stood up for others and myself many times before, why was it so different with Jesse? Why couldn't I do the right thing?
"Are you ok to walk or do you need a stretcher?" one of the paramedics asked me.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
The paramedic nodded and went to see if anyone else needed immediate attention.
"Sean?" I called realizing I hadn't seen him yet and didn't know where he was. I didn't know if he was ok. I didn't even know if he was alive. I looked over at Manny and hoped maybe she knew, "Where's Sean?"
"I'm right here!"
I looked behind me and saw Sean get up from one of the tables. He ran over to me and hugged me.
"Sean. Oh my god Sean. He's gone."
"I know," he said as he kissed my cheek, "I know."
"Come on Emma, we have to go," Manny said as she and Sean lifted me up.
We started to walk out the doors. I walked past some paramedics who were loading Spinner and Jesse onto stretchers. Before we left, I had to look at Jesse one last time. I let go of Manny's hand and walked over to the paramedics.
"Could I see him? One last time?"
The paramedics looked at each other unsure of whether or not to let me see him. Eventually they agreed. The put down the stretcher and stood a few feet away from me. I bent down and looked at his body, which was covered with a white sheet. I pulled down the sheet so I could see his face. His lips were blue. I put my hand on his face and gently touched his cheek. He was so cold. A tear slid down my cheek and landed onto Jesse's face.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to Jesse.
I got back up and walked back to Manny and Sean. We walked out of the school to a swarm of reporters and parents. I shielded my eyes from the bright light of the sun.
"Emma?" I heard someone call. I didn't answer thinking that it was one the reporters.
"Emma!"
I turned around to find my mom running towards me as fast as she could. She was holding Jack, so she wasn't running really fast. I almost fell to the ground when she hugged me. I winced in pain as I clenched my stomach.
"Oh my god, Emma. You're all right." Mom cried.
"Yeah, I'm fine mom. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm fine."
"And Jesse?"
I looked down at the ground. "He's gone."
"Oh honey. It's for the best. The fight is over. You're safe now."
"Yeah." I sighed.
How was it for the best? I needed him. I needed to make everything right.
"Come on honey," mom whispered into my ear, "Let's take you to the hospital."
I walked with my mom to the car as we tried to make our way through the reporters. Once inside the van, I looked outside the window, and said goodbye to Jesse one last time.
A/N... Thanks for reading the chapter. I hope you liked it. I know that it's been a while since I've updated, but I've had a little bit of writer's block. I had written this chapter and it just didn't seem.... Right. But, I didn't want you to wait any longer, so I decided to send it out anyway. I please R&R... even if you don't like this chapter... R&R ( I LOVE to see complaints now, they help me with my story. :)
"You killed him!! You bastard!! You killed him!!" I heard someone yell.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw Manny crying. I tried getting up, but winced in pain as I held my stomach. The pain brought back the painful memory of what happened earlier. Not able to speak very well, I tapped Manny on the shoulder. She jumped when she felt my hand.
"Emma? You're ok. Emma, I'm so glad you're all right. I was so worried."
"Manny," I said slightly out of breath, "what's happening?"
"Spinner, he's...he's gone."
I started crying, "Oh my god, why do bad things always happen to me? Spinner didn't deserve this."
'Spinner,' I thought, 'I'm so sorry I put you through this. This is all my fault.'
"It's ok Emma, we can get through this. Don't cry," Manny said trying to hold back some of her own tears.
"How can I not? It's all my fault."
"No it's not. Why would you say that?"
"If I had stayed friends with him, and stood up for him when he needed me, none of this would have happened."
"You can't change what's happened. What's done is done."
I nodded. She was right, I can't change what has happened, but I could do something. I knew that laying here wouldn't solve anything. I had to talk to Jesse. I had to make him stop. I wouldn't allow him to hurt anyone else anymore. I put my arms up to Manny, "Help me up."
"What? Emma, I don't think that, that is a very good idea."
"Help me up."
"Emma--"
I began to grow frustrated, "I said, help me up."
Reluctantly, Manny helped me up. It hurt like hell to stand up. Pain shot through my body like a ton of bricks.
'Lord give me strength,' I prayed.
The scene around was almost unbearable. It took everything I had to keep walking. Spinner lay there lifeless with a puddle of blood around his body. Paige was only a few feet away from him; she rocked back and forth and was crying loudly.
I tapped Jesse on the shoulder, and he turned around, "Emma?"
"Jesse, you need to stop this," I said crying.
"I-I can't."
"Why can't you?"
"Think about it Emma. I held everyone here at gunpoint. Shot you, and I killed--" He hesitated for a moment, "I killed Spinner."
I couldn't look at him. The thought of what he put us through made me sick. But yet, I couldn't help but pity him.
'Why is it so quiet?' I thought to myself.
Without warning several officers entered the cafeteria. They all had their guns raised toward Jesse.
"DROP THE GUN!" one of the policeman yelled.
I heard the clicking of a gun. I was afraid not only for my life, but for his life as well.
"Jesse, please, do what he says," I cried.
"Go away Emma, I don't need you anymore."
I backed up. I didn't want to start an argument, and have someone get hurt. That was just too much of a risk.
"Ok, son, put down the gun, and step away slowly."
"NO! Get away from me! All of you!" Jesse yelled.
One of the officers tried to walk towards him.
"Back up! Get away!" Jesse yelled.
"Jesse, please!" Manny yelled.
"I just want everyone to know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do all this. I never really had the intention to kill anyone or hurt you. I just wanted you all to see what I've been through. You think it's all fun and games and that I'll get over it, but I haven't. It hurts. It always has. I'm sorry. I did this for you," Jesse looked over at me, "I love you Emma, I always have."
He took the gun and raised it to his temple.
"JESSE! NOOOO!!" Manny and I screamed.
Before we knew it he pulled the trigger. He fell down to the ground and dropped the gun.
"Oh my god! Jesse!" I screamed.
I ran over to Jesse as fast as I could.
"Jesse, please be alive. Don't die." I put my fingers up to his neck to feel for a heartbeat. There was none.
"Oh my god."
I cried as hard as I ever had in my life as I held onto Jesse. I didn't care that I was now covered in blood. Manny walked over to me and tried to comfort me.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I yelled. "DON'T YOU F**KING TOUCH ME!"
"Emma I--," Manny couldn't finish the sentence. She, too, started crying.
"Excuse me, please step away from the body," one of the policemen asked.
"Hey!" Craig yelled coming towards us, "Do you have nothing in your heart? He's dead! Can't you see that? Just give her some time!"
"It's procedure. No one can touch the body."
"Screw the f**king procedure!"
"Son, you better watch you're mouth or we will hold you with contempt."
Craig shut up and went over to try and comfort Manny.
"I just can't believe he's gone," Manny said.
"Who really cares anyway? He killed one of my best friends. I'm glad that he's dead."
Manny took Craig's hands off her, "How could you say that? It's Spinner's fault we're even in this mess."
"Regardless of whether or not Spinner teased Jesse, I still don't think that's any reason for Jesse to come in here with a gun. Besides, Spinner isn't the only one who's done this. Didn't you make Emma choose between you two?"
Manny slapped him across the face. "How dare you!"
"I'm sorry. That was out of line. I just don't get why he would do this."
"You wouldn't understand."
"I would if someone would just tell me what the hell his problem is!"
"Do you know how many times I've wanted to kill myself? After the pregnancy, word got around that I was easy. So many guys came up to me asking me to 'give him some'. I was afraid to walk home by myself. I was afraid that some guy would follow me home expecting something. Do you have any idea how that felt?"
"Manny, I'm so sorry. I never knew."
"You're damn right you didn't. I could very well have been in Jesse's position."
"I'm so sorry Manny. I--"
"Just don't talk. I don't wanna listen to anything you have to say anymore."
Manny came over to me and pulled my arms away from Jesse. We sat there hugging each other and cried.
"Manny, call someone. Anyone. He might still have a chance. He could still be alive. We just have to get someone--"
"Shhhh. Emma. He's gone. There's nothing we can do."
"No. I don't want him to be. He can't."
"Emma. Shhh. It'll be all right." Manny ran her fingers through my hair.
I didn't want him to die. I didn't. I really cared for him. I saw how everyone treated him; I just didn't want to mess up my friendship with Manny. It was stupid, I know. If only I had done what was right. I have stood up for others and myself many times before, why was it so different with Jesse? Why couldn't I do the right thing?
"Are you ok to walk or do you need a stretcher?" one of the paramedics asked me.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
The paramedic nodded and went to see if anyone else needed immediate attention.
"Sean?" I called realizing I hadn't seen him yet and didn't know where he was. I didn't know if he was ok. I didn't even know if he was alive. I looked over at Manny and hoped maybe she knew, "Where's Sean?"
"I'm right here!"
I looked behind me and saw Sean get up from one of the tables. He ran over to me and hugged me.
"Sean. Oh my god Sean. He's gone."
"I know," he said as he kissed my cheek, "I know."
"Come on Emma, we have to go," Manny said as she and Sean lifted me up.
We started to walk out the doors. I walked past some paramedics who were loading Spinner and Jesse onto stretchers. Before we left, I had to look at Jesse one last time. I let go of Manny's hand and walked over to the paramedics.
"Could I see him? One last time?"
The paramedics looked at each other unsure of whether or not to let me see him. Eventually they agreed. The put down the stretcher and stood a few feet away from me. I bent down and looked at his body, which was covered with a white sheet. I pulled down the sheet so I could see his face. His lips were blue. I put my hand on his face and gently touched his cheek. He was so cold. A tear slid down my cheek and landed onto Jesse's face.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to Jesse.
I got back up and walked back to Manny and Sean. We walked out of the school to a swarm of reporters and parents. I shielded my eyes from the bright light of the sun.
"Emma?" I heard someone call. I didn't answer thinking that it was one the reporters.
"Emma!"
I turned around to find my mom running towards me as fast as she could. She was holding Jack, so she wasn't running really fast. I almost fell to the ground when she hugged me. I winced in pain as I clenched my stomach.
"Oh my god, Emma. You're all right." Mom cried.
"Yeah, I'm fine mom. You don't have to worry anymore. I'm fine."
"And Jesse?"
I looked down at the ground. "He's gone."
"Oh honey. It's for the best. The fight is over. You're safe now."
"Yeah." I sighed.
How was it for the best? I needed him. I needed to make everything right.
"Come on honey," mom whispered into my ear, "Let's take you to the hospital."
I walked with my mom to the car as we tried to make our way through the reporters. Once inside the van, I looked outside the window, and said goodbye to Jesse one last time.
A/N... Thanks for reading the chapter. I hope you liked it. I know that it's been a while since I've updated, but I've had a little bit of writer's block. I had written this chapter and it just didn't seem.... Right. But, I didn't want you to wait any longer, so I decided to send it out anyway. I please R&R... even if you don't like this chapter... R&R ( I LOVE to see complaints now, they help me with my story. :)