Saving Lila (cancelled)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: 

Before I had the chance to answer, Ryder had already whisked me outside. There was no turning back now.

"HEY! YOU TWO GET BACK HERE!" Someone yells.

Both of us turn to find one of the school's security officers running toward us.

"Run!" Ryder yells taking off, me right behind him. With his athletic buildup, he was able to reach his car in a matter of seconds. With me and my fragile, week state, I was only a fourth of the way to his car.

When Ryder sees me lagging behind, with the officer about to catch up, he sprints back to me. Once he reaches me, he picks me up bridal style and takes off toward his car once again.

I automatically cling onto him, wrapping me arms around his neck, holding on for dear life. It wasn't even moments later when he reaches the car and gently places me in the passenger seat.

He rounds the car to his side and hops in. "STOP!" The officer yells at us. I turn around to find him a few yards from the car, but before he could reach us, Ryder's car roars to life and we speed out of the school's parking lot.

I take deep, calming breaths, trying to collect myself. I would have been caught is it weren't for Ryder. 

It was that moment that I realized he had to carry all my weight. Oh how terrible for him! It’s a surprise that he didn't drop me.

"I am so sorry." I exclaim turning to him. 

Confusion flashes across his face. "For what?" He asks glancing at me, but only for a second as he keeps his eyes on the road.

"You could have left me to get caught, but you came back. You had to carry me, and all my weight." I softly say, looking out the window, too ashamed to face him.

Silence filled the car and moments later he pulls off to the side of the road. I still avoid his gaze as he turns off his car and turn to me.

"You're joking right?" He asks me, trying to catch my eyes, but failing miserably. When I don't answer, he grips my chin, making me look into his eyes.

I immediately get lost in his beautiful, piercing blue eyes. 

"Lila, remember I am your friend. Friends don’t leave each other behind. I came back for you because it's either we both escape, or we go down together, as a team. As for your weight, I'll ask you one question. What weight?" He asks.

Sighing I motion down to my stomach and thighs. "Look at all that fat. I was surprised you didn't drop me when you picked me up. Candy was right, she has always been right! I'm just and ugly, fat little bi-"

Before I can finish, Ryder cuts me off. 

"Stop! Stop right there! Don't listen to that Barbie! You are beautiful, you are perfect." Ryder tells me, starting with a raised voice, to a soft murmur as he begins to inch toward me slowly.

Both of our eyes close as our breaths mingle and our lips just a centimeter from touching. I move forward, trying to close the distance, but my elbow hits the radio, causing music to blare from the speakers on full blast. 

Our eyes shoot open and we both jump away from each other. I cover my ears with my hands as Ryder fumbles around, trying to stop the music. When he finally turns the noise down, he turns on the car and beginning to drive away.

The award tension in the car was suffocating. My flushed face was turned to the window so I could avoid making eye contact.

Why was I about to do that? I was going to give him my first kiss, and I've only met him today. I'm such a slut!

My thoughts in my head turn depressing as I tell myself over and over again how ugly, fat, and slutty I am.

He is probably relieved that I hit the radio. He would have regretted kissing an ugly girl like me. I saved him from the regret though, I saved him from the horror of kissing me. Nobody would ever like me, including Ryder. Nobody will ever love or care for me again.

Only one person has ever cared for me before, and she is gone now. Emma is gone. 

Thoughts of Emma's death replayed in my head. The rain, the glass, the blood. Not only was that replaying in my head, but also all the time the bullies have abused me, both mentally and physically. To make it even better, I kept thinking about how Ryder would probably join them soon. He would be happy with Candy and he would yell nasty comments at me.

Tears now stream down my face. I don’t want to be in this car any longer.

"S-stop the car!" I tell Ryder, cringing at how my voice cracks and how I stutter.

"What? What's wrong?" Ryder asks concerned, but does as I say and pulls off of the road. Before the car even came to a full stop, I open my door and hop out.

I take off running away from the car, and away from Ryder. I faintly hear his yells for me to stop and come back, but I block them out and I just run.

I don't know where I'm going but I do know I'm just trying to get away. I'm not only running to get away from Ryder, but I'm running from everything.

I'm running from my bullies, I'm running from my unloving parents, I'm running from Emma's death, and most of all, I'm running from myself.

With my vision being blurred by my tears, I don’t see the large root from a tree until my foot gets caught and I come barreling to the ground.

I lay on the earth, the only movement I make is my shoulders shaking as I sob. It's funny how I've been doing this a lot more lately. My many breakdowns.

The thing is I don’t care anymore. I just want to give up. I promised Emma that I wouldn't, that I would graduate from high school with my head held high, but she never knew how hard that was.

She has loving parents, she had the looks, she was able to eat anything without gaining weight, she was smart, and she had me. She had everything a person could need.

Me, I only had her, but she's gone and now I have nothing. 

I don't remember turning around to lay on my back, but now I just stare up past the trees and to the sky. Birds chirp in the woods around me. They sound so happy, so carefree.

If only that could be me.

I faintly feel the burning sensation in my hands where I tried to catch myself from the fall, but I only made it so my hands scraped against all the rocks and roots on the forest floor.

I feel so numb. By now the sky is beginning to darken and the temperature is dropping. I'm not crying anymore either. I stopped who know how long ago. 

Deciding I don't want to lay here all day I try to get up, the key word tried. Right as I stood up, my surrounding began to spin in my vision. Black spots began to form around the edges of my vision.

My body needed the food that I have been refusing to give it. Now my body was reacting to the lack of nourishment.

I faintly see the outline of a male figure come toward my way when I black out.

The last thing I register is arms wrapping around me and a masculine voice with an Australian accent whisper, "Oh, Lila. I promise I'll figure you out, and I promise I'll help you. I promise I'll fix you, and I never break a promise."