If Only

Chapter 14 - Point of No Return

I tried to move towards them, no plan in mind, just knowing that I had to stop the fight. But Lizzy grabbed my arm, stopping me from moving. I looked back at her, pleading with my eyes that she let me go, that she let me fix this, but her grip remained firm.

Tyson, despite being drunk, managed to somehow recover from the heavy blow. It was almost as if the punch had woken him up from whatever stupor he had been in. He sloppily lunged at Greyson, his hand not finding its target.

Instead, Greyson grabbed onto his arm, twisting it until Tyson was wincing. Greyson reared back his hand again, delivering Tyson a punch to the face that sent him falling to the floor. That didn't stop Greyson as he lent down, picking up Tyson by the collar of his shirt.

"Leave... while you still can," Greyson snarled, punching him across the face one last time before releasing his collar to let his head slam down onto the porch. "I won't fucking tell you again."

Tyson got to his knees slowly, turning around to give me a threatening look that held a promise of retribution. He wiped at the blood that was running from his nose, spitting onto the ground.

He managed to find his way back into a standing position, stumbling to his car before starting the engine and pulling out quickly, the tires of his car screeching. I had no idea how he was going to make it home, he could hardly stand, much less drive. But he was already gone, there was nothing I could do now.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized, the words spewing out of my mouth.

"Sammy, that's not your fault," Lizzy consoled, leading me back into the house and away from the doorway.

"He's just a fucking douchebag," Nia added, shaking her head in irritation.

I sat down on the couch beside Lizzy, covering my face with my hands. Embarrassment flushed through me at the situation. There was no reason for any of them to have to deal with this. I heard Zane walk out onto the porch, obviously to check on Greyson, who had just beat the absolute crap out of Tyson.

"This was what we meant earlier, Sammy," Paige said, the words equivalent to a big, fat I told you so. I didn't know what to say in response, so I remained silent.

Tension coursed within the house, within the people inside of it. All of us remained quiet, unsure what to say to make this situation better. I wasn't sure there was anything that possibly could.

The two of them entered the house again a few minutes later, Greyson still fuming, his fists stained with Tyson's blood. I stood up abruptly, not wanting to taint them with my presence any longer. I only brought trouble and destruction with me.

"I need to go," I insisted, walking towards the counter to grab my phone.

I felt like I was reliving the other night all over again, except this time it was so much worse. I wasn't going to let it happen again, to escalate more than it had tonight.

Even if that meant I had to cut them out of my life.

My heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces at the thought. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, not letting the tears fall. The contact in my right eye burned, making me want to reach in and rip it straight out.

"Where are you going to go? You can't go back to your guys' apartment right now," Lizzy reasoned.

"I don't know, I just, I-" I stammered, shaking my head.

I couldn't let them convince me to stay here, I needed to go find Tyson, to make sure he wasn't acting on the threats he always threw at me.

"Sammy, I'm not letting you walk out of that door. I don't care if you fucking hate me for it, I'm not letting you go see him when he's like that," Zane growled, his protectiveness rearing it's head at the situation. The statement took me by surprise. What was I supposed to do if they weren't going to let me leave?