This was the moment. This was the exact moment I've been waiting for, for the last several weeks. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, what I was hearing. My body fluttered, even after all the torture mentally, emotionally and physically, she still had a way to make me feel different. She made me feel alive.
I looked up at her beautiful face, even with makeup smears and what seemed to look like bruises she still looked more than perfect to me.
"Zack!" She gasped, saying my name again.
She began crying harder. A smile appeared but she soon cover it up with her hand. She stood in shock and in awe. I couldn't help but smile as big as I could. I began walking closer to the back of the ambulance, but immediatley stopped. She pushed all the EMT's that surrounded her out of her way and ran out the back, jumping into my arms.
That exact moment was just a blessing experience. I never imagined holding her ever again. Her skin jumping into mine, made everything these pass weeks go away. Her smell surrounded me, it still had that feminine flowery smell that I loved and missed smelling everyday. She was so warm in my arms. It felt like a dream. I missed her soft brown hair. Her precious eyes and smile. Her skin touching mine. Her gorgeous face. I missed her voice, saying my name. And now it was her. Everything I've been praying for was in my arms, for good.
I looked up to the sky and smiled. I shut my eyes as I embraced her even more. I clutched my arms around her tiny physique. I pressed my face into the side of her neck. She wrapped her arms around my neck and cried into my shirt. I rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.
"Zack, oh my god.." She whispered into my chest, with sobs.
"Shh." I rubbed her back. I held onto her waist, making circles on her hip. She cried even harder.
I couldn't help but shed a tear or two. I couldn't believe I had her. The feeling she had over me was something crazy. I never knew I could experience this type of feeling. Just having her in my arms, without really saying anything was perfect. I wanted her. I needed her. Just having her in my precense felt like a dream.
I pulled back, making sure this was real. It was hard determining whether it was real or not, being with her and seeing her seemed unreal. She was too perfect.
Seeing her tear streaked face broke me. I never wanted her to feel pain, whether it was mental or physical. I wanted to protect her, be there for her. I never want to put her in that predicament again. If I have to take her with me on my job, then that was that. I'd drag her with me if I had to.
I raised my hand towards her soft cheek and wiped the tears away.
"Kendra, baby." I spoke above a whisper.
She teared up more.
"I miss you saying my name, Zack." She tried smiling.
I smiled back and looked at her. Her beautiful eyes were mezmorizing. "I miss you, saying my name." I smirked, before pulling her back into my arms. I squeezed her in my arms, wanting her never to leave my hold. She did the same, probably feeling the same way.
"I'm sorry this ever happened to you." I spoke into her brown hair.
She seemed to sob and shook her head into my chest.
"This was never your fault. I'm so sorry, Zack." She cried.
My heart broke as she said those words. I hated that she put all this on her. It angered me that Shane did all this and Kendra still took all the blame.
"Kendra," I cupped the back of her head. I tilted my head to get closer to her ear. Our foreheads nearly touching. I looked in her eyes, she looked at me through her lashes. "This was never your fault, baby. Please believe me."
She shivered against my body.
We just stayed like that, embracing each other. Holding each other. Loving each others precense.
Holding Kendra, smelling her smell made me forget where we were. It felt like it was just me and her. I could only hear her breathing and her heart beat. I could only hear her sobs. I could only feel her. I couldn't hear the sirens, the chatter of others. Holding her, being with her felt like paradise.
"Sir, you need assistance." A lady tapped me on the shoulder, before pointing at my arm.
Kendra and I just turned to her and walked into the back of the ambulance truck. Kendra sat attached to my hip, my good arm wrapped around her.
"Ahh." I whispered before scrunching my face up, trying to block out the stinging pain coming from my arm.
"Sorry." The lady said as she rubbed my arm with gauzes.
"I'm sorry, Zack." Kendra spoke, looking at my arm and wincing. Her eyes were full of pain and hurt.
I rubbed circles on her side with my thumb. I shook my head, leaning into her.
"Kendra, please stop blaming yourself." I looked up at her. I tried being stern but looking at her face made me feel weak. She slightly nodded and placed her head on my shoulder.
"Hey, Kendra." A voice said, suprising us. I held onto Kendra tighter, but loosened my grip seeing it was Alex. She jumped. I saw the smile appear on Kendra's face as she looked at me and patted my leg. I nodded and smiled. She got up and hopped down the truck and hugged Alex.
"Alex!!" She said, sounding happy.
"Don't ever run away from us again, you hear me." Alex said, hugging her.
She laughed a little, which made my stomach flutter in all the right ways.
"I'm sorry."
"Kendra." I said, raising my eyebrows at her. She looked a little sad as I tried correcting her, but she didn't take it back. She was just as stubborn as she was before, but I chuckled to myself. I missed her. I missed her bad. Every tiny little thing she did, I missed. The bad and the good, even though there wasn't much I could think of that was bad, or even a flaw.
The lady was finishing up on my arm, as I sat admiring Kendra talking to Alex from a distance.
"She's a lucky one." The lady spoke, making me snap out of my daze.
I smiled and shook my head. "Nah, I am." I smiled looking back at Kendra. The sun shone down on her, making all the features defined. Her eyes sparkled as well as her smile. Everytime she smiled a little dimple poked at her cheek.
"How long have you been together?" The lady asked me.
I shook my head. "Not long actually."
It was then, that question, that made me question myself. What was I doing? I love Kendra. Sitting here wasting time wasn't something I wanted. I wanted to make her mine. I never want to lose her. I wanted to let her know how I felt. I needed to be with her. I just didn't know how. Kendra is a special girl, and I wanted to let her know in a special way. I couldn't treat Kendra like any other girl, I wanted to make our moment special.
**KENDRA's POV ****
Everything felt surreal. I stood here talking to Alex.
Seeing Alex and Zack, just made everything better. But being able to actually hold them, and talk and interact with them made everything felt surreal.
Alex just talked to me about never running away. He told me that if I had a problem that I needed to go to him and not do what I did.
"Yeah, yeah Alex. I won't do it again, I promise." I said. "I just missed you!" I laughed and pulled him in again.
"Okay, okay! I missed you too, Kendra." Alex said, hugging me back.
It felt good to be held by someone you cared about. I felt so blessed to have friends like Alex and Zack and everyone back home.
We pulled away. I just smiled looking up at him.
"You didn't get hurt did you?" I asked, worry rushing over me.
He shook his head. "No, but Zack did."
We both turned our head towards the back of the ambulance truck, seeing Zack talking to the EMT. He looked so handsome, better than before actually. If that was even possible. Guilt and worry washed throughout my body, knowing the person I cared about the most got hurt. I shook my head, hating myself a little.
"He missed you so much, Kendra. You couldn't imagine." Alex spoke as I admired Zack from a distance. I nodded and replied.
"I missed him so much more. Believe me."
We stayed silent for a minute.
"How's everyone else, though?"
He nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Good." He paused for a brief moment. "Actually not really."
My eyebrows scrunched together, looking at Alex waitiing for him to go on.
"Everyone's been going crazy these past couple weeks. Ecspecially Zack, Cassadee and Mace. We didn't know where you went or what happened to you, Ken. Please never do this again, please." I could hear the pain in his voice. I looked at his begging eyes, and felt even more bad about myself.
"I promise." I whispered.
I didn't know what to say. I just stood there taking in everything Alex has just said. I turned to Zack, who was staring at me. He had a smile as we made eye contact.
"Come here." Zack said, motioning me over.
I patted Alex on the arm and smiled before hopping back into the truck.
"Yeah?"
"You alright? You looked upset." He said, patting the seat next to him. I adjusted myself so we sat like before. His body touching mine made me tingle. Even at a time like this Zack had the power to make me feel every way.
"I'm fine." I shook my head, letting out a smile. I hoped that Zack didn't see that it was forced.
"Kendra," He placed his hand on my back. "What's wrong?"
Dammit. I cursed to myself. How did he know? I was trying to make something up before we got cut off. I silently thanked the lady.
"All done." The EMT informed us. She wiped her hands off and stood up, cleaning the tray. "Just be careful. Make sure to clean it and bandage it up." She smiled and patted both of us on the shoulder. "Be careful, from now on."
Zack smiled, trying to shoo her away.
He turned his body, adjusting it so that it faced me more. He placed his hands around mine.
"Kendra, tell me what's wrong? Did Alex say something?"
"No, I don't know. I just feel so guilty for everything, Zack."
He shut his eyes and breathed. He cupped his hands under my jaw.
"Nothing is your fault. If anything this made me realize how much you mean to me. Yeah, you scared me. You scared all of us. We all wish this never happened, but it did. But you're okay, now. That's all that matters. Don't be so hard on yourself. Please. You hurt me when you hurt yourself, Kendra."
His voice vibrated through me. His eyes looking deeply into mine, made me want to wrap myself around him. I wanted to place my lips on his, and never let go.
"Mamn, sir?" We heard a knock at the back of the truck, not letting me take advantage of the man infront of me. The cop at the end of the truck stood there, not letting me make my fantasies come true.
"Yes?" Zack spoke up.
"Could we speak, individually?"
Zack nodded. "I'm not letting her out of my sight."
The cop seemed to hesitate at first but motioned him over anyways.
I sat there trying to hear what was going on, but they spoke too quietly. All I saw was Zack nodding and talking back. He held onto his bandaged arm. The cop frequently used his hands to talk. Zack interacting with the cop, made me feel guilty, again. Even after Zack had told me multiple times to stop badgering myself.
He shook hands with the cop, before motioning myself to step towards him. Zack smiled before stepping aside. He saw Alex and began to talk.
"Mamn, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"You guess? We seemed to gather information, correct me if I am wrong?"
The cop began telling me everything about my life, it seemed like. He knew where I was from. How Shane and I knew each other. He knew what happened. He knew Zack and my Aunt and Robert. He knew what car I drove. He knew what car Shane drove. It was pretty mind blowing how much this cop knew about this situation.
I nodded in shock. My eyes probably bulging.
"Is that all correct? You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah! It's all correct. Sorry, it's just crazy that you knew all that."
He laughed a little and nodded.
"Well just like I told your boyfriend, we'll get in contact in a couple days for a proper interview and some follow-ups."
I laughed, and shook my head.
"What?" He asked, tilting his head.
"Nothing it's just that he's not my boyfyfriend." I laughed again, silently this time. The cop knew everything but my relationship with Zack.
The cop had a confused face on. "Really? That was one of my first conclusions."
I laughed and patted the cop's arm.
"Thank you so much, sir. I'll see you soon."
"Take care." He chuckled and turned on his heels.
As I turned to go towards Zack. A hand jumped in front of me. I jumped, grabbing my chest.
"Kendra?" Another EMT lady stood by me asked.
I nodded, still feeling my heart beat racing.
"You have a caller." She handed me a phone, that had a medical emblem on it.
I thanked her and hesitantly pressed the phone up to my ear.
"Hello?"
"Kendra, baby girl! Oh my god!" I heard Aunt Macy squeal through the phone. I could tell she was jumping up and down, crying joyful tears.
"Aunt Macy!" I wiped the tears that rimmed my eye, hoping they wouldn't fall.
****ZACK's POV****
I stood near Alex, talking.
"Did you talk to the cop?" I asked Alex.
"Yeah, you?"
I nodded and rolled my eyes.
"Fuckin Shane, right?" Alex laughed.
I nodded. "Fucker didn't even have bullets!"
I physically was laughing at the little shithead, but mentally I was thanking God. I was so relieved that Shane didn't have bullets. Even though it didn't matter now, it just made me feel better. I was even more relieved Kendra was safe and sound.
"You ready to head home?" Alex asked.
I nodded, maybe too eagerly.
I turned to find Kendra, seeing her handing a phone to an EMT and began talking to Riley. I slowly approached her, making her jolt.
"Sorry, Kendra." I whispered in her ear apologizing for scaring her, as I snaked my arm around her waist.
"Hey Zack." Riley spoke, smiling at me. I nodded at him, smiling back.
"You know each other?" She tilted her head, looking cute.
I felt warmth surround my cheeks as she did that.
"He saved my life, pretty much." She said, hearing the gratefulness.
"I know. I can't thank him enough."
Riley and I explained to Kendra what happened and how we knew each other. She seemed astonished and a bit angered. I rubbed her back, trying to relax her. Alex had jumped in middle of conversation and thanked Riley as well.
"You wanna head home?" I pulled Kendra closer into my side.
She nodded and smiled.
"I'll get the car." I spoke, holding Kendra's hand.
Alex nodded pulling his phone out, getting Riley's number.
We walked towards the car. Less people were around, mostly just cops and EMT's. I pulled her towards the car, leaning against the passenger side. She leaned in against me, resting her head against my chest. I gently put my chin on top of her head, wrapping my arms around her torso. She did the same. I kissed the top of her head. I closed my eyes, embracing the moment.
"I missed you Zack."
I smiled, as wind gently blew against us. I squeezed her tighter.
"I missed you a whole lot, Kendra."
We stood propped up against the car, holding each other.
I saw Alex approaching.
"Let's go."
I smiled. I opened the door for Kendra, she smiled and slid in. Alex got in the back as I got into the drivers side.
"You ready?" Alex asked. I nodded and looked at Kendra.
"I got what I wanted."
She blushed and look down, folding her hands into her lap. Alex patted her on her shoulder from behind, making her jolt up. She seemed a little embarresed and smiled. Her face turning a little shade of red.
"Can we go back to the apartment? I wanted to grab some stuff." She asked with her feather like voice.
I nodded and turned the car towards the direction of the apartment.
I pulled behind her car.
"Hey Alex, can you do me a huge favor? I'll make it up to you." I said, turning my head looking at Alex in the backseat.
He hummed, waiting for me to go on.
"Do you mind driving Kendra's car back home?"
Kendra jumped, looking at me with her eyebrows furrowed. She began shaking her head, before she began to talk.
"No, it's fine. I can drive it or I can come back and get it. I just wanted to grab some stuff."
I smiled at her. "No Kendra. It's fine. It'll save us a trip anyways."
"Yeah, it's cool. I can drive it." Alex jumped in, making Kendra's shoulders slightly relax.
"I can drive it, Zack. I promise."
I shook my head. "You need rest, sweetheart." I said. I watched as the corners of her mouth perked up, but not all the way. Alex opened the door, makng both of us snap back into reality.
"Where are the keys?"
"Inside the kitchen, I'll get it." She reached for the seatbelt button, but I grabbed her hand before she could even press it.
"I'll go in." I stated, not wanting her to get out and see the past. I didn't want her to have flashbacks of the misery she lived in.
"Zack, it's seriously fine. I needed to grab something really important."
I tried thinking back to what was in the little dungy apartment. All that was left was a raggedy old pillow and a dirty blanket. I remember picking up her phone, that was all that was left.
"I'm gonna go get the keys." Alex informed us before walking into the apartment complex.
She went to open her door, but I reached for her. She turned around and her eyes beamed. I held her phone in my hands.
"Was this it?" I asked.
She smiled that heart-warming smile that I missed so very much and grabbed the phone and placed it on her lap. She seemed to relax in the seat again, just looking at the phone then me.
"Thanks, Zack."
I remembered everything that I saw on that phone, from the video to the background picture. Hearing her words and her cries made me want to protect her even more. I never want her to hurt again. I never want to see her cry. I wanted to make her the happiest girl from now on. Shane put her in too much misery. Someone so beautiful and precious should never be hurting.
I leaned towards her and pushed her hair behind her ear. I placed my hand under her jaw cupping the side of her neck. I leaned in kissing her cheek, loving the sensation of her skin under my lips.
"You're welcome." I said, above a whisper. I was inches away from her still, my heart beating out of my chest. I could feel her sweet breath on my lips. I looked at her beautiful brown eyes, my heart starting to melt. I saw her eyes moving from my eyes to my lips. I wanted nothing more than to press up against her soft pink lips.
We heard jingling of keys, and turning to look out the window to see Alex.
"Got 'em." He raised his hands, showing us the keys.
"You don't need anything else from in there right?" I asked her. She sat there still looking at me with enticing eyes. She shook her head.
"Nope, I left everything in my car."
I saw Alex approaching. I slid back into my seat, staring at her. I wanted more, I wanted her. Everything about her, I needed it.
I rolled down the passenger side window, Alex peeking his head in.
"Ready? I got my phone for directions, in case we get seperated."
I nodded. He smiled and rubbed the top of Kendra's head, messing her hair up. We both laughed.
"Be careful." Kendra said, as Alex approached her car.
"I will, you be careful." He smiled and got in, starting it up. I pulled up waiting for Alex to follow along.
I put my hand on her thigh, holding it. She smiled and watched out the window.
"Ready for the next 2 hours?" I asked, giving her a half smile.
She smiled, her hair pushed behind her ear. She nodded and held on my hand.
About 30 minutes passed, Alex still followed. Soft acoustic music played in the background followed by Kendra's soft breathing. I looked at her in the reclined seat. Her eyelids closed. She looked so precious. I knew she was tired more than ever, but I wanted nothing more than to pull this car over and taste her lips.
I refrained from doing so, continuing following the navigation.
Twenty mintues later, she awoke. Stretching in the tiny little space we had. She still looked so cute doing so, nonetheless.
"How far are we?"
"Like an hour? Good sleep?"
"Yeah, it's been a long time." She said.
I frowned a little hearing her say those words. I could only imagine the hell she went through. She moved her hand over towards me, wanting me to hold it. I smiled at her doing so.
We began to talk like old times. She told me that she talked to Aunt Macy earlier, when the EMT handed her their phone. She talked about how much she wanted to move. She told me that she missed me and that she missed everyone so much.
Hearing her voice was a blessing. I could just listen to her all day. It was so soothing. It made me relax this entire drive back. Not just her voice but her precense.
An hour passed, Kendra went back to sleep again.
I pulled into the neighborhood that we first lived in, not even knowing that we were neighbors. Everyones cars were parked along Aunt Macy's yard. I pulled into the empty spot in the driveway and put it in park. I turned the engine off, reaching for my seatbelt. I saw Alex pull behind me.
I kissed her cheek again, seeing her eyes flutter. She squirmed in her seat. She smiled into my eyes until she looked outside.
"We're already here?!" She exclaimed.
She bolted out the car. Alex already walking up the walkway.
The door opened, and the smell of biscuits and ham surrounded me. The aroma so sweet that I ran into the house behind Kendra. Everyone was there. Cassadee and Macy crying, happy tears that is. Everyone gathered and hugged Kendra, placing a smile on my face.
This was real. She was real. This was really happening. She was here. She was here for good. She was going to be mine forever. She was safe and sound.
She turned and smiled. She smiled so big, it made my body flutter with love and happiness. I couldn't help but smile back and thank God for everything, ecspecially Kendra.