Without You

Luke grabbed her and said, “Go get in my truck. We’re going to Austin.”

I stood there, still on the phone with Grace. All I could hear was Grace’s muffled voice.

“Grace! Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

Grace was crying. “I found her, Will. I found her, but he was hitting her. I screamed, and…oh God, Will. Blake was about to…he had Alex. Oh God! He was trying to…when we walked into the room, he was hitting her while she was trying to fight him off. I think he might have given her something. Will…I’m so sorry I didn’t keep an eye on her. We’re on the way to Brackenridge Hospital.”

“I’m on my way.” I ran out the door and jumped into Luke’s truck.

He took off like a bolt of lightning. The only things I could hear were Libby crying in the backseat and Lex’s voice repeating over and over in my head.

I love you, Will.

A Few Hours Earlier

Chrissie walked up and handed me a bottle of Bud Light. “I’m going to miss you, Alex!” she yelled over the music.

Chrissie and I had been lab partners in chemistry class. She was a sweet girl, but she was hell-bent on getting into some sorority. She still was crushing on Blake pretty hard as well.

“I’m going to miss you, too!” I yelled back.

We were at Chrissie’s brother’s house. The party was mostly frat guys and sorority girls, but Chrissie had begged Grace and me to come since we wouldn’t be back next year.

I took a drink of the beer and looked around. Grace was talking to some guy who was attempting to make a move on her. She gave him that smile of hers, and I swore he was eating out of the palm of her hand.

“So, are you excited about A&M next year?” Chrissie asked.

I took another drink of my beer. I smiled and nodded my head. “I’m really excited. The fact that I get to be with Will just makes it all the more sweeter.”

Chrissie’s smile faded for a brief second as she looked around, and then she looked back at me. We talked for a bit more about our plans for this summer. I took another sip of beer, and then some guy ran smack into me, causing me to drop the bottle.

“Shit,” I mumbled.

“Damn it!” Chrissie said.

We both bent down and started to clean it up.

I stood up and felt a little dizzy. I put my hand up to my head. “Shit, I must have stood up too fast.”

Chrissie smiled slightly at me. “Let me go throw this away. I’ll be right back.”

I nodded as I glanced back over to Grace. She was still talking to the same guy. She looked my way and winked at me. I giggled and shook my head.

“So, do you want another beer, Alex?”

I turned back to look at Chrissie. I was beginning to feel dizzy and a little groggy.

“Um…no. I guess I drank more than I thought.” I placed my hand to my head. “I’m not feeling very well. I feel a bit dizzy.”

Chrissie looked around and grabbed my arm. “Let me show you to the bathroom.”

She pulled me so fast and hard that I almost tripped twice while trying to keep up with her. I looked back to see Grace, but every time my head moved, I got dizzier. Chrissie stopped, and I looked up to see Blake standing there.

“Blake?” I asked.

He smiled and looked at Chrissie. I glanced back at her, but the room started spinning.

“I gave it to her. Now, will you put in a good word for me?” Chrissie asked Blake.

I looked at Blake as he smiled. The room was spinning faster.

“I don’t feel right. What’s going on?”

Blake smiled at me as he picked me up. “Let me take you somewhere private, angel.”

I attempted to look for Grace, but I began to feel nauseous. “Blake, I think I’m going to be sick.”

“I’ll make you feel better, angel. Just hold on.”

I closed my eyes to try to stop the spinning of the room. When I opened my eyes, Chrissie was following us up the stairs.

“The second bedroom on the right. Blake, are you sure about this? She only had a couple of—”

Blake stopped and turned to Chrissie. “She belongs to me. Get the hell out of here, Chrissie, if you want me to put in a good word for you with that sorority.”

She belongs to me? What?

“Wait…put me down, Blake.”

Oh God. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“Chrissie, please get Grace. I’m not feeling well.”

Chrissie looked at Blake and then at me.

“Chrissie, walk away if you want to be in the sorority,” Blake said with anger in his voice.