Javier

The paramedic loads unconscious Sadie into the back of the ambulance. The second the doors close, I could see the panic and fear on Donnie's face as his girl was being taken away from him.

As much as I hate that she's pregnant again as a teenager, I'm glad she has someone like him on her side who would do anything to protect her.

A loud beeping sound from the machine starts to beat rapidly.

"What's happening?" I demand, holding onto dear life as we soar through the road hitting every fucking pothole.

When no one answered me, I said it louder, making the paramedic driver jolt in his seat. But it did nothing to the girl working on Sadie.

"She's flatlining!" She yells in the cabin, and the driver picks up speed.

I'm about to flatline if Sadie doesn't wake the fuck up.

"Sir, I need your help."

I can't move.

"Sir!" She yells, and that wakes me up. "I need you to put the Ambu bag over her nose and mouth and pump slowly. I need to do chest compressions." She says urgently.

I quickly move and sit above Sadie's head.

"Tilt her head back slightly so that her nose is up." She instructs breathily.

"Make sure the bag is sealed around her nose and mouth."

I do as I'm told without hesitation.

"Good. Now slowly squeeze the bag just enough to make her chest rise. I need you to squeeze the bag every five seconds." The paramedic coaches me as she thrusts her palms against Sadie's chest.

"I need you to fight, Sadie." I croak. "We need you to wake up."

I left Donnie and rushed back into Sadie's room.

"Sir, you can't—"

I interrupted whatever she was going to say by holding my badge before the nurse with the brightest Amber eyes I had ever seen.

She nods and leaves the room with the doctor, asking for more supplies.

The room is in complete chaos as the nurses follow the doctor's orders and buzz around Sadie, trying to save her life.

Sadie lays in the bed, lifeless, eyes closed, face white as snow, and blue lips. The doctor yells, "Clear," before she shocks her with the paddles.

No response.

"Again!" The doctor orders and zaps her once again.

Nothing.

I stand in the corner, watching the scene unfold as they rush to bring her back to life.

I can't lose her.

She just came into my life.

When her heart monitor signaled a stead beep, I slid down the wall until my ass hit the linoleum floor.

"We got a pulse!"

DONOVAN

"Donnie, I need you to wake up." A sweet angelic voice hums in my ear.

Shorty?

"Donnie, wake up. It's not your time. Follow my voice."

I can't.

"Yes, you can. Do it for our baby."

My eyes slowly peel open, and the sudden bright light forces them to close.

"Close the blinds," Mom orders to whoever is in the room.

"Donovan, can you hear me?" A woman asks in a thick Spanish accent.

"Ye— "I clear my throat, dry like sandpaper— "Yeah, where am I?"

"You're in the hospital?"

Again?

I'm getting really fucking tired of waking up in the God damn hospital.

But why am I in the hospital?

Oh, fuck!

"Shorty," I choke out.

"Oh, sweetheart," Mom says in a sad tone. That forces my eyes wide open. I glance around the room and see Mom's puffy eyes and dark circles underneath her eyes. Dad holds Mom against his side with glossy eyes.

He looks like shit.

Ash stands against the wall with a worried look as he looks straight at me.

Their expressions still the blood in my veins. The air is being sucked out of my lungs. The pain in my heart is ten-fold.

"No," I moan, begging my thoughts to be a lie. Is that why I heard her while I was asleep?

She's ok. She's ok.

My emotions take over my body, shattering my heart. The cry I'm holding is about to detonate and destroy my soul.

"NO!" I bellow, thrashing around in the bed. "She's not gone!" I try to lift myself from the bed, but my attempts are shit when my legs give out. I groan as the pain shoots up my body.

"D! Stop it!" Ash yells as he and Dad try to pull me back into bed, but I fight against them. I fail miserably as my body gives up, and I have no choice but to comply.

My mom presses her hands against my chest and moves them to cup my face. "Sweetheart, she's ok. She's ok," she soothes and wipes the tears from my face.

"She is?" My chest heaves, trying to calm my racing heart.

She nods.

"Oh, thank fuck." I release a breath.

"Language." Mom scolds, making me laugh.

"I'm glad to see you're awake." I turn my gaze to Paloma, who's standing beside me checking my vitals.

"Where is she?" I ask.

"She's in the next room. She's going to be ok."

"And the baby? Is—is the baby ok?" I hold my breath, preparing for the worst.

"Yeah, the baby is just fine." She pats my face and leaves the room but not before she tells me the doctor will be in soon.

Ten minutes later, the doctor told me I would be okay and could go home today.

Once he leaves, Mom's expression hardens.

"What's wrong?" I ask, looking between her and Dad.

"This is the second time you have been hurt and almost killed."

"Jacquie," Dad warns, but she holds up a hand to stop him.

She continues. "I know how much you love Sadie, but you need to start thinking about yourself and your safety."

Yeah…I'm not liking where this conversation is heading.

She pulls her shoulders back and crosses her arms across her chest. "You will be transferring to Vanderbilt next week."

"What?"

"No, I'm not," I say at the same time Ash speaks.

Mom's face turns a different shade of red. I've never seen her this angry before.

"Excuse me? You don't have a choice. I will not bury my son!" She cries, beating her fists against the side of her legs.

The room is deadly quiet; only Mom's soft whimpers and the stupid monitor beeping can be heard.

What I'm about to tell them will make things worse, but they will not take Shorty away from me. Not again.

"I'm not going to Vanderbilt. I accepted an offer to Illinois. I leave in August." Mom's cries stop.

Ash grins. He knows why I made this decision. I know he'll always have my back.

Dad looks disappointed and sad.

"You did what?" Mom fumes.

I work my jaw back and forth, trying to keep it together. My head hurts, my body aches like I got the flu, and my throat is dry.

"Shorty is having my baby. She won't come to Vanderbilt, so I decided to go to Illinois to be closer to her and the baby. I could transfer out in two years if I wanted to. But I'm telling you right now, I am not leaving Shorty." I say because nothing will sway my decision.

"It's reasonable."

I'm shocked at Dad's words. He insisted on me going to Vanderbilt, and I thought I would have to fight harder to convince him I was doing the right thing.

"What?" Mom's head snaps in Dad's direction, wide eyes at his words.

"Sweetheart," he sighs, pulling her closer to him. "He's eighteen and is going to be a father. Besides, Illinois is not a bad school choice."

Mom turns her gaze back to me. "But, you really wanted to go to Vanderbilt.

I sigh. "I know, Mom, but things changed."

"What if you regret it? What if you regret her and the baby?"

I shake my head. "No, I will never regret Shorty or my baby. I'm trying to do the right thing, Mom."

She says nothing, but her grey eyes are locked on me. I admit…I screwed up, but I can do nothing to change it. I don't regret being with Shorty that night, but I regret not taking precautions. That happens when I think with my dick and not how it will affect Shorty. I will regret that for the rest of my life.

"Ok, I—we will support your decision." Mom gives me a hesitant smile. She still has doubts, and I don't blame her. She's a mother worried for her son. I could hear Shorty's voice in my head to be reasonable.

Ash rubs his hands together. "Well, you know what that means? I'm going to Illinois too."

Dad's chuckle is light and laced with a hum of amusement. Mom's eyes throw daggers at both him and Ash.

I throw my head against the pillow, close my eyes, and dream of my future with Shorty.