○ EIGHTEEN ○
Matthew's POV

"Shelby!" I screamed out.

I jumped over the logs as I ran, my voice going hoarse. "Shelby!" I kept yelling.

I kept running, following the stream. It was still raining and the water was freezing against my cheeks. My eyes blurred in the dark. My phone lit up the rushing water as I searched for her. I kept running before I saw something hanging from a rock.

I ran closer, trying hard not to fall in and seeing her jacket lodged on the rock. Red liquid seeped through the material. Panic filled me, a fear I had never known. "Shelby!" I screamed again.

I saw her legs first and I didn't even think before I was jumping into the creek. Luckily she had been pushed into a river bank, out of the flow of the river and I waded over to her, my phone in my mouth.

I reached her and grabbed her arm, immediately pulling her to the ground. I dropped my phone the light shining up into the darkness. "Shelby" I muttered over and over again.

I pressed an ear to her chest, not hearing a heartbeat. I moved into action, starting by clearing her throat. Than I started the CPR. My eyes were wet and not from the rain. I leaned down again, still not hearing anything.

"C'min Shelby, today will not be your last day!" I growled out.

I started the CPR again, with each press of my hands I wished for her eyes to open. "No! Shelby! Wake up God dammit!" I yelled.

I leaned down, pressing my lips to hers to blow air into her lungs. I pulled away and pressed one her chest once more before she started to cough and come alive. I fell back but immediately turned her on her side as she coughed up the water.

I breathed deeply, picking up my phone. My cold hands fumbled for the touch screen as she continued to cough. "911, What's your emergency?" The caller operator asked.

"I have a drown victim, I have managed to give her CPR but she needs to be taken to a hospital immediately" I said.

"What's your location?" The operator asked.

"I uh I dont know, we're out in the forest, near Penbrook creek somewhere" I replied as I helped Shelby sit up.

"Stay on the line sending your coordinates to the nearest emergency service" they replied.

My eyes met Shelby's as she wiped her mouth. I dropped the phone from my ear, making sure it was still on call. Shelby breathed heavily, her eyes slowly closing.

She fell back on the ground and I leaned over her in a sudden panic. "Shelby?" I asked shaking her shoulder.

No response. I pressed an ear to her chest again and heard a heartbeat. She passed out. Suddenly, blue and red lights seemed to fill up the entire forest as I heard thundering footsteps. "Over here!" I called out, waving my arms to the flashlight.

It shone on us and I knew she would be okay.

♡♡

"Stop biting your nails, don't make me act like your mother" Harry snapped as once again I had chewed through another nail.

We were sitting in the hospital, my leg bouncing up and down in worry. Harry pushed my hand away from my mouth. I glared at him but Connor stood up, prompting me to do the same.

The doctor walked towards us, a clipboard in his hands. "How is she doc?" Wes asked as he stopped in front of us.

"Shelby will be fine, if that CPR had been performed a minute later, she wouldn't be, you saved her life" the doctor said, peering at me over his glasses.

I stared at him, he had more to say.

"She will undoubtedly feel a little woozy coming out of the state she was in, but all water has been flushed from her lungs.. she's a very lucky girl" the doctor finished.

Harry clasped a hand on my shoulder, breathing out a sigh of relief as Wes and Conner hugged. "Can we see her?" I asked immediately.

The doctor tilted his head. "She's been asking for you" he said, turning halfly and pointing towards the door.

Harry pushed me forward and I stumbled a little but I gained the strength and moved towards her door.
With a soft knock, I opened it.

Shelby sat up in bed, wired connected to her hands and a tube out of her nose. She turned her head when I walked in. "Hey" I said faintly.

"Hey" she replied.

I stood awkwardly by the door. "I'm not going to hurt you, you're allowed to come closer" she said, rolling her eyes.

They were still bloodshot but looked a little swollen. The gash on her forehead had been stitched up. I moved closer to her. "You saved me" she said, reaching her hand out.

"I put you in that hospital bed" I replied clearing my throat.

She looked down. "Can we not do this now" she whispered.

I grasped her hand, pushing myself towards her. "Thank you for not leaving me" she said, closing her eyes.

She leaned into me. "There will never be a time where I will leave you, no place on this earth where I won't find you" I replied, softening at her touch.

She touched my cheek gently. "I was so scared I wouldn't find you" I said softly.

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked past me. Another soft knock sounded and I turned my head slightly to see Henry lean in through the door. "Henry? What are you doing here?" She asked every bit as surprised as I was.

"Came to see how you were holding up, we all heard what happened" he said, moving away from the door.

He had a bunch of flowers in his hand and I looked away, focusing on the pattern of the hospital bedsheets. "I'm okay" Shelby replied.

"Knew you would be, you're a tough woman, it's going to take a lot more to take you down" Henry replied.

My hand slowly turned into a fist. Why couldn't he just get out? This was my time with Shelby, the only time I could apologize for what I did and I couldn't do that with him here. Jealousy ran through me.

"Anyway, I won't intrude any longer, I'll come see you later" he said, knowing I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Sure, thank you for the flowers" Shelby replied with a smile.

I looked up as I heard the door close and Shelby and I were alone again. "Everything okay, Matt?" She asked as I loosened my grip on her bedsheets.

"Yeah, I just realised I should go too, maybe let you rest" I replied, standing up.

I didn't want to go. "Oh okay" she replied halfheartedly.

Did she want me to go?
"Okay" I echoed.

"Thanks for pulling me out of the creek" she said, peering at me with those wide eyes.

I swallowed. "Don't ever scare me like that again and we'll call it even" I replied, as I walked towards the door.

"Matthew?" She called out softly.

I turned my head to look at her, watching her bite her lip. "If I did something wrong, anything that made you feel like you had to go back to her.. I'm sorry" she said, looking down.

I shook my head. "I'm not with Courtney, I got scared and she tricked me.. I don't know why she's so adamant on destroying our friendship" I replied.

Shelby blinked and looked down, her mouth moving. "What?" I asked, leaning closer.

"I said, maybe because she thinks we're not friends.. that we're more than that" she replied.

"Are we?" I asked, looking at her.

A faint blush appeared across her cheeks but she didn't answer. "I'll talk to you later" I said, deciding to let it go.

I closed the door behind me.

A/N

I guess sooner or later they have to talk about it. But at least Shelby's okay.

That Matty saved her.

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Lots of love, T xoxo