Matthew's POV
○ THIRTY- SEVEN ○

I was out the door and onto the street when I heard a commotion outside. The driver had gotten out of the car and was on the phone, holding a head on her lap. With hair that looked strangely familiar. Dread and pain filled me. "Shelby!" I yelled.

The driver turned around as I barreled towards them. "I couldn't stop!" The driver exclaimed as she cried.

I fell to my knees in the asphalt and my uncle and cousin ran out after me. "I'm on phone to the Ambulance!" She exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.

"Orlando! Go knock on that door and tell her to come here!" I exclaimed, pointing at Shelby's house.

Orlando nodded and ran over. I looked down at my barely breathing girlfriend. Blood seeped from a cut on her forehead and I didn't have the chance to check the rest of her body before I heard a scream.

Sirens wailed in the distance and my uncle was consoling the distressed driver. Shelby's mother crashed on the ground next to me and started to frantically search her daughter for worse injurues.

I cradled Shelby's head, closing my eyes as I prayed. "No no no baby, come back" Shelby's mother was cursing. 

"Move Matthew!" My uncle yelled as the Ambulance came to a screeching stop and paramedics raced towards us.

I was pulled back and Shelby's head crashed onto the pavement. My cousin quickly locked my arms, recognising the attack in my eyes.

In all this commotion, I hadn't felt anything but pain.

I watched them work on Shelby as my cousin stood by my side. The driver was in my uncle's arms, balling her eyes out. My hands were numb and I barely moved as they strapped her to the trolley and slid her into the Ambulance. Her mother sat alongside her, holding her hand.

The doors closed and the Ambulance was pulling away. Police had shown up and were talking to the driver. "Orlando, we have to go to the hospital" I said firmly, turning to my cousin.

He looked sad. "Uh oh" he muttered.

My uncle stormed over to us, yanking me back. "In the house now!" He ordered through his teeth.

Orlando and I trudged back to the front door as I glanced down the street one last time.

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5 Months Later:
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"Matthew?" A surprised voice asked. 

I spun around and saw Harry, his eyes wide as he studied me. His eyes flicked over my black jeans and nice shirt. I had bren forced to give up my ripped jeans and converses for more business attire.

"Harry" I said, stepping towards him.

He threw his arms around me and squeezed tightly. "Wow, it's been so long" he breathed out as he pulled away. 

"Yeah a few months" I replied.

"How is everyone?" I asked, studying his eyes.

Harry tried to mask the emotion but didn't succeed. "It sucks with you not being here but we're all okay, Shelby woke up about two months ago and she's performing with us now" Harry said, leaning on the shelving.

"I'm glad" I replied.

He tried to smile. "Hey Harry, do you think that we could get a disco-" the female voice cut off as she raised her eyes to look at me.

"Matthew?" Shelby asked, her tone unrecognizable.

"Hey" I said, lifting the corner of my mouth.

Harry glanced between us like a tennis match. "Hey? Hey? Is that all you have to say to me?" Shelby asked loudly.

A few lingering customers glanced at us. "After a few months and I wake up to find you have disappeared.." she breathed out.

"Shelby-" I was saying.

"You know what forget it, I haven't needed you" she replied.

"C'mon Harry, we have to catch up with Wes and Conner" she said before putting the object she had in her hand down.

Turning on her heel, she stormed out of the shop. Harry glanced at me apologetically. "She's taken this particularly hard because she refused to leave with her mother" he said before following her.

I swallowed and looked down. Putting down everything that I held, I walked out of the shops and to my car. "Where's my drink?" Orlando asked, glancing at my empty hands.

I sat behind the wheel of my new car. "I didn't get it" I replied before sighing.

Raising a hand, I rubbed a hand across my eyes. "Are you alright?" Orlando asked, frowning.

"I saw Shelby" I said, breathing out.

"I'm sorry" Orlando replied.

I turned my head to look at him. "Is this a good idea? Moving back here.." I trailed off.

"Yes of course it is, plus I'm going to be with you, maybe you should just explain to her why you were forced to leave " he replied, leaning forward in his seat.

"It won't matter, I left while she was in hospital and I never said goodbye" I replied.

Orlando looked out the window. "You didn't have a choice Matthew, maybe I could talk to her" he said.

"No! God, that will only make this situation worse!" I exclaimed.

I started the car and began the journey back to my old home. "Are you sure this is what you want?" Orlando asked.

Nodding, I glanced at him. "Are you sure you want to live with me?" I asked.

"Eh, anything is better than living with my father" he replied, before looking back down at his phone.

We pulled into my old street and I recognised immediately that all the guys were at Shelby's house. I pulled into my driveway and turned off the car.

Stepping up, I shut the car door and glanced ocer the road. "Why don't you go see them?" Orlando asked, frowning.

"Because I walked out on them too" I replied.

I pulled our suitcases from the trunk and began to walk towards our front door before I heard laughter. Glancing across the street, I saw Wes hug Shelby tightly before getting into his car.

She looked up and our eyes met. Scowling, she turned on her heel and disappeared back inside. God, how I missed her.

Orlando sighed. "That's heavy, dude" he replied; standing next to me.

"Yeah sad thing is, I've used up my second chance" I replied.

"What do you mean?" Orlando asked, frowning.

"I'll tell you when we get inside" I replied, grabbing the keys from my pocket.

A/N

SOO MUCH IN ONE CHAPTER!
Will Shelby forgive Matt one last time?

And what has Matt been doing the 5 months he's been gone.
So many unanswered questions
Stay tuned!

Don't forget to vote and comment!
Love, Tavana xoxoxoxoxxo