Chapter Fifteen (Ethan's POV)

"Where the hell is he?" I asked, frowning as Nick and I stood near Lucas' first period class. Oliver stood at Nick's side, grimacing as he scanned the hallways quickly. He was panicking. I could tell by his frantic movements, not to mention, he was gripping Nick's hand so tightly, I think it had gone numb.

And I would've done the same thing, if that was my idea of panicking.

My idea of panicking?

My heart was racing and my eyes were darting around, searching the crowd for Lucas. It was hard to miss him, so where the hell was he? He wasn't here. I asked around and no one had seen him, half the people didn't even know who I was talking about.

Oliver's cell phone went off, playing Green Day's 21 Guns. He blushed, letting go of Nick's hand and flipping open his phone. Suddenly, Nick's phone went off too. I frowned.

Seconds later, phones were going off everywhere. Teachers frantically rushed around to confescate them, but students were gaping at their phones. I had lost mine, so there was no way I was getting mine back.

But the look on Oliver's face was enough to tell me it was something bad.

The blood drained from his face, his lips parting, but no words escaping. Nick's reaction was almost the same, only he managed to gasp.

"Oh my God." He managed.

"What?" I demanded, reaching for the phone. Nick didn't even have the strength to pull it away from me as I took the phone, glancing at the screen.

Every muscle in my body felt like it had snapped. My eyes widened as I felt cold all over. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach.

On the small iPhone touch screen was a picture of Lucas. His pants were completely gone and his sweatshirt was torn open, just sliding off his bare shoulders. A bruise was swelling on his cheek and a long cut ran down the center of his torso. Small cuts were made around his thighs, especially near the tight black briefs that I'd bought for him.

A pair of hands were gripping his arms over his head, giving an even more suggestive view and so was the hand gripping him under one of his knees.

I felt all the air leave my lungs as I stared at the picture.

No.

No, no, no.

What's going on? What the hell was this?

I jerked my head up to hear someone shriek and several other people gasp. The rage kicked in when I heard a couple people choke back laughter. My eyes burned into the screen as I immediately recognized the faded parking lot lines of the facilty parking lot.

I dropped Nick's phone and barrelled right past everyone in my way. I almost knocked over a teacher and smacked a student into their locker as I shoved my way through the mass of people. I made it to the cafeteria hallway, bolting down to the very end.

Blood was rushing in my ears and I felt like I was going to explode.

They touched Lucas.

Lucas.

They touched him! They were going to regret this!

I couldn't even form proper thoughts after that. Just sentence stuck with me:

I'm going to kill them.

I finally reached the doors, throwing them open and bursting outside, ignoring the chill of November and the bright sun. My eyes landed on Lucas, who was still on the ground, but now curled up in a fetal position, one of his hands gripping his shoulder tightly. Carter was standing over him, just closing his cell phone with Rico and Mike standing off to the side, both of them looked shameful.

Fuck no.

I didn't even hesitate as I dropped my bag to the ground, the only indication that hell was coming as Rico and Mike jerked their heads up, gasping. Carter frowned and looked up just as I had reached him. I swung my fist back and it connected with his face. He didn't even make a noise, stumbling back and hitting the ground at Rico's and Mike's feet. I glared at them, daring to come near me.

Rico immediately bolted for the door, but I stuck my foot out and tripped him. He hit the pavement face first and I whirled around to face Mike, who gasped.

"It was his idea! He threatened us!" He cried, pointing an accusing finger Carter, who sat on the pavement, grasping at his bloody nose with his good hand. I didn't even answer Mike and shoved him back hard so he fell over, then swung my foot around and kicked Carter in the ribcage.

This time, he managed to squeal like a pig before hitting the ground on his side, hugging himself.

I wanted to slaughter him, beat him, torment him for the rest of his miserable pathetic life. To make him regret he ever met me. To make him regret he ever even thought of hurting Lucas.

But my eyes landed on Lucas. I didn't waste my time with Carter, bolting over and dropping down to my knees beside him. He was still conscious, but he was trembling and his breathing was hoarse.

I felt a lump in my throat as I hesitantly touched his cheek. He looked so fragile, so small now. I felt like if I touched him too harshly, he'd shatter. At the same time, I couldn't leave him here. My heart wrenched as Lucas sucked in a shuddering breath.

He looked so much worse in person than in the picture. His legs were covered in bruises and cuts, the bruise on his face darker. He was bleeding everywhere, the red practically burned into my mind as I managed to wedge my arm under Lucas' head, lifting him into my lap. He looked confused at first, then I felt him visibly relax, his hand dropping off his shoulder and letting that arm fall limply to his side.

"Mmph..." He mumbled past the cut in his lip. I choked against my will.

"Lucas?" I managed, my voice shaking.

He smiled.

I'm not kidding. He looked like he was dumped through a paper shredder and hit with a car, yet he somehow managed to smile?

Don't cry, Ethan. Don't you dare cry. If not for yourself, for Lucas. Don't let him see you cry.

"Uhnm," Lucas ran his tongue over his lips, wincing a little, "Hurts..."

"I don't... Yea." I responded shakily, taking the time to wriggle my other arm under his knees as I got ready to lift him. Lucas hummed something, like 'mm hm' before he tipped his head against my chest, sighing.

"S'fine... Ethn... Mm fine." His voice was hoarse and stained, a faint wet gurgle coming from his throat and it took me a moment to realize it was blood coming up, watching it steadily trickle down the side of his face over his cheek.

"Ssh..." I didn't trust myself to say anymore than that. If I did, I wouldn't be able to control myself and that was the thing I needed most now.

Control.

I had to do this.

I took a deep breath, heaving myself to my feet, pausing as I felt them shaking. I faced the door, ignoring Mike, who was scrambling across the pavement to hide behind the nearest car. Rico merely lay on the pavement, grimacing as he held his bloodied face.

Carter wasn't moving anymore.

I didn't care.

I hoped he was dead.

And I'm not kidding. I hoped he was dead. Gone. Kuh-put. Six feet under. Pushing up daises.

Dead.

"Ethn... N'moving..." Lucas mumbled.

"Lucas, please don't hurt yourself." I responded, my voice breaking. Lucas gazed up at me, his dark, black-blue eyes glittering in the sunlight before he gave a short nod and rested his face against my chest, breathing softly. I forced my legs to take me forward and I walked around the school building to the front instead.

I wasn't going to let anyone Lucas see him like this in person.

No one should see him like this.

By the time I reached the front of the school, there was a cop car and an ambulance sitting out front, which surprised me. I hadn't thought they'd arrive this quickly. It was when a paramedic went to take Lucas from my arms when I panicked.

"We need to take him to the emergency room, he could have internal bleeding." One of them protested when I pulled up short.

"Touch him and I'll kill you." I heard myself say. I felt like I was on autopilot. I didn't trust anyone to touch Lucas. He was just barely conscious, and he felt like he would just float away from me if I didn't hold onto him tight enough.

"Ethan, you have to let them take him," I heard the Coach say from behind me, "They won't hurt him."

"No." I said sharply.

"You can ride in the ambulance with him, but if you don't let us take him, he could die from this." The paramedic snapped at me. That hit home and I immediately let them take Lucas from me, placing him on the stretcher.

Bad idea.

Lucas seemed to know immediately that he was no longer with me because he smacked the nearest paramedic, who gasped in shock, holding the side of his face. Lucas started to sit up on the stretcher, gritting his teeth and grabbing for me.

"No!" He protested when the other paramedic caught his shoulder to pull him back. That made me panic.

"Don't hurt him! I didn't give him to you to hurt him!" I snarled, taking a step forward, but the Coach caught me under the arms firmly, holding me back as they struggled to pin Lucas on the stretcher.

"I said don't hurt him!" My voice broke again and I could see the flashing blue and red lights blurring. I quickly blinked just as the paramedic injected Lucas with something that was slowly making him sink to the stretcher.

"What did you do?!" I gasped.

"They didn't hurt him," Coach said gently, "But you have to calm down, Niles. Come on, we're riding with Lucas to the emergency room, okay? But you can't jump anyone, or you won't get to see Lucas."

I forced myself to relax, taking deep, shaky breathes as the Coach led me by the elbow to the ambulance behind the stretcher. Once we got inside, the doors slamming shut behind us, the Coach and I plopped on a bench as two paramedics worked on Lucas, who was getting hooked up to all sorts of things I didn't understand.

"W-Wait," I said quickly as the ambulance took off, "What about his parents? His parents have to know-- And the rest of his family."

"Do you know the number?" Coach asked me, taking out his cell phone and handing it to me. I nodded quickly, stared at the phone, then quickly handed it back.

"I can't." I managed.

"What?"

"The last time I called about Lucas, they... I can't. Please."

"... All right, but you have to tell me the number. They have to know." Coach replied calmly, opening the phone and dialing the number as I repeated it aloud. He held the phone to his ear and I sat there, grimacing as I watched the paramedics treat Lucas with disinfectant.

"Hello. This is Coach Reins from Ravenwood High School. I'm calling about Lucas Patterson.... Yes... I'm sorry, sir. No, we're on our way to the hospital right now." That was mostly all Coach got to say because I could hear Danny's hysterical voice on the other line and I felt like I had punched as I listened to them.

"W-What're you talking about?! Hospital?! Why's he going to the hospital?!"

"Mr. Patterson, please meet us at the hospital just outside of town. A couple of boys at school are the culprits, mind you, they're on their way to jail right now. We can talk about pressing charges once we arrive, but I suggest you and your family come as quickly as possible."

"B-But, I-I don't understand- What happened?! Why- Oh, never mind! I'm coming!" Dial tone followed and the Coach hung up, glancing at me. I winced, looking away from him.

"Don't look like that," He scolded me suddenly, "This isn't your fault, Ethan. Don't blame yourself. Damn it, you ought to be congratulating yourself. You saved him."

"But-"

"Don't give me your buts. Lucas is going to be fine. The doctors will know what to do and he'll be fine, but you have to be there for him, Ethan."

"I know." I managed before my throat tightened. I clenched my fists tightly against my knees, not taking my eyes off Lucas, even as we climbed out of the ambulance and into the emergency room.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to go in with him and had to wait out in the waiting room. That was the worst thing in the world, standing there and waiting. Coach sat down, sighing as he held a hot cup of coffee in his hands. He didn't say a word and I just paced until I heard the doors around the corner burst open and Danny came bolting in.

Blake was right on his heels, both of them looking utterly distraught. Rick, Devin, Oliver, and Nick were right behind them as they came into the waiting room. What happened next, I completely expected.

Rick's greeting was grabbing me by the front of my shirt and slamming me into the nearest wall, making me wince. Coach was on his feet in an instant, dropping his coffee.

"Rick!" Devin protested angrily and grabbed his elbow, trying to pry him off me, but Rick was glaring at me hatefully, his icy eyes glowing.

"Whatever the hell is going on, I know you're involved. If you've hurt my nephew, I swear to God, I'll make you regret it." He spat. I glared back at him, throwing his hands off me and shoving him back, which was surprisingly harder than I thought.

"Fuck you! I didn't do anything!" I protested.

"Oh, fuck me," Rick snarled, "Ever since you and your football butt buddy showed up, you've done nothing, but bring trouble to my family. I knew I couldn't trust assholes like you. You always get people around you hurt!"

"Rick, stop!" Devin barked.

"Shut up!" Rick barked back at him. Devin stared at him for a moment, then clenches his fists, glaring at me now as he ignored Rick's struggle to control his own temper.

"What the hell is going on, Ethan? As much as I hate to say it, Rick's sort of right. This is the second time Lucas has gotten hurt around you." He snapped. I started to yell at them, then caught myself.

It wasn't my fault. I knew that. Carter just had it out for me and he was trying to get at me, by using Lucas. The thought just boiled my blood further, but I couldn't take it out on them. They were worried and the fact that they were this worried about Lucas kept me calm. And, shamefully envious.

"Carter." I stated instantly.

"Oh, that sorry son of a bitch." Nick spat. Oliver stared at him, making Nick blush.

"Who the fuck is Carter?" Danny managed, still looking confused and in agony. Blake just stood beside him silently, staring right at me. I didn't know what he was thinking. It was hard to tell, but I guessed it was something along the lines of what Devin and Rick were thinking.

"Carter has it out for me. I don't know why. He never really elaborated on it. He just acted on it. I guess... He thought hurting Lucas would do something to me, which I assure you it did. I'm probably about to get charged, again, for the same crime for beating the living shit out of those assholes." I seethed. Coach glanced at me approvingly, then glanced at everyone else.

Devin visibly relaxed, unclenching his fists as he looked at Rick, who unfortunately, hadn't relaxed.

"And why the fuck does that help anything? It's your fault for hanging around Lucas in the first place when Devin told you to just fuck off and leave him alone." Rick snapped.

"Well, I never-"

"I don't want your bullshit excuses. You-"

"Shut up, Rick!" Blake snapped. Rick fell silent, mostly looking caught off guard, staring at Blake. Devin looked stunned too. Danny looked at Blake helplessly as Blake watched me intently.

"You didn't hurt Lucas. Lucas told me he trusted you and if he trusts you, so do I. I just hope I'm not wrong. For now, everyone needs to just shut up. How dare you argue like this when Lucas is in there hurting himself. Just sit down, ALL of you and shut your mouths." Blake commanded, his voice holding so much authority that I actually just plopped down in a seat stiffly.

Coach just nodded his head and went for towels to clean up his coffee. Oliver and Nick sat beside me while Rick stormed off with Devin following close behind him, muttering something that I didn't catch. I watched as Danny turned to Blake, who glanced at him.

"He'll be okay." Blake assured him. I was surprised to see Danny's eyes well up with tears. I didn't peg him as the sort of guy to cry, but then again, his son was in there. The thought made my throat clench.

"Blake." Was all he managed before he grabbed Blake around the torso. Blake blinked, looking surprised too before he hugged Danny back, cradling his head and murmuring things that I couldn't hear.

No one said anything after that. Rick and Devin came back after a while. Rick looking calm and cool, but it was the deadly calm and icy cool that told you he was still taut like a rubberband. Devin looked exhausted, his hair brushed back out of his face as he rubbed his temples. Everyone sat down and stayed silent until the doctor came out, rubbing his glasses. We all leapt up at once, making the doctor jump a little before he cleared his throat.

"We apologize for the wait. Lucas was stablized a while ago, but we just wanted to make sure. His shoulder was dislocated and he fractured a couple of bones in the same arm, so he'll be in a sling for a while. Other than that, he should be fine and ready to leave within a few hours. Of course, the physical damage was healed. I can't say the same for any mental damage." He added quietly.

We shared looks, said nothing, then looked back at the doctor.

"Can we see him?" Danny asked.

"Of course, follow me." The doctor led us through the doors to the furthest bed where Lucas was lying down. He was all cleaned up, wearing a pure white hospital gown to match the sheets and bed. An IV stuck in his arm while his other was settled in a sling. The bruise on his face was angry and dark, a purplish red. The cuts on his legs were hidden behind bandages. He was wide awake, but he looked tired.

"Lucas!" Danny gasped and immediately ran over to hold him. He was gentle about it, but I could tell he caught Lucas off guard. His black-blue eyes widened and I saw him stiffen for a moment, then relax as he settled his head on Danny's shoulder. Blake took his chance as well and walked over, putting his arms around Lucas as well, holding him firmly, but carefully.

"Jesus, you scared us." Danny managed, pulling back to check over Lucas' face. I watched the fresh tears well up in his eyes again. Another pang of envy hit me, but I gulped it down as I stood awkwardly to the side, watching his parents fuss over him.

Lucas looked uncomfortable at first, then he slowly relaxed and even smiled faintly to let them know he was okay. Rick and Devin took their turn shortly after to coddle him and hug him. Oliver practically bulldozed him with questions, then settled for just chiding him and reminding him that he was there to help. Nick assured Lucas that Carter, Rico, and Mike were taken care of.

Then he gestured to me and Lucas' eyes widened as if he were seeing me for the first time.

"Ethan!" He gasped and slid right off the bed.

"Lucas, you're gonna rip your IV out!" Danny protested, stepping forward, but I moved faster and caught Lucas under the arms, gently setting him back on the bed. He ignored his arm completely, ignored the IV, ignored his parents scolding, ignored everything and put his good arm around my neck, pulling me down to hold me against him.

"I knew you would come." Lucas whispered in my ear.

Every negative fiber in my body dissipated. Every worry, every anger, everything. It all vanished as Lucas held me and I couldn't resist hugging him back. He felt so small in my arms, but it was a perfect fit. He didn't belong anywhere else, but my