Free Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison Page A

I could. “You’ve got to drink this. If you love me, if you ever meant anything that you said to me, drink this.”
    I waited for a second. His eyes fluttered open, and I swear he looked at me and smiled, just like he had when we met. I hated him for that arrogant smile, and loved him, too.
    I poured the potion down his throat.
    This time, he drank it.
    As soon as he was done, I sagged to the floor. I didn’t have enough strength left even to get back onto my own stretcher. Mom had to get me onto it, and then she had me drink some of the potion myself.
    â€œGood work, Izzie,” she said. “Amazing work, actually. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who survived an attack by a slurg.” She kissed me and rubbed her cool hands over my hot forehead. “Except your dad.”
    That was all I remembered for three days.

Chapter 10
    â€œ I zzie, I love you,” I heard as I dreamed in the hospital. I thought Tristan was saying it, and I was so happy that he was alive.
    But when I woke up properly, Mark was sitting beside my hospital bed, holding my hand, and I realized that it had been him all along.
    Tristan wouldn’t have said Izzie , anyway. It would have been Isolde .
    Mark looked terrible. His face was gray and his beard was in that in-between stage where it didn’t look rough; it just looked like he hadn’t shaved for three days.
    Could it really have been three days? We must have missed the homecoming dance on Saturday night. And I had such a pretty blue silk sheath and red heels that I had planned to wear, with my hair up.
    I ran my tongue along my teeth, and they felt like it had been three years since I had brushed.
    â€œStay with me this time, Izzie,” said Mark. “Please, I can’t bear it if you leave me.” He spoke with a sincerity that I could not doubt. Mark loved me absolutely. He would have been the one to save me if he had been fast enough. Was it his fault that it had been Tristan instead?
    â€œSay something, Izzie. Anything.”
    â€œHi, Mark,” I said, because I couldn’t think of anything better.
    But he seemed happy with that. He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. Then he looked at me, his eyes shining with tears. He shook his head; then he spoke in a voice that sounded very small. “I shouldn’t let you see me like this. I’ll be back in a minute.” He let go of my hand.
    I pulled him back, surprised that I felt strong enough to do so. I didn’t feel like climbing a mountain or anything, but I felt better than I had in the ambulance. “Don’t go,” I said.
    Mark looked down. “I’ve been waiting,” he said. “For days.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œYour mom made me go away and sleep a couple of times, but I wouldn’t leave the hospital. I slept on one of the couches out there. I wanted to be here when you woke up. I had to tell you that I was sorry.”
    â€œIt’s okay, Mark,” I said.
    â€œNo. I should have been there for you. I let you go out there by yourself while I was watching a stupid football game. I mean, it wasn’t a stupid game. It was an important game for the football team and for the school. But you almost died.”
    â€œMark, you didn’t know.”
    â€œI know. I should have felt something, though. Don’t you think? I knew you’d been gone too long, but I thought maybe you didn’t want to come up and watch with us. I was annoyed with you, to tell the truth. Can you believe it? That was the last emotion I felt for you before I heard you screaming.”
    â€œMark, I was annoyed with you, too,” I admitted.
    â€œMy fault. Can you ever forgive me?” He was getting a little slobbery with tears.
    â€œYes, I forgive you. I already forgave you. But it was nothing, Mark. I’m fine now, right?” He was being so nice I should have felt loving back. Tristan wasn’t even here, but