- Loren's grip tightened each time she could feel his strength threatening to collapse; she could do that much for him. Silently, she resolved to stay, and be the strength he couldn't use right now. Because as foolish as a man's pride could sometimes be, she knew that right now, Zac Barnes wasn't strong. He couldn't be. As strong as his will is, he was too damaged and too physically hurt to be completely fine. She didn't say a word as he struggled to get up, even biting her tongue when he murmured beneath his breath. She didn't even gasp when he surprised her by lurching forward and grabbing her. She would remain steady and stoic for him, silent and reliable as a rock. She gripped his arms each time he tried again, refusing to make this moment even harder for him. Only once did she cry out, and that was involuntary, a mere sound that automatically left her throat. She swallowed and, with a quivering hand, matted down his hair affectionately before he tried once more again, this time succeeding, even if his success was a little shaky. "Let's go," he said. Loren nodded, and began taking a small step forward.
"I'm ready," she said softly, firmly. Her head hurt and her entire body ached, but she could do this for her best friend.
He bent down and picked up an iPod, his, and shoved it into his pocket. Loren tried to give him his privacy by looking away as he did so, though she couldn't stop herself from silently condemning him for caring more about a stupid device when their lives were on the line. Stupid, stupid boys. But then again, music was his life, and she could understand that... But not now, dammit! She just wanted to get out, and have this all over with. She would sacrifice all of her rebellious and restless tendencies if it meant being alive, with Zac Barnes right beside her. She gritted her teeth and glanced at him. He was avoiding her eyes, and his face was crestfallen...
Loren's frustration fell away, and she began to speak gently. "Zac, we should..."
"Loren," Zac interrupted her, "I'm sorry. Go."
"What?" Loren said, mouth agape as he continued with his crazy talk.
"If anything happens, you have to amke it out. You have to promise me. I'm not going to let you let me hold you back."
He was insistent, but when wasn't he insistent? Loren rolled her eyes and tightened her grip on him. "No!" she hissed, "I am not being held back, I am being held up." Because it was true. How many times had Zac helped her keep her calm in a situation as crazy as this one? She needed him as much as he needed her. The pig couldn't see that, he could only see his guilt and his shame, glorifying it and romanticizing it and trying to become altruistic and selfless because of one silly earthquake. Or a not-so-silly earthquake, Loren told herself, glancing at his injured leg.
"Go!" he said fiercely. Somehow, in the midst of Loren's inner ranting, he had leaned against the wall and met her gaze. She knew he wanted to be alone. She knew he was thinking of her first. She knew he was asking her to do this for him. But she wouldn't, because she was as crazy as he was.
"You can't get rid of me," Loren said lightly, shrugging her shoulders and holding her hand out. "You save my life... I save yours!" she said brightly, trying to smile in the middle of these strange and tragic circumstances. "Now, please, Zac, stop being stubborn and don't waste time; you know I can be just as bullheaded as you can be. So let's just go, okay?"