by Hart, Rebel
The doorbell rang downstairs and I scoffed. I didn’t give a shit who it was, but I wanted them to leave. Mom kissed me one more time, then ventured downstairs. I heard her whistling to herself, like the sunshine poured out of her ass in that very moment. I rolled my eyes. I hunkered back down by the windowsill and watched the misty rainfall coat my window.
Until I heard familiar voices racing up the stairs.
“Hey! Girlie!”
“Your mom said you’re up here!”
“Get dressed, we’re heading out.”
I whipped around at the sound of Allison and Michael’s voices. They barged into my room, all smiles and dressed to the nines. Well, not really. But Michael stood there in a pair of khaki pants with a polo shirt tucked in and Allison was in one of her bright ensembles.
I furrowed my brow. “What are you guys doing here?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “Does that matter? Come on. Get cleaned up. We’re heading out.”
I stood. “Where are we going?”
Michael grinned. “Pretty sure there’s someone in a hospital waiting to see you.”
My eyes bulged before I started rushing around my room. I threw clothes around while Allison giggled at me, then I stumbled out of my pajamas. I heard Michael leave the room, leaving me to undress as Allison tossed me my clothes. And after I’d pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and a T-shirt, I rushed to the bathroom.
“Give me five minutes!”
I brushed my teeth and splashed some water in my face. I ran a brush through my hair before piling it on top of my head in a bun. I grabbed my chapstick and charged out of the bedroom, tucking it into my back pocket.
I found Allison and Michael at the bottom of the steps with my cell phone.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
I leapt down the steps, taking my phone from him. And as I tucked it away in my bra, I looked over at my mother. She smiled at me, blowing me a kiss as I stood there with my two best friends. My heart went out to her. I rushed over to her, giving her a massive hug before I pressed a kiss against her cheek.
“I love you,” I whispered.
She patted my back. “I love you, too. Now, get going. I want to know how that boy’s doing, too.”
We rushed out toward Michael’s car and hopped in. I crawled in back, anxious to get out of this driveway and on the road. I knew Mom had called Michael and Allison. Probably to try and pull me out of my funk.
But had she called the hospital as well?
I licked my lips. “Does anyone at the hospital know we’re coming?”
Michael shrugged. “Does it matter? They can’t expect you to just sit on your hands and wait without hearing a word. You were at the crash site.”
Allison nodded. “It’s absolutely ridiculous. You saved him. You’re the one that found him. You deserve to know what’s going on with him.”
“He’s got a bastard of a father, but that shouldn't stop him from updating you on his son’s condition.”
“If anything, he should be thanking you. Because you're the reason Clint is still alive.”
I nodded slowly. “Thank you guys so much.”
Allison reached back, taking my hand. “That’s what friends are for.”
I sniffled. “I take it Michael filled you in?”
She nodded. “On everything. Especially once you didn’t show up at school yesterday.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just—”
She squeezed my hand. “No need to apologize, crazytown. I’m not upset. I’m just glad you guys are okay.”
“Even Clint?”
Michael nodded. “Even Clint.”
Allison had the bright idea of picking up fast food and sneaking it into the hospital for Clint. Which shocked me, because that was something she’d do for me. Was it possible they were finally considering Clint part of our group? A friend, even? I hoped so, in the pit of my soul. Allison stuffed the food into her purse after we were done eating, and even managed to prop up a soda in one of her pockets so it wouldn't tip over.
And after sneaking through the hospital corridors, we finally found Clint’s room.
“Holy sh—”
I held up my hand, stopping Michael’s sentence in its tracks. Clint was fast asleep, and no one was in his room. This couldn't have been planned any better. My eyes ran along him as I slowly walked into his room. His ICU room.
“Oh, Clint,” I whispered.
I walked over to his bedside with my hands trembling. He was in rough shape. Even rougher than I remembered. Both of his eyes were blackened, along with his jaw. His nose had been set, so he had a brace around it, taped down to his face, which had red marks where it wasn’t bruised. He had his right arm in a sling, and his neck was braced. Unable to move. He had tubes running in and out of his nose. In and out of his hands. His arms. Even from underneath the covers.
My lip quivered as I sat in a chair beside his bed.
I reached out for his hand, placing mine against his. I settled it softly, feeling how cold he was to the touch. The second I touched him, his eyes popped open. I yanked my hand back, but only partially. Because he moved with lightning speed, wrapping his hand around my wrist.
“Rae?”
I looked over at Michael and Allison as they stood at the foot of his bed, beckoning for me to talk to the boy.
“I can’t move my neck. Please tell me that’s you.”
Tears rushed my eyes as I stood up. I slowly maneuvered myself into his view, listening as he breathed a sigh of relief. I sniffled and smiled, gazing into his bloodshot eyes.
“Hey there.”
He grinned. “Hello, beautiful.”
His fingers slipped between mine, our hands lacing themselves together. I wiped at my tears with my free hand as I sat on the edge of his bed. My eyes kept dancing over him. I knew there were probably injuries I couldn't see. And, as if he’d read my mind, he began rattling them off to me.
“I’ve got a concussion, too. Which is why my neck is braced like this.”
I nodded slowly. “What else?”
He sighed. “Well, I broke my collarbone. Which didn’t help my dislocated shoulder. My ribs are pretty bruised. But not broken, miraculously.”
“Yeah.”
“There was minor internal bleeding, though. They found it during surgery. I’ve got some stitches in places no one should have stitches. But it is what it is. If I have a good day today, I get moved out of ICU. They say the concussion is almost gone. So at least it wasn’t a bad one.”
“Oh, Clint.”
Michael walked up beside me. “Jesus, man, you look rough.”
Clint looked surprised, but didn’t skip a beat. “I’d say I’ve had worse. But that would actually be a lie.”
Allison walked around to his other side. “Can we get you anything?”
I smiled. “Are you able to eat?”
Michael nodded. “Because we brought you a burger and fries from a joint up the road.”
Allison started pulling the food out. “With a Mountain Dew. Rae said it’s your favorite.”
Clint smiled. “That’s my girl.”
And my heart soared with delight.
Allison handed him the food as I navigated the controls for his hospital bed. I got him sitting up without moving his neck too much, then he took everything over. He seemed happy to see us. Having Allison and Michael with me didn’t kick up too much tension. I kept smiling while Clint talked. While he chewed. While he swallowed. So many small things about him I’d taken for granted. Things no one ever thinks about enjoying on another person.
Until there’s a fear of no longer having those things.
Michael cleared his throat. “Well, Allison and I should probably go stand guard.”
Allison nodded. “Yeah. In case your parents come back.”
Clint furrowed his brow. “My parents?”
I leaned in. “They don’t exactly know we’re here.”
His eyes darkened. “What did my fat
her say to you?”
I sighed. “We can talk about that later, okay? I promise I’ll tell you why I haven’t been here. I just wanted you to know I hadn’t abandoned you. If I could have gotten to you, I would have.”
He brought my hands to his lips to kiss. “I know. I know you would have. I know you better than that.”
And as my two best friends slipped out into the hallway, I sighed at the touch of his lips against my skin.
A touch I hadn’t been sure I’d ever feel again, thanks to the events of Thursday night.
10
Clinton
I couldn't stop staring. I hadn’t seen those eyes in what seemed like an eternity, and my blood boiled at the idea of my father robbing me of them. I heard my heart monitor ticking up. I felt my blood pressure rising. Rae’s worried eyes darted to all the machines around me before dipping her lips down against my ear.
“Breathe for me. It’s okay. I’m here. Just breathe.”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close to me. I didn’t care what part of me hurt. I didn’t care what part of me cried out for mercy. I needed to feel her. I needed to hold her. I needed to be close to her, just in case someone came to remove her. I closed my eyes, breathing along with her as she coached me through my breaths. I slid my left-hand fingers through her hair, trying to be ginger with my right arm in its sling. She curled up against me, snuggling into bed. Her warmth overcame me and the scent of her filled me with life.
I wanted nothing more than for her to stay here with me. Like this.
She drew in shuddered breaths and I wanted so badly to kiss her. To lean down and kiss the top of her head. She sniffled, wiped at her tears and snuggled deeper into me as I tried so hard to keep my groans of pain at bay. I wouldn't rob her of this. I wouldn't rob either of us of this moment.
Because it had been a long time coming.
“Thank you so much.”
I furrowed my brow. “For what?”
She sniffled. “For doing what you did. For leading those assholes away. Had you not, they might’ve—”
I gripped her hair softly. “Never, on my life, would I have ever let something happen to you. Never. Not while you’re around me. Do you hear me?”
She nodded softly. “I just can’t help but think that this is all my fault.”
“If I could shake my head fervently right now at you, I would. This isn’t your fault. None of this would’ve taken place had those assholes just stayed at home. Passed right by us instead of coming into the parking lot. They started this. Not you, and certainly not me.”
She paused. “The police came to talk to me yesterday morning.”
“I’ve talked with them, too.”
“Is everything going to be okay?”
“Once they find those dickweeds and arrest them, I’ll feel even better. But, yes, beautiful. Everything is going to be okay. Thank you for talking with them. I’m sorry I couldn't have been there to support you through it.”
She scoffed. “I’m sorry I haven’t been here since the accident. I made you a promise and—”
“—and my father got in the way. Like he always does. This isn’t your fault. I had a feeling my father had done something, even though my stepmother wouldn’t tell me what he’d done.”
“So they’ve been here for you? Through all this.”
I sighed. “Eh, more or less. I’ve woken up to Cecilia instead of my father. The only time I woke up to the sound of Dad’s voice, he was arguing with her.”
“Arguing? About what?”
I scoffed. “A business trip Cecilia wanted him to cancel.”
Rae rose up, looking into my eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
I shrugged, groaning at the pain. “That’s how he is. Work comes before everything. He thought he was doing everyone a favor by pushing the trip back once already.”
“Your father’s an absolute asshole.”
I chuckled. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“You should tell the doctors what he does to you.”
“By the sounds of it, someone already has.”
Rae blushed, but all I did was laugh. I pulled her back down to my side, feeling her curl around me. Her leg slipped between mine, and it was the closest I’d felt to her in a long time. I drew in a deep breath as my fingertips stroked her arm, sending goosebumps puckering her skin for me to touch.
“It just kinda slipped out. I’m sorry.”
I grinned. “Ah, worse things have happened. I’m eighteen, so there isn’t much people can do now except look into my father. And he’ll pay them off. Like he usually does. Then we’ll go on about our lives and he’ll buy me something out of guilt to make things okay again.”
“So this has happened before? Someone reporting him?”
“Yep. I reported him once.”
Rae sighed. “This is such shit.”
“The way I see it, I’ve got less than a year. Then I graduate and I’m free to go and do as I please. Just need that high school diploma, even if it isn’t enough to get me into a community college or whatever.”
“Speaking of graduation, what does your recovery look like? You’re going to walk and all that, right?”
“Well, I’m pretty beat up. I know Dad wants me out before he goes on this fun business trip. But just because my concussion is clearing up doesn’t mean I’m out of here. If things go perfectly, I might get released in a couple days. But, realistically, I’m looking at another week in this hospital. At least, before they release me.”
“What happens after they release you, Clint?”
“The usual. Physical therapy. Exercises. In home, and in an office somewhere. That will help fix my back and the movement in my arm, once my collarbone heals.”
She paused. “Wait, your back? What happened to your back?”
I grinned. “I fell twenty feet down a ravine and landed on a bunch of rocks. My vertebrae have slipped out of place. My back’s crooked from the impact.”
Her eyes rose to meet mine. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I’m sorry. I guess, in the grand scheme of things, it’s easier if I tell you what’s not wrong with me.”
I laughed, but she didn’t find that funny.
“Not a cool joke, Clint.”
I cleared my throat. “Sorry, beautiful.”
I watched her sit up, and already I missed her warmth. She placed one arm over me, propping herself up as her body hovered over mine. I gazed into her eyes as I sat there, staring at her. Propped up for the first time in days as I gazed upon the most beautiful face I’d ever come to know in my short life.
I smiled. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Rae blushed. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
“You’re eighteen, right?”
She paused. “Yeah. Why?”
“I’ll have a talk with the doctor about putting you on my HIPAA form.”
“Your what now?”
I chuckled. “It’s a release form that designates who can know about my condition. Since you’re technically a legal adult, I can put you on the list so the hospital can call and update you on how I’m doing.”
“Or I could pick up your school work and bring it to you so we can study together. Which means your father looks like an absolute asshole if he stands in the way of your studies.”
“I like the way you think, Cleaver.”
She winked. “And here I thought you’d keep calling me ‘beautiful.’”
My smile faded. “You’d really do that for me?”
“Do what?”
“Bring my schoolwork and help me study?”
“I mean, why wouldn't I? You’re going to be here while school is still happening. You’ll still have tests and shit like that. If you want to graduate, you have to at least not fail things. So, yeah. Of course I’d do that for you.”
I felt overwhelmed by her words. This beautiful young girl really was willing to bend over backwards for me. Which was such a refreshing chan
ge of pace from my father. I blinked back tears, feeling like a great big pussy as a smile crossed Rae’s face.
“We’ll blame it on the pain you’re in, okay?”
I snickered. “Yeah. Sure. Good thinking.”
I looked up and saw Michael staring inside the room at us. And I could’ve sworn he and Allison were holding hands. He gave me a thumbs-up, I guess signaling to me that the coast was still clear. I reached my arm out for Rae again.
“Come here, gorgeous.”
She smiled. “Oh, I like that one much better.”
“I figured you would.”
She lay back down in my arms and I closed my eyes. This was how I wanted things to be. Her, nestled against me, while I closed my eyes and slept. The food sat well in my stomach. Greasy, fatty food that helped me wake up a bit. All this healthy shit the hospital fed me—bland foods like rice and unbuttered toast—was getting old. And now that they had me off the morphine drip, why couldn't I have a nice burger?
Even if it came back up on me, it was still worth it to see Rae. To hold her again. To smell her again. To be next to her again.
“You saved me.”
I snickered. “No, gorgeous. You saved me. And I owe you my life for it.”
She kissed my chest. “You owe me nothing.”
“I owe you everything, and you’ll like it that way.”
She giggled. “You’re a mess, you know that?”
“A mess you like.”
“A mess I—”
She paused, and my heart skipped a beat. Surely she hadn’t been about to say something like that. What I wouldn’t have given in that moment to look down at her. To read her face and gaze into her eyes. Fucking hell, this damn neck brace. I needed it off, and now.
But when she buried herself into my side, I knew. I knew what she almost said.
And I hoped one day, she knew I felt the same way.
“Get some rest, Clint. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
I stroked my fingers up and down her back. “I don’t want to miss a second with you.”
She wrapped her arm around me. “I promise, I’ll be back. I’m bringing your homework, remember? I’ve become your study buddy. Plus, you’re putting me on that ‘HIPPO’ form.”