by Cala Riley
I rush to the desk, barely stopping as I crash into it.
“Excuse me, one of our friends was brought in a while ago because of an accident. Xavier Walsh,” Rebecca tells the lady behind the desk calmly.
“Are you family?”
I consider lying, but don’t want to be called out.
“No,” I rasp.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I can’t give you any information then.”
My heart seizes in my chest. “Please.” I feel my eyes prickling with tears. “Please tell me something. I’m begging you.”
Her eyes waver. “You’re his girlfriend?” she says in a way that tells me she’s trying to help me out here. “You should have started with that.”
“Sorry, she’s a mess. Yes, she’s his girlfriend.”
“Let me see.” She taps away at her keyboard. “Well, I can’t tell you anything about his condition, but I can tell you what waiting room to go to. Go up to the second floor. On the right, you will see a waiting room for the surgical unit.”
“He’s in surgery?” I screech.
The nurse’s eyes shift to the security guard as he walks closer. She gives a subtle shake of her head.
“Honey, I suggest you go to the waiting room and when the doctor comes out, you tell them exactly who you are.” She gives me a knowing look. “They can tell you more.”
“Come on,” Rebecca says under her breath, pulling my arm. “Thank you,” she tells the lady.
The lady gives me a sympathetic smile as I’m pulled away.
Rebecca drags me into the elevator as I feel the panic building inside my chest.
No. No. Not again. I can’t.
“Breathe,” she demands, pushing me to the floor before shoving my head down between my legs.
“Surgery isn’t good, Becca,” I whimper, tears filling my eyes.
“Stop thinking the worst. He needs all the positive thoughts and prayers he can get,” she chastises.
The doors open and she basically drags me out of the elevator and toward the waiting room. She drops my hand, making me look up as she rushes toward Jack. He sits with his arms on his knees, hands covering his face.
“Hey,” she whispers, kneeling in front of him.
He drops his hands and weaves them into her hair and buries his face into the crown of her head. I slowly approach and sit down next to them.
“Have you heard anything?” I whisper.
Jack shakes his head, messing up Rebecca’s hair. “They won’t tell me anything, but Tinsley will be here soon and she will get us some answers.”
“Why would Tinsley come?” I bristle.
Jack turns, glaring at me. “This isn’t the time for your little jealousy act but if you must know she was on the phone with him when he was hit and she’s his emergency contact.” He says harshly. “If I were you I would adjust my attitude real fucking quick. This isn’t the time and it sure as hell isn’t the place.”
“You’re right.” I nod, looking away.
I move a couple seats down to give him his space, while I take a seat, settling in to wait as long as it takes.
“Can I get you anything?” Rebecca asks Jack.
“I just want to hold you.” I hear him murmur.
Chill, Cassi, it will all be okay. When Ryan died, we never made it this far.
The music blasting as we drive down the gravel road. I’m sitting in the middle of the back seat, swaying back and forth. Ryan’s driving and Jared’s in the passenger seat.
“Hey, move over, I want to see if I can hit the sign with the bottle,” he says to Ryan.
Ryan moves over as Jared rolls down his window. Once close enough to the road sign, Jared chucks the empty beer bottle out, hitting the pole and not the sign itself.
“Fuck!” he growls, making Ryan and I laugh.
“I thought you were good at throwing things,” I tease, pushing on the back of his head.
“Fuck off, Cass,” he says, turning and trying to give me a dead leg.
“Hey,” I yell, moving my legs just in time.
“Now, now guys. Knock it off. Keep your hands to yourself,” Ryan says, amused.
“Yeah, Jared. Keep those hands to yourself. Who knows what you’ve touched recently that you shouldn’t.”
“I swear to God, Cass,” he hisses.
“Cass, give him another beer and stop teasing him,” Ryan says, breaking up yet another fight. “Jared, you know she’s just giving you shit.”
I had Jared another beer reluctantly. “I made sure not to open it so you know it’s not tampered with,” I quip.
“How thoughtful.”
I lean back and stare out the window.
“Are you sure you don’t want a beer?” Jared asks Ryan.
“You know the rules, driver doesn’t drink,” Ryan chastises.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jared says. “So you fucked Becca yet?”
“What the fuck?” Ryan hisses.
“Excuse me?” I demand.
“What she’s a hot piece of ass.” Jared shrugs.
“What the fuck is wrong with you,” Ryan says harshly.
“I’m sorry, but my best friend isn’t a whore,” I say.
“Trust me, I know. She’s a stuck-up fucking prude like you,” he spews.
I reach forward and punch the back of his shoulder.
“Fuck you!”
“No fuck you, Cassi!” he hisses, turning in his seat trying to get at me.
“Guys knock it off!” Ryan demands, trying to grab on to Jared’s shirt and pull him back into his seat. “Oh, fuck!”
I feel Ryan slam on the breaks and the back end of the car fishtail.
“Ryan,” I yell, scared.
“Get control, man,” Jarred hisses.
“I’m trying,” Ryan says with fear in his voice.
Then I feel it and close my eyes tight. We roll once, twice, and a third time. I whip from one side of the back seat to the other like a rag doll until we come to a stop on the driver’s side. I can’t help but whimper as I take stock of myself and “Roll On” by Kid Rock plays.
Nothing feels broken.
“Cass.” Jared looks back at me. “You okay?”
“I think so. You?”
“Yeah, I’m going to open the door and get you out. You’ll have to jump down,” he tells me.
“Okay,” I whisper, trying to push off my side.
Jared struggles to get the door open but after a couple of tries gets it to stay.
“Climb up. Use the side of the seat as a step to boost you. I’ll lift you.”
I do as he says and with no time he has me sitting on the edge of the car on the frame.
“Jump out and down.”
I do as he says and whimper when I land. My ankle throbbing.
“You okay?” he asks frantically.
“I’m okay, just get down here.”
With less grace and more struggle, Jared finally jumps down. I hobble into his arms and embrace him.
“I’m going to call 9-1-1, okay?” he whispers. “Stay where I can see you.”
I nod against his chest and pull away. Jared gets on the phone and starts relaying our location.
Ryan.
“Ryan,” I whisper, frantically looking around.
“Cass.” Jared tries to grab me, but I move around him and around the car.
There. Laying halfway out the window, crushed under the car, is my brother.
“Ryan!” I screech. Running over, I fall to my knees. Hands shaking, not knowing where to touch him. “Ryan,” I whisper as tears fall down my face. I brush his hair off his forehead as I look at his pale skin and blue lips.
“Cass,” Jared says, full of anguish. He comes up behind me and pulls me into him.
“No! I need to touch him,” I say, sobbing.
I latch on to my cold brother’s hand and break down.
“It’s all my fault, I’m sorry, Cass. It’s all my fault,” Jared chants in the background.
I don’t
know how long after I hear the sirens and I hold on tighter.
“Miss, you need to let go,” someone whispers, touching my shoulder.
I look over my shoulder, “I can’t. He’s my brother, I can’t leave him. He wouldn’t leave me.”
“Cassi,” someone says, pulling me out of my thoughts. I blink and see Rebecca, frowning. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“You’re shaking.”
“I am?” I ask, voice shaking. I clear my throat. “Where’s Jack?”
“Tinsley and her family got here. Her brother got us moved into a private waiting room. We should get in there,” she says as she rubs my shoulder. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am.” I stand on wobbly legs.
“I would understand if this brought up some terrible memories,” she prods.
“I’m fine. Promise. Let’s get in there. I want to know if they know anything.”
“Okay, but I’m here.” She takes my hand and pulls me into another room. “I know I was a little short with you on the way here, but I needed to get here. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. We’re all a little on edge.”
“You know Jack didn’t mean it either. He adores you.”
My heart pangs. I know Jack didn’t mean it, but it was painful to hear.
“I know,” I say, motioning for her to show me the way.
She leads me down the hall to a new area. Then she opens the door.
Stepping inside, I see there are more people. A lot more people. Two guys and two females.
Tinsley.
I see her standing, wrapped in an attractive man’s arms as a blonde woman rubs her arm. The man holding hands with the blonde looks like he could be related to Tinsley.
I know I should go say something, but I’m at a loss for words. I don’t think Tinsley ever likes me much, but I know she has to hate me by now.
Instead of going to her, I make my way over to Jack.
Taking a seat next to him, I ask, “Have you heard anything?”
Jack goes to speak, but another voice beats him to it.
“He has a broken arm in two places. They did surgery to put it in a bunch of metal so he can heal,” the man holding Tinsley says gruffly. “You must be Cassi.”
“Be nice,” Tinsley chastises him. “How are you holding up?” She turns to ask me.
“I’m okay, you?”
“I’ve been better.” She sighs.
“I never want to hear you scream like that again,” her man says.
“Agreed,” the dark-haired man says.
“I’m Sage,” the beautiful blonde says with an open smile, walking over to me to shake my hand. “This is my boyfriend Reed, Tinsley’s brother.” She smiles up at her man, who looks at her like she hung the moon. “And Casanova over there is Finley, Tinsley’s boyfriend. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I would say nice to meet you, but.” I smile awkwardly.
“That would be a lie.” Sage smirks.
“Are his parents coming?” I ask no one in particular.
“One would think if you were so close to Xavier, you would know he’s basically estranged from his parents. That’s what happens when you fight their demands and go against what they want,” Reed’s unkind voice says, leaning against the wall before pulling Sage into him, away from me.
“They are both over in Europe currently. They told me to keep them updated,” Tinsley says softly while nibbling on her lip.
“Hey, stop that,” Finley scolds her, pulling her lip free. “That’s my lip to torture.” He smirks, making her blush.
“Could you not?” Reed demands, making the girls laugh.
The entire room sobers as soon as the door opens.
The doctor walks in. “Is this the family of Xavier Walsh?”
“We are,” Reed tells him.
Tinsley steps forward. “I’m Xavier’s power of attorney. How is he?”
“Would you like to go somewhere private?” the doctor asks her, looking at our large group.
“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of us,” Sage tells him.
The doctor doesn’t take her word, instead looking to Tinsley.
“They are his family. Anything you tell me, I’ll turn around and tell them, anyway.”
“Very well.”
The doctor goes into detail about how they reset Xavier’s arm. How many pins and bolts he needed. How he lost consciousness for a few moments, but came to before he made it to the hospital. That he has a concussion and how they had to glue shut a cut on his forehead.
The entire time the doctor is talking, my heart is racing. The pain that started earlier being amplified by hearing how hurt he is.
“Overall, he was lucky,” the doctor finishes.
“When can we see him?” Tinsley asks, heartache in her voice.
“Once they have him moved into a private room, someone will come get you. Only two of you at a time to start off with. We don’t want to overwhelm the patient.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Reed says. The rest of us murmur our thanks as well.
Tinsley moves away from their group on the far side of the room, coming to where I’m standing in the corner.
“You don’t have to be way back here. I know my brother and boyfriend can be intimidating, but it’s not you. They have a hard time trusting.”
My eyes tear up at her words. “Why are you being so nice to me right now?”
Her eyes show understanding.
“Let’s take a walk. I think we should talk.”
“Where are you going, woman?” Finley calls from across the room.
“For a walk. I’ll be back. Call me if they come back.”
He doesn’t look happy, but he doesn’t say anything else.
Leading me out of the waiting room, she leads me down the hall in silence. She doesn’t stop until we are at the elevators. She leads me to the love seat positioned across from the elevators.
Once settled, she lets out a heavy sigh.
“I know why you think I wouldn’t like you. Xavier told me everything, but I think you have the wrong idea. You know there are three sides to every story. There’s your side. There’s Xavier’s. Then there’s the truth. I think you both have vilified yourself in your own versions. He has never said one negative thing about you.”
“He should. I broke up with him.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Yes, you did. His heart is aching, but you made valid points. If I’m not mistaken, I feel like you might have broken your own heart in the process as well.”
I give her a small smile, showing her she’s on the right track.
“I saw it when I came down before. Xavier cares deeply for you. I saw your face when he called you a friend. After you ran off, I read him the riot act. I couldn’t believe he would treat you so carelessly. Do you know what he told me?” When I shake my head no, she continues, “He said that you had some emotional scars you were working through and that he didn’t want to scare you off by using more serious labels.”
“He’s the one who took dating off the table. I would have dated him from the start,” I tell her.
“I know. He told me that too. He wouldn’t tell me why, but I knew why. I’m assuming Xavier told you our past?”
“He did.”
“Good. He needed to. I’m always going to be his friend, but the past couple months? I’m no longer his best friend. That’s you. You’re who he is confiding in. Who he spends all of his time with. He cares about you.”
“I care about him too. When Rebecca told me he was in the hospital, I flipped out. I’m still anxious even though the doctor told us he would be okay. Like I won’t believe it until I see him for myself.”
She gives me a warm smile, reaching out to grab my hand. “He’s lucky to have you.”
I let out a sigh. “No offense, but your boyfriend made it seem like I wasn’t even welcome here.”
She laughs. “Like Finley would know anythin
g about Xavier would want. They aren’t exactly the best of friends. He doesn’t know Xavier like you or I do. He doesn’t know that you didn’t ask about his parents because you don’t know about their relationship, but because you know it would mean the world to him if they showed up. Just like you know it’s going to hurt like hell when he finds out they didn’t bother to come. Trust me, Xavier would want you here.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“You’re welcome. I think that if we talked more, we could be friends. Besides, I need someone to team up on Xavier with.”
She bumps my knee with hers as she giggles.
I give her a warm smile. “I’m sorry if I was cold to you before.”
She gives me a knowing smile in return. “If some chick showed up hugging on my man, I would be a little more than upset, even if he told me they were just friends. No worries.”
“Tin tin, they are ready to let us back.”
We turn and see Finley call from down the hall.
“Coming,” she calls to him.
She pulls me up, wrapping her arm in mine. Once we get back to the waiting room, she announces, “Cassi and I are going to go back first.”
No one questions her.
The nurse leads us down some halls and through a set of automatic doors. Once at the room, she stops. “He’s still out, but he should come to shortly. They already started weaning him off the medicine to help him recover.”
We both nod before she turns to walk away.
Tinsley steps forward, pushing the door open before taking a step in. She holds the door, turning to look back at me.
I can’t meet her eyes though. All I can see is Xavier lying on the bed.
“Avi,” I breathe out, my eyes prickling with tears.
He is lying in the bed, eyes closed, looking so peaceful.
Just like Ryan did.
My heart beats frantically as I try to reconcile what I’m seeing in front of me and the memories in my head.
He looks like he’s at peace. Like he is sleeping in on a Saturday morning.
Looks deceive. He’s no longer here with us. I hear my mom sob next to me. My heart breaks for her and for my father who is standing next to her, cradling her in his arms, attempting to keep it together. He has his own tears streaming down.
I take a couple steps forward toward the bed. Once at the side, I reach out, brushing his hand.