“If he knew anything?” Joshua asked. “Probably. Why?”
“He knows you have his car. Or at least, he knows it’s at the hospital.”
“Shit,” Joshua muttered.
I nodded. “We’re in a fucking Firebird! A fucking black and gold Trans Am with a fucking Firebird on the hood! With a fucking license plate that says ‘2FAST4U’! Fuck!”
“Let’s get out of this car,” Joshua said.
We got on the next off-ramp. At the first red light, we got out of the car.
Joshua hurried around to the driver’s side of the car next to us and pulled out his gun.
“Get out of the car!” He yelled.
The guy in the car tried to open the door while holding his hands up. I probably would have laughed if we had been in literally any other situation.
“Hurry the fuck up!” Joshua yelled.
The guy managed to press the unlock button.
Joshua yanked the door open and unbuckled the guy’s seatbelt. “Get in, Chrissy,” He told me.
I got into the car before the other guy was out.
I managed to smile and say, “Hi. Sorry about this,” Before Joshua had him out of the car.
Then Joshua was in the car. He drove into the lane going the opposite way, back toward the freeway.
“Police scanner,” He told me, not taking his eyes off the road.
“It’s on.”
We drove in silence for a few minutes before a woman on the police scanner said, “…Suspect identified as Joshua Scoppio in a white 2002 BMW…”
“What?” I cried. “How do they know?”
“The guy must have called the police. They probably matched descriptions.”
For the next ten minutes, Joshua drove calmly, constantly checking the review mirror.
“Chrissy, when the police catch up, tell them I kidnapped you, alright?”
“Don’t you mean ‘if’ they catch us?” I asked nervously.
“No. They’re going to catch us. I’m surrendering,” And with that, he pulled over.
I turned around. The police were driving toward us. They were about fifteen feet behind us.
“Don’t surrender,” I begged.
“It’s over, Chrissy. For real, this time,” Joshua said, unbuckling his seatbelt.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to-“
“Chrissy. It’s over,” He said, opening the door.
“Don’t open the-“
But it was too late, my brother was getting out of the car, holding his hands up.
The police car skidded to a halt.
“On the ground!” A cop yelled, leaning out his window with his gun raised.
Joshua turned to me. “What did he say?”
Oh my god. Joshua didn’t know you weren’t supposed to get out of the car when you were pulled over. And now he was going to die.
Before I could tell him to get on the ground, the cop fired his gun.
“Joshua!” I yelled. I screamed as the guns went off a second time.
Joshua was going to be dead. Truly, he wanted to be dead. And nothing could ever get in his way when he wanted something. Our whole lives, he had always gotten what he wanted.
I screamed again when his body hit the ground. He was dead. I was alone now.
Chapter 15
I got out of the car and ran to Joshua’s body. I was sobbing as I sat on the ground next to him. I watched him, hoping that I was wrong, that he wasn’t dead. And that was when I noticed him breathing. He was barely breathing, but he was still breathing.
“He’s still alive!” I shouted to no one in particular. “He’s still alive,” I had my hands on his stomach, covering the bullet hole. I was trying to stop him from bleeding out. “He’s still alive! Someone do something!”
“Put your hands up!” The cop yelled, pointing his gun at me.
“Stay with me,” I whispered. “Don’t leave me alone.”
"Put your hands up!" The cop yelled again.
"He's bleeding!" I cried. "Someone do something!"
"Hands up!"
"Do something!"
The cop fired.
The bullet hit my arm. I immediately went into shock. I didn't feel pain, I felt anger.
"What the fuck?" I screamed. "What the fuck did you just do to me?"
I used my other arm to push myself into a standing position.
The cop shot me again. This time in the thigh.
I fell to the ground, where I promptly hit my head and passed out.
Chapter 16
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, attached to all kinds of machines. I had bandages on my left arm and leg.
“What the fuck?” I muttered.
Then the pain hit. Everything came rushing back to me.
“Oh god,” I groaned. “Oh god, what did I do?”
“Oh, you’re awake!” A voice said.
I turned toward the door. There was a nurse standing there.
“What’s going on? Where’s my brother?”
“Your brother is… Joshua? Right?”
I nodded.
“He’s alive. He was shot in the stomach, but he was brought to the hospital in time. He’s expected to make a full recovery.”
“Is he awake? I need to talk to him.”
“Yes, he’s awake. I’m his nurse, as well as yours.”
“Can I talk to him?”
“You two can see each other shortly, but he wanted me to tell you that he already told the police what he did.”
What did he do? I wondered. Then I remembered our last conversation. He wanted me to tell the cops he kidnapped me.
“Is he in trouble?” I asked.
The nurse frowned for the first time. “He is. He has a policeman with him around the clock.”
“I need to talk to the police. Please.”
“I’ll see what the doctor says.”
“No, you don’t understand. I need to talk to someone right now!”
A few hours later, I was sitting in my bed, being interviewed by the police.
“So, you say you convinced your brother to flee from the police?” The cop asked after I had told her everything.
I nodded. "It was my idea," I said.
The cop shook her head. "Your brother said you'd say that. He already told us the whole story of how he kidnapped you. How he told you he would kill your boyfriend and all that."
“What’s going to happen to him?” I asked quietly.
“Well, everyone seems to agree that Adam Lits was killed in an act of self-defense. So, he will probably be let off easy on that charge. But going into hiding? Threatening to take a nurse hostage? Kidnapping you? Resisting arrest? He’s in a lot of trouble.”
“Will he be let out on bail?”
“Probably not. Sorry, kid,” The officer said, turning to leave.
“Wait,” I said.
The officer turned back toward me.
“My dad died last month. My brother and I are the last Scoppios. If he’s in jail, I might as well be the last Scoppio. And I’m not ready for that. I don’t want to be alone. I don’t know how long it takes for a trial to happen. Six months, a year, I don’t know. But that extra time together would mean the world to me. Please consider that.”
The officer nodded in thought. “I’ll see what I can do.”
The next day, Joshua and I were moved into a shared room. The officer who had interviewed me the night before had pulled some strings. Joshua didn’t even have to go to court to find out that he’d been let free on bail. Greg had paid the bail. Why Greg would do that, after Joshua had abandoned Greg’s car in the middle of the road, I don’t know. But I was glad he had done it.
Joshua had a meeting with a lawyer that day, but for now, our friends were visiting.
Joshua had told everyone the whole story. The true story.
“Why didn’t you tell the cops any of this?” Jordan asked.
“Because Chrissy made a mistake. I don’t want a mistake
to affect the rest of her life. That’s what happened to me, and I don’t want it to happen to her.”
“It was self-defense. That’s not a mistake,” Cameron pointed out.
I had a feeling Joshua was talking about whatever he had done that made him wind up in Las Vegas, but I didn’t say anything.
After an hour, I got up. “Alright, I have to make my rounds.”
“What rounds?” Kyle asked.
“It’s to strengthen my leg. I’m gonna need physical therapy in my arm and leg, and I figured I’d get a head start.”
“Shouldn’t you be resting?” Jordan asked in what seemed like genuine concern.
“My nurse says I should.”
“Then sit down!” Caleb cried. “What are you, crazy?”
I grinned. “I’m a Scoppio, aren’t I?”
Tyler walked with me. It took me awhile, but we finally made it to the end of the hall, where I sat down on a bench.
“What’s wrong?” I asked Tyler. “You’ve been quiet since you got here.”
“Jordan was right about you,” Tyler said quietly.
“What?”
“You and your brother are both trouble.”
“I made a mistake. I panicked. You and I both know that running from the cops isn’t me. That’s not something I would do.”
Tyler shook his head. “I don’t know that. What about the hockey game?”
“I could lose my brother, the only person I have left, and you want to talk about the fucking hockey game?”
“You threatened Adam.”
“Because he threatened my brother!” I stood up. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“Jordan wants me to break up with you. And I’m not against the idea. Not after hearing that running away was your plan.”
We were both quiet for a really long time after that.
“I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with me,” I said at last.
I went into the nearest bathroom. I needed to be alone. I sat on the toilet with my head in my hands and cried for the fifth time in three days. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly?
Chapter 17
After Joshua’s meeting with his lawyer, we were alone for the first time since I had woken up the night before. We finally had time to talk.
“Hey, Chrissy,” Joshua grinned.
I reached over and smacked him on the arm multiple times. “What the fuck were you thinking? Huh? You are so stupid!”
“I’m sorry,” He said.
“What were you thinking?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t know.”
“How could you not know that you aren’t supposed to get out of a car when you get pulled over?” I cried.
Joshua shrugged.
“What about me? What was I supposed to do when you died? Where was I supposed to go? I would have been alone.”
“I’m sorry. I was being stupid.”
I nodded. “I know,” Then I hugged him. “Don’t you ever do something like that again, Joshua Tree.”
I was in the hospital for five days. Joshua was in the hospital for a week and a half. I had started physical therapy the day after being released from the hospital. I was lucky enough to not have any major damage from either of the bullets. Other than physical therapy and school, Joshua and I were spending a lot of time together. We were pretty much alone in the world, and we were going to be torn apart soon.
The Peribats didn’t come by to visit us, but Caleb and Kyle did sometimes. Jack and Shane did, as well.
The day after Joshua got home from the hospital, the doorbell rang early in the morning.
Joshua was still having a hard time walking. The bullet site was still sore. When we finally made it down the stairs, there was a woman sitting at the kitchen table with Greg.
She stood up when she saw us. “Chrysanthemum and Joshua Scoppio?” She asked.
We nodded.
“I’m Lucy Gratt. Chrysanthemum, I believe we have spoken over the phone.”
Joshua and I looked at each other. I don’t think that either of us knew what to say.
Finally, I said, “Yes, we have.”
“What brings you here?” Joshua asked.
“I’ve heard about the events of the past few weeks. Everything Joshua has done.”
“He killed that guy in self-defense,” I pointed out. It was the only thing I could defend.
Mrs. Gratt nodded. “That may be true, but it is not enough to save you from trouble. Especially when your friend here says that Joshua is only seventeen,” She said, gesturing to Greg.
“Greg!” Joshua cried.
“I’m sorry, Josh,” Greg said. “I didn’t know.”
I took a deep breath. I knew what was coming, even as I asked, “What now?”
“Well, Chrysanthemum, you and I will be going back to Los Angeles tomorrow morning. I’ve found a very nice foster family for you. And Joshua, well, you’re in enough trouble, so we won’t be pressing any charges.”
“Why can’t she stay with me for now?” Joshua asked. “And then when I’m sentenced, she can go to a foster home here, in Vegas.”
“Because you aren’t eighteen. You two have broken a lot of rules. You’re lucky that I was able to make this arrangement that keeps Joshua out of even more trouble.”
Joshua looked like he was about to cuss her out, but I stopped him. “Thank you, Mrs. Gratt. I hope that you won’t think I’m rude if I ask you to leave now. I have some things I need to do before leaving.”
Mrs. Gratt nodded. “I understand. I’ll be back here to pick you up at seven o’clock tomorrow morning.”
I walked her to the door. Once she was gone, Joshua stormed up the stairs. I followed him.
“We have to run,” He said.
I shook my head. “No more running.”
“Chrysanthemum, do you know what’s going to happen? Do you understand what she’s saying?”
I nodded. “I do. We made some stupid decisions, and now we have to suffer the consequences.”
Joshua sighed. “If this is what you want-“
“It is. I just want this to all be over.”
Joshua sighed again. “Fine.”
I sat down on the bed. We had been playing games long enough, and we had finally lost.
That night we went to Dairy Queen with our friends. The gang threw me a “Goodbye For Now” party. I had told everyone that I was fine with going. I had to pretend that it was alright for Joshua. I didn’t want him to go and get himself shot again. But really, I felt broken. I felt defeated.
I spent the time saying goodbye to everyone. I didn’t want them to be there tomorrow. It’d be too painful to say goodbye then.
Around nine o’clock, Joshua got up. “I think we’re gonna go home. Ready Chrissy?”
I nodded. “I’ll be outside in a minute,” I turned to Tyler, the only one I hadn’t said goodbye to yet. “Can we talk?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
We went to an empty table.
“What’s up?” Tyler asked.
I had been thinking for a while since the day we broke up in the hospital. And I had realized that Tyler and I were not right for each other. Honestly? I didn’t even like him that much, I just thought he was cute. I had realized that some time ago. But I still wanted to be friends.
“I know I’ll come back here eventually but before I leave, I just want to say that I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For everything. I know I caused problems between you and Jordan,” I looked back to the group’s table. Jordan was watching us curiously. “He’s a good brother. He cares about you and he just wants what’s best for you. And I’m not what’s best for you,” I paused before continuing, “And I’m sorry that I couldn’t make things right between us. I don’t think we should be in a relationship. But I wish we could have been friends. I hope that saying all this helps. And I just want you to know that you made living here easier for me.” Then because
I forgot the rest of my speech, I hugged him. Then I got up and walked out of the restaurant. As Joshua and I walked away, I didn’t look back.
The next morning, Mrs. Gratt rang the doorbell at seven o’clock sharp. Joshua and I were standing out front while the taxi driver put my bags in the trunk.
I hugged Joshua.
“I love you,” I told him.
“I swear to god, Chrissy, the second I’m free, I'm going to come and get you.”
I started crying. We both knew that was a lie. Joshua wouldn’t be free for a very long time, if ever. I’d be eighteen well before then. “Don’t let her take me,” I said.
“I don't have a choice. I love you and if anyone hurts you, let me know. I'll kill them.”
I cried even more as I got in the car. “I’ll miss you.”
Mrs. Gratt got in the backseat next to me. I stared through the windshield. I didn't know where else to look. Then I saw Whitney walking toward the car. What the hell was she doing here? Did she come to gloat?
“Hey, lady, hold on a second,” She said.
Mrs. Gratt stared at Whitney, who was leaning through the window.
“Listen,” Whitney began. “You can't take Chrissy away,” She smiled at me as she said, “She's my best friend, so I know what I'm talking about when I say this. She has a life here. She doesn't make trouble, she has good friends, and she's a good student. She's the smartest kid in our class. Her ex-boyfriend is the second smartest. She even started her own business! How many fourteen year olds do you know that have their own businesses? Yeah, she and her brother screwed up. But Chrissy belongs here. Not in L.A. Let her stay. Please.”
Mrs. Gratt looked back at me, then at Josh, who was standing behind Whitney. “I’m not supposed to do this, but since Chrissy is doing so well here, I’ll find a foster family in Las Vegas for her. She can stay,” She said.
I jumped out of the car and hugged Josh. Then I turned to Whitney.
“We're good?” She asked.
I grinned and hugged her, nodding. We were good.
Epilogue
While things didn’t go back to normal, everything was still good. Whitney and I were best friends again, and it was like nothing had changed. Tyler and I made up, although we agreed to just stay friends. It was better that way for everyone, including the two of us. I was still friends with everyone else in the group, except Jordan. He and I just didn’t get along, and we probably never would. It didn’t matter to me, though. If Jordan didn’t want to get off his high horse, that was his problem.
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