The Crash Zone (The Zone Series Book 2)

by Tarrah Anders

My friends are quite great. While I may be douchey they still accept me and all my faults.

  “I’ve got to get going. I promised that I would stay straight and hang out with Davis. He’s been really busy with his new job.” I grab an extra napkin and wipe my face and start to stand.

  “How’s he liking it?” Dane asks me.

  “From what I can tell, he enjoys it. He’s getting in the swing of things. Remembering what it’s like to have homework again, since he gets to grade stuff now.” I laugh. “I was a dick and forgot that he told me he got a job, so I’m trying to make it up to him and be a good big brother. If he didn’t have Katrina, I’d get him a stripper-gram.”

  “Ew, please no.” Sterling grimaces.

  “What? I know a few strippers who would be good at it.” I joke. “I’ll see you guys.” I say throwing a twenty on the table.

  I jump in my car and exit out of the parking lot. I ease onto the city streets and adjust my satellite stereo to my favorite 90’s alternative station, which as ridiculous as it sounds, is now considered as Classic Rock. I shake my head at the thought and laugh. Ridiculous!

  I’m merging onto the freeway when all of a sudden my car jolts and all I can hear is crunching and the blood pumping in my ears with an accelerated heartbeat. I grip the wheel and turn into the movement, but my car is still moving forward and to the right. My foot is slamming down on the brake, but the motion isn’t making anything happen. I’m afraid that my foot is going to go through the bottom of the car. Soon enough, the passenger side of my car hits the cement wall and my car skids forward just a little bit and then stops. I still can’t hear much of anything other than my heartbeat and I keep blinking my eyes, but it’s almost like a Vaseline film is over my eyes. My knuckles are so white from gripping the steering wheel, but I don’t think I can move them just yet. I squeeze my eyes shut and I’m stuck back in Betsy’s car along the I-15 towards Rancho Bernardo. I see broken glass everywhere and the windshield is missing a large space, there’s so much blood, and I can’t move. My breathing quickens and I’m starting to shake then there’s a persistent knocking next to my ear and I hear some faint voices. I open my eyes back up, the windshield is still intact, there is no broken glass, and I don’t see any visible blood.

  Someone is next to me, and I roll down my window.

  “Oh thank god. Sir, are you okay?” A female officer asks me.

  I can’t find my voice. I gently remove my hands from the steering wheel and move to unclasp my seat belt.

  “Sir, an ambulance is on the way along with a tow truck. I repeat, are you okay?”

  “Betsy?” I whisper feeling light headed.

  “Sir?”

  “Betsy.” I say before my vision goes completely white.

  ***

  “He has some trauma, but I do not see any need to hold him over night. His previous injuries are completely healed and I see no reason for concern with re-injury.” A female voice says clicking her pen.

  “The officer who I spoke to mentioned there was another driver, are they okay? He’ll want to know that they are okay.” That sounded like Sterling.

  “The other driver wasn’t even brought in, she was checked at the scene and then released. Max, here was brought in due to losing consciousness.” The other female said. She shouldn’t be giving out details of the other driver. “Max may have some whip-lash, but other than that, he’s perfectly healthy.”

  I hear Sterling sigh, and I crack open my eyes. Dane is sitting in the chair next to the bed and Sterling is standing at the foot of the bed. Her hand on Dane’s shoulders.

  “Hey guys.” I manage and they both turn to me, Dane jumping up from his seat and Sterling rushing to my side. These two are my rocks!

  “Hey douchey.” She smiles as she holds my hand.

  “I heard that I’m okay. How okay is okay?” I ask trying to sit up slowly.

  Dane moves the pillows to support me and adjusts the bed I’m lying on.

  “Okay, as in you don’t have to live with us again.” Dane smirks.

  “Thank god for that.” I smirk.

  “Once the nurse makes her way back, she’ll probably give you your walking papers now that you are awake.” Sterling says, she is grasping my hand pretty tightly.

  I squeeze her hand back.

  “So, what happened? Did they say?” I ask.

  “Well, you were in an accident. The car that hit you wasn’t paying attention to your lane and was going pretty fast and came into your space and propelled you pretty much into the side of the wall. The officer said you weren’t responsive verbally to her questions and then you passed out on her. Then, here you are.”

  “And there you are.” I smile.

  “How do you feel?” Dane asks.

  “Groggy, I have a headache and I feel like I need a neck massage, but other than that. I’m alright.”

  The nurse, I presume the female voice that I heard speaking to Sterling, she’s young, looks younger than we are, and approaches my side. She looks familiar.

  “And how are you doing Max?” She asks.

  She looks oddly familiar. She curls her blonde highlight behind her ear and smiles. I know this girl.

  “I’m good. I think. I have no missing body parts, and everything is able to… wiggle.” I smile.

  She gasps and then giggles at my not so obvious, but kind of obvious innuendo. Kailey! Dick sucking in the alley Kailey!

  “I’ll be right back with your discharge.” She smiles and turns.

  “Thanks Kailey.” I call after her and noticing she almost tripped once I said her name and acknowledged that I remembered her.

  Sterling and Dane give me a questioning look.

  “We had a wonderful evening together.” I explain and they both understand and don’t ask for any further information.

  Kailey comes back and seems not as sure of herself as she did before I said her name.

  “Here is your paperwork, if you need any stronger pain killers, other than aspirin, just say the word.”

  “No need. I can manage pain.” I say.

  Kailey nods. “Very well. It was, um… nice to see you again Max.”

  “You as well. Thanks for taking good care of me… again.” I wink.

  Sterling and Dane helped me up from the bed and I laugh. “You’re such a dog.” Dane laughs.

  ***

  My car was towed to the shop and on the way out of the hospital; I called my insurance company for a rental. Dane and Sterling dropped me off at the closest location that my insurance company rattled off.

  I sat behind the wheel of a sleek sedan with leather seats. I have no idea what kind of car this is, but it will work. Now, I just have to drive and I’ll be on my way. I turn the ignition over and I feel the purr of the vehicle. I close my eyes as my knuckles grip the steering wheel and I’m starting to see spots. I take a deep breath, and release it slowly. I can do this.

  I can do this. I can. I breathe in and out slowly.

  I open my eyes and put the car into gear and ease off the break. Here we go.

  I don’t know how slow I drove to get home, but it felt like it was quite awhile. Davis is sitting on the couch bouncing his leg. He looks rattled, and I’m sure he thinks that I’d disappoint him and be drunk.

  He looks up as I walk closer and jolts up.

  “Holy shit! I thought something happened to you, you were supposed to be here like 4 hours ago.” Davis nervously said.

  “Didn’t Dane or Sterling call you?” I ask perplexed.

  Davis gives a weird look, and looks at his phone. “Shit! No battery!”

  “Shit, sorry. I got into an accident--.” Further explanation is halted by Davis throwing himself at me in a bear hug. I’m trying to pull him off of me and slowly do so. Man! He’s strong.

  “Fuck! Are you okay? You look fine… are you?” He stammers, looking me up and down.

  “I’m alright. Passed out afterwards, but I’m okay. C’mon, you drive. I’ll tell you what happened ove
r dinner, I promised to take you out to celebrate.” I say patting his shoulder and trying to get him towards the front door.

  “Nah, man. We don’t have to. You’ve had an…eventful day.”

  “C’mon, I’ll talk over food, I haven’t eaten since lunch. Plus, then I can tell you about how I knew the nurse who treated me.” I wink.

  Chapter 8 – Davis

  The night Max got into a car accident, he seemed like he was thinking clearly. We went to dinner, he told me about the accident and how he met the nurse who treated him at the hospital and we joked like there wasn’t an underlying issue coming to breach our lives. Max took keen interest in my new job and asked a lot of questions, both about me and my students. He expressed sincerity with all subjects that we spoke about, it was almost like he was someone else. The Max that I knew when Betsy was alive.

  I didn’t think it was strange that when we got home, we both went into our separate rooms. I didn’t hear him leave at all that evening, nor was he around when I was getting ready to leave for work the next morning. The rental car that he got stills at in our driveway and his bedroom door was shut. I scribbled a note and left it on the counter, that I wouldn’t be home this evening and would be staying with Katrina and I took off for work.

  The day went well, I sat at the lunch table with Sammie, Nic and Tatum. The four of us got along well enough, even though we all had different types of classes. Tatum was always the first to arrive and the first to leave since her lunch started earlier and ended earlier than the upper grades. We make an interesting group, one you can easily see in a cartoon.

  Sammie with her pasty white freckled skin and vibrant curly red hair, Nic with his hipster-lumberjack style, I’m sure girls find him attractive with his dark brown short hair, and his dimples. Tatum with her long brown-nearly black hair, her olive skin and deep brown eyes and then there’s myself, extremely attractive and everything a female could ever ask for, my muscular frame with shaggy dark blonde hair and light blue eyes. We’re an odd bunch, and we also seem to be the youngest of the teachers at Fairbanks Elementary.

  “Time’s up. I’ll see you guys later.” Tatum says standing.

  “Bowling tonight?” Nic asked.

  “Possibly.” She smiles as she walks away.

  “Yeah Davis, you should come bowling with us tonight. Possibly bring that girlfriend of yours if you feel like introducing her to your friends.” Sammie teases.

  “I don’t know if I’m willing to share yet.” I tease her back.

  “Us or her?” Nic asks with his mouth full of his sandwich.

  “Good question. I’ll ask her.” I say pulling out my phone and sending Katrina a quick text. I pocket my phone and commence with lunch. A moment later, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

  “We’re in.” I smile as my table companions cheer in silence by fist pumping the air like teenagers.

  ***

  Katrina and I are pulling into a parking space in front of the bowling alley that Sammie mentioned meeting at.

  “You sure that it’s okay that I’m barging in on your work outing?” She asks as she steps out of her side of the car.

  “They’ve been bugging me to make introductions somehow. Don’t worry, they’ll love you.” I say assuring her and kissing the top of her head as I pull her into my side.

  She sighs and falls into step with me as we walk inside. We spot my three friends and I wave. We get our bowling shoes and I add two extra games to our lane.

  “Katrina, these are my work colleagues. Work colleagues, this is my girlfriend Katrina.” I smile.

  “Hi, I’m Sammie, this here is Nicolas and this saucy minx is Tatum.” Everyone does their quick wave as the introductions were given and we start the game.

  After three games, everyone has fallen into step with another and we’re all talking freely.

  “Davis buddy, you never told us that Katrina was a bowling shark.” Nic laughed. Katrina has aided our team to win each game, she was a natural.

  “We’ve been together for four years and I didn’t even know it.” I shake my head.

  Katrina is giggling with her head on Tatum’s shoulder.

  “We may have to join a bowling league and start placing bets.” Sammie jokes.

  “I swear, this is all just beginners luck. I haven’t bowled since I was a kid.” She lifts her head from Tatum’s shoulder.

  I look at my watch, it’s nearing 10pm. “Kat, what time do you have to be at the paper in the morning?” I ask.

  She thinks for a moment. “Not until 7, I need to just work on my revisions and then submit to copy.”

  “Guys, it looks like I need to get this ball buster home. It might be nearing past her bedtime.”

  “I’m not the one who has to go to school tomorrow.” She teases and sticks out her tongue.

  “Nuh-uh. Tomorrow is Friday, you have class too.” I smile proudly.

  “Shit!” She pouts. My friends start laughing again.

  “Yeah, we all should go home too. We have school too.” Tatum laughs.

  We all depart the bowling alley together and go our separate ways once we reach the parking lot.

  With Katrina snuggled close to my side, we walk to the car. I stop at her side of the door and give her a soft kiss before opening her car door for her.

  “I like your friends, they’re nice.” She smiles and she leans her head against the window and closes her eyes.

  ***

  It’s Saturday evening and I’m sitting on the couch with a beer and Chinese take-out on the coffee table. I’m relaxed and watching some kung-fu movie with sub-titles when I hear the front door open quickly and then slam immediately. I startle at the sudden noises, but no one has walked into the living space. I get off the couch and inch my way to the front door. The doorknob is turning from side to side and then the front door flies open again, this time Max’s hand shoots out and he stops the door from immediately closing again. He throws his body into the house; he’s currently all legs and arms. He hasn’t said a word yet, or noticed my watching his performance. Thankfully, he’s alone.

  He finally notices that I’m standing there watching him as he’s reached out and grabbed my foot. Which he is now using to pull himself up. Once he get’s back on his own two feet, he looks at me.

  “Hello Brother.” He slurs. His breath reeks of alcohol, and it looks like he hasn’t showered in a few days.

  “Hey Brother. You doing alright?” I ask, holding him up right as he keeps swaying backwards or to the right.

  “I’m peachy. Thirsty though.” He lunges towards the kitchen and by using the wall and the counters makes his way to the cupboard with the alcohol in it. He screws off the top of the bottle of vodka and brings the bottle to his lips and takes a long slug.

  He stumbles back as he sets the bottle down but manages to right himself.

  “Buddy, let’s get some coffee and bread into you.”

  “You aren’t my mother. You’re… you’re my brother.” He points the bottle at me.

  “Yup. How about we hang out and watch a movie?” I suggest walking slowly into the kitchen.

  “Fuck a movie. I’m thirsty. Where’s my phone?” Max starts to search his pockets.

  “Who do you need to call, let me help?” I offer slowly sliding the vodka bottle out of his line of sight and putting it behind my back towards the sink. I move to slyly pour the bottle down the drain, but Max stops fidgeting in his pocket long enough to notice the bottle missing.

  “What the-“He’s looking around. He looks in the alcohol cupboard again, and just pulls out another bottle. I can’t see what it is as I’m currently managing to dump the bottle behind my back down the drain. When finished, I place the bottle on the counter by the wall and move to get a glass and put some water in it. I pull down the loaf of bread atop the fridge and place two pieces on a paper towel in front of Max.

  I have no idea if he’s eaten, but I will try anything at this point.

  “I need to call Betsy. She�
��ll come over.” Max mumbles again fumbling in his jacket pocket for his phone.

  Fuck! He’s in a bad place. I need to get a hold of Sterling or Dane quickly, before this heads any further south. My phone is sitting on the couch, so as Max is chugging whichever booze he can get his hand on, I run into the living room.

  I dial for Dane. “Hey, um. It’s about Max...” I start.

  “Is he alright?” Dane asks in rush.

  “I don’t know how much he’s had to drink, he just got home like 10 minutes ago and now he’s talking about calling Betsy and something about how she will come over. Do you think you can, I dunno, come over?” I honestly don’t know what else to do at this moment.

  “I’m on my way. Try to not let him leave.” Dane hangs up and I walk back into the kitchen.

  Max is slumped over the counter with his head resting on his extended arm.

  I pull up one of his barstools from the corner wall and make him sit on it. He lifts his head, his eyes are bloodshot and his skin is slightly pale, he has a few extra days of stubble on his normally manicured scruff.

  “She hasn’t answered any of my phone calls all week. Why isn’t she answering?” He mumbles as he lifts the bottle to his lips and takes another drink then puts his head back down.

  He smells foul. As I’m closer to him and more observant, his clothes are the clothes that we went to dinner in three nights ago. He’s pulled his sports coat over the shirt, but even that is dirty.

  The front door opens and closes, and Dane enters the kitchen. His eyes are wide and he’s out of breath.

  “Man! You look incredible.” He straightens himself and says to Max.

  Max lifts his head and he’s got a lopsided grin. “Dane! Buddy Ole’pal! Whadya doin’ here?” He slurs.

  “I was worried about you, I haven’t seen you all week.” He puts on a smile, even though you can see he wants to cringe as he gets closer to Max.

  “Have you talked to Bets? She hasn’t answered my calls all week.” Max slurs from his head down position.

  “I’m sorry buddy. Betsy hasn’t been around lately. I haven’t spoken to her. But I’ll tell you what, let’s get you showered and I’ll have Davis call Sterling to see if he can get her to call Betsy. Okay?” Dane lies.