by Peyton Banks
A world where people speak evil things to those that look different from them, that would never understand how one person could love another so deeply and see the beauty in the chaos.
As I clamp my mouth down over her mouth to muffle her terrified screams for help, I smile thinking of how they’ll find us when the fire of white, hot rage has finally been subdued.
Together forever.
How we were always meant to be.
About the Author
Yolanda Olson is an award-winning and international bestselling author. Born and raised in Bridgeport, CT where she currently resides, she usually spends her time watching her favorite channel, Investigation Discovery. Occasionally, she takes a break to write books and test the limits of her mind. Also an avid horror movie fan, she likes to incorporate dark elements into the majority of her books.
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You can keep in touch with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Crash
Blurb
When you watch someone grow up, you don't expect to fall in love with them. That's how I felt when I came to the realization I saw my little sister's best friend as more than just the girl from across the street. After being roped into attending her dance performance, I had no choice but to accept Tessa Gordon for the vivacious beauty she is.
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To say everything came to life that evening would be an understatement.
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But there she was, staking her claiming, forcing me to man up, and let her know how I've always felt.
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And things were great...
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Until the unthinkable happened, giving me a crash course on love, compassion, and what it means to be utterly devoted to someone.
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I'm Austin Lancaster and I save lives for a living. I never thought I'd have to save hers.
1
“Dispatch to medic unit five-four-five-four, do you copy?”
“Lancaster here, go ahead.” I say into the receiver.
“Hey Austin, we have a call at three-two-one Sundance Ave. An elderly woman experiencing chest pains per her son’s description.”
“Copy. We are en route. Estimated time of arrival, five minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll keep the caller on the line until you arrive.”
“Ten-four. Okay Caleb, light ’em up.”
Sounds of the siren wail and the lights illuminate the scenery as we make haste down Portland Avenue. This should be the last one of a very long shift. I ended up pulling a double today when my co-worker called in with flu-like symptoms. Normally, I work the eleven-to-seven shift, but I’m more than happy to help out since I need more hours to assist with my goal of buying my first home.
“Five-four-five-four to base. We’re on site at three-two-one Sundance Ave. Going to the door now. Copy?”
“Ten-four. Report back with an update once situation has been assessed.”
A young man is standing outside seemingly frustrated and waiting for our arrival. “Hi, I’m Gregory. So glad you are here. My dad is in there with my grandmother, and she says her chest hurts.”
We enter the house and find the patient sitting in a recliner struggling to breathe. My partner, Caleb McDonald, pulls out his blood pressure cuff to obtain vitals. Not seeing any direct signs of a heart attack, I apply the oxygen mask to help with her breathing and gather additional details from her son.
“She does appear to be stable, but I think it’s best we go ahead and transport her for more testing,” Caleb says.
“Okay. I’ll go out set up the machines.” Grabbing his medic bag, I make my way to the EMS vehicle and set up for monitoring then return inside to assist with getting the patient on the gurney. When I return, Caleb is completing the explanation of the next steps and asking Gregory if he will be riding with us during transport since his father has stated he will drive.
After a few signatures for HIPAA purposes, we secure Mrs. McDonald to the stretcher and move her to the bay of the ambulance. Getting her connected to the machines to gather a baseline for her statistics are our last steps before taking her to the hospital. I stay in the back with the family while Caleb drives to Dover Memorial Hospital.
“You’ve been doing this for a while?” Gregory asks, making small talk.
“A little over three years now,” I answer, looking over at him and seeing the worry on his face. The nervous fiddling with his hands and the fading yellow stains are tell-tale signs he recently stopped smoking. “Your grandmother will be fine. She’s going to receive the best care, and the staff will be sure to take answer any questions you have,” I reassure.
His smile reaches his eyes, indicating he is a little relieved.
“Here, wanna piece of gum? It always calms my nerves in high-intensity situations.”
I hold out the pack, and he takes a piece from the sleeve.
“Thank you. I picked a bad time to quit my one-pack-a-day habit,” he jokes.
“Hey, Lancaster?” Caleb calls through the open window.
“Yeah?”
“Radio dispatch to close this one out. We are pulling into the bay now.”
“Roger that.” Using the direct radio connection, I alert them to our arrival and complete this call.
Caleb swings the doors open, and the ER staff rush to our aid. I climb out behind them, filling the charge nurse in on the details and the patient’s vitals. After the exchange of information, I clear the machines and do a check before calling base to alert them to our off-duty status.
“You must be exhausted, bro,” Caleb says, rejoining me in the cab of the vehicle.
“Dude, I’m so fucking tired. Can’t wait to get home and put my phone on DND for the next two days.”
“Really? No plans to hang out with your girl or anything?”
“I’m no longer in a relationship. That ship sailed four months ago. One of her reasons was my work schedule.”
“What’s your reason?”
“The vibe wasn’t there. I didn’t even want sex. I don’t know, man. She didn’t have any drive or goals. Always on social media, not attentive to the relationship. Wasn’t for me.”
“I hear ya. When I found my wife, I wasn’t going to let her go. Took me three years to get her to say yes, but she was worth the fight.”
A loud, obnoxious ringtone blares from my phone, and I know it belongs to the one woman I love but annoys the hell out of me. “What is it, Court?”
“Damn, bruh. Can’t your loving little sister just call to say hey and hope you’re having a good day?”
“Not you. Spill it.” I smile, knowing my sister all too well for this to just be a casual call.
“Can you please come pick me up from the studio? My car won’t start. The auto club is on the way to tow it to the dealership.”
Bingo! And there it is.
I chuckle. “Can’t you get someone to take you home, sis? I barely finished a double and I just want to go to bed.”
“Everyone is already gone. We are the last ones to leave.”
“We? Who else is with you?”
“No one but Tessa. We rode together, so you’ll have to take her home, too. Please?”
I run my fingers over my forehead in a frustrated manner. “Fine, I’ll be there. Don’t add any extra stops either.”
“Thanks. How long before you can get here?”
“I’m headed back to the station now, so give me twenty minutes.”
“Okay. See you soon.” She disconnects.
I stare blankly at the phone.
“Say, if you’re up to it, a few of us are going to the bar,” Caleb says when my call ends.
I smile at Caleb’s suggestion. “Thanks, but after I get my sister and her friend, I’m gonna go home, take a hot shower, and commence uninterrupted time off for forty-eight hours as planned. This is just a minor glitch. Even though she’s a major pain.” I stow my phone back into the holster while Caleb backs into the parking spot, put
s the gear into the resting position, and shuts off the engine.
“Well, the offer’s there if you change your mind,” he says.
I shrug at the final attempt while we walk into the station to clock out. After I turn in all of our paperwork, I swipe my badge and head to retrieve my little sister and her best friend, Tessa.
“Thanks, Austin. I owe you big,” Courtney says as she slides into the passenger seat of my Jeep after Tessa hops in the back.
I can’t help but notice Tessa’s smooth, long brown legs and the little shorts she’s wearing.
Refocusing on Courtney’s statement, I chime in on her bucket. “How many times have I told you to get rid of that piece of junk?”
“But it’s paid for, and I don’t want a car note.”
“Then pay cash for one. You have more than enough money to find a decent automobile.”
“But I’m saving that money for something. Are you going to crack open your piggy bank to help me?”
Courtney has a way to argue about anything. Our parents said she should’ve been a lawyer, but she instead chose the life of a professional dancer. She and Tessa are part of a dance ensemble and have performed with some of the top artists in the music industry.
“You know I’m saving for a house. So, sorry. This piggy bank is closed.”
“Then I’m keeping my car. That reminds me, what are you doing tomorrow night?”
I hesitate to ask the obvious but can’t resist. “Why?”
“Tessa is a featured dancer at Friday night’s dance spotlight held at the theater. You should come check her out. I mean, I need a ride, so you may as well tag along.”
“Your brother does not want to see my boring-ass routine. Besides, I told you I can drive, but you’ll be there like all day.”
I watch her from my rearview. Her words bounce off my eardrums like flower petals falling to the ground. Soft but noticeable. The way her eyes express emotion and her lips curl when she speaks is sensual. But this is my sister’s best friend, and I shouldn’t be thinking like this let alone feeling conflicted.
“Oh, I don’t mind seeing what you’ve been working on. I’m sure your ass isn’t boring. I meant your dance, not your actual—”
They both giggle at my blunder, but she bites her bottom lip then slowly licks it. I shake my head and look away.
“Dang, you checking out my bestie or something?” Courtney jokes.
Tessa strikes her in the arm and coyly turns her head in the other direction.
“Nice shot,” I say in response to her hit.
Our gazes lock in the rearview, and she smiles at my remark. I return the gesture before slowly redirecting my focus.
These two have been friends since the seventh grade. Tessa’s family relocated here from LA when her father’s job expanded offices. He’s a retired lawyer now, but they still have the house across the street from our family home. Somehow, on Sunday’s we all manage to go to our parents’ home to enjoy dinner and spending time with them. Courtney usually ends up over there or Tessa at our family’s place working on dance moves. They’re as thick as friends can be, and though not related, Tessa’s like a little sister to me.
I pull into Tessa’s driveway and shut the engine off. “Okay, Tessa, you’re home.” I step out to open her door.
“Thank you,” she says, exiting the vehicle.
I take her dance bag from her and walk her to the door.
“Austin, you don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, I know. I do it for Courtney, too. I guess I’m nice like that.”
She smiles again, seeming oddly nervous while searching for her keys. I’ve watched her grow up over the past twelve years and have never noticed her features. Not sure why I am now.
“Did you color your hair?” I ask, my thoughts manifesting aloud.
“Umm, no. This is my natural shade, including the highlights.” She takes her hand and sweeps her tendrils behind her ear. Her cheeks, with a slight smattering of freckles, give way to an emerging smile. She fumbles for a few minutes before the door finally opens.
“Thank god. I’ve got to pee,” Courtney says as she rushes past us.
“Well, you can come in and wait while Court uses the facilities.” Tessa steps to the side and shows me in, closing the door behind me.
She has a picture of Misty Copeland above her gray linen couch, Alvin Ailey dance troupe on another wall, and Debbie Allen on another.
“I’ve never been inside your home. It’s very pretty. You must like dancing?” I joke.
“Thanks. In fact, I love dancing. Something about using your body to portray emotions fascinates me. Always has.”
“Whew, I didn’t think I’d make it all the way home,” Courtney says when she reenters the room. “You ready to go, driver?” she adds.
I can’t take my gaze off the picture of Tessa resting on the entertainment center. “Yeah, we can go. See you tomorrow, Tessa,” I announce as I open the door.
“Oh, so you’re coming after all?” she questions, shoving her hands into her pockets while we stand at the threshold.
“Why not? I’d love to see you perform. Besides, Courtney needs a chaperone, apparently.”
She giggles, and the sound stops my heart for about two seconds when she doesn’t look away but instead directly at me. What is going on with me?
“Great. I want your complete and honest opinion.”
“You got it. See ya.”
She nonchalantly licks her lips before responding. “See ya.”
I walk off and look back only to see she’s still standing there with that beautiful smile still on her lips, playing with a strand of hair. Starting the engine of my Jeep once I enter, I catch my sister staring at me with a grin that would make the Cheshire Cat envious.
“What?” I ask, not knowing what she has on her mind.
“You have a thing for Tessa,” she blurts. “OMG, this is epic. My BFF and brother are seriously crushing on each other.”
Does Tessa have a crush? “Pssh, we are not.”
“You so are. Look, your cheeks are turning red.”
Courtney’s observation is on point as usual when I peek in the mirror only to realize she is right. My skin is flushed, and the evidence is in my face.
“I don’t have a crush on Tessa. I’m just really tired and have to take my annoying-ass sister home.”
“Whatever. Save the excuse for another time. I know what I see.”
I don’t respond to her. Instead, I turn up the tunes and drive until I reach her place.
“Do you just wanna go in and grab some things and crash at my place tonight? You can use my truck to run errands if you want before we go to the theater tomorrow.”
“Are you trying to get more information about Tessa?”
“Never mind. I was trying to be considerate, but I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, Austin. I was just kidding. You can pick me up at six-thirty. Dad is going to take me to the dealership tomorrow to see what is wrong with my car and why they didn’t fix it right the first time.”
“Okay, see you then.”
“You’re not going to open my door and carry my bag?” She busts out laughing.
My eyes roll and I open my door.
“Austin, I’m fucking with you. Geez, dude, get laid or something.”
“I want to go home and sleep.”
“Good thing you’re only ten minutes away. Text me when you get in.” She shuts the door.
I watch her walk to her entrance. “Will do. Love you, chipmunk,” I shout.
“Love you back,” she replies.
Once she’s inside, I drive off and head home.
The cool air in my home is inviting. I drop my work bag on the floor, kick off my boots and lock the door. A shower is what I need, so instead of my usual routine of checking the mail and relaxing with a book or video game, I turn on the water as hot as I can stand it. I peel away my clothes and shove them in the laundry basket before step
ping under the stream.
The water licks me softly when I open the shower door and step into its embrace. With my head under the stream, I close my eyes and allow the droplets to wash over me, relieving me of the past twenty-four hours at work, not including the drive there and back home. Extra stops notwithstanding. I hover under its touch, my sight still temporarily darkened until a voice catches my attention. My lids spring open, and I peer to see who is there. No shadow or form comes forth, and I know I’m tired. Hallucination is serious evidence of sleep deprivation. Feeling a sense of defeat oncoming, I lather up my body and rinse, then suds my hair.
The sound of laughter rings my ears again, and I realize my mind is recalling the sweet timbers of her voice. Soon the visual aid of her sleek and supple neck appears, and her beautiful mouth with full lips and dazzling white teeth. I rinse my hair and wipe my eyes to remove those images. I’m no match at the last memory of her tongue playfully licking along her lips as she parts them slightly to say see ya.
This is clearly evidence of me being dog-ass tired. Shutting the water off, I grab my towel and wrap my body before flopping down on my bed. My phone beeps, and Courtney is letting me know that I forgot to text her in a not-so-subtle way. I shoot her back an I’m sorry GIF and plug my phone into the charger then turn over and fall asleep. Ridding myself of these taunting yet delicious images.
2
“Sorry, man. I didn’t know you were still sleep,” Caleb says when I open the door after growing tired of his heavy knocking. “I thought maybe you’d wanna hang out or go shoot some hoops.”
“Nah, man. I have to go to this dance thing with my sister in a little while. You can come with if you want.”