Save Me Book

Chapter 10 - Excuses

I walked into the dining room and watched the world around me from a distance. Matt’s mother was hard at work setting the food down at the table as Matt and Nora set the dishes down like it was a game instead of a chore. The two of them acted as if time had changed nothing between them as Matt bumped into Nora leaving her giggling as she chased him around the table. Matt’s father was on a business trip and would not make it back until Christmas Eve, so it was only us that night.

I was the outsider. The one that watched a happy family from a distance. I did not belong here. This was not my family. No. This was Nora’s new family. She would have a better chance at life anyway staying with people that could love and support her enough for her to reach her goals. That was something I could not do. That was why I stood back and watched her shine.

Of course Matt noticed me immediately. I did not even know why, but he stopped the game and straightened his posture as the smile faded from his lips. Concern replacing that smile.

“What’s wrong? What are you just standing there?” He questioned.

Of all the things for Matt to ask he had to choose that. I nearly groaned in frustration. Why did he care anyway? Why did anyone care? Could I not just live my life and be left alone? Why was I here anyway? I was old enough to live alone and support myself. Maybe I should just leave. It would be better for everyone anyway.

“I’m fine. Can’t I just stand to the side and watch?” I snapped back. Meaning every word.

I was tired of walking on eggshells around Matt. I was tired of life at this point. If life only brought pain and suffering why was it even worth living?

I turned my back and walked out of the room before Matt could respond. I was tired of the constant presence of Matt. It was too much to bear. His rejection only hurt deeper now that we were reunited. Seeing him act like he actually cares just reminds me how much time can separate two people. Especially two people that used to be two peas in a pod.

“Kayla. Wait. You need to eat. Come sit with us.” Matt’s mom called from where she now stood next to her son and my sister.

Her eyes looked hopeful. Like she actually believed I was going to sit down and eat dinner with everyone. My sister had a similar expression, but it was more pleading. Like she knew what I was about to do and was begging me not to go.

“I’m not hungry. I think I’m going to get some fresh air.” I responded as I continued to walk away.

I could feel the sadness of Nora. I should have stayed and been the older sister she needs right now. But I cannot. For some reason something was stopping me and urging me to push her away. To push everyone away. And I chose to follow it.

I burst out the door in a frenzy. Not daring to look back or grab my coat. It was freezing as snowflakes slowly fell to the ground. Some clung to my bare arms. Shining even in the gray sky. They were beautiful, but I could not focus on that. All I could focus on was getting as far away from that house as possible.

Matt still had my car’s keys. That meant I could not leave. Of course he would do this to me. Of course he would force me to walk with no coat to protect me from the cold and the wind. I pulled my arms tighter to my chest in an attempt to get warmer. Maybe this was a bad idea.

No. It was fine. I was going to be fine. I just needed some fresh air. Then I would get back to the stifling house and be warm again. All I needed was a few hours.

Would I last out here for even ten minutes? That questioned came to my mind, but I immediately pushed it away. Now was not the time to worry. Now was the time for me to get my act together and walk back inside and act as if nothing had happened.

That was easier said than done.

I walked briskly away from the house. It was not until I turned the corner of the neighborhood that I relaxed.

I was free. Free from the constant torment of the people around me. I knew they just wanted to make sure I was okay, but I did not need people looking out for me. I could look out for myself.

I do not know how long I stood there until my knees gave out. I hit the sidewalk hard, but I could not feel the pain of concrete scraping the skin covered by my jeans. I was numb. From cold or something else I did not know.

Then a warm jacket wrapped around my numb body. It was soft. Not one of my jackets. It was also larger than me. Clearly made for a guy. Hands lifted my body into the air, but my stiff legs from the cold could not support me. It was as if my body had just given up altogether.

I fell to the ground again and the jacket that was wrapped across my shoulders slipped quietly to the ground. This time my body was unable to hold me as the rest of me withered to the ground. I stared ahead. Was this what freezing to death felt like? Was this finally my end?

Apparently it was not my end. Strong arms rewrapped the jacket across my shoulders before someone picked me up. I fell unconscious before I could see who it was. Though something within me knew exactly who was carrying me. Matt.

Word Count: 1003

Chapter 11 - Crash and Burn

I woke to a warm blanket wrapped tightly around my body and my head propped up gently by a pillow. It was a strange feeling to be warm again, though my body still shook. How long had I been outside for? What was I even doing outside? My mind was foggy. I could not even see the face I had clearly known before had carried me all the way back to the house. The figure loomed in the shadows of the room. Fast asleep in a chair. Matt. He had been the one to save me.

I huffed out a sigh of frustration. Why had he saved me? We were not even friends anymore! Why did he care enough to find me and take me back to his house? He should have just left me to die. Then maybe I could finally have peace from the grief that was tearing me apart.

His eyes shot open at the sound of my shuffling. Great. I should have been quieter. I had to get out of here and get away from Matt. His mere presence sent chills up my spine.

My body was still weak. Did I have hypothermia? Was I dying? There was no escaping Matt now.

Before my upper body could fall back against the couch, Matt caught my shoulders and with a gentleness I had not expected him to possess, he settled me back down. Concern filling his eyes. I broke the eye contact. I could not stare into his eyes and pretend that he actually cared. It would hurt too much when I found out it was all a lie. A facade to keep me around for my sister.

“Hey. Don’t try to move. I don’t want to have to save you all over again.” A smile quirked on his face, but it did not reach his eyes.

I glared at him. It was the only thing I could do when I was immobile and unable to escape. He let out a laugh. A real laugh as he tucked the blanket closer around me. I was still shivering as his brows furrowed. The laughter leaving his eyes.

“Why aren’t you warm?” He whispered. His voice was so quiet that I had to strain my ears to hear him.

This was not a question that he wanted an answer to. Even if he did, I would not have had an asnwer anyway. What was there to say? What would justify the reason I was freezing still besides facing the truth? I could not admit to anyone why I had chosen to leave. Especially not to Matt.

I nearly let out a sigh of relief when Matt’s mother walked into the room. Saving us both from the awkward conversation I was no where near ready to have. Though I did know one thing. That conversation was getting closer. It was inevitable.

“I’m glad you’re awake. I was starting to worry that you never would. My son here never left your side since he carried you in.” Her gaze turned lovingly to Matt. She was proud of him for what he had done. That made one of us.

“How are you feeling?” She asked as her hand gently caressed my forehead. I closed my eyes. Tears threatening to fall. My mom used to caress my forehead the way Matt’s mother had whenever I was sick.

“I’m fine. Can you help me up?” I responded.

I was not fine, but something within me refused to admit that I was far from fine. If I did admit the truth, I would lose the walls I had so carefully put in place to hold me together. I could not do that. Not now. Not ever.

Matt’s mom looked skeptical, but she obliged to my request. With a firm hand gripping my arm, she helped my sit up. My vision swam for a moment with the momentum and if it were not for Matt placing a steady hand on my back, I would have fallen.

“I don’t think this is a good idea. Kay, you need to rest.” The edge in Matt’s voice was an attempt to cover his concern. That was obvious.

“I said I’m fine and don’t call me ‘Kay’.” I glared at him again once my vision stopped swimming.

He looked surprised at my outburst, but no rebuttle left his lips. He probably felt bad for the sorry situation he had put me in. Then again, him feeling bad for anything he did seemed wishful. He was probably just surprised I had the energy to fight back against his remark. Yes. That was it.

Matt and his mother helped me stand on shaky legs. I pushed them away. I had to prove to myself that I was strong. Well, at least strong enough to hold myself together. I could feel Matt sticking close behind. His arms outstretched and ready to catch me if my legs gave out, but I was not about to let him carry let alone hold me again.

“See? I’m fine, though I think I’m going to go to bed. It’s late anyway.” I turned my back and slowly walked away. My legs were still unsteady, but I was strong enough to handle it, but for how long I did not know.

Once I had made it into the room I was staying in, I collapsed onto the bed. My burst of energy gone.

The room was dark even with the windows open. Clouds must have been convering the clouds. I had not realized until then how late it really was. How long had I been unconscious? It had to be close to midnight. I had to get to bed if I was going to make it to the hospital in the morning. I had to make sure my mother was okay. There had been no news from the hospital as far as I knew.

I did not even think or care to put some pajamas on. I pulled off my shoes and crawled into the bed. Burying myself deep into the covers as I fell quickly into a deep sleep.

Word Count: 1022

Chapter 12 - Reminiscing the Past

The sun was late when I finally awoke from my deep sleep. That sleep was the best sleep I had gotten since my world fell apart. I stretched. It felt so nice to feel warm again. Like a soft blanket had wrapped itself around me late into the night when my shivering finally stopped.

I edged closer to the side of the bed I had been sleeping in. The blankets tangled around my body. My feet touched the cold floor. A shocking reminder that I was still very much alive. I sighed. The peace I felt now was soon to leave. Especially when I walked out the door of the room and rejoined the real world. It had to be close to noon already. That meant lunch would be served soon. If anyone was home.

I pulled on a simple black sweater and dark sage green jeans. The outfit suited my mood even more than I realized when I first put it on. I was in a dark place and that was mirrored with not only how I looked now, but also how I dressed as well.

There was no escaping it now. I had to go out there and face the world again. Though I dreaded it more than anything. It was the one thing in life that reminded me how broken my family was. How I had nothing left to lose besides my sister. If she died, I would lose the last part of my humanity. I would ne nothing.

I pushed that thought out of my mind. Now was not the time to fall into my dark thoughts. I had to pull myself together and act normal. Like I was not dying on the inside.

I walked into a scene I had never thought I would see again. Matt, Nora, and Matt’s mother were huddled around an old photo book. I froze. I knew that photo book. It was one that held memories I had never wanted to relive again. Memories that reminded me of everything I had lost.

“Ah, Kayla. I’m glad to see you awake and doing better. Come. Sit. You might want to see this.” Matt’s mother spoke calmly. A smile bright on her face.

I was wary at what she was about to show me. What if it was a photograph of my mother? Or something much worse. I realized in that moment what she was calling me over to see.

I sat down next to Matt’s mother. Matt had moved to the side so I could. I was not thrilled with the idea of sitting next to Matt, but this would have to do. It was not like I was going to stay there long, anyway. I had things to do and places to go.

The photograph was even more unexpected than I had realized at first. It was one of Matt and I. We were young. Probably around ten or eleven. I had completely forgotten about that day. It was Nora’s birthday and Matt had come over to keep me busy while our parents worked to finish setting up the decorations.

Matt and I had just found a beetle neither of us had seen before. Our heads were close together as we observed it. I had not known that anyone had been watching us or even thinking of taking a photo. Maybe that was why it hurt more to see it.

This photo was from a time where I was happy. Where I had a best friend I could rely on and trust with anything. Even my darkest secrets. Now I could not even tell him even my smallest secret. It was crazy to think how much seven or eight years can change a person, and not for the better.

I tried to hide how I felt as Matt leaned in closer. A smile creeping across his face as he too remembered that day.

“Wow. I had completely forgotten about that day. I’ve never seen this photo before. When did you take in, Mom?” He questioned. His shoulder pressing harder into mine.

If I could have moved or jumped up and ran out of the room, I would have, but it was as if I was frozen in place. The pressure of Matt’s body against mine holding me in place. Like glue.

“You were so engrossed in the beetle you didn’t even realize I took the picture.” Matt’s mother laughed lightly.

Then Matt’s mother flipped to another page. This time it was a group photo. It was two years ago. Right before Matt and his family had left for their trip and everything changed. It was the day I had found out he was leaving to travel the world for the entire summer.

I looked happy in the photo. My arms wrapped around Matt as if I did not have a care in the world. I had not known then how different things would be. Matt had his arms wrapped around me, but the smile on his face did not reach his eyes. How had I not noticed until now? He had known then that everything was about to change. I could see it with just the look on his face.

“Ah, now this is a classic. Do you remember that day? It was only a week before we embarked on our summer trip!” Matt’s mother reminisced.

That year was not something to reminisce in my opinion. It was something I had pushed to the back of my mind.

A buzzing came from the pocket where my phone rested. Saving me from looking at more photographs that just brought more pain.

I stood up abruptly. Causing Matt to fall against his mother with shock laced in his features. I smiled slyly at that. He deserved it and more after what he had done to me.

I turned away and pulled my phone out. An unknown number flashing across the screen. My brows furrowed. Who was calling me?

I asnwered the phone once I was out of earshot. I had to know who had somehow gotten my number. A scammer? Or was it someone else?

“Hello? Is this Kayla Norton?” A woman’s voice I did not recognize questioned.

“Yes. Who is calling?” I questioned back.

“This is Hollowood Trauma Center. I can calling to say your mother. . .”

Word Count: 1057

Chapter 13 - What Happened?

“. . . has gone into cardiac arrest. She is currently in surgery as we were successful in bringing her back, but she is unresponsive. It is unclear at this time if she will make it out alive.” The woman on the other end of the line spoke calmly. Like she had delivered the bad news hundreds of times before and at this point did not care.

I was shocked. My mother had died. She had actually died, but she was brought back. Though that did not soothe my mind. If my mother did not make it out of sugery alive, I would lose her forever. I could not handle that. I could not lose another parent. Even though it felt as if I had already lost her.

I stumlbed backwards and someone caught me. Strong hands. I knew those hands. Matt. For some reason anger boiled beneath the surface. Just waiting to blow if I gave the okay.

“Hey. Easy there. Don’t want you ending up in the hospital, now do I?” He spoke sincerely.

His comment just made me angrier. I did not need his help nor his sympathy.

“Give me my keys.” I growled.

“Keys? What keys? I seem to remember saying that you no longer could drive until you’re in your right mind. Who was the phone call from anyway?” Matt teased at first before his face became serious.

“Give me my keys, and why does it matter to you? It’s my business.” I retorted.

His eyebrows raised in mock surprise as he pulled my car’s keys out of his pocket. When I reached for them, he lifted his arm higher into the air where I could not reach. How astute of him.

“What? These keys?” Matt asked innocently.

He was far from innocent. If anything he was arrogant and just toying with me. Two things I had never expected out of the old Matt. But the new Matt? Well, I expected the new Matt to do not only this, but much worse. That was the way people changed after spending time with older jocks that only care about reputation than if people like them or not.

“Stop this. Just give me the keys and we can go our separate ways.” I muttered irritably.

I had to hurry. If my mother was still in surgery, and a doctor needed to speak with a family member, I had to get there. And fast. Though of course the only thing in my way was Matt.

“Fine. If you insist, but before I give them to you, you must tell me who the phone call was from.” He smirked.

So he thought he had outsmarted me? Buddy, you just lost the war.

“Forget it. I can find another way to get my keys.” I began to walk away when Matt grabbed my hand and dropped the keys into it.

I glared at him. Hiding my surprise. Why had he just given me the keys? What was going on with him?

“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” I spoke smugly as I walked away.

Matt muttered something under his breath that I did not hear. Not that I wanted to hear it anyway. It was probably just another insult or another way to try and embarrass me or ruin my reputation. He seemed to be good at doing that.

I walked into the living room where Nora and Matt’s mother were still looking at the photo book. I thought I would be lucky and be ignored by them, but leave it to Nora for being attentive and sensing my presence.

“Kayla, where are you going?” She questioned.

“I’m going out again. Don’t worry I should be back shortly after dinner, but if I can’t come after then, I’ll make sure to call you.” I responded. Dodging as to where I was actually going. I did not want to worry her.

She did not look convinced, but she did not press the matter. My sister was smart enough to know not to push the matter. Unlike Matt.

“Make sure you get something to eat!” Matt’s mother called from her spot on the couch as I walked out.

Without a word in reply I walked out. There was no way I was going to eat something when I felt anything but hungry.

I walked out to my car and collapsed into the driver’s seat. Relief flooding me now that I finally had my car out of Matt’s hands.

He had pushed the seat back. Typical. I pulled it back to the position I needed before I shoved the key into the ignition and started the car. The gentle purr of the engine soothed my warring mind. I was finally alone and out of the cold. The warm air of the heater blasting onto my face. Sure, the air was cold outside, but the heater of my car was better than sititng outside and nearly freezing to death.

Once my car had warmed up, I shifted it into reverse and backed out of the driveway. Where I was going to go I did not know. Maybe the hospital? Though I thought the better of it. Maybe I could do something else before I lost myself again in bad news? Yes. That sounded nice. A calm drive through the backroads my father taught me to drive on sounded much better. A calm before the storm came.

I drove through the backroads. The road was empty and the gentle hum of the pavement beneath my car’s tires soothed me. My eyes began to droop. I did not remember being tired or sleepy before I drove away. Not more tired than normal, at least.

Then things went bad. My head finally lolled to the side as my eyes finally closed. I could feel the car swerve as it sped up. The tired screeching across the pavement, yet I could not rouse myself enough to take care of the situation. The last thing I remember was a loud crash before everything went dark.

Word Count: 1007

Chapter 14 - Collision

Sirens filled the air as I heard voices all around me. Words were not a thing in my mind. I was slowly drifting back into the darkness. A darkness I had the feeling meant I would not survive. Someone grabbed me roughly. My body rising into the air. I wanted to thrash, but I had no more energy left to fight. Was this finally the end to my suffering?

Then I was dropped onto a bed. Pain wracked my body and I nearly began screaming. Or maybe I was screaming. Either way, I would not have known. All I knew was that something was strapped over my face. Then I fell back into the darkness as shouting voices and people shaking my lifeless body filled the air.

I awoke in my old house. Though it was different from when I had last seen it. Something was not right. Where were my parents? My sister? The walls were bare as I walked across the halls. The rooms were locked, but I had the feeling they were also bare. Empty. What was happening? Where was I? Was I dreaming? Was I dead?

I did not know the answers to my questions. All I knew was that something was not right. Then I heard voices. They were faint, yet close enough that I knew exactly who they were. My parents. I had no words. It had been so long since I had last heard their voices.

I crept closer to the source of their voices until I finally came across the door that lead to their room. I touched the doorknob, but it would not budge. Locked. Just as I had suspected. I craned my head to listen to what was happening behind the closed door. The voices were rising rapidly. I did not remember this fight between my parents.

“She needs structure in her life. Haven’t you noticed? She’s been secluded and keeping to herself ever since the first day of school this year.” My mother spoke harshly. Then I remembered. This was the day that my parents had argued enough to bring the entire house down. Luckily the house had not fallen apart, but there had been a rift between them for about a week after the argument.

It was at that moment that I realized what they were talking about. I had been secluded and closed off during my sophmore year. All thanks to Matt.

The words suddenly stopped and the house fell silent. What was happening?

Then the world around me began to shake as if an earthquake had hit. Then the pressure began to build in my head. I slapped my hands across my ears. My screams ringing out for no one to hear. Then there was the pain. Excruciating pain. I crumpled to the ground and curled into a ball. Whimpering as I still held my hands over my ears. Something was very wrong.

Then the darkness came. A piercing and horrid feeling I wished to never feel again. What had happened? Why could I not remember anything?

I woke in an unfamiliar room. Machines beeped around me. I hurt everywhere. There was no denying that. My head was pounding and the bright lights and smell of antiseptic was not helping. I tried to turn my head, but that just made everything worse. I would have cried out in pain if my throat was not raw. From screaming or lack of water I did not know. Though the latter seemed less likely.

Someone moved in the corner of my vision as the machine next to me beeped quicker. If I was in my right mind, I would have known that my heart was racing, but nothing was rational in my mind. I was drugged by some kind of medicine, but it was not dulling my pain very well.

“Kayla? You’re awake” A relieved sigh escaped a familiar voice’s lips.

Through the bluriness in my eyes I saw who the source of the voice was. Matt. My once friend turned enemy. Why was he here? Where was my sister? Where was my mom?

Then I rememebered everything. I shut my eyes in pain as the memories began to flood back in. My mother had gone into cardiac arrest and I had been on the way to the hospital, but that was where my memories stopped. Something bad had happened. But what?

“Hey, Kayla, are you okay?” Matt asked as he grabbed my hand.

If I was not so weak, I would have ripped my hand from his grasp, but I could not do that now. I was too weak and hurting too much. I wanted to scream at him. I wanted him to let go of me and leave. Just like he had two years ago. It had been easy for him to let go of her then. Why not now?

“Here. Drink this.” A straw was brought to my lips as I hungrily sipped down the cool water. Relief flooded me. The water was cool against my parched lips. My raw throat felt much better.

“Thank you.” I rasped out. I had to at least have manners to my enemy. They always say keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

He did not say anything. He just stared at me with concern flooding his eyes. Before he could say anything, someone burst through the door.

“Kayla!” A voice cried out as a younger girl rushed to my bedside. Nora.

Matt thankfully stepped away as Nora and his mother stepped into the room.

“How are you feeling?” Matt’s mother questioned.

“I’m fine.” I rasped out again.

Matt made a move to grab the cup of water for me to drink again, but his mother grabbed his arm and shook her head. Good. I could not drink another sip of that water. Especially when Matt was the one holding the cup.

I began to slowly fall back into unconsciousness. That was something I dreaded. I had so many questions to ask, but for the moment? Well, maybe being unconscious was the best thing for me. That meant the pain would finally disappear. At least for a little while.

Word Count: 1030

Chapter 15 - Why Me?

I do not know how long I was out. Maybe hours, maybe even days, but what I did know was that the room was dark. I panicked. The machine above my head began to beep rapidly probably alerting every nurse in the vacinity. Then someone came up to my bedside and gently touched my arm. Long hair came into my blurry vision as I opened my eyes.

“Hey. Easy. Just breathe and relax. You’re safe here.” A soothing voice spoke.

For a moment I thought the woman above me was my mother, but then I realized who it was. Matt’s mother. Why was she still here? How long had she been waiting for me to wake?

“I’m glad you’re finally awake. Matt was getting worried that you would never wake. I had him take Nora home. They were both tired and didn’t want to leave your side. Especially Matt. Anyways, how are you feeling.”

“Awful, but don’t tell anyone. Especially Matt.” I croaked. My throat still raw.

She nodded. Though I was unsure if she actually understood or not. No one could understand what was going on between Matt and I. Even I did not understand it. One moment he could act as if I did not exist, and in the next? Well, he was holding my hand as I lay broken in a hospital room after a car accident and act as if we had always been friends. Like his betrayal had never happened. Which side was the real him. Deep down I knew he only cared about me as an act to keep our parents happy. They had always loved our friendship. Until Matt had ruined it.

I had never told my parents what had happened between us. I just made up excuses as to why he had stopped coming to the house. And it seemed Matt had done the same. Of course he had thrown our friendship away when someone cooler decided to give him the time of day. That was how life worked for him.

Matt’s mother brought a cup with a straw to my lips and I drank greedily. I could not stand the feeling of my parched throat. It reminded of all those times I had been sick with fevers and barely been able to get out of bed. My mother had used to feed me hot soup as my father read my favorite stories. I closed my eyes and stopped drinking. Those times just reminded me of how broken my family was now.

“Kayla, are you okay? Do I need to call for a nurse?” Matt’s mother’s brow furrowed in concern.

“No. I’m fine. Just tired. That’s all.”

She nodded as if she understood. It seemed as if she was the only person who actually understood how I really felt and what I have gone through as of late. She did lose her friend. She grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it. A small smile spreading across her face.

Before anything else could be said, a nurse walked into the room.

“Good. You’re awake.” She spoke kindly.

I raised my eyebrow and would have shook my head in disagreement if it was not still pounding.

“Well, now that you’re finally awake, we have some matters to handle. First of all, your condition. You have three bruised ribs, a concussion, and a laceration on your arm which has been stitched up. Hence why your wrist is bandaged.” She gestured to my left wrist. I had not realized until that moment that it was tightly wrapped.

“How long will I be here?” I questioned. I had to get out of here. Just the feeling of being in this place reminded me that my mother was also here and fighting for her life.

“Well now that you have awoken, we’ll have to keep you for at least tonight and see how you’re doing in the morning. At the earliest you will be discharged tomorrow afternoon on strict orders to rest.”

I breathed out a sigh of relief. One night longer was bearable. More than that would be a nightmare.

Then my worst nightmare entered the room. One way worse than staying more than one night more in the hospital. Matt. He looked rough. His clothes were clean, but his hair was a mess. The strands of his brown hair stuck up at odd angles and there were dark circles under his eyes. He was tired. That surprised me. What had been keeping him awake? Why had I not noticed before?

His eyes immediately locked with mine. His blue eyes were dark. Darker than their usual bright color.

“Hey. How are you doing?” He walked closer and tried to grab my hand again.

I flinched. This was not the time for him to be sentimental just to prove to his mother that we were still just as close as before. He moved back at that and instead pulled a chair up to my bed.

His mother then turned her attention to her son. She finally realized he had come.

“What are you doing here? I told you to stay home with Nora and get some rest. What were you thinking? You can’t just leave the poor girl home alone! She’s thirteen!” She scolded.

“Nora will be fine. I called Aunt Sarah over and she agreed to keep an eye on her until you got home.” He explained stiffly.

“Until ‘I’ get home? You aren’t staying here alone. I will stay with Kayla tonight.”

“Mom, no. You need to go home and rest. I can stay with her tonight.” Matt said with finality in his voice.

His mother sighed before rubbing her hand against her face defeated.

“Fine, but be careful. I’ll be back in the morning to help if Kayla is discharged. Promise me you’ll at least try to rest.”

“I promise. Now go.” He urged.

The moment his mother left the room, Matt turned his attention back to me. A small smile lit his face, but it soon faded when he saw my face.

“What are you actually doing here, and don’t lie to me.” I spoke as harsh as I could, but the sudden rush of air making me wince. Bruised ribs were no joke.

He let out a sigh before he spoke. Resignation in his voice.

“Can’t I come sit with you without having to have a reason? You never seemed to mind before.”

“Before means before sophmore year. Not now.” I snapped.

His eyes widened in surprise. He had not expected my remark.

“Forget it.” I spoke as I shut my eyes tightly.

He sighed again before I heard the sound of a chair being dragged across the floor and someone collapsing into it. I peeked one eye open for a second to see him asleep. His head leaned against the wall. He looked young again. Like the Matt I once knew, but I quickly shook that away. He was not the same Matt I once knew. If anything, he was a stranger.

Word Count: 1170

Chapter 16 - Coming Home

I did not want to go back to that house. It was suffocating to think of all the people hovering around me every moment. It was not what I wanted. What I wanted was something no one would allow me to have. I wanted to go home. To my real home. It had been abadoned ever since that night and being home alone in the house I grew up in sounded like a dream. Matt’s mother would never allow it. After my accident, I would never get the chance to be alone and breathe again. Great. Just great.

I was alone for the moment. Matt had received a phone call shortly after our banter. He had left soon after leaving me to the peace and quiet I wished for. Though it was not exactly perfect. There were the hospital staff. I knew they were just doing their jobs assigned to them, but can a girl ever catch a wink of sleep before getting bothered? I mean, how many times do I have to be asked how my pain is? I would rather not stay another day in this place just because of pain! That was unreasonable!

“Hello sweetie. How are you feeling? I’ve spoken to your caretaker, and you’re all ready to leave whenever you’re ready.” A sweet nurse spoke kindly.

I liked the woman though I did not know her name. She was one of the only hospital staff that did not drive me crazy. There was just something about her that drew me in. I wondered if she was a mother to small children. She seemed like a woman that would be a good mom to a bunch of kids. Especially young ones.

“Thanks. Can I leave now?” I muttered as I rubbed my wired hand across my face.

She smiled sympathetically. “Of course. Just let me get the doctor and we’ll sort everything out.”

She walked out of the room and my body sagged into the bed. A sigh escaped my lips. I was finally getting out of here. Even if it meant that I was going to a place I dreaded seeing again.

Of course Matt’s mother and Matt took that exact moment to step into my room. Typical.

“How are you feeling?” His mother questioned. A small smile lit her face.

There were dark circles under her eyes. How much had she slept the past few days? Obviously not enough considering she looked like she could drop dead at any moment. Did she actually care about me? No. I had to stop thinking like that. She only cared because she still believed Matt and I were close and my mother was unable to take care of me. She was helping me out of pity for my situation. Not caring or love.

“I’m fine. Like always.” I spoke stiffly.

Matt raised his eyebrows in surprise. Of course he would do that. Leave it to him even after our argument to act like he knows me when I made it clear he no longer knows anything about me.

Thankfully the nurse entered my room again with a taller man in tow. I presumed he was the doctor she had gone to fetch. That woman had not come at a more perfect time. I was afraid I was going to be forced with another confrontation with Matt. That would not have ended well. Especially in front of his mother.

“You’re Kayla, correct?” The doctor’s voice was a rich baritone.

I nodded. What else was there to say or do?

“Good, I’m Dr. Wilson. Shanya and I will unattach your IV and heart monitor, then we’ll bring you a wheelchair and escort you to the outside for discharge.” He smiled, but I did not feel its warmth. This was it. I was finally leaving this jail.

Dr. Wilson and the nurse I now knew as Shanya did as told. Within minutes my IV and heart monitor were gone from my body. They also made sure I had on a comfortable pair of sweats and a hoodie. Then I was prepared to get into the wheelchair the hospital staff had just brought in.

“Stay with her. Will you, Matt? I need to retrieve the car and I’d rather you stay with her anyway.” Matt nodded and his mother bolted out of the room.

Wow. Could my day get any worse? First, I nearly had a confrontation with Matt, and now this? This was a new low for me. I just hoped he would leave me alone.

My luck was terrible.

“Alright, now Kayla, this is going to hurt. Whenever you’re ready, Shanya and I will assist you in standing and moving toward the wheelchair. Young man, please stand close in case we need extra help.” Dr. Wilson explained.

I nodded when Dr. Wilson and Shanya grabbed under my arms. Then they lifted.

That was the moment that the pain hit me. Sharp and so sudden that I buckled beneath the feeling. Crying out in pain I would have wilted to the floor if it had not been for Matt. He caught me before I wilted on the ground. My lungs were burning. My ribs screaming out in pain.

“Thank you, young man. Now, if you would please gently bring her into the chair we can be on our way.” Dr. Wilson smiled in approval.

This was embarrassing. Completely embarrassing. There was no way I was coming back from this as Matt gently lifted me again and set me into the wheelchair. Why did this have to happen to me? What did I do wrong to cause all of this? It was Christmas time! Not let us see how long it takes to break a person time!

I sighed against the back of the chair. My ribs were still burning and my head pounded. This was the worst pain I had ever felt, but all I could think about was how I was going to come back from this humiliation that was now my life.

Word Count: 1004

Chapter 17 - Leave Me Alone

Coming out of the hospital was the easy part. Even getting from the wheelchair to the car with Matt’s assistance was easier than what I knew was coming. How was I going to walk into the house in the pain I was in? I would be lucky if I did not pass out on the way to my room. Thankfully, Shanya had given me some pain medicine after my failure to get into the wheelchair earlier. Though they had yet to kick in. I was still blinded with the stabbing pain coming from my head and ribs.

I leaned my head against the window of Matt’s mother’s car. I could not bear to look at the two people sitting in front of me. Especially the person directly in front of me in the passenger’s seat. He had not said a word to his mother yet about the issue in the hospital, but who knew what he would tell other people. I would never be able to attend the school again without hearing the rumors he would spread whispered in the hallways. It was a chilling thought. Maybe I should just drop out of school. I was eighteen and graduating anyway. Why not just leave a little early? My mother was stuck in the hospital and probably would not make it. That meant I had a little sister to take care of.

I leaned my head against the window. Letting the icy chills it sent through my broken body envelope me. So this was what it was like in the end. Painful, miserable, and surrounded by people that could care less about me. I thought I would softly go. Like the leaf from a tree falling gracefully into the water before it flowed away off into the unknown.

“We’re almost home, Kayla, do you need anything?” Matt’s mother asked from the driver’s seat.

I shook my head knowing all too well that she could not see me, but Matt did. He was the one staring back at me as if I was just a broken doll that needed some serious repair done. He was not wrong to think that. I was broken, but not just on the outside. There is just something about thinking that you hit rock bottom, but then come to find out there is still so much farther to fall.

“I’m fine. Let’s just get this over with and get back.” I spoke gruffly.

She did not say another word after that to my satisfaction. Instead, she just drove on down the familiar road I had driven myself many times. Though something was different. This time my car was gone. Probably totaled from my encounter with that tree. Great. Now I had no escape route.

“Your car was totaled. There was no saving it.” Matt confirmed my suspicious.

In the past I would have said that he had read my mind, but that was not the case now. He did not know me anymore. He probably was addressing the elephant in the room about where my car was in case I asked. Little did he know, I remembered that accident well. At least, the moment I woke up and the tree smashed into me. That was when everything went completely dark. 

It felt like only seconds had passed and we were there in front of the place I dreaded going back to more than I dreaded being in the suffocating hospital room. Matt’s house.

“Welcome home. Now, Matt, could you assist Kayla to her room while I get started on lunch? I’m sure you're both famished.” Matt’s mother smiled before making a beeline for the house.

Matt got out of the car with nothing to say. I thought at first he would actually go against his mother’s orders and leave me there which would have been great. But my luck had run out a long time ago. He opened the door to where I was sitting and reached out his hand. I refused it and attempted to get out alone and was caught with the searing pain of bruised ribs all over again. This sucked. This completely sucked.

Matt smirked. So this was funny to him? My struggle? Wow. What was going on in this guy’s head? This was just plain messed up.

“Thanks a lot for laughing at me. Seems like you enjoy watching my pain and struggle.” I grumbled as he half carried me into the dreaded house.

The smirk fell quickly from his face, but he said nothing. All he did was escort me to my room like he was told. Was I finally going to have peace? Was he finally going to stop talking to me and make our miserable living situation at least a tiny bit better.

Nope. I really needed to stop getting my hopes up and instead actually face reality. I was far from lucky enough to finally be rid of my sworn enemy that used to be my best friend and confidant.

Instead of walking me to my room and sitting me down on my bed then leaving he instead took his sweet time laying a blanket over me. A blanket? Seriously? I could have gotten it just fine by myself. With some pain of course, but that did not matter. I was not a baby that was dependent on another human to survive. I was eighteen. I could handle myself.

“Need anything else.” He questioned.

I glared at him. That should be answered enough that I did not need his help, but he was one of those people that no matter what could not take a hint. That was new.

“No need to glare. I know you have a voice. Use it.” He smirked again and tried to brush a strand of hair out of my eyes,  but I shot back. There was no way that I was going to allow him to get the upper hand.

“I’m fine if you didn’t see that already because it seems you’re too dense to take a hint and leave a girl alone!” I yelled at him. 

My point finally hit its mark. The look of surprise on Matt’s face as he backed out of my room and shut the door was satisfactory. I had gotten rid of him. For now. 

Word Count: 1049

Chapter 18 - Sister Sense

There was something satisfactory about winning against Matt. He was the type of guy that made it his mission to either annoy me to death or stick by my side for life. The latter was the old way before Sophomore year. Now it was the first. The worst option of all. 

It was at that moment that my sister walked into the room. It was only a moment that I wondered whether or not Matt had put her up to talk to me. I immediately knew that was not the truth when she sat at the foot of my bed with tears in her eyes.

The poor girl. She was only thirteen and had lost her father and pretty much lost her mother in the span of a day. It also did not help that she was too young to visit our mother who was still in the ICU. There was just something about our life that meant nothing was fair. Not that it was fair anyway.

“Hey. It’s okay. See? I’m home now. Everything’s alright.” I spoke gently as she carefully embraced me. I embraced her back. My arms wrapped tightly around her thin shoulders. She was far too skinny for her age. Probably from all the stress the two of us had been facing these past few days.

“I thought I was going to lose you. Matt wouldn’t let me visit you, so I just had to sit here waiting. I’m just glad that you’re okay. You can’t die!” She sobbed into my shoulder.

That statement broke me. How could such a young girl think like that? As much as I wanted to give up on life, there was no way that I would leave her behind all alone. I could not leave her here. Yes, Matt’s mother would probably take good care of Nora, but that did not mean that I could not take better care of her. She was my sister, and I alone knew her better than anyone else.

“Don’t worry, Nor, I’m right here. There’s no way I’d leave you behind. Not with Matt here anyway.” Whoops. I let that slip did I not? Wow. There was just something about my sister that said I could safely tell her anything and she would never tell. What was that called? Sister sense?

“Wait. Why would you not trust me with Matt? I thought you two were like, best friends.” Nora immediately perked up.

I nearly laughed if I knew it would not hurt. I admired Nora’s age group. They could switch moods such as being sad to happy in a matter of seconds. That was impressive and something I myself would never again be able to achieve.

“Well, if you promise not to tell, I guess I could tell you what happened.” I raised an eyebrow in amusement at the look on her face.

Shock. That was the word that closest represented the look she gave me. Pure shock.

“Why would I tell anyone? You know you can trust me!” She exclaimed loudly as she clutched her chest as if I had wounded her.

That caused me to let out a low chuckle. Though it quickly ended when my ribs began to burn again. I clutched my side and took a deep breath. Closing my eyes then opening them again once the pain had subsided to a dull ache. Wow. That medicine was nice.

“Well, I probably shouldn’t be telling this to a thirteen year old as you probably won’t understand, but I’m telling you anyway. Matt and I stopped being friends about two years ago. It was his fault.” I began to explain.

“Wait. Two years ago? That makes sense why I didn’t seen you guys hanging around as much. What happened? I remember you being so excited to see him again. Wasn’t he busy or something all summer?” She interrupted.

“Well, yes, I guess you could put it that way. He was traveling with his family all summer and we hadn’t seen each other the entire summer. You could say that I was eager to see him again. It had obviously been too long that we’d been apart once I arrived at school.”

“Can you get to the good part already? I need the juicy details.” She raised her eyebrows up and down.

“If you would stop interrupting me, yes, I will get to whatever the ‘juicy details’ means to you. Anyway, I immediately found Matt once I got to school that day. Besides being a little taller, he still looked the same as always, but something was different. There was an air of pride to him as I watched him. He was interacting with some seniors that had paid us both little to no mind before. It was then that he barely even gave me a sideways glance.”

I let the silence fall between us as she absorbed what I had told her. Realization began to dawn on her face as she finally put the pieces of the puzzle together.

“Does mom know? Why didn’t you tell anyone? Have you been all alone at school this entire time? Kayla! Come one! Why didn’t you tell anyone?” She began to shout.

“Nora! Calm down. You’re going to summon the entire house! To answer your questions, no. You and I are the only ones that know, and no. I have other friends, and I didn’t tell anyone what happened because I didn’t want to worry you all. I was fine handling the issue myself.” I explained.

She sat there for a moment and pondered yet again what I had told her. Then she looked at me with wide eyes. The tears began to streak down her cheeks again as she embraced me once more.

“How did you survive all that alone? I’m glad you told me. I may not understand everything that happened, but I want you to know that I’m always here if you need someone.”

Her words stunned me into silence. What was I supposed to say when my little sister was stronger than I was? What was I supposed to say to her when I had been lying to her about how our mother was really doing this entire time. This was bad.

Word Count: 1042