AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shut my eyes, not allowing Courtney to see the fear there. . . the weakness.
“The police believe your story, Isaiah. That you tested a nitrous system on an abandoned road and it failed. ”
“It’s not a story,” I say. “It’s the truth. Something went wrong and I lost control. ”
“Regardless of what happens with Logan, the police won’t press charges. Logan’s father waived away the option of holding you responsible. ”
“Yay for fucking me. At least I won’t be in prison like my mom, right?”
My vision blurs for the second time today. This time it’s because of tears. For years, I’ve been fine. But now, emotions are everywhere and I can’t control a damn thing.
“Do you know why I asked to be your social worker?” Courtney asks.
I peer at the blood pressure machine, wishing I could stop feeling. “Why?”
“Because I grew up in foster care, too. ”
The heart rate monitor increases speed, and Courtney pretends she doesn’t notice that her bombshell affects me. “Entered at six, just like you. I had the good homes, the bad ones and the group homes. I even have a tattoo from my pissed-off years. ”
My chest moves faster as my emotions threaten to consume me. I reach for anger, because it feels better than hurt. “Is that what you think I am? Pissed-off?”
“Oh, Isaiah. ” Courtney stares straight into my eyes. “Pissed-off is the easy emotion. Having been in the same exact position you’re in. . . ” She flutters her hand at the hospital bed and then grows still. Her mouth attempts to quirk up, but her lower lip trembles. “I’d bet, right now, you’re feeling very alone. ”
Alone.
Logan’s got a dad beside him. Me? I’ve got a social worker. I shake my head, fighting the hurt. “What’s wrong with me that nobody wants to keep me?”
Why no one wanted to love me. Right now, I don’t feel badass. I feel seventeen and crave for someone to tell me that my friend will be okay.
Her fingers find mine and I don’t draw away. “Nothing,” she says firmly. “There is nothing wrong with you. ”
I suck in air, close my eyes and exhale out the emotions. Courtney withdraws her hand, and I’m grateful she doesn’t push me further.
“Can you find out about Logan?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says. “I’ll be back. ”
Chapter 62
Rachel
ABBY GRIPS THE PASSENGER DOOR. “I’m going to be sick. ”
“Throw up in my car, and that will be the last thing you ever do. ” Spotting the exit for the hospital, I cut over two lanes and shift down. Isaiah’s been teaching me some tricks aft
er school. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be using those skills to race to the hospital to see if he’s alive.
“You were doing ninety and switching lanes like we were being chased by the police. ”
“Are you sure he’s here?” Because I’d prefer for Isaiah to be at any of the other hospitals in the county over University. This is where they bring the awful trauma cases.
“Yes. ” Abby loosens her hold on the door as we approach the stoplight at the end of the ramp. “Echo told me. ”
Isaiah called me and I never called back. My last words to him were in anger. What if he thinks I don’t love him? My fingers beat against the steering wheel, counting how long it takes for the cross light to turn yellow. “Are you sure she said University?”
“Yes. ”
“That’s where they take the worst trauma patients. ” I admit my fear out loud.
