Who the fuck would do this?
Is it crazy that the only person I can think would do it is Jen?
Panic rises like a wave, hot and sharp in my throat. “No, no, no,” I whisper to myself, fumbling for my phone in my bag.
I need to get to the hospital, and the only thing I can think of is to call an Uber, but even then I'll be late. Shit.
“I need to be there in twenty-five minutes, please tell me there’s a car,” I plead with the person on the phone. “Yes, yes, I’m outside the science hall, no I don’t have time to wait that long. I need to be there now.” I hear footsteps beside me, and I glance over to see who it is. Hayden.
He’s walking to his car, pauses for a moment, clearly catching the tail end of my conversation. For a moment, he just stares at me, unreadable. Then unlocks his car, slides into the driver’s seat, and without another look toward me, he pulls up beside me.
“I’ll drop you off.” His voice is cold, dead.
“It’s fine my Uber’s on the way.”
“I said I’ll take you.” This time his voice leaves no room for argument.
Grabbing my things from my car, I get into his, whispering a soft, “Thank you.” He doesn’t respond, I didn’t think he would.
The drive is silent. Tense. I don’t say a word. I don't want to test the line of whatever made him offer to help me in the first place. His jaw is clenched tight the whole way.
He hates that I’m in his car, yet he offered to help me.
When we arrive, he barely stops the car before speaking. “D will pick you up. When?”
“I can get the U?—”
“How long?”
“One hour.”
I sit there waiting for him to say something, but when nothing comes, I get out of the car and watch him drive off. Not once did he even look at me, and it hurts so much.
The meeting with the doctors went better than expected. Mom’s latest tests were positive, clear margins, stable levels. We still have a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, there's light, and I’m so happy.
“Declan,” Mom beams when he walks into the waiting room, and a girl by his side. Little Declan has a girlfriend.
“Hi Mrs. B,” he grins. “Looking gorgeous as always.” He completely ignores me, and I’m not surprised about it.
“Declan, I always knew you’d grow up handsome. And you have a girl,” she says, her eyes landing on the girl.
He really has turned out to be very good looking, and he is as built as Hayden now. I think it’s the Crawford genes because they're all very handsome men.
The girl doesn’t smile, and Declan isn’t introducing us either. “Is Hayden still away?” Mom asks, her tone light, as Declan pushes the wheelchair out to his car. His eyes snaps to mine. Cold. Sharp. I shake my head slightly, but the damage is done now.
Once Mom is in the car, Declan grabs my arm, dragging me aside. His grip isn’t gentle at all, and I’m sure it'll leave a bruise.
“She doesn’t know the truth?” he hisses.
“No, she doesn’t know anything.” I couldn’t tell mom the truth, she loved Hayden, and if she knew what I did it would break her.
“Surprised he even helped you. You don’t deserve it.” Declan snaps and walks away.
“I know.” I whisper to myself wiping the single tear away from my cheek and get in the car.
Fourteen
Hayden
