Collateral Damage (From the Damage)

by Jasmine Denton

  He stirred, his eyes opening. Seeing her, he smiled and sat up. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” she said, taking a seat in the chair by his bed. “I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “I was faking. Thought you were one of the nurses.” He rolled his eyes. “They’re in here every hour, like clockwork.”

  “I brought you some decent food.” She handed the bag to him.

  “You’re a saint,” he said, happily tearing into the bag to find the food inside. “What would I do without you?”

  “Starve.”

  He laughed and took a giant bite of a ham and egg biscuit. After he swallowed, he looked up at her, his eyes lingering on hers. “They said you saved my life, you used the ribbon from your hair to stop the bleeding …pretty smart.”

  “I have a lot of first aid experience,” Kay said and then instantly wished she hadn’t. She hated when she brought up stuff like that, it made her feel like she was drawing attention to the fact that her father beat on her. And she saw Alex’s face, like he knew exactly what she meant and he didn’t know what to say. “So…how’d this happen, anyway?”

  He groaned. “I was being an idiot.”

  She waited for him to elaborate.

  “Kelly and I were talking…arguing, really…and she walked away. It pissed me off…she’s always running away in the middle of a conversation. So I followed her. Right into the path of Kendall’s car, apparently.”

  “Smart,” Kay said, laughing.

  “And then my mom found this picture…an ultrasound…in my jacket,” he said, still chewing. “She was freaking out, thinking it was recent, so I had to tell her everything.”

  “Wow…how’d she take it?”

  “She was really quiet…pissed at my dad, for sure. She knew right away that the abortion was his idea.”

  “Well, you seem to be in a good mood considering the night you had.”

  “It’s funny…I feel better than I have in months.” The carefree gleam in his eye proved his point. “I don’t have to worry about football for a little while, don’t have to try to hide anything from my parents. It’s like I can breathe again.”

  “Who knew being hit by a car could be so therapeutic?”

  Taking another bite of the biscuit, he grinned. “It’s been a wakeup call.”

  “How?” she asked.

  “I’m not going to keep chasing Kelly, for one. It’s time to let go of the past…” He raised his dreamy baby blues to look into her eyes. “I think it’s time I focus on people who don’t run away from me. People who see the horrible things I’ve done and still think I’m worth their time. Like you.”

  A flattered burn crept to her cheeks and she looked away from him, unsure of what to say. Setting the food aside, Alex reached across the bed and took her hand, pulling her to sit on the edge of the bed. “I should be out of here by next weekend. Let’s go on a date.”

  Kay laughed. “You’re joking.”

  “Nope.” His charming smile never left his lips, though she saw a glimpse of fear in his eyes, and she knew that bouncing back from Kelly would be harder than he thought. Still, it seemed like his attention was focused solely on Kay. “Come on, you’re not going to reject me, are you?” he teased. “I just got hit by a car. I’ve got a broken arm and everything.”

  “Are you trying to guilt trip me?” she teased.

  His hand still clutched hers and he lightly brushed his thumb across her knuckles. “Is it working?”

  “Maybe.” His attention was flattering, and she wanted to give in to the urge to welcome it. But it scared her…going on an actual date? Most her relationships were one-nighters, with the exception of Trevor who had stuck around for a week, at best. What if she completely messed up? Then again, what if she said no and the opportunity disappeared? “I’ll go out with you on one condition,” she decided.

  He smiled proudly. “Anything.”

  “Don’t chase any more girls out into traffic,” she said, squeezing his hand. “There’s nothing sexy about road kill.”

  Laughing, he moved his hand up to rub her arm reassuringly. “Deal.”

  ***

  Kelly

  ***

  Kelly woke to the feel of something cold and wet on her face, shocking her out of sleep and into Saturday morning. She sat up, soaked, wondering what had happened. Then she saw Kendall standing to the side of the bed, camera phone held up to take a picture, a satisfied smirk on her lips and an empty water pitcher dangling from one hand.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Kelly snapped, jumping out of bed.

  “You sleep like a dead person,” Kendall said. “I tried to wake you up nicely.”

  Kelly pushed strands of her dripping hair out of her face and glared at her stepsister. “Why would you wake me up at all?”

  “Dad says I have to go apologize to Alex.”

  “Apologize?” Kelly gaped. “You ran him over because you were drunk. An apology isn’t going to cover it.”

  “And you’re coming with me.”

  Kelly turned to her closet and grabbed a change of clothes. “Forget it.”

  “Someone’s got to drive me. My car’s impounded, remember?”

  “Take a taxi. Or a bus.”

  “Or I could just borrow your car,” Kendall said, grinning.

  “No way,” Kelly replied, enunciating every word, “You’re never driving my car.”

  “Come on, princess,” she groaned. “Work with me here.”

  Kelly sighed and sat down on the stool to her vanity. Picking up a brush, she tried to pull it through her tangled mess of blond hair.

  “I mean, he’s your boyfriend, isn’t he? You were planning on going to see him, anyway.”

  Kelly turned to the mirror, and frowned at her drenched reflection. “Actually, I wasn’t. Because we broke up months ago.”

  “Shut the front door,” Kendall exclaimed, coming closer.

  “Who talks like that?”

  But Kendall only ignored her, pressing the issue further. “You guys broke up? Why? I thought you were ‘soul mates’?”

  Her hair finally free of tangles, Kelly kept her back to Kendall as she separated her hair into four strands and began to weave them together in a fishtail braid. “It’s a long story.”

  “People always say that, and it’s hardly ever true. What happened? Catch him with another fear-leader? Or two?”

  “It’s none of your business,” she snapped. Securing the braid with a scrunchie, she whipped around to face Kendall. “Look, I’ll run you up to the hospital. Just get out.”

  “Touchy.” Kendall pranced over to the door. “Try not to take too long primping. I wanna get this over with.”

  Kelly winced as Kendall slammed the door shut behind her.

  ***

  Standing on the front porch of Seth’s house, Trevor pushed the doorbell until someone finally answered. Seeing Seth, his former best friend, every muscle in his arm ached to take a swing and knock the teeth out of that arrogant grin.

  But he couldn’t do that, he reminded himself. He needed to play it smart, obey the laws, or the situation would only get worse and he could end up being the one prosecuted, and not the predator. There was no way he’d let that happen.

  “I know what you’re up to,” Trevor said. “And it’s gonna stop.”

  “No idea what you’re talking about,” Seth said, stepping out onto the porch. “But I’m glad you stopped by. I was just getting ready to play some Halo on Live. Wanna come in? We’ll teach those noobs a thing or two—”

  Trevor narrowed his eyes into a glare. “Really? After everything you’ve done, you think we can go back to playing video games?”

  Seth looked completely confused. “Everything I’ve done? Dude, what are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about your little trip to Meagan’s hospital room last night. And the threat you made.”

  “Threat?” Seth shook his head. “Look, there were no threats. Nothing maniacal, I swear. Meagan ask
ed me to come see her, so I did.”

  “She wouldn’t do that. She hates you. What part of that aren’t you getting? What stops that from sinking into your messed up mind?”

  “I don’t know what lies she’s been feeding you, but—”

  “I’ll tell you what I know,” Trevor said. “I know you raped her, that you’ve been stalking her, and that you ran her car off the road because you thought she was seeing someone. And even if Ryder wasn’t just a friend-which he is-you have no right to act like you can decide who she sees. The police may not be willing to touch you since your dad’s the sheriff and everything, but sooner or later, that’s going to stop protecting you. There’s only so much they can cover up. So, I’m telling you right now, you better cut it out. Leave her alone.”

  Trevor turned to walk away, but Seth followed him down the sidewalk. “You think you’re so different from me? You’re in college, and you nailed a sophomore. Just ask my dad, that’s statutory rape right there.”

  Trevor whirled around, outraged. “It’s not the same thing.”

  “You think? Because I was at that party that night, remember? And you were so determined to bang her on camera that you just kept pouring the drinks down her throat until she went for the idea. How is it different?”

  “For one, none of those drinks were laced,” Trevor snapped. “And Kay knew what she was getting into. Meagan had no idea what you were going to do when you led her to that room.”

  “Maybe.” Seth crossed his arms and gave Trevor a superior grin. “But if you ask me, the only difference between what I did and what you did is the type of drug.”

  Rattled, Trevor took a step back. Trying not to be bothered by what Seth said, but wondering if he had a point. “Leave Meagan alone. You’ve put her through enough.”

  Turning, he walked away from Seth. But he knew he hadn’t seen the last of him yet.

  ***

  Kelly

  ***

  Kelly thought she’d get by just driving Kendall to the hospital, but of course her wicked-stepsister insisted on Kelly going inside, too. Then she dragged her into the gift shop.

  “Come on,” Kendall said when Kelly protested. “I have to get him a card, or a balloon or something.”

  “Sure, we’ll just look for the sorry-I-ran-you-over, glad-you-didn’t-die section.”

  Kendall rolled her eyes and headed over to the get-well cards. She began to look through them, not bothering to put them back in their organized place. “Boring. Boring. Borr-rring.”

  Kelly walked behind her, picking the cards up and putting them back where they belonged.

  “Ah-hah. Whattya think of this one?”

  Kendall shoved a card into Kelly’s hands. On the front page, it had a picture of a girl in a skimpy bikini, with oversized breasts hanging voluptuously out of the top. On the inside flap it said, “Feel better yet?”

  “Tacky,” Kelly said.

  “Then this it is.” She checked the price tag on the back. “Any chance you could float me $3.95?”

  Kelly looked at Kendall with her eyes bulged. “Seriously?”

  “What? I’m broke.”

  Shaking her head, Kelly dug four ones out of her wallet and handed it to Kendall. “Let’s just hurry up, okay?”

  “You sure you don’t want to spring for a teddy-bear?” Kendall said, and then when Kelly glared at her, she continued, “Relax. I’m just joking.”

  They paid for the card and then headed up to Alex’s room. When they got there, Kelly was surprised to find Kay inside. Sitting at the edge of Alex’s bed. Holding his hand.

  “Ten-sion,” Kendall said in a sing-song voice, announcing their presence.

  Alex and Kay looked over at the doorway, cheeks flushing. Kay dropped Alex’s hand and stood up.

  “Hey,” she said softly, in that mousy tone that always annoyed Kelly.

  Kelly didn’t respond, but Kendall said, “Hey, I remember you. You were there last night, right? The girl with the ribbon.”

  “Yeah,” Kay said. “And you were the girl in the car.”

  Kendall simply smiled and turned to Kelly. “Is this the chick he dumped you for?”

  Kelly gawked, eyes bulging, mouth dropping open.

  “No,” Alex, Kelly and Kay exclaimed in unison.

  “Wow. Did you guys practice that?” Kendall asked.

  Kelly responded by giving Kendall a punch on the arm.

  “I’m gonna go,” Kay said to Alex. “I’ll…I’ll text you later.”

  “Okay,” Alex said, giving Kay that charming smile.

  The one that used to belong solely to Kelly.

  “Oh, and Kay,” he called as she reached the door. “Thanks for stopping by.”

  “Anytime,” Kay said. Then she awkwardly squeezed between Kendall and Kelly when neither of them bothered to move.

  Without Kay at his side to distract Kelly, she finally noticed the condition he was in. a few scrapes and bruises, a cast, but overall he seemed okay. He was smiling, and his eyes looked light and happy, not weighed down by secrets or pain. “Well,” Alex said, clearing his throat. “What brings you girls down here?”

  “Her dad’s making her apologize,” Kelly said.

  “But I am sorry,” Kendall said, taking the seat where Kay had been. “See? I brought you a card and everything.”

  Alex chuckled, taking the envelope Kendall held out. When he read the card, he laughed.

  Kelly, lingering in the doorway, rolled her eyes.

  “Thanks, Kendall. I do feel better. But not because of the bikini-clad hottie.”

  “Good. But, it seems I’ve missed some things in my absence.” Kendall helped herself to the hospital food on Alex’s tray. “So, tell me. Why’d you dump Kelly? I mean, I know she’s high-maintenance, but—”

  “Okay,” Kelly interrupted. “We’re done here.”

  “Oohh,” Kendall said. “So, you dumped him?”

  “Come on, we’re leaving.”

  “Whatever happened,” Kendall said as she crossed the room, “Kelly’s really hush-hush about it.”

  Alex laughed at them. “Try not to kill each other, okay?”

  “I’ll promise no such thing,” Kelly said as she opened the door for Kendall.

  Kendall turned to Alex as they left. “You ever want to upgrade from that shy chick, you just let me know.” She gave him a wink, then turned and left.

  Kelly shut the door behind her, then started hurrying down the corridor. “Do you always have to be so embarrassing?”

  “It’s a gift,” Kendall replied.

  “Return it.”

  “You’re just mad because those two were practically lip-locking. I can’t believe you’re gonna let that plain-Jane steal him from you. What’s your problem?”

  “I’m not into Alex that way.”

  “That’s why you were crying over his wounded body last night.”

  “Hey, I thought he was gonna die,” she snapped. “You’d know what that felt like if you cared about anybody.”

  “What makes you so sure I don’t?”

  “Whatever,” Kelly mumbled as she jabbed the ‘down’ button on the elevator. “Let’s just get home, okay?”

  Kelly stopped by the gas station on her way home. As she pulled up to the pump, Kendall hopped out of the car. “Gotta go to the bathroom,” she explained.

  Kelly got out, pushed the pump’s nozzle into her gas tank and set the trigger to fill it up. As the gas pumped its way through the hose, Kelly sat down in the driver’s seat, keeping her door open, and looked at her cell phone.

  Not surprisingly, there was nothing from Gage. No texts, no voicemails or missed calls. Did he even miss her?

  She scrolled through her contacts until she came to his name and the caller ID picture came up. She smiled, seeing the picture of him and Lizzie, their cheeks pressed together. Her finger hovered over the ‘send text’ button at the bottom of the screen. She really needed to talk to him about what happened with Alex. He would have some sa
ge advice for her, some world-wise perspective that would somehow make all the grey areas seem clear, and would somehow cause her to forgive herself yet again. Before she had the guts to push it, the passenger door opened and Kendall slid inside.

  She was carrying a bottle in a brown paper sack.

  “I thought you were broke,” Kelly said, quickly pushing the ‘lock screen’ button on the side of her phone.

  “When it came to greeting cards.” Kendall cracked open the bottle and took a drink, then wiped her lips. “Beer’s a different story.”

  “It’s not even noon,” Kelly said.

  “So? It’s a Saturday.”

  Shaking her head, Kelly got out of the car and put the gas pump away. She used the credit card slot to pay for it, and when she turned back around, she saw Kendall messing with her phone.

  Reaching into the car, she snatched her phone away from Kendall. “Can’t I leave you alone for two seconds?”

  “He’s a cutie. The reason you’re not ‘into Alex that way’?”

  “He’s none of your business.” Kelly slammed her door shut and started the car.

  “I’m just saying he’s hot. Speaking of hot.” Kendall rolled down her window and whistled at a guy who passed by.

  To Kelly’s humiliation, the guy walked up to Kendall’s window. He was cute enough, but looked to be in his mid-twenties at least.

  “Hey, Sexy,” Kendall said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Whatchya into?”

  “Goin’ out to the lake with a few friends.” The guy motioned to a jeep full of people. He leaned his elbows on the door, bending down to talk to Kendall. “You’re welcome to join. You, too, blondie.”

  Kelly scowled at him and shoved the gear stick into drive. “We gotta go,” she said to Kendall.

  But Kendall opened her door.

  Kelly grabbed her arm. “You’re not going with him, are you?”

  “Yeah. So?”

  “So you don’t even know him. This is crazy.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Kendall wrenched her arm free and stepped out of the car.

  “Seriously, Kendall. Get in.” When Kendall only slammed the door in her face, Kelly yelled out the window, “She’s a minor, you know.”