by Sharlay
“Ok, I need you to hold onto my neck, as tight as you can, ok?”
I nodded my head before following his instructions. I held onto his neck with all of my strength. I even heard him choke a couple of times but he tried to pretend that he wasn’t. After a few failed attempts at trying to lift me up, I was finally on the edge of the car. I could see so many people in the distance, watching with horrified expressions on their faces. I saw Blake crying as a couple of people tried to calm him down.
“Ok, we’re nearly there now,” the man said to me as I held onto his neck even tighter. He gently pulled me over the car. I looked back and wished that I hadn’t. Part of Blake’s car was on fire, and I could see the huge dent that was in the side of the car even though it was now facing the sky. It seems crazy but I only just realized that the car was on its side. It’s so strange that in a situation like this, you don’t realize these things straight away.
“Ok, a little faster now,” I heard the man say as he tried to make me move faster than I was. It wasn’t until I heard the explosion from behind me that I understood why. I wasn’t sure whether I was dreaming or dying but as my body was catapulted through the air, I was sure that I could see Caleb running towards me. When I was falling to the ground, all that I could think of, was why didn’t I just put my seatbelt on? Those were the thoughts running through my head before everything went pitch black.
CHAPTER 19
Running Away
I tried to open my eyes but the brightness of the light was forcing them to close again. I could hear so many familiar voices as my ears slowly adjusted. I wanted to tell them to shut up, and stop making so much noise but I couldn’t open my mouth. I finally managed to open my eyes but I was only met with a load of blurry figures that I couldn’t make out.
“Ok, just stand back a minute please. Addy, can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can,” a gentle voice said as I squeezed on the hand that I didn’t even realize that I was holding. “Ok, I felt that, now, I want you to squeeze twice if you’re in a lot of pain and once if it’s mild,” she said.
“Or I could just tell you if I am,” I managed to mumble in my hoarse voice. I could hear the sound of laughter around me, and I recognized the main culprit as Courtney. “Court?” I asked as I tried to focus my eyes on her figure.
“Yes, it’s me,” I heard her say in a voice that sounded as though she had been crying. When my eyes finally focused, I could see her standing there with streaks of tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Why are you crying?” I asked in confusion as I looked closely at her face.
“I’m just happy to see you,” she said as she threw her arms around me. At first I was confused but then I slowly started to remember everything. I remembered it all, my date with Blake, the crash, the man who pulled me out of the car before it blew up and then...nothing.
“What happened?” I whispered.
“You were in an accident, Pumpkin,” my dad said as he emerged from somewhere.
“Dad?” I asked as I took in his face. His dark brown hair was a complete and utter mess, he had dark rings under his eyes and he looked as though he hadn’t had a shave in years.
“Yes?”
“You look a mess,” I replied, causing him, Courtney and a few more people to burst out laughing. That was when I realized that Aunt Mel and Bill were in the room too.
“She seems fine for now, we’ll be back to do some checks later and probably keep her overnight for observations, ok?” The lady, who looked like a nurse said to my dad.
“Thank you,” my dad said as he gave her a gentle smile.
“Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?” Aunt Mel asked as she took a step closer to my bed.
“My ankle hurts a little but I’m fine,” I said as tried to give her a reassuring smile.
“Good because you had us all very worried there,” she said as she moved a strand of hair out of my face.
“Sorry,” I replied as I tried to sit up a little.
“Be careful, here let me help you,” my dad said as he rushed over to my bed to help me.
“I’m ok,” I said, gently as I smiled at him. The truth was that I was ok. I had a few cuts and grazes that were stinging, my ankle felt a little swollen, and I had a slight headache but overall I think I did pretty well for someone who had just come out of a car crash.
“Hi, Bill,” I said as I watched him stood at the back of the room. He looked as though he was trying to hide a little. He probably felt like he shouldn’t be there but I was glad that he cared enough to come. Bill and I haven’t spent a great deal of time together but I learnt a lot about him when we had our talk, and I had a deeper respect, and understanding for him.
“Hi, Addy,” he said as he smiled at me. “I’m going to have to go now but I’m glad that you’re feeling better,” he said as my dad gave him a ‘man hug’.
“Bye,” everybody sang in unison before watching him walk out. Seeing Bill reminded me about mine and Caleb’s argument. He wasn’t here, so I guess that he was still mad at me which I’ve got to admit hurt a little.
“Dad?” I mumbled as I tried to clear my throat.
“Yes, Pumpkin?”
“The man, the one that pulled me out of the car, where is he?” I asked. I needed to thank him because if it hadn’t been for him then I may not have been here right now. It’s a strange feeling when you end up in a situation like this. You start to realize that all of the small things don’t matter anymore. I knew that if I had taken just five seconds longer to get out of that car that I may not have been here right now. That kind of changes your prospective on everything. It made me realize how stupid my argument with Caleb actually was, and how crazy it is to get mad at someone, when it only takes one little thing for you to lose them. When you put all of that into prospective, it all just seems so ridiculous. You always hear people say how an accident can change your whole life when you survive, and I finally understood that. I’m not that hurt, in fact I got out with minor injuries but it still made me realize that life is too short to worry about the small things.
“He only stayed the day of the accident. He took my number and asked me to call him when you wake up actually,” my dad said as if he had just reminded himself of something.
“The day of the accident?” I asked in a confused tone.
“It’s ok,” Aunt Mel said to my dad as he walked out with his phone in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as I searched her eyes for an answer.
“Sweetie, the accident was four days ago,” she said in a sympathetic voice.
“What? I don’t understand?” I asked.
“You’ve been out for four days. When the guy pulled you from the car, the explosion threw you both quite far, and you hit your head-”
“I’ve been unconscious for four days?” I said, more to myself than anyone else.
“Yes,” Aunt Mel replied as she stroked my arm.
“I didn’t realize,” I muttered as I shook my head.
“I know but you’re fine now, ok-”
“You must have all been so worried,” I said as I thought about how stupid it was not to wear my seatbelt. If I had it on then it wouldn’t have taken the guy so long to get me out, and maybe I wouldn’t have hit my head-
“Blake, Blake?” I asked in a panicked voice as I suddenly thought about what had happened to him.
“It’s ok, he’s fine. He just had a few cuts and bruises. He went home a few days ago,” Aunt Mel reassured me.
“Good,” I said as I took a deep breath.
“Right, we’re going to go now because visiting time is almost up but we’ll see you tomorrow, ok?” She said before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. I nodded my head before turning to look at Courtney.
“See you tomorrow, Cutie Pie,” Courtney said before throwing her arms around me so tight that I almost couldn’t breathe. I didn’t stop her though because I knew that she had been scared, I could tell from her face. “Love you,” she whispered.<
br />
“Love you too,” I whispered back before watching them both walk out the door.
Now that everyone had left, I finally realized how tired I was. I chuckled to myself as I realized that I had been out for four days and yet I was still so tired. I took a deep breath, and wished that I hadn’t when I took in the scent of the hospital. I have always felt like hospitals have this strange smell, and I really don’t like it. I closed my eyes, willing tomorrow to come so that I could get out of here. Just as I was enjoying the silence of the room, I heard the door open again and someone step in. I opened my eyes, expecting to see my dad but instead, I was met with a very distressed looking Caleb.
“Caleb?” I whispered as I watched him looking at me from the corner of the room. He stood there in silence, watching me like he was having an internal fight with himself. I hadn’t seen him this way before, and to be honest, it worried me a little.
“Caleb, are you ok?” I struggled to get out, since my throat was feeling pretty dry. I watched as he scanned me one last time before shaking his head with a look of sadness in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” was all that he said before he ran out of the room, leaving me feeling confused and hurt.
“Everything alright?” My dad asked as he ran into the room.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I lied as I tried to put a smile on my face. “I thought that visiting time was over?” I asked.
“It is but I’ve been staying here,” he said as he smiled at me and sat down on the side of my bed.
“Really?” I asked in a surprised tone.
“Yeah, you had me pretty worried, kiddo. Promise me that you’ll never scare me like that again,” he said in a soft voice.
“I promise,” I replied as I forced back the tears.
“I love you, Pumpkin,” he said before planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Love you too, Dad. Dad, when I come out, can I stay at Courtney’s?” I asked as I watched the disappointed expression form on his face. Seeing how Caleb looked at me earlier, made me feel the need to give him some space.
“Sure, if that’s what you want,” he said as I watched him trying to hold back his own tears.
“It is,” I said as I smiled at him.
“Ok, time for you to get some rest,” he said before standing up and pulling the thin hospital blanket over me. “Goodnight, Pumpkin.”
“Goodnight, Dad.”
CHAPTER 20
Our Secrets
I didn’t sleep well last night since I spent the majority of it, wondering how Caleb was. It’s funny that I’ve spent so long wishing that he would go away, and now I was hoping that he was ok, and that I could see him again. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him but I knew that it hurt like crazy when he said the things that he did to me.
My dad wasn’t there when I woke up this morning but the nurse said that he had gone for a walk. I knew that this must have been hard for him. He already understood the pain of loss, and I felt so bad for almost putting him in that situation again.
I said a little prayer this morning, thanking God that he saved me. I didn’t tell anyone but every time that I closed my eyes, I could see Blake’s car exploding in front of me. It was terrifying. It made me feel blessed to know that I was given another chance. I had spent so many years blaming myself for my mom’s death, wishing that it could have been me instead. The fact that her life had to be given in place of mine just didn’t seem fair, but I was starting to understand that life happens exactly the way it’s supposed to.
As much as I would give anything to take away Caleb’s pain, had the fire not have happened then he and his dad would have never come to stay with us. I didn’t want to go to my dad’s party the other night but if I hadn’t then I would have never found out that Caleb wasn’t responsible for the prank. In a strange way, it’s almost like everything that didn’t make sense before had suddenly become so clear. Don’t get me wrong, there was still many things that I didn’t understand but I wasn’t about to waste my life trying to, either. I had been given another chance, the day of the crash, and I didn’t want to waste another minute of it.
I knew that Caleb felt guilty; I could see it in his eyes when he came here yesterday. I understand that feeling of blame. I know what it feels like to completely consume yourself in your own guilt, and self pity. I don’t want him to feel that way.
“Right, are you ready?” The nurse asked as she walked into the room with my crutches in her hand.
“Yup,” I said as I smiled at her.
“Ok, then let’s try these out and then you can be on your way,” she said, holding the crutches up in front of me.
* * *
“Are you sure that you don’t want to come home?” My dad asked as we pulled up, in front of Courtney’s house.
“I’m sure, it won’t be for long,” I said as I threw him a reassuring smile.
“Addy?”
“Yes, Dad?” I asked as I watched the concerned look on his face.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Caleb, and I’m not going to ask either. I know that you will talk to me when you are ready.”
“Ok-”
“But he really cares about you, I seen it in his eyes everyday that we spent at the hospital-”
“He came every day?”
“He never left. He only went home when you woke up. Like I said, I don’t know what’s going on but give him a chance. He’s a good kid, ok?” He said as he smiled at me.
“Ok, thanks,” I said before opening the car door.
I watched as my dad rushed around to help me.
“I’m ok, I’m starting to get the hang of these things,” I said once my dad had stood me up and handed me my crutches.
“Ok, I’ll just grab your bags,” he said as he headed towards the trunk.
I watched as Aunt Mel stood at the door, smiling at me as I slowly made my way towards her.
“Hey, honey,” she said as she helped me through the door.
“Hey, Aunt Mel.”
“I’ve set up the guest room downstairs so that you don’t have to climb up those stairs every day,” she said as she led me into the room.
“Thanks,” I replied before sitting down on the bed and laying the crutches down on the floor. If anyone ever tells you that it’s easy to walk with crutches then they are lying. It is one of the most awkward things that I have ever done. It takes a while to try and sit down, and it’s annoying to try and keep them balanced as you walk.
I was still pretty tired from the accident so I really wanted to just get some rest before Courtney got back from school. I knew that there would be a load of gossip about me, that she would fill me in on when she got back.
“Right, I’m off to work, I will call you later,” my dad said as he kissed me on the forehead.
“Ok, Dad, see you later.”
“Bye, Pumpkin.”
“Do you want anything to eat?” Aunt Mel asked after she had shown my dad out.
“No, I’m ok thanks, and thanks for letting me stay,” I said as I smiled at her.
“You’re always welcome here, sweetie.”
“Thanks, I think I’m just going to try and get some sleep now,” I said as she smiled at me.
“Ok, just give me a call if you need anything later, alright?”
“I will,” I replied before dragging my bag towards where I was sat. After taking fifteen minutes to get changed, I was finally ready to sleep. I slipped under the duvet in the guestroom, closed my eyes and welcomed a nice, relaxing sleep.
* * *
It was the sound of my phone, vibrating that caused me to wake up. As I peered at the screen, I saw that it wasn’t the first time that it had buzzed, either, since I had two messages. They were both from Blake, the first one asking how I was and the second one just said ‘sorry’. I quickly text him back, saying that it wasn’t his fault and that I was fine. I heard it buzz almost as soon as I clicked send but I was interrupted as the bedroom door ope
ned.
“You’re up then?”
“Yup,” I said as I watched the happy look on Courtney’s face.
“Does your arm hurt?” She asked as she took a step closer to me.
“No,” I answered in confusion.
“Good,” she said before slapping me right in my arm, “don’t ever scare me like that again!”She said, causing me to burst out laughing.
“Now who’s the violent one?” I asked as I raised my eyebrows at her.
“I learnt from the best,” she said with a smirk on her face.
“What are you eating?” I asked as I watched her chewing something.
“Popcorn,” she said, happily.
“For dinner?” I asked as I chuckled to myself.
“Of course not, this is a starter,” she said as we both burst out laughing.
“I see that you didn’t lose your appetite in my absence then.”
“Of course not, I had to eat to keep strong, for everybody else. Although the hospital food was disgusting-”
“How did you manage to get hospital food?” I asked in shock.
“Well, you couldn’t eat it, so someone had to,” she said as she smiled at me.
“What am I going to do with you?” I asked as I shook my head at her.
“Feed me, that usually works.”
“So, how was school?” I asked as I rolled my eyes at her.
“Boring, I missed my sidekick, although the rumors were pretty hilarious,” she chuckled.
“Really? What were they?”
“Well, there was the one where Caleb ran you over with his truck, then the one where you drove yourself off a cliff, and my all time favorite was the one where UFO’s crashed into you with their ship-”
“What?”
“Don’t laugh, people were actually taking it seriously,” she said as I rolled my eyes.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, I just told Patty Cardel that the one about the UFO’s was real, and it got round school pretty quickly-”
