by Gia Riley
“Holy shit, what happened?” There’s a body hovering over me with a horrified expression, but I can’t speak to him. My words are lost in a pool of saliva and blood inside my mouth. The air now harder to find, I gasp as a panic attack sends me spiraling. Fading in and out, I fight to stay awake in case Blaine comes back to get me, but the night becomes even darker as the light from the streetlamp fades into nothingness.
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO seeing Sophie all week long, so being called into a mandatory meeting on a Thursday afternoon before a holiday weekend was not what I wanted to do. With the current athletic director recovering from open heart surgery following a second heart attack, he had no choice but to resign. His decision was expected though unfortunate considering he’s held the position since the early eighties.
As we sat around the conference table getting briefed on the plan of action to fill the vacancy, I was shocked to learn I was one of the candidates nominated for the position. I’m more than qualified for the role with my degree, but with a job of that caliber comes a lot of responsibility. Even more of my time would have to be dedicated to the athletics program. It's something I need to discuss with Sophie before any offers were made.
Until they make one, I’m hauling ass to apologize for screwing up our plans. I didn’t even have a chance to make a phone call before they ushered us from the office into the conference room. Apparently the faster we got in, the faster we would get out. Not that there was anything fast about that meeting.
“Kipton, wait!”
I turn around, not expecting to find Alisa chasing after me. She waves her phone in the air like I’m supposed to know what that means. “What’s up? I’m in a hurry.”
Out of breath, she holds up the phone again. “Your phone. You left it in the office.”
Searching my pockets, I’m surprised when I realize my phone isn’t on me. “Shit. Thanks. I didn’t even know I lost it.”
“No problem. It was on the counter in the office when I got here. I told the secretary I’d get it to you.”
I turn it on, and as soon as the screen lights up, I check for messages from Sophie. “Thanks again. Have a good weekend.”
“Oh, one more thing. Sophie called. She’s expecting your call.”
I stare at her like she has three heads. My ex-girlfriend speaking to Sophie can only mean trouble. “You answered my phone?”
She shrugs her shoulders and avoids eye contact. “It kept ringing. I thought maybe it was an emergency.”
“Was it?”
“No, but I let her know you were in a meeting so she would stop calling.”
I run my hands through my hair in frustration. “Alisa, if you told her anything other than that, tell me right now. I don’t need any surprises later.”
“Relax. She has no idea who I am to you—unless Cara told her.”
“You aren’t anything to me. Let’s get that straight, first. Secondly, why did you speak to my sister?”
“Kipton, you know what I mean,” she says, as she shifts her weight from side to side with her hand on her hip. I used to think the move was cute. Now it’s just annoying.
“No, I don’t know what you mean at all. Would you care to enlighten me?”
She blows her bangs out of her eyes. Every move she makes during this conversation is pissing me off. “I talked to Drew when he called. Then Cara had the phone, and then Sophie.”
“You’re fucking kidding me, Alisa. Please tell me you’re making this shit up.”
“I’m not, but don’t worry. I did mention I’m with Troy.”
Weird. “Why did you tell her that?”
“Because I’m smart enough to know she was upset, and it didn’t look good. I was trying to save your ass.”
I close my eyes and count to ten, but I only make it to four before I feel like I’m going to explode. “My ass doesn’t need saving because I didn’t do anything wrong. Not to mention, Troy told me you two broke up.”
She waves her hand in the air dismissively. “He’s exaggerating. We’re going through a rough patch. That’s all.”
“Then I suggest you go home and work it out. I have somewhere I need to be.”
She reaches out for my arm before I walk away. “I’ll work on it. Can I have a hug at least?”
I peel her fingers from my arm and drop her hand. “No. From the sound of it I have enough to smooth over as it is.”
“Why haven’t you told her about us?”
“She knows very little because it’s in the past. Where I plan on keeping it.”
“But how does she not know? Don’t you two talk? We used to talk about everything.”
I roll my eyes at her attempt to make my relationship seem pathetic. “We talk about what’s important—the things that matter.”
She wraps her arms around her middle, rubbing them for warmth. “I’ve never seen you like this about a girl.”
“I was like this about you, but you were too busy screwing someone else to notice. Have a good weekend, Alisa.” Before she has a chance to stop me, I turn and walk away. I was done with this conversation before it ever started.
“Bye, Kipton.”
Before Sophie I might have been nostalgic enough to give her a hug, or even got sucked back into her charm, but that would have led to more mistakes and even more fighting. I’ve already wasted too much time trying to figure out how she ended up in another guy’s bed. But now I know it was never one specific thing that ruined us. It simply didn’t work with Alisa because I was meant to be with Sophie.
All I want to do now is fall asleep in the same bed as her tonight, and wake up next to her in the morning. Life will be so much easier when we don’t have to be in separate towns. Then distance won’t be a factor anymore, and I won't have to schedule time to have an actual phone conversation with her. Although the pictures can continue. I’ll never get tired of those.
I’M ON THE ROAD ABOUT fifteen minutes before I remember to plug my phone into the charger in my car. Considering all the trouble it’s caused today, I should probably throw it out the damn window instead. Before I even get the plug in, it rings.
“Hey Drew, what’s up?”
"Kipton? You on your way?"
"Yeah, I left work almost twenty minutes ago. Traffic doesn’t seem too heavy so I should make good time. Are you guys at the bar?”
“No, we’re not.”
Shit. “Sophie’s pissed at me, isn’t she? I don’t know why Alisa answered my phone. It was a dick move.” Not that I owe Drew any explanations, but he probably thinks I’m an asshole, too.
"Kipton, I don’t know how to tell you this, especially while you’re driving, but we're at the hospital."
"Why are you at the hospital? What happened?” I hit the gas pedal harder, not caring about the posted speed limit signs along the highway.
"Just get here, okay?"
"Drew, don't fucking hang up. What’s going on?"
"Don't do anything stupid, Kip, but it's Sophie. Cara's calling your parents right now. She wants them here."
I pound the steering wheel before gripping it harder. My foot pushes the accelerator all the way to the floor of the car. “I can’t go back for them, it’ll take too much time.”
“No, man. Don’t go back. They can meet you here.”
"What happened? Is she sick? Please tell me she hasn’t been throwing up."
"She was missing when I got to the bar. An employee found her outside."
This makes no sense. "Why was she outside?"
"I don't know how she got out there. She was lying on the ground like she passed out. They took her away in the ambulance, and told us to go to the hospital. Cara's a mess. She won't stop crying. I can't even think straight.”
"I'll be there. Please tell her I'm coming, Drew. Tell her I’m almost there."
"I can’t. They won't let us see her. Only immediate family until they figure this shit out.”
“Fuck!” She’s all alone. That will only make her panic more.
“Some of the officers from the scene are here, and they shut down Shooter’s. This place is creeping me out. It's like a fucking cop show."
“I’ll be there as soon as I get off this fucking road.” I lay on my horn, yelling at the assholes who won’t let me get around them.
“Calm down, Kip. Just get here in one piece. You can’t help her if you’re dead.”
“Morbid much?”
“Sorry man. I’ll see you when you get here.”
Once I hang up with Drew, I cut the drive time in half as traffic thins out. Within a half hour, I pull into the first parking spot I find outside the emergency room.
Plowing through the revolving glass door in the reception area, heads turn from my dramatic entrance. Practically tripping over a vacant wheelchair left sitting next to the door, my eyes dart around the room, searching for Drew and Cara. When I spot them in the corner of the waiting room, I feel slightly better. "Where is she?"
"Kipton," Cara cries. "They took her in the back somewhere. After that, they stopped talking to us. We don’t even know what they’re doing to her."
That answer isn't going to do for me. "Excuse me," I bark to the receptionist sitting in her cushy chair behind a plexiglass shield.
"Yes, Sir. How can I help you?"
"My girlfriend, she was brought in a little while ago. I need to see her."
"Her name, please?"
"Sophie. Sophie Evans."
"Sir, at this time she can only see immediate family."
“I am her family. I'm all she has besides her dad." The receptionist holds up a finger telling me to hold on for a minute. Like I have any other choice. While I wait, I yell over my shoulder. "Drew, did anyone call Coach Evans?"
He shakes his head. "We didn't have his number, and they took her phone from us. Apparently, it’s evidence now."
“It’s okay. I’ll call him.” Not wasting any more time, I scroll through the contacts in my phone and press send. It rings several times before going to voicemail. I dial again—voicemail. He's probably asleep. I glance at the clock. It’s barely eleven. Not that late, yet late enough for a call at this hour to only mean one thing—trouble. The third time I dial, he answers. "Kipton?"
“It's Sophie, Coach. She's in the emergency room."
"I'm on my way." The call ends and I'm left staring at a blinking call timer. Not even a full thirty seconds of conversation passed. That’s how much he loves her.
The receptionist taps on the glass to get my attention. “Sir.”
“Can I see her?”
“She’s being taken to the fifth floor for observation as soon as a bed becomes available. Wing B. You’re welcome to wait for the rest of your family here, and then go up. They will let you know when you can see her.”
“Thank you. Her dad is on his way. My parents, too.” She nods her head like it doesn’t matter to her if anyone shows up, yet I feel like I’m actually helping the situation having told her. I’m absolutely useless right now.
“Can we see her yet, Kippy?” Cara asks with hope.
“Not yet, Cara. Soon.” I sit next to Drew while we wait for Coach to get here. Cara’s curled up in Drew’s lap, clinging to him. Sophie’s like a sister to her and I know this is killing her.
Leaning my head against the wall, I close my eyes, breathing deeply through my nose and out my mouth. I’ve seen Sophie do it a million times when she gets overwhelmed, but it does nothing to slow my racing heart. None of this would have happened if I was where I should have been.
Beyond frustrated, and racked with guilt, I tap my head against the wall behind me. No comfort comes from it, so I do it harder. I want to hurt as much as she’s hurting.
“Kipton, stop!” Cara begs, as tears fall down her cheeks.
“Cara, I’m going crazy. I need to know what happened.”
"I told Drew not to tell you because you were driving. If you had crashed your car, Kipton, I don’t know what I would have done. I can’t lose my brother and my best friend in the same day.”
“What do you mean lose? You said she looked like she passed out.”
“Maybe she did pass out, but her face was all bruised and bloody. It hardly looked like Sophie.”
“Jesus Christ, Cara. Why would you keep that from me?” I start pacing, praying her dad gets here before I completely lose it. “Why was she alone?” I bark at Drew. “You said you would watch out for her.”
“I have been, man. I promise.”
“Kipton, this isn’t Drew’s fault.”
“Well someone fucked up.”
Cara rolls her eyes. “Do you really want to talk about how bad you messed up in the middle of the ER, Kipton? I have no problem bringing up Alisa right now.”
“That was a misunderstanding. I wasn’t with her. She found my phone in the damn office.”
“Pfft. You might want to clear that up with your girlfriend when you see her. She wouldn’t have had to run to the bathroom as soon as we got there if she hadn’t been drowning her sorrows in a bottle of wine all evening.”
“She was drunk?” Sophie never gets drunk.
“Not really drunk—heavily buzzed. She didn’t see me pour some of the wine in a cup before she walked away with the bottle. She didn’t drink as much as she thought she did.”
“Why’d you do that?”
“Because someone has to watch out for her! You’re more in love with your stupid job than Sophie these days.”
“You are so full of shit. I love that girl.”
“Then act like it you asshole!”
“Guys, shut the fuck up. Blaming each other won’t help. And Kipton, I have been keeping an eye on Sophie. They told everyone to clear out of Shooter’s, but I wouldn’t leave without her. When I told them Sophie was missing, they took us out the back door, and that’s when I knew something bad happened.”
I drop my head into my hands. Cara’s right, this is all my fault. I’ve let Sophie down because I’m too worried about impressing everyone at the high school. She’s my number one, and I’ve done a shitty job of showing her that.
"Kipton, where is she?"
I stand up so fast I bump into Drew’s chair and almost knock my sister on the floor. "Coach. She's in there somewhere.” I point to the door separating the rest of the ER from the waiting room. They won't tell us anything. We’re not immediate family."
"The hell you aren’t. Let's go find her, Son.”
Thank God he’s here. I turn to Cara and Drew. “Will you stay here until Mom and Dad come?”
“Yes. We’ll wait. Tell her I love her, Kippy.”
“I will. When they get here go to the fifth floor to wait for us, okay? That’s where she’s supposed to be getting a room.”
“Okay.”
I follow Coach back to the receptionist where he’s already being spoken to. I wait a few steps away from the desk—close enough to listen, yet far enough out of the way.
When she hangs up her phone I move closer. “The charge nurse said someone on her case will be out to speak with you as soon as they can.”
“Thank you.”
Within a few painfully long minutes, an officer finds us in the corner of the room—still waiting.
Coach doesn’t wait for him to walk to him. He stands tall, and speaks up. "Officer, where's my daughter?"
"Mr. Evans, follow me and we can discuss this privately."
"I'd like Kipton to join us, too. He's family as far as I'm concerned."
He nods his head in understanding. "Follow me."
The officer leads us through a locked door that he opens with a swipe of his hospital ID badge. A hallway flows into a treatment area, but instead of walking to one of the partitioned rooms, we walk down another hallway to a small conference room. Inside, two more officers are so engrossed by their laptop screen they don't even bother to look up from their work.
“The doctor is in with Sophie right now, so we’ll do this first,” the officer tells us. “Have a seat.”
> We do as were told, but I sit reluctantly. I can’t relax until I see Sophie. She’s all I care about right now. The details can wait as far as I’m concerned, but it’s not up to me.
“We haven’t had time to go through all of the security footage from Shooter’s yet, but what we have viewed, isn’t entirely conclusive. It seems one of the security cameras inside the bar wasn’t on at the time of the event—the one that monitors the hallway to and from the restrooms. That’s Sophie’s last known location according to her roommate.”
“Don’t you have the camera footage from outside the building?”
“They’re the ones we are currently reviewing. It’s dark, and the incident took place far enough from the bar that it’s difficult to decipher the footage. It appears to be a random attack, and without any witnesses, we don’t have a description of who we’re looking for. Until Sophie wakes up, I’m afraid it’s a waiting game.”
“Someone found her though. They didn’t see who did it?” Coach asks.
“No. They gave a description of a male based on size alone, which we figured from her injuries, but the witness had no other information. Unfortunately, it was too dark when the assailant fled the scene.”
I stand, no longer able to control my temper. “What do you mean, until she wakes up? Is she in a fuckin’ coma or something?”
Coach reaches over and pulls me by the shirt back into my chair. “Calm down, Kipton,” he tells me. “Officer, can you please have the doctor come talk to us? And I’d like to see my daughter.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” He puts his pen and pad in the breast of his jacket before leaving the room.
Again we wait. Only this room is too small and the walls are slowly closing in on me. Still without a clue as to how Sophie is doing, I’m helpless. I should be holding her hand, telling her she’s safe. I don’t even know if she’s awake. "Coach, what's taking so long?"
"I wish I knew. I'll give the doctor a few more minutes before I find Sophie myself."
Before I can hold him to his promise, a doctor wearing blue scrubs and a white lab coat closes the door behind him. He takes the stethoscope from around his neck and places it on the table. "Mr. Evans?"
