7 Summers

Chapter 13: One week later

I had no idea where I was going. No one knew I was back in town, and no one knew I was leaving town. I didn't bother to pack everything up. I packed a few clothes, and got on the road about 3 am this morning. I couldn't sleep last night, not after what Chase had pointed out. He was right. Ryan did indeed come back, and I shouldn't have been such an asshole to everyone. I had no right to feel what I had been feeling.

I wanted to go where no one knew me. A new start at life. I could do whatever I wanted. Go wherever I pleased. As of right now, I had no one. And that was the worst feeling in the world. Right next to losing Chase. He had meant so much to me, and I blew it. I didn't even know how fast I was going, or where I was going. I couldn't even see I was crying so hard.

All of the sudden, a deer came onto the highway like a bat out of hell. I quickly slammed on the breaks, causing the person driving behind me to rear end me pretty bad. I tried to get to the right lane, only ending up in front of a semi. My car was pushed sideways for a couple of feet, until I was pushed off the road. I was jerked all around the car, my left window bad been broken, and I was cut on my eyebrow. I got lucky. I was gripping the wheel tighter, as if my life depended on it. Even though it didn't.

My Bronco was messed up. And I swore I saw my dad standing outside my window.
"Dad." I whimpered. "I'm so sorry." My head fell to the side. "I...I can fix it. Jonah...Jonah will help me." And everything went black.
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Chase's POV

"We are just getting reports of a horrible accident just outside of a small town in Tennessee called, "Backwater." Sources say it was a 24 year old woman, by the name of Bailey Rose." My attention snapped to the TV. "She's in critical condition, and is being taken to the hospital." I looked at Ryan, and he looks at me.

"I'll give you a ride." He says. I nodded and ran outside to my truck.

"Wait. I don't think she wants to see me." I said quickly.

"Why not? You're her boyfriend, aren't you?" He asks.

"Yeah but...wait-"

"What happened, Chase?" Ryan asks.

"I snapped and told her you did come back. I realize I shouldn't have said that. You really hurt her, you know that?" I was suddenly pissed at Ryan again.

"I know." He says. "But she needs you right now. Trust me." He drove me to the hospital and we both went running in there like a bat out of hell.

"Where's Bailey Rose?" I asked, completely out of breath.

"Sir, I'm afraid there are no visitors allowed." She says. "Well keep you updated. What's your relationship with her?" She asks, typing on the keyboard.

"I'm her boyfriend."

"And who's he?"

"My best friend." Yeah right. Focus Clyde!!

"Okay. Have a seat and we'll keep you updated." I nodded and sat in the seat bh the wall in the corner. If she was in that bad of a condition, there was no way she would survive. I looked back at the TV as they explained what happened.

"She's a fighter. She'll be fine." Ryan says patting my back. I rested my elbows on my knees as I leaned forward. I had my hat in my hands, and I had no idea what was gonna happen, but I prayed and prayed. I hit my knees and prayed every couple of hours. It felt like an eternity, and no one knew anything. Ryan had left to get some sleep.

"You want me to bring you anything?" He asks.

"No." I mumbled.

"Alright well....get some sleep." He says, walking out the door. There was no way I could get some sleep after seeing what happened.

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"Hey buddy." Ryan came back that morning. I wasn't in the mood to talk. I still didn't know what her condition was. "You sleep at all last night?" He asks. I just looked up at him.

"No."

"Still no word, huh?" Ryan let's out a breath and sits down in the chair next to me.

"No."

"Have you eaten anything?"

"No."

"Do you want anything to eat?" I couldn't eat. My entire stomach was in knots.

"No."

"Alan's looking for you."

"I'm not going."

"Dude."

"Im not going." I said and got up, walking down the hall and that's when I saw her through that tiny window. She was unconscious, and had a breathing mask, along with machines attached to her. I put my hand on the window, staring at her. "Hold on, baby." I whispered, putting my forehead to the door. "I love you. Please be okay." I felt as if all of this was my fault. I shouldn't have snapped. I wasn't mad at Bailey. I was mad at Ryan. Ryan knew how to fuck me over, and I was tired of it. He got all the girls, but he's not getting this one. I will fight to the death for her.

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It's been about three days, and Bailey still isn't awake. My stomach hasn't gotten any better. Anxiety was kicking in. I tried to stand up and that's when I lost it. I threw up all over the floor.

"Have you drank anything lately?" Ryan asks, standing up quickly.

"No." And just like that I passed out.

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I woke up in a panic. I was drenched in sweat, laying on the hospital bed.

"What the hell?" I panicked.

"You passed out from two things. An anxiety attack, and dehydration." The doctor says, coming in. I guess there was someone on the other side of the curtain.

"Is Bailey okay?" I asked quickly.

"We're doing everything we can." He says, moving the curtain back.

"Oh my god." I said, looking at her. She looked like she was getting worse. She was pale.

"We're hooking an IV up to her." I sat up and stared at her.

"Oh, Darlin." I ran my fingers through my hair. My heart was racing, racing faster than the damn car I drive for a living. The last thing I did to her was snap, and I wasn't even mad at her. I took it all out on her, Blaney convinced me it was all on her, when in reality it was all on him.

"I'll be back in two hours to check on both of you." He says, grabbing his clip board and walking out.

"Baby. I'm so sorry." Tears were forming in my eyes, and crying probably isn't the best, but I needed to tell her, whether she can hear me or not. "Bailey, I shouldn't have snapped. It wasn't your fault, it was Ryan's. He made me think it was yours. Darlin I'm so so so sorry." I looked over at her and she was still unconscious. Her heart rate was beeping, so I knew she was still alive. I spent two hours talking to her, just talking. Talking about anything. Telling her stories about my childhood, when I first started racing, anything. I needed to take my mind off the fact that no one would tell me what they knew about her. And that scared the living hell out of me.