Fearful Love

Chapter 6 - Helena

NOTE: I have included this ✨wonderful oldie✨, play it when the story says so! Just start it from the beginning.
P.S. I think I like the ✨ emoji too much

   The car rode smoothly down the near empty highway. I was silent for the first half hour. Then, I started yelling happily.
I had escaped my kidnappers and was on my way to a safe haven. I wouldn't be pursued by those horrifying men, including Dave, anymore.
I needed to make a new plan. I honestly had no idea. I had only been to Helena once when I was a kid, because my grandpa grew up there.
There was a truck stop I could shower at, which desperately needed to happen. There was also a grocery store where I could buy new clothes. Food was also a must have. I vaguely remembered a candy shop that I wanted to visit.
However, I needed money. I dug around the center console and glove box and came up with $200 in cash. I couldn't believe my luck.
I stepped into the grocery store. The air conditioning cooled me off. I kept getting sideways glances from the customers. I didn't blame them. A quick glance in the mirror revealed matted hair, dried blood, and copious amounts of dirt.
My leg and side throbbed, but I felt numb. It had been a crazy few days. How long had it even been? Jessica's party, the day of my kidnapping, was June 12. Dave told me we were driving for two days. I had been helpless for two days. And Dave and I were in the tree for one. That would make it June 17.
Mom and Dad wouldn't be back in Phoenix until June 30. I needed to stay in Helena until June 28, then it would be safe.
There was only one problem, I thought as I played for my clothes, I needed more money for a hotel. Maybe I could find somebody safe to bunk with. Or I could sleep in the car. This was all new. I had never been in a situation like this.
   In fact,my life had been pretty sheltered up until that point. I had a good family, good house, good education. Now I was in a mess. I was scared. I was flying by the seat of my pants.
I drove to the truck stop and parked. I grabbed the bag of stuff I bought and dashed into the women's showers.
I used the cheap soap to scrub every inch clean. I used the hydrogen peroxide to disinfect my thigh. I bit my lip from screaming and pushed through the pain.
Then, I changed into the shorts and Journey T-shirt I'd purchased. I meticulously brushed my hair and blow dried it with the public hair dryer. I applied some light makeup and got back into the car.
I needed to do another self check.
Body: clean, thigh infected and rib broken          still
Finances: low, $115 left
Shelter: Sam's Mercedes
I stopped at a diner and ate a full meal. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. I then counted my money. $100. I winced.
The candy shop might end up being just a nostalgic trip. I weaved thought the town roads and parallel parked in front of the quaint shop.
As I stepped in, a sweet scent enveloped me. The huge glass cases displayed all forms of chocolate and hard candy. Being in there made it seem like I would be alright.
   I began to search the glass cases when somebody bumped into me. Being clumsy, I tripped and fell onto a table. My head whacked it and I slid to the ground, limp.
   "Oh no, no no no are you okay?" a panicked voice screeched. But I couldn't understand what he was saying. Things weren't feeling right. My head felt foggy and sluggish. I gave in to my body and drifted off to unconsciousness.

***

   "She's awake!" a female voice cried. My eyes fluttered open and I took in my surroundings.
   I was in a sterile, white room with doctor's supplies everywhere. It reeked of bleach. A nurse wrote my vitals down on a clipboard and smashed a small button on the wall. A middle aged male doctor came into the room soon after.
"Hello ma'am. What is your name?" he asked.
"Um," I began. Thinking felt like running through syrup. Nothing made sense and it was hard to focus. What was my name?
"it's alright, just take a minute. When one suffers a concussion, it is likely they will find it hard to remember things." The doctor explained.
I layed my head back and took a deep breath. Shelly was my first name. Shelly what? Shelly...something with a b...oh!
"Shelly Bard." I confidently said.
"Great! However, during your examination, we noticed a broken rib on your left side and a large wound on your thigh. We would feel more at ease if you let us help you." he calmly explained.
I really did need help. My only option was to agree. But I only had $100 left. Then it hit me. My parents were rich! I could just put it on their tab!
"Yes please. Mr and Mrs Bard, my parents, will be paying." I slowly said, making sure I didn't slur my words.
"Okay. We will need to set your rib, but there's not much we can do after that. For your thigh, we will clean it and have to wrap it up." The doctor said.
I gulped. "Alright." They wheeled me into the operation room and I was given aesthetic. My world spinned and I slipped away.
                                       ***
I woke up on a lumpy couch. I was in some kind of living room and I was very aware of a person sitting by me.
"Hello? Oh you're awake!" a male voice cried happily. It was the same voice as the one in the candy shop.
"Um..." I trailed off.
"You want explaining. Okay. I accidentally knocked you over in the shop and you jacked yourself up. Then you were in the hospital for other injuries. I took you home because I realized you needed a place to stay." The boy said.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Cole. I'm 16. My parents are divorced and I live here with my Dad during the summers. He's the Doctor who helped you. He works late hours, so I'm mostly alone." The boy said.

PLAY SONG HERE

"Hi." I blushed. His hair was golden and messy in a cute way, combed over just slightly. He had eager blue eyes. He was tall with tan skin. He wasn't gangly, but not super muscly either.
"So uh, what's your name?" Cole asked. He was actually beautiful. But not perfect. Just...adorable.
"Shelly." I smiled. I looked at the ceiling to avoid his eyes.
Seriously? Was I really falling for somebody again? He was just so amazing. He cared about me enough to help me. Was he worth it? Was he worth knowing? I decided to try. Maybe I could know him. I promised myself to try, but not get too attached. After all, I would be leaving soon. Then I'd forget Cole and Helena. Or would I?