The One Who Lived

Chapter Sixteen

My mom has always said that I was her daughter with a sixth sense. I can't really explain it, but I know when bad things are going to happen, how someone is feeling, and whatever else I have needed to.

My mom says that I set her belief in stone when I was six.

We were sitting at the dinner table eating when the phone rang. I guess that I looked up and said 'answer it. Grandpa is dead.' My mom said she ran to the phone, and I was right — our Papa Randy had passed away from a heart attack.

So, when I tell you I know things, I know.

I knew that something was wrong that day. I knew that something was going to happen, but I didn't know what.

I didn't know it would be him.

I was sitting in first hour when Hawkins came in with fear in his eyes and Dallas Jackson next to him. Both Isla and I stood like we had been called out, and we left without needing a word.

Dallas started shaking and told me that he and Ander were practicing before school, just to get a little workout in on the off season, and that Ander insisted that Dallas didn't need to spot him. So, Dallas went to the treadmill and after a few minutes of hearing nothing from Ander, he went to go check on him to find him black and blue and almost dead. That is when Dallas starts to fully sob so Isla goes to comfort him.

I don't even have time to comprehend when Dallas has just told me as Hawkins grabs my hand and rushes me out of the school. I didn't have to ask Hawkins where he was taking me, because as soon as we turned right out of the school, I knew where we were going.

The whole drive Hawkins and I made to the hospital seemed like hours. The hospital is exactly 9.5 miles — 14 minutes from school. Hawkins drove like a mad man while we were both silent because I don't think either of us knew what to say.

There just weren't words to fill the silence from Anni's death and Ander's accident.

There just weren't words for the torment I felt due to the fact that I wasn't even talking to him. I could possibly lose him, and he would never know how much he meant to me. He could possibly die only remembering the anger and heartbreak from me.

I ran though the stark white halls and sterile smelling hospital on Hawkins's heels because we needed to be fast. I needed to find Grant and Vivian, but mostly I needed to find Ander. Hawkins must have already known where he was because he was immediate in his leading me to where Ander is.

I let out a strangling sound as I see Ander sitting up and talking in the hospital bed. "Vanderbilt." I whisper as I run across the room and launch myself at him.

He grunts at the impact but doesn't push me away. Instead, he wraps his arms around me and holds me as tightly as he can. "Hey." He whispers into my hair.

I smear my face into his chest to ignore the tears that are begging to be released. "You're okay." I mimic his whisper.

He nods against the top of my head. "Yeah, just a little bruised physically and ego wise." He tries to joke but I can hear the pain and fear lacing his words.

I pull away to look up at him. "What are the doctors saying? Are you physically okay?" I ask making him grunt.

"They said that I cracked a few ribs, but nothing too serious. They said that if Dallas hadn't found me when he did, it would have been way worse." Ander says casually but I can hear the crack in his voice.

I look around the empty room. "Where are your parents? Do you want me to call them?" I question, grabbing my phone out of my pocket.

"No, I already did. My dad had a press conference and will be back soon, and my mom is on some sort of assignment and is unreachable. I called Kara so that she could some sign my release papers since I am not eighteen yet." He jerks his head towards the door where Kara appears.