Ruined

4

I open my eyes to my dad shaking my shoulders and softly saying, "Quinn, wake up. You need to go get into bed."
I rub my eyes and stretch out on the couch, "Mmm, what time is it?"
"8:38. I had to work late because we had a woman bring in a baby with a broken arm. He crawled right over the side of his crib and fell out, and then a man came in and I had to drain fluids from his lungs," he says, his frown making his light wrinkles more visible at the corners of his mouth. "I let Mazy in by the way, you left her out and she was scratching on the back door. I gave her water and put her in the kennel."
"I completely fell asleep while I was watching t.v. Dad. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, but don't let it happen again." I nod tiredly and yawn before rolling off of the couch and trudging into the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar. I eat it slowly as I walk up the stairs. "Goodnight! I love you Dad!" I yell before closing my door.
"Goodnight!" I hear him yell back, "Love you too!"
I finish my granola bar and throw the wrapper away. I realize that my nap on the couch is the first time I've been able to sleep without having a nightmare since the accident. I look down at my clothes and decide to take a quick shower.
•••
I walk up the stairs slowly after retrieving my phone from downstairs. I feel more relaxed now since I took a shower. I'm not tired anymore, and it's 9:14. I must have taken a long shower. I close my door behind me and lock it. I lay on my bed and plug up my phone on the nightstand. I close my eyes but I can't sleep. I haven't texted Max, and she's probably still up. I reach over unplugging my phone and go to iMessage.
To Max:
Hey, are you up?!
I sigh and lay back on my cool pillow, breathing in the fresh linen smell on my comforter from being washed recently. My phone whistles and I
smile.

From Max:
Aye, and yeah I'm up. What's up?

To Max:
Nothing much, can't sleep. What are you doing?

From Max:
Eating popcorn and watching Cinderella. The diamond editionnnn :D How was detention?

To Max:
Ooooo, fancy. And it was okay. I did my quiz, and that's about it. The teacher didn't really care what we did as long as we were quiet. I have to go back tomorrow.

From Max:
I knowwww, probs drinking wine with my popcorn. And Ugh, tomorrow is Friday. That sucks for you. #havefun

To Max:
Wouldn't doubt itttt, dad gets off early tomorrow, so that he can take me to the mall for a new phone, I can barely read your texts right now. You can come if you want. And don't send me your horrid hashtags.

From Max:
That would be fine, and I will send my handsome hashtags if I wanna. :P #HatingOnMeCuzYouAintMe

To Max:
Very mature Maxine. You can't come with me if you send another hashtag :D

From Max:
THAT'S NOT MY NAME. And fine. I won't send you another hashtag.... ;D

To Max:
When you annoy me its your name, and yeah, I'm sure you won't tonight, but you will tomorrow. You're impossible.
My eyelids feel slightly heavy. Texting you is exhausting.

From Max:
Okay whatever. Get out of my faceeee. I'm fixing to go to bed so night night. Don't let the hashtags bite. Love you Annabella.

To Max:
Not even in your faceee. Please, not the full middle name. Night. Love you too Maxine.

From Max:
That sounds like an old person name.

To Max:
Suites you then. ;P

From Max:
*gasps* we'll speak in the morning about this.

To Max:
Ok. :,D night.

From Max:
Nightttt.

I sigh and plug my phone back up beside my bed. After lying there looking at my ceiling for a couple of minutes, I slip into a deep sleep.
•••
I giggle as Dad watches Max happily skip out of the big gym she practices in for gymnastics. He looks at me in the backseat as she approaches the nice Mercedes Benz that he just purchased around two months ago. "Why is Max so giddy today?" He asks.
"I have no idea," I say honestly. She opens up the door and tosses her gym bag in the middle seat, plopping into the leather seat of the car, shutting the door and looks over grinning at me. Dad pulls out onto the road that leads to the big highway. "Why are you so happy?" I ask Max.
"Gabe," she says giggling.
"Well, that explains a lot," I say sarcastically as Dad slows to a stop at the stop sign.
"He asked me out on a date," she says squealing and balling up her fists, waving them back and forth. I'm distracted by long chestnut brown hair in the driver seat slowing down for a red light. That's not Dad. "What's wrong sweetie," Mom asks as she turns to face me. I'm met by the same baby blue eyes that I have and a smile that I've grown to miss.
"Yeah, what's the matter Ella?" Max asks, but I don't answer either one. About a minute goes by as I study the face of my mother. I notice that a a baby car seat has appeared where Max should be, but I can't see into it. I just continue to stare at Mom in wonder. She turns back around as the green light turns green. No. This can't happen, not again. But it does. The same silver Nissan Tundra comes swerving and zooming straight into the driver side of the car.
I wake up sobbing, and heaving. I sit up furiously wiping at the tears on my cheeks. I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth, trying to calm my breathing. I check my phone for the time. 5:24. My alarm goes off in six minutes. I decide to go ahead and get ready. Today's going to be a long day.
•••
As Max and I walk out of the gym after Physical Ed class, we talk about things we need to get while we're at the mall.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, but Mrs. Brondam caught a virus so gymnastics is canceled for me today."
"Good, now you can sit with me and Sammy in detention," I say laughing lightly.
"Yeah, I guess I'll have to, see you in a bit," she replies as she turn to walk to her English class and I continue to music class. We only have an hour of school left and then I have detention. The crowd of people in the hall starts to disperse, which means that the tardy bell will ring in about a minute. I'm only a couple of feet away from the music room so I don't worry myself. My thoughts are interrupted when I bump into Sammy. Literally, he knocked me down.
"Oh my gosh. I'm sorry Ella," he quickly says with concern lacing his voice as he reaches out a hand to help me up. I can hear people chuckling at my sudden descent to the ground.
"It's fine Sam. Just let me get a free punch," I say in a serious tone even though I'm kidding. His hands fly up to cover his nose.
"Please don't," he pleads with his eyes and speaks in a muffled voice.
"I was just kidding Sam. You thought I was serious?" I ask giggling.
He starts laughing lightly as he pulls his long hands away from his face, "Yeah, maybe a little."
"Well, one thing to know when you're around me, don't take me serious, at all," I say only half joking as we both giggle. Yes. Sam giggled.
"I've gotta run," he says as he starts to walk down the hall waving and still giggling.
"Don't run into anyone!" I say loudly for him to hear. He gives me a thumbs up, grinning, as we both disappear into our classrooms.
•••
Music class was fun as always. Our teacher Mrs. Valentino is always laughing, smiling, teaching, and singing. She's my favorite teacher. "Have a good day everyone," she says in a sing-song voice with a small wave from her place behind the podium.
Today has been pretty nice, but now I have detention. At least Max and Sam will be in there with me. I catch both in the hallway, and we all three walk together to the detention room. My phone whistles, and I pull it out to check it.

From Dad:
Hey, I'm going to be a little late. Maybe see if someone can sign you out, and I'll meet you and Max at the house.

To Dad:
K, I'll find someone. Love you. Be careful.

From Dad:
I love you too. And I will.

"Hey Sam," I say as I slip my phone back into my pocket,"I hate to ask, but do you think your brother could sign me and Max out? My dad is going to be late and we have to meet him at the house."
"Yeah sure, I'll see if he can you give you a ride to your house too," he says with no hesitation.
"No, no, that's fine he doesn't have to drive us, I wouldn't want to bother your plans," I say politely.
"No, it's fine, we don't have any plans," he claims, shrugging his shoulders lightly.
"Oh, ok. I guess that's fine," I say.
"No problem," he smiles revealing his cute dimples as we reach the detention room and take our seats.
_________
Ok, in case you didn't catch it, Ella's whole name is Quinn Annabella Walker. I thought that it would be a pretty name.