Clashing Cliques

Nick's POV

I rush to my parents' home as fast as I can to check on everyone, but especially Jess. I pull into the driveway and see an ambulance at Lauren's house. I put my car in park, turn it off, and run over. I see Lauren standing in her driveway and walk up to her. As I get closer, I see that she's crying.

I grab her and hug her. "Hey, hey. What's wrong?"

"It's Jess. She... she.. she tried to kill herself, Nick." She says, in between sobs.

"What the hell is going on?! First, Joe is acting weird and now Jess tried committing suicide?!" I run over to the ambulance van and see Jess's body laying on a gurney. "Hey, can I ride with you? I'm her older brother." They shake their heads so I tell them I'll meet them there.

After they have her secured in the van and drive off, I catch Joe in my peripheral vision standing in the doorway. I walk up to him, very angrily. "What the FUCK?" I push him.

"Hey! It's not my fault!" I take his response in consideration and leave him alone.

I go back to Jessica's crying best friend and grab her hand. I pull her towards my car and open the passenger door. I usher her inside and close the door. I go to the driver side of my car and get in, starting the engine. I back up onto the road and start my way to the hospital.

The whole way there, the ride is silent. Not a single word is spoken between Lauren and I. Nothing needs to be said right now. We're both concerned for Jess. She means everything to both of us.

We make it to the hospital right as they're rushing her in. So much blood. I guess Joe took his own car and met us here as well. I look at Lauren. "Have you called any of the parents yet?" She shakes her head. "Alright."

I walk around the hospital, trying to find my mom who's a nurse. Finally, I track her down. "Mom!!" I yell as I'm finally reaching her. She turns to look at me.

"Hey, honey. What are you doing home?" She looks over my face, and sees the horror in my eyes. She stands up straighter than before. "What's wrong?"

"Jess attempted." I couldn't hold it back anymore and broke down in my mom's arms. She wrapped her arms around me while I was crying, starting to cry too. It only lasts for a minute before we both start recollecting ourselves and look at each other again.

"Where is she?" She asks.

"I don't really know. Probably in trauma."

She nods. "Oh my god, I need to call your dad." She goes to the landline and starts dialing dad's phone line.

I watch as if I'm moving in slow motion but everyone is moving fast to save her life. I sit. I watch. I can't do anything else. I feel useless.

Anger takes over me before I could wallow in self pity any longer. Joe was there, he should have been there for Jess.

It takes everything in me not to go track his ass down and beat some sense into him. It's like God spoke. He walked right through those fucking doors.

I couldn't hold my anger back. I walked right up to an unsuspecting Joe and punched him square in the face. One thing about me, I don't like fighting. But I will fight for my family, no matter what. Especially when it comes to my little sister. Joe fucked up, he deserved it.

Once he regained balance, he looked at me. "What the hell, man?"

"You should've been there for her! You're like a brother to her. How could you let this happen?!"

"I didn't let anything happen! It's not like she talks to me about her problems! You should be mad at her so-called best friend, not me! She should've stopped it, not me!"

"Her so called best friend? You mean your fucking sister, who is the same god damn age as my sister? She is a fucking kid, you prick. You're the fucking adult who should have held some responsibility, not blaming it on a fucking teenager."

Joe is silent and everyone is watching but I have no care in the world. I have to see this through. I can't hold back. For the sake of my sister, I have to find out what is going on.

I turn to look and see Lauren staring at her brother with tears in her eyes and hurt written all over her face. That face breaks my heart. I go to sit beside her until we know what's going on with Jess.

I don't know where Joe went once I went to Lauren, nor do I care. But I do know I'm done.