Straight 'A' Student

Chapter 32

Taylor watched Eleanor pace around frantically as they waited for news and for his family to arrive. Eleanor had been too nervous and scared to call them herself so Taylor had been keeping them updated. However, there weren't many updates.

"Hi, Jackie" Taylor answered Joshua's mother's call, the eighth in the last hour.

"Anything?"

"Not yet, they're in the building but they aren't giving us any information".

"We're down the street, Donnie's still trying to call. No answer".

"Okay, we're still out in the lot. You'll see us" she said before Jackie hung up.
"Hey, El" she walked over to her.

"Hm".

"They're almost here".

"Holy shit".

"Relax El, it's not your fault".

"They're gonna ask why the hell he was even here and I don't have any other answer".

"That still doesn't make it your fault".

"Oh my god" Eleanor cried as she watched their car pull next to Taylor's.

"Still nothing?" Donnie asked.

"Not yet".

"What the hell happened Eleanor? I know my brother, he's made it a point to not make work his entire life. So why the hell was he here today?"

"Chill out Donovan" Taylor shouted.

"What happened?" He asked sternly, but more calm.

"He had a meeting with his supervisor".

"About what, Eleanor?"

"Hush, they're bringing people out" Jackie interrupted as people started to exit the building. Crowds of employees, doctors, nurses, and patients were escorted out by officers. Family members peered out into the crowd anxiously looking for their people. The door shut with the last officer of the group, no Joshua.

///

The flight was mostly silent. Summer had urged Connor to get some rest now, but his anxiety wouldn't let him. She figured that if his gut feeling was accurate about the outcome, he wouldn't get much sleep in Texas at all. As soon as the pilot announced that they were landing and their phones got service again, Connor turned his on to text Taylor.

'Hey, any news?' He sent and waited anxiously for her response. A minute later his phone buzzed.

'Yea, it's not good. He's in surgery'.

'Surgery? Did they say how bad it was?'

'No, we haven't been able to get an answer out of anyone yet. How far are you?'

'We're landing right now. Have to get a rental, we'll be there as soon as we can'.

'Okay, I'll let you know if we hear anything'.

He woke Summer up when they had actually landed. She fell asleep on his shoulder shortly before. They grabbed their carry on bags and headed straight to the rental car to pick up the one that Summer reserved.

"Joshua's in surgery" Connor said as he drove off of the lot.

"What?! Is it bad?" Summer asked.