The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 46 (Cheryl's POV)

I'm sitting on the bathroom floor with the door locked, my head in my hands. I need some time to myself to think. Everything happened so fast. Allie is definitely getting the cops called on her ass, and when I see her again her face is definitely getting punched in. Everything is her fault.

But that isn't true.

The only other person to blame is me. I was the only one that knew about Allie's threats; I knew Hailey shouldn't have been left alone. And I left her alone. I'm a terrible friend.

Tears start to drip down my cheeks. I hurrily swipe them away. I hate crying; it makes me feel so weak. But, aren't I? I didn't have the strength to tell anyone about Mike until later; I didn't even tell anyone about Allie's texts.

"Cheryl?" I hear Pete murmur from the other side of the door.

"Yes?" My voice sounds like shit.

"Can I come in?"

I crawl over to the door, unlocking it, then slide back to my place in the corner against the wall.

"It's unlocked."

Pete slowly opens the door. I look up at him. I'll just say I'm not the only one that looks like I haven't slept in two weeks. I mean, it is possible he hasn't, with his sleep insomnia and all the shit that's been going on has probably taken a toll on him.

He sinks down next to me, laying his head on his knees and looking at me. We sit like that for a while: just taking each other in. I almost forget everything that's been happening. Looking into his brown eyes reminds me of home for some reason, and losing him is something that I hope never happens.

"How's Hailey?" I finally ask.

He sighs. "Not much better than before. She's sleeping right now, but Patrick hasn't left her side at all. Not to eat, not to sleep, not to use the bathroom, anything. He really does love her."

Guilt starts to settle in. I should be with her as much as he is.

"How far 'til we get to a hospital?"

"About a half hour."

I nod. "I'm gonna go out there. I wanna be with you guys."

He nods, standing up and grabbing my hand, helping me up. I try to smile at him, and he returns it, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

When we walk out there, Patrick glances at us quickly, but his head snaps back to gaze at Hailey, as if even blinking will make him miss something important.

To be completely honest, she doesn't look good. Her eye is swollen, her lip is busted, and she has bruises everywhere. She's never looked so fragile and vulnerable. How could a human do this to someone? If you even consider Allie human.

I notice Gracie sitting on Andy's lap, so I pull Pete to the side, out of earshot.

"Have you called the cops yet?"

He nods. "We just did it about an hour ago. The bitch'll be behind bars before we know it."

I glance at the little girl snoring softly in Andy's arms. "What about Gracie?"

Sadness clouds Pete's eyes. "I don't really know. Were not giving her back to Allie, that's for sure. We could try to find her dad?"

My eyes widen. "Wait, weren't we supposed to see if Patrick was her father?"

"I honestly don't think he is. That would be exactly what she would say to try to get him to go back to her. If she had a baby by him I'm sure she would have tracked him down long ago."

"So were not gonna test him?" I ask.

"We will, we'll just wait 'til Hailey gets out of the hospital and everything."

I nod, and Pete reaches behind me and rubs my back softly. I smile up at him, and he grins back. I reach up and kiss his cheek, and he smiles so wide I'm afraid his face will crack in half. I find a smile creeping its way onto my face, too, and walk back out into the living area.

"Were here at the hospital," the bus driver says.

I look at everyone grimly, and Patrick gently picks Hailey up, all of us walking off the bus and into the building that I hate with a passion.