Persisting Anyway

9) Carter's POV

"Everyone back away, give her some room." The Dean's voice declared, smothered in authority.

I walked toward the still-growing crowd, people encircling something. I walked closer to get a better look. Josh and Max were right behind me.

"I was lifting my backpack off the ground and she fell." I heard a male's voice explain.

"She was laughing and she doubled over, and the backpack flew right into her face." I heard a girl's voice, she was obviously annoyed. Her tone held a little attitude. I looked for who spoke and I found her with her hand on her hip. She had brown hair with a colored streak, a bold fashion sense.

A girl with blonde hair and a soft face stood next to her. I assumed they were friends because she spoke next. "Rory was saying something funny..."

"And Sydney was laughing so hard she didn't notice the backpack coming at her head. Why was it on the ground anyway? Keep it on your back!" Rory, I assumed, finished the blonde girl's sentence. I had always found it interesting how girls could complete each other's sentences. 

Then it registered. They were Sydney's friends, and they were talking about Sydney in third person. So Sydney was the one on the floor.

I ignored the impossibly tight knit group of people and pushed through despite the hushed curse words and insults. I got to the front of the circle and found myself standing next to an unconscious Sydney.

She looked so peaceful, except for the now forming bruise on her head. I chuckled softly; Sydney had a thing for getting hurt. I looked up at Rory and the blonde and they looked up at me. Their eyes filled with panic. They were panicking on the inside, but on the outside they tried to stay calm.

"Carter," was all that the blonde muttered.

"Hospital, now." I told Rory and the girl.

At that moment Sydney's finger twitched and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Thank goodness you are okay!"

"We were this close to going and buying sunflowers"

"I'm okay guys," Sydney tried to comfort is but none of us believed she really was okay.

"Claire, go get Sydney's backpack. I will help Carter get Sydney into his car." Rory ordered. Okay, so we were taking my car, cool. Claire, the blonde, nodded and rushed off towards what I assumed was Sydney's locker.

I knelt down and scooped up Sydney in my arms. This would be the second time we were going to the hospital in about a month. Claire and Rory had left the two of us on the floor in the cafeteria. Everyone else had dispersed to their classrooms. I kissed her on the forehead gently. "You'll be okay, my little gem," I whispered to her for only us to hear. That was the last thing I said to her before she went limp and her eyes closed. Rory rushed over to me. She fixed Sydney's shirt, straightening it so her midriff was not revealed and she moved a few stray hairs out of her face.

"You guys cannot just go. You need permission from someone to leave and miss class." The Dean demanded, walking back.

I turned to Rory. "Can I leave class and take Sydney to the hospital?" She laughed and nodded. "I got permission from someone!" I threw my response over my shoulder as I walked out the door. When I looked back I saw the Dean fuming. His ears were red and he looked like he was holding his breath in order to avoid exploding.

Rory reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Her phone was next to her ear in seconds. "Go out the door near her locker." A pause. "Dean is mad, I would avoid him." Another pause. "Carter's red truck." A laugh. "Alright, love ya!"