THAT GIRL.

Ten.

AT THE HOSPITAL

It had been an hour since we got here, they had quickly unloaded her and rushed her in, while I just stood at the emergency room doors, completely lost. A nurse came up to me and ushered me off into a waiting room.

So now, here I was sitting as patiently as I could for the past hour, blaming myself for everything that had happened. Then the same nurse that brought me in walked over and sat down on a chair next to me.

“Honey, I'm going to have to ask you some questions alright?” She asked.

“Of course, go ahead.” I pretty much begged her, because just sitting here waiting had been driving me up the wall.

“Are you her boyfriend, or have any relation to her?”

“No. We barely talk. I think she hates me actually. But I've gone to high school with her these past 3 years though.”

“Alright, do you know if she has a boyfriend?”

“No, not that I know of. I'm sure girls at my school could answer that better though.”

“Okay, did you notice the bruises when you were trying to wake her?”

“I noticed the bruises definitely.” I looked at her with an appalled expression. How could this woman so calmy and openly talk about her bruises like that?

“I'm not really supposed to say anything, but since you got to her first, I thought you would have seen them. Do you know if she's been living alone, or if she been living with someone else?” She questioned, her monotone voice echoing in my head.

“I think there's been a guy living with her for the past months, since we stopped talking. Is she okay right now? Is she stable yet? Is she going to tell you what happened?” I started stressing out. All the possibilities of what could have happened to her passed through my mind.The nurse just stood up, smiled slightly at me, mumbled a thank-you and walked away.

What if they thought that I was the one who had hurt her? What if they believed that I given her those bruises? Oh god, they'd surely be calling the police right now. In fact that nurse hadn't even told me how Samantha was doing, or where she was going. I stood up quickly, figuring they wouldn't be able to catch me if I was already gone. I opened my phone and walked out of the hospital, dialing Brody's number.

“What's up man? Do you know what's going on?” He asked, obviously thinking I would somehow know that much.

“They're not telling me anything. And they, uh, told me to go home, cause, uh, they said I wouldn't be able to see her for another day or two anyways. So can you come pick me up?” I rambled off that lame, but believable excuse.

“Sure thing, I'll be there in ten.” He hung up right after, and I knew he'd already been in his car, probably waiting on me to call, he was actually a pretty decent friend even after I'd blown him off for months. I walked around the parking lot until I saw his truck pulling in, I quickly jogged over, and hopped in.

“What's going on at school?” I asked, wondering what the rumor mill had already started.

“Well, the thing for sure is that her car has crime scene tape around it, so does her locker, and there's police everywhere asking people questions. The rumor mill however, says that you saved or that you were the one that hurt her, or that you were trying to save her but got beat up by whoever did, and that's why you had to go in the ambulance. But Carly wanted me to ask you if you still wanted her to come over...” He trailed off, as I was realizing just how crazy the people in our school were.

“Uh, no. I haven't talked to her months. I can't believe she's still obsessed.” I answered truthfully. Maybe for once Carly would get the message through Brody. I was so sick of her constantly blowing up my phone.

The rest of the ride to school was silence, except for the oldies station Brody had turned it to. I guessed he was surprised at my answer. When we drove in, we passed by at least 4 cops cars, which for our little city, was not average. Then again, this whole thing was not average.

“Damn. I bet they're gonna ask me a ton of questions. All I want to do is not think about this.” I told Brody as he parked the truck, next to my car.

“I'm sorry man, but if you can tell them something, that stops the person that did this to her. You'll be her hero.” He casually said as we both got out and he locked his truck. Making me think there might be hope for me yet.

“You're right, well, I'll see you later.” I said, unlocking my car. Brody already walked towards the school, and one of the police officers noticed me.

He started walking over, and I just locked my car again, figuring there was no point in trying to drive away now, I had been spotted.

“Jason, I'd like to talk to you for a moment, if you wouldn't mind.” He said in a gruff and deep voice, I had sense that it wasn't really a question, more of a demand.

“Of course sir.” I replied, hoping this wouldn't take long.