One By One (editing)

Chapter Twenty Six

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I escaped to my car right after school, one of the first people to burst out of the doors of Ashville High School. People waved goodbye to one another, making final plans for their Friday night. I just kept my head up, vaguely aware of who was talking to me. I was only focused on my car, of getting out of here.

Today's school day was different than most, like it was suffocating me. I couldn't concentrate. I'm pretty sure I failed that test in history. I couldn't do anything but let my mind wander to the outcome of tonight. What if something went wrong? What if someone else got hurt?

Speaking of which, I needed to go see Natalie. Before I pulled out of my parking spot, I shot a quick text to Drew: Can you pick me up in about a half an hour? That's when I'll be home :)

Her message instantly popped up onto the screen: Sure!

Turning up the volume on the music, I whipped out of the parking lot and drove over to the Ashville Hospital. There was one entrance off to the side with sliding doors and a big open space for ambulances. I subconsciously fidgeted with my newly changed bandage and turned on my heel towards the entrance next to the lot for visitors.

It's funny how much can change in a matter of 24 hours.

My shoes squeaked on the pristine floors, the chemical smell matching the cleanliness of the walls and furniture. I steered myself into the direction of the front desk with a receptionist, looking about in about her forties, glued to a chair behind it.

"Hi," I smiled at a receptionist, pausing while she looked up. "I'm here visiting Natalie, Natalie Boardman." I never said her last name, there was never a need to. She was always Natalie, Natalie the babysitter.

"Sure, just sign in here." She peered over her glasses at me and tapped the sign-in form with her finger. I grabbed the pen on the chain and signed my name.

"She is in room 105." The receptionist pointed down the hall, tucking her pen back into the front pocket of her purple scrubs. "Do you need help finding it?"

"No," I shook my head. "I think I should be fine. Thank you, though."

She nodded kindly again and resumed her typing, fingers flying across the keyboard.

I headed down the direction she was pointing, hands shoved in my pockets. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105.

I knocked softly on the door.

"Come on in!" Natalie's tired voice called out from the other side.

I turned the handle and Natalie, thinking I was a nurse, asked, "Would you mind-" before looking up to see me.

Her face lit up. "Carter! Where've you been?" She tossed the magazine she was flipping through to the side and sat up straighter under her white sheets, wincing a little bit. But she just ignored her obvious pain and patted the spot beside her.

I shrugged, "Around, I guess."

I perched on the edge of her bed, guilt wracking my heart at the sight of her injuries. Her left arm was encased in a stiff cast, a stark contrast to the rest of her body which was colored in purple and green bruises.

She handed me a black hair tie, asking, "Do me a favor and put my hair up for me?"

"I'd be honored." I stood up to scoop her light brown hair into a top knot, tucking away the wispy strands out of the way of her face. "You took quite the fall for me back there."