For Keeps

Chapter 18: Help.

A/N: Just as a WARNING this is a pretty heavy chapter and I teared up while writing it. Read at your own risk.

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Kat’s POV

We had just got done dancing when a woman in her 50’s went up to the microphone. She tapped it quick before clearing her throat and speaking. “Thank you all for joining us for our 25th annual Charity Ball!” Everyone began clapping and the woman smiled, looking accomplished. “This year we have raised $30,000 for various charities.” More clapping.

“Thank you to all of you that donated and to all of you that came to this wonderful, important event. We will be wrapping up the evening with one last dance, and then you all have to be out of here within an hour.” She grinned sheepishly, excusing herself from the stage. Some people went back to their conversations, while others went to dance again.

Jeff and I, being all danced out, stayed seated and just began talking again. A little while later, people began leaving, saying goodbye, and again, being thanked for coming and donating. “I’ll drive you home, yeah?” Jeff asked. I smiled. “Sure, maybe we’ll watch a movie or something.” I shrugged. He smiled. “Yeah, sure.”

We said goodbye to Riley, Rachel, Chase, and Axel, and left. Once we got into the car, I immediately turned the radio on, and began jamming out. It was the end of the song and Jeff just listened to my bad singing with a smile on his face. He cracked a stupid joke and I began laughing, and that’s when it happened.

Jeff slowed down, rounding a sharp turn, as a car came speeding through the turn. Jeff spun the wheel, in an attempt to get out of the way. The other car crashed into the driver’s side, and for a moment I couldn’t see anything other than the white of the airbags. I heard the other car speed away, burning rubber as it went.

I blinked my vision blurry. I blinked again, trying to get everything in focus. I heard the sounds of sirens in the background and knew the police would be here soon. I turned my head, looking at Jeff.  His body was lifeless, just lying there. I pulled my arm out, grunting as I did so, and turned his head. His eyes were closed, and blood trickled down the side of his face.

I gasped. “Jeff.” I said sharply, shaking him lightly. “Jeff wake up!” I yelled. “Jeff!” I was so worried about Jeff; I didn’t even feel the throbbing pain in my leg. Suddenly, the passenger door opened and I took in the scene before me. There was a medic standing before me, numerous ones beside him. There was sirens blasting everywhere, and all I could do was sit there.

“We need to get him out now! Someone get me a backboard!” One of the medics tending to Jeff yelled. I turned my head to the medic before me. “You need to help him!” I yelled. He gave me a soft smile. “Ms., the medics are helping him, right now, we need to help you.” He said. “I’m fine. You need to help Jeff. He’s not conscious!” I yelled.

“Ms. Please calm down.” He said while searching for something in his bag. I narrowed my eyes, anger radiating off of me. “Move.” I said deathly calm. “Ms.-“I closed my eyes, “I said MOVE.” The medic gulped, before standing up. I swung my legs out of the car, standing. I grimaced as I put pressure on my right leg. “I believe you have a sprained ankle, your leg got stuck when the car was hit.” The medic said, sighing.

I nodded. “Fine.” I said as I watched them lay Jeff’s lifeless body on the backboard. They began wheeling him toward the ambulance, yelling something about needing to get him there as fast as possible. I made a choice that was probably not my wisest one, I ran. I ran to the ambulance, grabbing one of the medic’s arms.

“Can I ride along to the hospital with you, please?” I asked with pleading eyes. She sighed before nodding, “Get in.” was all she said, before hopping in. I pulled myself up, sitting on one of the seats. I grabbed Jeff’s hand, taking in his pale face, and scratched up body. He had pieces of glass sticking out of his skin, here and there.

I closed my eyes, tears brimming them. He didn’t look like himself, and I hated it. “He’s lost a lot of blood,” said one of the medics while the other one, Sasha, just nodded. Doing her best to bandage him up where she could. “Is he going to be okay?” I asked. Sasha’s eyes softened, and she grabbed my hand, “I hope so, sweetie. I really hope so.” I nodded as the ambulance stopped and the doors flung open.

Jeff was immediately wheeled out of the ambulance and was rushed through the hospital doors, doctors yelling things along the lines of ‘Out of the way!’ and ‘We need to get him into surgery!’ I chased after them yelling, “JEFF!” Sasha stopped me, “Kat, you can’t go beyond this point. They need to get him to surgery okay?” I shook my head. “No, I need to be with him! Jeff!” I tried going around her.

“Kat!” Sasha yelled, holding me by my shoulders. “You can’t.” she said quieter, enveloping me in her arms. She rubbed my back as the tears streamed down my face. “I just want him to be okay.” I whimpered, my body going limp. “I just want him to be okay.” I repeated, closing my eyes.

I sat in the waiting room, after Sasha wrapped my ankle for me. She confirmed that it was sprained, and that it should be okay within the next week or two. I turned my head at the sound of the hospital doors opening to find Riley standing there, a bag in hand. She gave me a tight smile, walking over to me. She handed me the bag, and for the first time in an hour, I realized I was still in my dress. Riley had changed and was wearing sweatpants and a tee shirt.

I opened the bag to find a pair of sweatpants, a tee shirt, and a pair of sneakers. I thanked her and went to change. I came back to the waiting room and sat down. The hospital doors opened again and I looked to see a frantic looking woman in her mid-40’s rush in. She immediately went to the front desk. “My name is Jennifer, Jennifer Knight.” She said to the lady. I stood up and tapped the woman on her shoulder. “You’re Jeff’s mom?” I raised a brow. “Yes, and you must be the girl.” She smiled. “What?” my eyebrows creased confused.

“The girl that Jeff has been talking about, it’s you. You must be Kat.” She smiled. I gave a light smile and spoke, “Yeah, I’m Kat.”

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3 hours later, Riley was asleep her body resting across 4 chairs, and Mrs. Knight was sleeping upright, still in a sitting position. I couldn’t sleep. I tried, and I just couldn’t. I held my head in my hands when suddenly a doctor, in bloody scrubs came out. I stood. “Is he okay?” I immediately asked, wringing my hands.

The doctor gave me a tight smile. “He lost a lot of blood, and he flat-lined on us twice, but, he’s okay.” I have never felt more relieved in my entire life.

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A/N: Next chapter will not be so sad. I promise.

Stay weird.

Abby