My Red Thread

The Accident

Chapter 13: The Accident

I was the first of the Idol cast to congratulate Riley. Everyone was hugging her as soon as the show was over.

Reporters and news casters swarmed Riley asking her about her reaction about winning. She gave quick answers as the cast walked over to the cars. Ethan and I had to block some the press from her. They were getting all up in her face.

"Thank you all. I will address all your questions tomorrow. Good night!" Riley screamed over everyone. We piled into the car and went off into dinner.

When we got to the restaurant, more press and paparazzi gathered around us. Riley seem to handle them well.

"I would love to answer all your questions. Really, I would. But I just want some time with my family." Riley told them.

"You can interview me if you want." Noelle said, striking a few poses.

The photographers looked at her blankly, their cameras lowered to their chests. One of them in front said, "Uh, no thanks, whoever you are."

The rest of the paparazzi laughed as they walked away. Noelle slumped her shoulders.

"I thought I would be famous by now, popular with everyone." Noelle said.

I patted her on the back, "Don't feel bad. Riley just won. Everyone is trying to get a piece of her. Come on, let's go inside."

We went and had our dinner. It felt so nice to sit and laugh with these people. I glanced over at Riley, she was laughing with Ethan and Noelle. Her hand was interlocked with Ethan's. I never seen her so happy.

"Hey guys," Noelle said. "I saw a club near by. We should all go."

Some of us traded looks. I never been to a club before. I'm not sure if I wanted to start now.

"I don't think so. Clubs aren't really our thing." Riley said.

"Oh please? Please! It would so much fun!" Noelle said, tugging at Riley's arm.

-Five minutes later-

"I can't believe you dragged me into this." Riley said as she leaned her back against the wall.

"We're going to have so much fun!" Noelle said. She bounced around Riley like a little kid.

Only the four of us and TJ went along. The rest of the cast went home. Lucky them. They had the fortune to not see the rest of the night.

The five of us waited in line to get in. As we got closer to the front, the more I wished the bouncer would deny us entrance.

The bouncer looked at us skeptically for a second. He squinted his eyes and said, "I know some of you! You're Riley, Ethan, Alex, and TJ. Riley won American Idol, and you guys were on the show too! You all can go right on in!"

Riley and us guys started to walk in, but the bouncer stopped Noelle, "Whoa, whoa, where do you think you're going?"

"But I'm with them!"

"Likely story. Back of the line!"

"Hey man, it's cool. She's with us." Riley said. The bouncer looked at Noelle and let her pass. Noelle mumbled something under her breath.

The inside of the club was jammed packed with people. We had to squeeze our way to the bar.

"Hey!" Said the bartender as we approached the bar. "You're Riley! You won American Idol! And Alex! I love your story! Very inspiration! Ethan and TJ! My nieces love you guys. Anything you want, on the house!"

"What about me? I was on American Idol too!" Noelle said.

"Oh. Oh no, you pay like everyone else. Aren't you under age?" The bartender said. Noelle just scoffed.

"Thank you, but I don't think we will be drinking tonight." I said.

A guy sitting next to Noelle caught her attention, "Hey, I liked you on the show, have a drink with me." He handed her a shot.

People started to crowd Riley as they passed by. Guys would try to hit on her, but us guys took turns rejecting these guys. Ethan wasn't too happy about these coming on her. Frankly, I wasn't either.

"Come on guys," Riley said. "Let's get out of here. I want to get some rest. Where's Noelle?"

"I'll be out in a minute! Just wait!" Noelle said, slurred her words as she was surrounded by shot glasses. I just shook my head and left.

"This was stupid. We should of just stayed home tonight." I said. We started walking back toward the house.

"Agreed." TJ said.

We had to wait for Noelle to come out, she was in no condition to walk alone. She finally bursted out the door with the guy she'd been drinking with. The guy started to get in his car. Noelle almost got in with him.

"Oh no you don't mate!" TJ said as he grabbed Noelle's arm. "I don't care what he does, but you're not going with him!"

Noelle just laughed "Whoa! Everything is getting dizzy! Am I in slow motion?"

We walked towards the corner of the block to cross the street. Noelle's drinking partner pulled out of the parking lot and began driving in our direction. Noelle, clearly drunken out of her mind, ran in front of the car and spread her arms out. The car began to gain speed. Riley ran to pull Noelle out of the way.

Next thing I knew, Riley was on the ground.

I let out a scream. The world began to slow down. My heart was being torn into a million little pieces.

"Somebody call 9-1-1!"

"Hello? Yes, my girlfriend was just hit by a drunk driver. No, she wasn't drinking. Please hurry!"

I got on my knees to see Riley. She was lying on the ground unconscious. Her skin was turning cold and pale. Why? Why Riley? Oh please God don't let her die!

Ethan and TJ ran over. Ethan started crying hysterically, "Why couldn't it been me? Take me instead!"

"An ambulance should be here any minute." TJ explained. "Noelle is no where to be found."

Five minutes later, paramedics and police arrived and took Riley to the hospital. The paramedics wouldn't let me ride with them, but told me to go the hospital once I was done being questioned. The police arrested the drunk bastard who hit Riley.

TJ, Ethan, and I called the rest of the Idol cast what had happen and to meet us at the hospital. I was still complete shock about what happened. Riley sacrificed herself to save Noelle's drunk self.

We finally got to the hospital and I immediately asked for Riley condition. The nurse said she was unconscious with major bruising and a couple of broken bones. The doctors were doing their best to stable her.

My heart was an anchor and sank right out of my body. I looked over at Ethan, who was in scrunched up in a chair, frantically crying. TJ was doing his best to comfort him.

My eyes met TJ's, and he just knew that the news was grim.