jackson hill prep - jb & ag

{three}

Arms slip around me and catch me when my knees buckle. Pine and mint. I grip him like a life preserver, denying everything I'd just seen—everything that has just happened. More feet rustle in the grass behind us, and I hear Stacy scream, "Someone dial 911."

It snaps me out of my stupor. How can I crumble like this when Tasha needs me? I straighten and wipe my face on my sweater sleeve, not daring to look up at anyone. Not daring to let anyone see me like this. I'm falling apart on the inside, like a trash bag full of shattered glass. But I've got to hold things together.

"Tasha's mom." My voice cracks and barely comes out in a whisper. I hold my phone in my hand and scroll down my contact list. But I can barely see through my tears. And how can I possibly talk to her mom about this? My throat seizes.

Justin pulls the phone from my hand, and it slips through my limp fingers. He hits the dial button. After a moment, he says, "Mrs. Brown? Hi. No, this is Justin Bieber. I'm sorry but there's been an accident..."

His voice trails off as I force my heavy feet to turn and face what I don't want to. I don't want to see Tasha like this. I can't, but I do. Her crumpled body, busted and torn, is cradled by the windshield of the taxi.

"Nobody touch her," a cop yells and points toward all of us standing at the edge of the wooded lot. "You. You were with her right? Nobody goes anywhere until we find out what happened! Got it?"

I nod limply and feel someone pick up my hand and set my phone in it.

"She's on her way," he says, and his voice can't cast the spell on me it did earlier today.

The siren of the ambulance drowns out all other sounds. It cuts off the minute it pulls close to the scene. My knees buckle again as they check for a pulse.

"She's alive," the paramedic says, and fresh sobs escape my throat.

Thank God.

The taxi driver raises his voice at the officer. "I tell ya the kid came out of nowhere. I couldn't have avoided her. She's lucky I was just getting up to speed from being stopped at the light. I...I...is she going to be okay?"

"My baby? What's happened to my baby?" Mrs. Brown squeals when she comes into view. Mr. Brown stands behind her with Kevin in his arms. Mrs. Brown reaches for Tasha, but then pulls back as the paramedics lift her onto a plastic cot.

I wipe my face and jog to her.

"I'm so sorry." My voice finally works, but it's hoarse. "I'm so sorry."

Mrs. Brown pulls me into her arms and gives me a quick hug. "I know this wasn't your fault, but what happened?"

I shake my head, my voice failing me again. Justin steps beside me and sets a hand on my shoulder, and somehow the small gesture gives me strength. I open my mouth, and the words pour out as I confess everything that had happened since she dropped us off at the front of the school.

• • •

At the police station, I find out that Matt Benson, Sr. happens to be one of the lead detectives in the city Sherriff's office. He comes down really hard on his son for the whole incident and makes it clear that "Junior" is going to be on lockdown for a long time. The rest of the crew gets picked up by their parents, but no one is arrested for trespassing.

Mr. Benson takes Matt and Justin into an interrogation room, so that I'm alone when Mr. Scott arrives at the station. His hair is wet as if he'd just taken a shower. His blue eyes are sad but kind. "Ariana Grande, were you a part of all this?"