Chapter 26
Everything happened in slow motion yet it happened so fast.
I dropped my phone in the grass. I felt sick, lightheaded, like I might pass out. My knees felt weak. I knew I was going to collapse any second. My pulse was racing. My heart felt like it'd been crushed.
I wanted to run to Cameron. Jump in a car and drive straight out to the hospital. But I couldn't move.
I heard someone saying my name, but I didn't recognize his voice. I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. That's when my knees gave in. I collapsed and prepared myself for the hard ground. But it never came. Someone caught me.
I heard people saying my name. The voices were slurred and sounded far away.
I couldn't think. Couldn't speak. Couldn't move.
The only thought going through my head was that Cameron was going to die. I could tell the car accident was bad just by the sound of the person's voice on the phone. I think it'd been my mom calling me, but I wasn't sure. She'd been too frantic that I wasn't able to tell.
I heard a few people shouting in the background. Something about water. A guy said my name again. He sounded worried, panicked, scared.
I hadn't realized I'd closed my eyes, but I had. When I opened them, I saw Ryan hovering above me. Others were near, but I paid them no attention. Ryan kept saying my name. He looked so scared. His eyes were shining with unshed tears.
That's when I blacked out.
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I had no idea how long I had been passed out, but when I woke up I was inside a house, laying on a couch. I didn't even remember what had happened or where I was.
I looked to my right and saw Ryan sitting in a chair only a few feet away. His head was in his hands. When he looked up at me, his eyes filled with relief.
Ryan rushed to my side, "Lexi, are you okay? How do you feel?"
I slowly sat up and winced at the pain in my head, "A little dizzy, but other than that I'm fine. How long have I been out? And what happened?"
He shrugged as he helped me stand up, "Like half an hour. Justin told me not to call an ambulance yet. To just let you lay down for a while, and you'd probably wake up. But I was getting worried. And I'm not sure what happened. Someone had called you and you dropped the phone then passed out a little after that. You had everyone really worried. I was almost ready to call nine-one-one."
Someone had called me. Who was it? I couldn't remember.
"I'm just glad you're okay and don't have to go to the hospital or anything," Ryan said.
My breath caught in my throat. Hospital. Cameron.
I began to cry, frantically and uncontrollably. I was hyper ventilating.
Ryan took me into his arms, "Lexi, calm down. What's wrong?"
"Cameron," was the only thing I could choke out between sobs.
"What about him?" Ryan asked as he soothingly rubbed my back.
Ryan gave me a few minutes to calm down before I told him.
I finally relaxed then said, "Cameron got hit by a drunk driver and he's in the hospital. I have to get out there and see him right now."
Ryan looked shocked, sad. He was silent for a moment.
Then he finally said, "Let's go."
He quickly took my hand and led me outside. I saw Tyler, Hannah, and Kyle talking together outside. They looked worried. Hannah's eyes lit up when she saw me.
"Lexi, are you okay?" Hannah asked as she hugged me.
I looked at Ryan and he nodded, understanding. I was grateful for that. Ryan led Hannah back to the other boys and talked to them. I was glad he was telling then what had happened because if I would've tried, I would've started bawling again.
I saw Hannah gasp and turn to Kyle. He hugged her tightly as she buried her face in his chest and cried.
Tyler came over to me and hugged me awkwardly. He wasn't sure what to do.
"I am so sorry, Lexi. I-I can, um, come with you... If you want?" Tyler asked.
I could tell he didn't really want to come. He didn't know Cameron so he just felt awkward at the moment. He was just asking to be polite, and I didn't want his pity.
I shook my head and let him go, "No. I just want Ryan and Hannah. But thank you."
It was true, I did just want Ryan and Hannah to come with me. But I also wanted to see if he cared enough to argue.
He didn't.
He looked relieved, but also looked hurt. But he didn't argue with me.
He nodded, "Alright."
I walked away from him without saying another word, leaving him standing alone.
"Ready?" Ryan asked when I stood next to him.
I nodded then looked at Hannah, "Can Hannah come to?"
"Of course," Ryan said immediately.
The three of us got in Ryan's truck. A few silent tears slipped down my cheeks. It only took us ten minutes to reach the hospital, but it felt more like an hour.
Before Ryan had even completely parked, I jumped out of the truck and ran inside. I heard Ryan and Hannah calling my name, but I ignored them. I had to get to my brother.
I ran up to the nurse at the front desk, "What room is Cameron Reeker in?"
The nurse saw the panic on my face and quickly looked it up.
"Third floor. Room 3220," the nurse told me.
I ran away without so much as a thank you. I practically dove into the elevator. As the elevator slowly took me to the third floor, I checked the time on my phone. It'd been more than two hours since my mom had called with the news about Cameron.
I bolted out the elevator doors the second they'd opened again. I frantically checked the room numbers, looking for room 3220.
There!
I had to hold back tears as I slowly walked toward the room. The door was open. I took in a deep breath and poked my head in.
What I saw broke my heart. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't hold back the tears. They flooded my face like a dam had broken. It took all I had in me not to collapse again.
There was Cameron, laying on a hospital bed, unconscious. A bunch of machines surrounded him. Multiple tubes were hooked to him. He looked so sad and helpless sitting there. His eyes were closed. He looked dead.
I saw my parents sitting in two chairs near Cameron's bed, both of them with their head in their hands.
I lightly knocked on the door, and their heads shot up.
"Lexi," they both said as they quickly walked over to me and wrapped me in a tight hug.
We all say there crying for a moment until I finally was able to say, "What happened?"
My parents ended the hug. Hannah and Ryan finally got to the room.
"We're not completely sure. We just got a call that he'd been hit by a drunk driver and that it.... It was really.. B-Bad," my dad barely choked out.
I looked at Cameron, "And what's... What's going on now? Is he just... Sleeping? He is, right?"
But I knew he wasn't.
My dad took a deep breath, "No, sweetheart. He's in a coma. And the doctors don't know if he's going to wake up. "
A/N: Whoo barely finished this chapter without crying! Did any of you cry??? I would say that I hope y'all enjoy this chapter but it's too sad.... Pleaseeeee let me know y'all's thoughts. I LOVE hearing from all of you so please comment/message/tweet me. Love y'all! Comment/vote/share (:
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I Hate You Too, Princess
Ficção AdolescenteLexi Reeker and Ryan Martin have hated each other ever since seventh grade. It's their sophomore year now and they still fight like they're twelve years old. Maybe after spending some time together, they'll each realize the other isn't that bad...