Stay With Me ✔

30.

It felt like I was sleepwalking, in a daze, watching everything happen from the outside looking in. I numbly went through the motions of putting on my shoes, grabbing one of Rave's hoodies that he had left at house just a few days ago and slipping it over my head - I could smell him, his scent overwhelming my senses and sending my already racing heart into overdrive. 

How could something have happened to him? I had just seen him a few hours ago and he was safe and happy. He was smiling, telling me he loves me as he pushed my hair from my face and kissed me. I hadn't asked Andy any questions, not after the mention of Rave's name, but now as I'm running out the door and towards his jeep parked at the end of my drive, a million questions are swarming my mind. 

I barely have the door closed behind me before he is driving towards the hospital. "What happened?" I'm surprised that I'm not crying yet, instead it's like this is all a dream and my emotions haven't caught up with the reality of it all yet. 

"My mom is a paramedic, she called and said that she and her partner just picked Rave up on the side of the street and..." His voice drops and he doesn't complete his sentence, sending chills down my spine at the possibilities. 

Andy and Rave have been best friends for years, and I know this is just as hard for him as it is for me, but I need answers. "And what, Andy?" 

"And she said it's bad...really bad, Ky." His eyes flash from the road to me and I can see just as much fear and emotion in them as I'm sure are in my own. 

"What happened to him?" My mouth asks the words, but my brain and my heart, they're silent - too scared to hear whatever words may come out of his mouth. I have a pretty good idea as to what happened to Rave, but I need to hear it, even if I don't want to. I start to pull at the sleeves of Rave's hoodie, my eyes focused on the small stain right above my hand.

"He was beaten, badly. He was unconscious when they got to him and...and there was a lot of blood." 

"Who did it?" I know the answer, and as I look out at the street, I can feel Andy's eyes on me once again as he stops at the street light. I'm fighting back tears now. It's not fair that Rave has to live this life, he's done nothing to deserve it. Rave is kind, sweet, caring, and selfless - why does he get the short end of the stick in life when he deserves so much more? 

"I think we both know who did it, Kylie, and I need to know everything that you know about Rave and his dad." 

I always thought that Andy knew more than he let show, and this proves it. He's aware that there's something going on with Rave's home life, and even though it isn't my place to tell Rave's story - I think Andy deserves to know at least fragments of it. "What do you already know?"

"That his dad is a drug mule for a gang and a shitty person."

A gang? Rave had told me that his dad was a drug dealer, but he never mentioned a gang. Maybe Andy is wrong, he's not the one that Rave shared this secret with, he could have gotten false information somewhere. "How do you know that?" 

"You can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, okay?" We're driving through town now, and I'm surprised at how empty the streets are at this hour. His tone is serious and a little ominous, but I nod my head in agreement before he continues, "My older brother is in the same gang, he's an undercover cop and when he found out that Rave's dad was working for them he asked me to see if I could get anything out of Rave about his dad or family. I could never get anything out of him though, he's too secretive and won't ask for any kind of help even though it's obvious he needs it."  

It took me a moment to process everything that had just been shared with me. 

Rave's dad works for a gang, that was news to me - although I'm sure that Rave knows that fact and chose to leave it out when telling me about his dad. 

Andy's brother is an undercover cop that is in the same gang as Rave's dad, and he's trying to get information on Rave's dad. In a way, telling Andy or his brother about Rave's dad could help Rave and Ever, but I don't know anything other than the fact that he's a horrible father that neglects his kids and does a lot of drugs. There's also the time that he shoved Ever through that -

"Andy, where's Ever?" All of my fear and panic is now doubled as I think of the sweet little girl that is probably out of her mind right now with her own fear and worry.

"What?" He looks confused at the question as he continues to drive down the empty streets. We're close enough now that I can see the hospital a few blocks away.

"His sister. Where is his sister?"

"I don't know. My mom said he was alone when they found him." His eyes widen as he looks at my own terrified expression, finally understanding why I'm asking and what I'm fearing.

Oh no, no no no. This isn't good. They were together, they left my house and they were going home - together. I was going to pick them both up tomorrow afternoon and we were going to the movies, he wouldn't have left her - not there, not alone. 

"Turn around!" Andy doesn't need to be told twice, at the next light, he does an illegal U-turn and speeds down the street as I give him directions to Rave's house, the hospital and Rave in the rear view mirror. 

As badly as I want to go to the hospital and see him, to make sure that he's okay and still breathing - I know that his first question, his first thought, and his first instinct when he wakes up is to make sure that his sister is okay. 

"Do you think she's still at the house?" Andy asks as I tell him to take a turn onto Maple Street. 

I shake my head, "No, she doesn't go inside the house without Rave." 

"Then why are we going to their house?" 

"Rave said that sometimes she hangs out at the neighbors house. There's an old lady that teaches her to bake and stuff, maybe she went there, or she's hiding? I don't know, I just don't know where else to look right now." The only other place I can think of is Haley's house, but it's all the way on the other side of town and I doubt Ever took off walking that far right now.

I didn't realize I was shaking until Andy takes one hand off the wheel and rests it on top of my own. "Hey, we'll find her." 

I just hope he's right and that it's not too late.