Is This for Real

Chapter 44: Violent Truths

NO ONE'S POV

Selena, Taylor, and Demi had decided to pick up Tori earlier than scheduled. Taylor tried to call her but she didn't pick up. They all decided that they'd still pick her up earlier, though.

As they drove past the indoor ice rink, they saw a girl in black running shorts, a pink tank top, and neon-colored running shoes. Before Taylor even had time to register if she'd seen the girl before, she ran out in front of her car. The mystery girl had timed it perfectly so that when the brakes screeched, she'd already been hit.

Taylor, Selena, and Demi quickly jumped out of the car as the brakes screeched against the pavement to see who the poor girl was that they'd hit. As soon as they saw her face, a light bulb went off. Tori was lying on the street, her right leg crushed under the tire, her head bleeding, and her eyes closed.

Demi dropped to her knees and felt Tori's neck, searching for a pulse. "She's still breathing," Demi said. "Call an ambulance!" Selena wasted no time pulling her phone out of her jacket pocket and dialing 911.

"Hello 911. What is your emergency?" the operator on the other end of the line asked Selena.

"My friends and I were driving down the road and a girl ran out in front of our car before my friend had the time to hit the brakes. The car hit her
a-and now her leg is stuck under one of the tires and she's
uncon-unconscious," Selena rushed out, her breath hitching.

"Miss, stay calm for me, alright. What street are you on?" she asked.

Atlanta Avenue," Selena told her.

"We'll send an ambulance over right away."

Then Selena ended the call, turning to see Taylor crying a river. "This is all my fault," she said quietly, but it was loud enough for Demi and Selena to hear.

"No it wasn't," Demi comforted while rubbing her hand up and down her arm. "It wasn't anybody's fault. She just crossed the road at the wrong time, that's all."

The sound of sirens blared and that's when they knew that the ambulance was close. Five seconds later, an ambulance and two police cars sped to a stop at a scene. Two police officers got out of each cruiser and quickly got Tori out from under Taylor's car.

"Who are you?" one of the paramedics asked, the question directed at all three of the girls.

"Family friends," Demi quickly answered.

"I'll go call Justin," Selena said while pulling out her phone and walking away.

The paramedics put Tori on gurney and loaded it into the back of the ambulance. "What's her name?" one of paramedics asked, referring to Tori.

"Tori Bieber," Taylor answered. "Would it be okay if I ride with you to the hospital?" she asked.

"Of course. Hop in." The paramedics quickly got in the back to tend to Tori while Taylor got in the front seat.

"Hello?" Justin asked as he picked up his cell phone, puzzled because Selena was calling him.

"Justin, I need to talk to your mom. Now," she told him sternly.

"Why?" he asked.

"Just give her the phone. It's about Tori. It's an emergency."

There was shuffling heard for half a minute and then Pattie spoke. "Selena? What happened with Tori?" she asked, her motherly instincts kicking in.

"Tori got hit by a car." There was a gasp heard on the other end. "Taylor, Demi, and I were driving to pick her up because we wanted to pick her up earlier. Someone ran across the road, timing it perfectly so that they'd get hit. I- It was Tori. Her right leg was stuck under the car's tire and her head was bleeding a lot. She was also out cold. We called an ambulance and she's on her way to the hospital right now."