The Effects of Love

Chapter 8

*They get to the hospital and Jonathan is rushed into the E.R. Dalis gets out and is about to walk in when she realizes Tucker isn't following her. She looks back at his car and sees him holding his face. When she opens his door, she hears him crying.*

Dalis: "Hey. What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Tucker: "The fact that Jonathan was being attacked and it took a few seconds for me to realize he was in trouble got to me I guess..."

Dalis: "It's okay. I didn't realize he was being attacked until you were trying to pry that woman off of him."

Tucker: "Okay. But I can defend him in football and keep him from being tackled. But when it really matters, all I do is hesitate."

Dalis: "You're going to be fine. I know you will, cause that's just who you are."

Tucker: "You're giving me way too much credit."

Dalis: "No. I'm not giving you enough. Now come on."

Tucker: "I'll be in in a little bit."

Dalis: "I'm giving you ten minutes before I come back and drag your butt in there. Love you!"

*Dalis smiles and closes the door. Tucker watches her as she walks into the building. He reaches for the keys in the ignition and stops.

Thoughts:

'I'm going to go for a quick drive. No I'm not. Dalis is going to be so mad if I leave. Okay. Really quick. She won't even notice I'm gone.'

Tucker starts his car, backs out of the space, then pulls back in, and turns it off. He gets out, walks into the hospital, and sits down next to Dalis.*

Dalis: "Why didn't you just go? You could have."

Tucker: "Because Jonathan would probably want to talk to me first. And I didn't want you here all by yourself."

Dalis: "It was because of me, wasn't it?"

Tucker: "Maybe..."

*Dalis wraps her arms around his torso and gives him a kiss on the cheek. She sets her head on his shoulder and falls asleep. Before they know it, they're being called to Jonathan's room. When they arrive, they see Jonathan passed out in the bed with his parents at his side.*

Mr. Meier: "What happened?"

Tucker: "We had gotten back to your guys' house and saw a car in the driveway. When we went into the house, we saw two people in the kitchen. When they saw us, they asked if we had his body. But they didn't specify who. Dalis called Jonathan and told him to get home ASAP. When he got there, he walked into the kitchen; the lady accused him of having the body, grabbed a knife, and attacked him with it. I tried pulling her off of him, but she was too heavy. So Dalis grabbed a different knife, stabbed the woman's arm, and I hit the side of her head with the cast iron pan hanging above the sink."

Mr. Meier: "How did they get in?"

Dalis: "I saw a broken window on the side wall of the garage. So I guess they got in through there."

Mr. Meier: "But I thought we locked the door to the garage."

Mrs. Meier: "We did."

Mr. Meier: "Wait. Didn't Tori come home before they got back?"

Mrs. Meier: "Maybe she left it unlocked."

Mr. Meier: "I'm going to call her."

*Mr. Meier calls her but she doesn't answer.*

Mr. Meier: "We can ask her later."

*Jonathan moves a little bit and opens his eyes.*

Tucker: "Hey. How do you feel?"