Love at first slap?

Chapter 9

I sit and stare gazing into his eyes for awhile just so confused. I can't get myself to understand why there is fear in his eyes. Is Hayes hiding something from me? Hayes stands up and takes my arm. He just explained to me that he didn't hug me out of love. That's what he thought at first at least. Not even my own mother told me what happened to my younger brother. My brother has always been bullied. But nothing ever went as far as it did today. Hayes stood up and exclaimed this to me. "Your brother was hit by the bus." I can't really get those emotions to sink in. He says that some kid pushed him and luckily he was not hit hard. Any harder would've killed him. I was also just explained to that my brother is now paralyzed. I can't except those words. My brother is the kid to love any sport. So I stare and Hayes and hope it's all a joke. But deep down inside I know it's not. The old door slams open and it's the teacher. She is dismissing us early to go to the hospital because they now have him awake. But before I could even leave the school I just fall to my knees. I'm just overloaded with emotions. You know you can only play the strong soldier for so long..