Stargirl

26

- Ryder's POV -

I walked through the mall with my Dad with a very important mission to find my Mom fluffier pillows and slippers.

We did accomplish our goal, or so we thought because she would have a lot to say when we got home? Who knows.

"Do we need to go in here?" My Dad teased as he pointed to the Kay's Jewelry store

I smirked, "I wouldn't get a ring from a chain store because then everyone would know."

"I think everyone would know regardless of what store you go to." My Dad reminded me, "You just wanna look? We could find Mom a necklace or something."

"Yeah, ok." I gave in

We walked into the store and we were greeted with a bouncing saleswoman. She led my Dad to the necklaces while I wandered off to the rings.

There were so many options and I had to no idea what she wanted or what she liked. What was her ring size? Did she like princess cut or cushion cut? Was rose gold too edgy for her?

So many questions? Too many questions for me not to have even asked her parents yet.

Sometimes I had to remind myself that it's only been eight months and not eight years.

But I knew that any obstacle that would come our way wouldn't matter. She was the girl I wanted at the end of the day.

"Trying to turn Holland from a girlfriend to a fiancée?" The saleswoman asked me

I faced her and shook my head, "I was just looking. Wait, how did you know her name?"

"Ryder, you're in Alpharetta, everyone knows who you are, just look around." She pointed out

I looked around and people were staring or walking by the window extra slowly.

I sighed out of frustration.

Maybe whenever this was for real ring shopping, it would have to be done online.

My Dad showed me the necklace he intended on getting for my Mom. It was a heart that would have my parents and brothers' birthstones in it.

My phone buzzed with a Twitter notification that read News For You: Holland Johnson, Jackson Johnson, and Finnegan Johnson involved in what seems to be a potentially deadly collision with an eighteen wheeler - 5 mins. ago.

Oh my God.

The last time she texted me she was on her way to IHOP with her brothers.

My heart began to race, my palms got sweaty, and my mind was clouded.

"Holy fucking shit." I let out

"What's going on?" My Dad wondered as I began to pace

I called Grier as I walked into the corner of the store.

"I was just about to call you." She bawled, "It's bad. Finn just called me, I'm getting ready to go to the hospital now. My parents are on an airplane headed to Chicago for a charity event, they don't land for another hour."

I rubbed my neck, "I - I, what happened?"

"The fucking driver ran into them because he was high while driving! At Noon! He hit them on the driver's side, they rolled into a ditch, and now her car is so totaled that they couldn't get out. Finn said Holland took the worse of it. I don't know, I'm on my way to the hospital. I just think that you should come to Charlotte." Grier spoke frantically

"I'm coming, send me the hospital. I should be there by five at the latest. You don't think she's gonna d-" I started, but couldn't even finish my own sentence