From A to Z - Angel Reyes

Chapter 7

Friday morning when Angel arrived at the yard he was glued to his phone. He hadn't heard from Zara the night before but that was expected. What wasn't expected was not having a text waiting for him when he woke up. Not long after he pulled in, before he even finished his first cup of coffee, Letty arrived in the pickup with Chucky. Angel didn't think much of it, he waved a little as she came toward the table, but she got his full attention immediately.

"Hey," Letty said with concern. "How's Miss Osbourne?"

"Huh?" He looked at her with a dumb expression.

"I knew it wasn't true," Letty huffed. "Rumors going around that she was like, attacked, last night outside school."

"Shit," Angel jumped to his feet. "I haven't heard from her."

"Maybe it is true," Letty said. "I heard they took her away in an ambulance and everything."

"I gotta go," Angel said quickly. "Chuck, tell Bish I'm looking for Zara."

"Will do." He spoke with more enthusiasm than was inappropriate but a lot of what Chucky said and did seemed to be inappropriate.

When Angel first left he drove by Zara's only to find her car was gone and nothing about the house hinted that she was home. He went straight to the hospital, in through the ER, but was stopped before be could sneak back.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking Zara Osbourne," he said quickly.

"Are you picking her up? We're just waiting on the signatures from the doc and she'll be released."

Already moving toward the hall he thanked the nurse dismissively and hurried to find Zara. Angel rushed down the hallway, scanning each open room for Zara, skidding to a stop when he noticed a short woman with dark hair. Zara was gathering her belongings while still in her hospital gown, a deep wound along her hairline with a few bruises marking the right side of her face.

"Hey," he said eagerly.

"Angel," she turned quickly at the sound of his voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to find you," he huffed.

She groaned. "Who told you?"

"Coco's kid," Angel explained. "I went by your house but didn't see your car so I figured you were still stuck here."

"They're discharging me now," Zara said, avoiding his eyes.

Gently he pushed her hair from her face, she grimaced with embarrassment and tried to look away. His eyes focused on her face and the damage inflicted upon her. "Shit, Z, look at you, baby." Angel was furious before but seeing her, seeing the marks and the pain she was in sent him into a sorrowful rage. He enveloped her in his arms, holding her close to his chest, and rested his chin on her head. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she whimpered, trying not to cry, "I'm okay. I was just so scared."

"Why didn't you call me?" He asked, annoyed but still being sensitive.

Zara pulled away and looked up at him. "I was embarrassed," she admitted, "But also, it wasn't life or death, you know? I swear I was going to call you when I got home."

"No," he said sternly. "I wanna know, life or death or not, I wanna know." Suddenly his face twisted up, confused by her first point. "Why would you be embarrassed?"

Shrugging, she shook her head. "I don't know. I was stupid even approach them. And I'm sorry I didn't call, I have a thing with like globbing on too quickly. I've been trying to uh, ya know, not do that with you so I don't end up pushing you away."