Running Into You

Chapter 20

Emma

"Mom please don't drive all the way up here. Caleb is going to drive me to the hospital. You can meet me there."

"Are you sure, baby? I can be there in less than 20 minutes. Are you okay?"

"Yes, Mom, I promise you, I'm fine. The nurse just said I probably should get an X-ray to be on the safe side. I really think it's unnecessary. These things happen all the time."

"If you say so. I'll see you at the hospital."

"Okay, I'll see you there in about thirty minutes."

"Be safe. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

I roll my eyes and lean my head back and look out the window as Caleb slowly drives out of Foster.

"How do you feel?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you mad at me?"

I look over at him. He's carefully driving with both hands on the wheel. I glance at his knuckles and see a slight pinkness. I look out the window again.

"No, I'm not mad at you."

"What do you think they'll do to me?"

I sigh in frustration. "I don't know, Caleb, I'm just glad they let you leave the school without calling the police. You can't go around hitting teachers."

"I had to do something. He was crazy."

"Yeah, I know."

"Do you think anything will happen to him? You know, for yelling at that girl like that?"

"I don't know."

"I've never seen a coach go off on a girl like that before. The team yeah, but not a girl."

"Can we just not talk about it, please?"

Caleb turns on the radio. "You can't stop me 'cause I fight like a girl," Kalie Shorr sings.

Thirty minutes later Caleb pulls through the ER drop off. I see my mom through the glass doors pacing.

"My mom's here. You don't have to wait. Thank you for driving me."

"Are you sure? I don't mind."

"Yeah, just go home until they call you. Mr. Carter did say for you to not go back to the school, didn't he?"

"Yeah, I'm supposed to wait at home until they call for me to come in."

"Okay, well I hope they're not too hard on you. Thank you again. Do you still want to meet for tutoring?"

"Nah, not today."

"Okay, then. I'll see you later."

Caleb gets out of the truck and comes around to help me get out. I walk through the doors and see my mom frantically pacing.

"Baby, what happened? Mr. Carter said you were pushed? Who would push you?"

"We were playing basketball. It was an accident."

"Let me tell them you're here. I've got you on the waiting list."

"Did you tell Mr. Carter to let Jeremy know to pick Seth up?"

"Yes, of course. Don't worry about them. They'll be fine. Grandpa's picking them up and taking them to his place until we get home." She turns around and heads to the lady sitting behind the counter.

Six hours later we finally head home.

"Do you want to stop and get something to eat?"

"No, I just want to go home."