Fire and Ice

Chapter 19

Alyssa

Friday morning. I had no energy, no brain. I was completely dead, ready to drop asleep. I was a zombie, but there were no brains to eat since I was at a high school.

I grumbled to myself as I stomped through the parking lot. Why was I willingly coming here again?

I glanced at my phone and realized that I was a little more than ten minutes late. Oops. I was slow getting out of bed apparently.

My thoughts were interrupted by a black car pulling in next to Mike's truck. It took my dead brain a solid two minutes to realize it was Kaden.

My mood was brightened instantly and I turned to walk over and greet him.

Kaden got out of his car slowly, flinching as he moved. His hood was up, concealing his face from my view. He took one step back to close his car door. I saw the limp.

I rushed toward him. "Kaden?"

His head jerked up. When he saw me, he quickly looked down. "Not in the mood, Alyssa." He growled. His voice sounded strained.

That only made me worry more. "Kaden, what's wrong?" I placed myself firmly in front of him, trying to see his face.

He turned away. "Alyssa, go away. Please."

"No. I know something is wrong." I realized something. "Let me look at you."

"Alyssa-"

"Kaden!" I cut him off. "Let me see."

He was silent for a moment. "Can you please go?"

Hurt jabbed through me but I didn't move. Instead, I grabbed his hood and yanked it down. I gasped as Kaden closed his eyes regretfully.

A large, purple bruise covered his jaw. There was a harsh cut on his cheek, which was freshly bleeding. There was another cut above his eyebrow. His bottom lip was swollen and bruised. His cheek bone was bruised as well.

I instinctively reached up, lightly touching the bruise on his jaw. He flinched back.

"What happened?" I whispered, horrified and worried at the same time.

He wouldn't look at me. "You weren't supposed to see that." He murmured.

"You're still bleeding, and I know there is more than I'm seeing."

"Alyssa-"

"Get in your car now. You need to be treated." I pushed his shoulder.

He winced. "No, I can't go to a hospital. I'm fine."

"I won't take that bull crap. Now get in the car, Kaden. I'm not asking."

His head dropped. "I can't drive well like this, Shorty. I barely got here."

"Back seat. Now."

Kaden finally got into his back seat, wincing a few times in pain. I didn't like seeing him like this.

I dropped into the driver's seat. I had to slide the seat forward a million miles to reach the peddles.