For Now (Forever Book 1) (16 page)

              “Hold on,” Isabel says as she pulls out into the street. Her driving is a little terrifying.

              I look back and several of them hop into cars and pull out into the road behind us. Some of them speeding up now and getting dangerously close.

              Isabel turns right, down an alley to get away from the leaches with cameras. I glace over at her from the passenger seat and grab the handle to brace myself. Her big blue eyes are now squinted in concentration. They all want a picture of me, the woman that tamed and then broke the heart of the famous bad boy rocker, Ryder Kinick.

              She turns back on a major road and they are still following us, who knew I was so interesting. I reach over to turn off the radio and try to help Isabel navigate through the streets, though I’ve never been in LA before.

              I look up in time to see the light changing to red and Isabel slams on the breaks. Less than a second later, a car filled with the paparazzi that were following us, slams into the back of Isabel’s car and pushes us into the intersection. I look over at the driver‘s seat to make sure Isabel is fine, she’s looking at me with fear in her eyes and screams, “Ellie!” In the next moment, I hear screeching tires before I feel the impact of the car. Everything goes black.

Camden

             
Why the hell won’t she just pick up the damn phone?
I’ve tried calling Elaina ten times now, in between trying to calm Ryder down and ignoring calls from my father.

              “How the fuck did this happen?” Ryder yells.

              “Ryder, I didn’t mean to do it, I just couldn’t help it. I fell in love with her. I really tried to stop it. But I’ve just never meet anyone like her.”

              “I don’t care that you dated her. I care because you put my image at risk by fucking the girl that everyone thinks I’m dating and because you kept this from me. ”

              “It wasn’t fucking. I actual care about her and I said I’m sorry about not telling you.”

              My phone rings and I don’t even look at caller ID before I answer.

              “Elaina?”

              “Cam,” it’s my dad, “there’s been an accident.”

              “Dad, what happened?” I lean against the wall for support because I’m scared that I know what’s coming next.

              “Isabel and Ellie were at a stop light and were pushed out into oncoming traffic. A car stuck them. It was the
fucking
paparazzi that rear-ended them. I don’t know anything more. Your mom and I are headed to the hospital now.”

              I drop the phone and slide down the wall.

              “What happened?” Ryder asks.

              “It’s Elaina and Isabel. They were in an accident. Dad doesn’t know anything more.”

              “Why the fuck are we just sitting here? I need to get down there.”

              “I don’t have my car.” I shake my head.

              “I had someone drop my car off earlier. I can drive you two,” Mike offers.

              We all hurry out to the car, not even stopping to think about the fact that Ryder was supposed to be performing in ten minutes. Someone would take care of it, it isn’t like I have a job anymore, so why would I care. I just need to get to Elaina.

              It seems to take forever to get to the hospital. Mike drops us off at the emergency room entrance and we both rush in.

              “Elaina Roberts and Isabel Michael, we need to know where they are,” I tell the woman at the desk.

              “Okay, please calm down. Are you family?”

              “Yes, please just tell me.”

              Dad comes around the corner. “Camden.”

              “Dad, what’s going on? How are they?”

              “Isabel had some internal bleeding, but they are confident that she will be just fine.” I breathe a small sigh of relief.

              “What about Elaina?”

              Dad frowns, “The car stuck her side of the vehicle. She has some brain swelling that the doctors are trying to correct with medication. She’s still unconscious.”

              I drop to my knees and begin to cry. My mom is there pulling me to her. She’s pulling her fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Mom. I love her so fucking much. I can’t lose her like this.”

              “Shhh, I know sweetie. She’ll be fine, she’s strong. She put up with the five of you for two months.” She gives me a small, reassuring smile.

              Ryder sits down next to me. “I feel like I should be doing something,” he says.

              “Shit, I have to call Karen. I can’t let her find out on the news.”

              I sit up and take the phone out of my pocket and dial her number, dreading this conversation.

              “Cam?” she answers.

              “Karen, I’m so sorry, there has been an accident. Elaina is in the hospital. I’m so sorry, I was supposed to be there to protect her.”

              “Oh my god! How is she? I’m packing right now to fly out there.”

              “She’s still unconscious. I’m still waiting on more information. I’ll make arrangements for you and Jackson. I’ll text you will the details.”             

              “Please keep me updated, Cam,” she says, her voice breaking at the end.

              “I will, I promise.”

              When I end the call, Dad finally speaks, “I can make the flight arrangements.”

              “Thanks, Dad.” I turn to my mom, “Do you think they will let me go in to see her?”

              She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so, Sweetie. They said immediate family only.”

              “But she doesn’t have any family here. I’m the only person she has. They can’t just let her lie there alone. Someone has to let her know she isn’t alone.”

              “We’ll figure something out.”

              “Is Isabel, still in surgery? When can we see her?” Ryder asks from beside me.

              “She’s still in there, they didn’t think it would take too much longer. I’ll be able to go in to see her in about another hour I guess.”

              “I’m family, so I’m coming in too.”

              I don’t hear mom’s response. I’m on my feet. “I just need a few minutes.” I tell them.

              I head towards the hallways where I saw a few doctors enter. I follow someone through and pretend like I know what I’m doing, though a large man in a suit tends to stick out.

              I find a white board with ’E Roberts” printed on it and a room number. I search for the room and slip inside when I find it. There are wires on Elaina that are hooked to multiple machines. I rush towards her and pull a chair up to her bed and grab the hand without the IV.

              “I’m so sorry, Elaina. I promised to protect you and I failed. I should have known that you would be followed. I should have stopped it. Please, baby, just wake up. I know that you were upset before, but I promise that we will make it through this, you just need to wake up and be okay. Please.”

              I put my head down on the bed and begin to cry again.

              “What are you doing in here?” I look up to see a not-so-happy nurse standing in the doorway.

              “Please,” I beg, “I can’t let her be alone. I’ll let her rest and I won’t be in the way. I’m all she has. She has no family.” I don’t mention the fact that Karen and Jackson are on their way.

              She take a look at my face and sighs. “I never saw you. You can stay as long as you don’t interfere with her treatment.”

              “Thank you,” I say sincerely.

**********

              Karen and Jackson arrived this morning and were allowed in to see Elaina, but this is the only time that I’ve left her side. My mom keeps trying to make me get some rest, but I can’t, knowing that she might wake up.

              Mom took Karen and Jackson down to the cafeteria to get some lunch while I sit with Elaina.  

              “I thought I might find you in here,” Dad says as he enters the room.

              “I couldn’t let her be alone.”

              “You really love her, don’t you?”

              “I do, Dad. I tried to fight it for you and Ryder, but I couldn’t do it. She’s truly like no one I’ve ever met. She’s good to the core. I had no chance of fighting it.”

              “I just wish you would have told me, we could have tried to avoid this mess we’re in now. Everyone knows about your relationship. Ellie is now the girl that broke Ryder’s heart and you’re the one that helped her.”

              “That isn’t a bad thing for Ryder. It shows that he had a heart to break. He wasn’t the one that was caught.”

              “I guess, but is this really what you want? You want to give up everything that you have worked for the last few years to follow this girl that you just met?”

              “Dad, can we not talk about this right now?” I can’t handle this.”

              “Sure, I’m going to check on Isabel. She seemed pretty upset the last time I was in to see her. Actually, she‘s been upset for a few weeks.”

              “Please, let me know how she’s doing.”

              Dad walks out the door and leaves me alone with Elaina. “Please, Elaina. Just wake up. I will do anything.”

              I put my hand in hers again and I feel her smaller hand squeeze mine.

Elaina

              My head is killing me and I keep hearing a beeping noise, but I can’t open my eyes to see what it is.

              “I just wish you would have told me, we could have tried to avoid this mess we are in now. Everyone knows about your relationship. Ellie is now the girl that broke Ryder’s heart and you’re the one that helped her.” I can hear Mitch’s voice.
Why is he here in my dream?

              “That isn’t a bad thing for Ryder. It shows that he had a heart to break. He wasn’t the one that was caught.” Cam is speaking now.
Maybe they are really here.

              “I guess, but is this really what you want? You want to give up everything that you have worked for the last few years to follow this girl that you just met?”

              “Dad, can we not talk about this right now?” I can’t handle this.”

              “Sure, I’m going to check on Isabel. She seemed pretty upset the last time I was in to see her. Actually, she‘s been upset for a few weeks.”
Oh my god, Isabel. The accident. Is she okay? Am I okay?

              “Please, let me know how she’s doing.”

              I hear a door shut. “Please, Elaina. Just wake up. I will do anything.” The agony in his voice is hard to hear. I want to tell him of course I’ll wake up for you, but have no strength to speak.

              Cam grabs my hand and all I can manage is a small squeeze.

              “Elaina, can you hear me?”

              I nod a little, or at least I think I do. He seems to see it because he keeps talking.

              “Please baby, open your eyes for me.”

              I fight my eyelids urging them to open. I can’t stand the thought of Cam being so upset. I manage a few flutters before I can pry them open.             

              “Too bright,” I manage to croak out.

              I hear Cam flip the switch. “Oh, thank god baby. You came back. Let me get a nurse.” I feel a kiss on my forehead and Cam must have pushed the call button because I hear Cam asking for a nurse and telling someone that I’m awake.

              The door opens and I see a young, nurse in cat scrubs at the side of my bed. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. This one,” she points at Cam, “won’t leave you side.”

              “What happened? I was with Isabel. Where is she?”

              “When you left the concert, you were followed. Isabel stopped at a red light and a car rear-ended you, pushing you out into on-coming traffic. A car struck your side. Isabel had some internal bleeding, but is going to be just fine,” Cam assures me.

              “What happened with the media? What are people saying?” One of the beeping monitors is going crazy now. “Baby, calm down.  Breath,’ Cam says looking into my eyes. I try to match his breaths with my own. “You don’t need to worry about that right now. Dad has it all under control. Just worry about healing and getting out of here.”

**********

              I’m going home today. The doctors finally gave me the okay to leave. Karen and Jackson flew in to see me and I’m going to go home with them. I’m dying inside at the thought of leaving Cam, but he has a tour to be on in a week.  It isn’t like he can take care of me. I need my family close.

              I’m going to miss him and his family so much. I’ll even miss the band; I’ve grown to love those crazy guys. I promised myself that I will keep in contact with Isabel and Beverly, as long as they want to after what I’m about to do.