Scarred Hearts (Blackrock) (15 page)
The next day Summer was over at my house, we were talking about the night before and she told me all about it, in detail. I told her I broke up with Brad after the shit he pulled the night before. So it was all good that day we just hung out at my house and watched a few movies stuffed our faces, the usual movie night for us. Summer was telling me about the new products coming out from the makeup line; we usually get them first before they went on sale.
So at about eight o'clock that night I get a phone call from Cara one of our friends from school, she asked me did I check Emily's blog today? I never did so I told her I would do it now before I hung up she warned me not to let Summer see it, which was weird because we both knew Emily liked to write shit about Summer all the time. I went into the computer room and opened up the blog, I saw a video called "Summer's first time" I nearly fell off the chair.
Summer came in behind me and saw it too, she pressed play and there on the screen was Summer and Ben in bed in the hotel, only Ben's face was blocked out. It was about ten minutes long and Summer cried in my arms the whole time.
At the end of the video was a score board, asking viewers to score Summers performance, giving her points on how many positions she did, how many times she screamed, all kinds of shit. I couldn't believe Ben did that to her, we were both crying. Summer asked me to drive her home in her car, I wanted to stay with her but she told me to leave, that was the first time ever she asked me to leave her house".
By now Knox was looking pissed and I was trying to hold back the tears, I grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped my eyes, I took a few deep breaths and continued on.
"Summer never showed up to school that Monday, so afterwards I went to her house. I let myself in as usual and found her in bed still crying. I climbed into the bed beside her and hugged her tight, She cried for about an hour then looked at me with her big puffy eyes and asked me to leave her alone for a few days. I was shocked, I told her no way but she actually pushed me out of her bed and screamed at me to get out. I couldn't believe it she was actually screaming at me to leave her alone, my best friend.
I ran out of her house crying and sat on the curb, for a while. I eventually called Roger to come get me and take me over to Ben's house, I told Roger what Emily and Ben did to Summer. He was freaking out too. We arrived at their house I pounded on the door Ben answered with a smile he asked if I was here for my turn, I punched him in the face and went crazy on him, scratching at his eyes and kicking him in the balls. Roger pulled me off him and had a go himself, he ended up breaking Ben's nose and two of his fingers"
"Shit I like this Roger guy already" Knox says. "Yeah he is kinda cool," I say.
"So for the rest of the week Summer stayed home from school, I was getting worried. She wouldn't answer my calls or texts; she wouldn't even talk to Roger. Her birthday was coming up that weekend I got her a cool necklace we saw at the mall a few months back. On the Friday afternoon I saw Emily in the cafeteria, and yes I went girl crazy one her. She was sitting with Brad and some of the football team, so I walked over, I pulled out of the chair by her hair and just went to town kicking, punching I slammed her head on the floor, she was screaming calling Ben for help. I felt someone pull me off her I kicked at him too, but he just picked me up and rushed me outside when he put me down I turned, I thought it was Brad so I was going to punch him too, but it was Jason one of his team mates.
I always got on with him so I forgave him for pulling me out but I was pissed that he did. I started shouting at him asking why he didn't let me finish her off, he told me that he didn't want me to get kicked out of school before we graduated. The school had a zero tolerance for fighting, a bit like a certain bar I know," I say smiling at Knox. He laughs at me "Didn't stop you though did it?" "Nope, never has and never will," I tell him, he smiles and winks at me. I know I am getting to the hard part so I pull out some napkins from the dispenser, he looks at me worriedly "Yes Knox there will be tears because the next bit is the worst" I say as the tears already well up in my eyes. "As I was saying, that was Friday. On my way home from school I stopped by Summers house to see if she wanted anything and if she wanted me to come over for her birthday the next day. She wouldn't see me, her mom told me that she wasn't even talking to them, she was just pushing notes under her bedroom door, telling them to go away and leave her alone. Her mom was really upset y'know, they were really close not like my mom and me. I asked if I could come over on Saturday to give Summer her present and to try talk to her, her mom agree and told me to let myself in that her and Summer's dad would go out about eight pm to give us some space.
So on the Saturday I went into town and bought fifty pink balloons because it was her favorite color, I had her necklace all wrapped up, it was this twisted white gold piece with pink and white stones, I got the jewelers to add an S in the center for her, so it would be different from all the others. At seven that night I got a call from Cindy, she told me that they heard Summer moving about in her room and running a bath, so both of us thought this was a good sign. Usually once a month Summer and I would have a spa day at her house. We would do the usual girl stuff, bubble baths, give each other manicures paint our fingers and toe nails face masks that we would concoct from stuff in the kitchen. Her dad would bring home some prototypes for us to mess with; we were his unofficial market research. So anyway, Cindy said she heard the bath and that they would leave early so Summer could enjoy her bath and for me to arrive early too so I could surprise her. I had no way of getting all the balloons to her house so I called Brad and asked him to help me, I was still annoyed at him but he has a truck.
We got there just after eight and I let myself in, Brad helped me carry the balloons upstairs to her room, we went in and I could hear her iPod playing in the bathroom. I remember laughing, thinking I was being such a great friend. We tied some of the balloons to her bed the handles of her dresser, door and I just let the rest float up to the ceiling, it looked pretty cool I put her present on her bed with a white rose I got to cheer her up, it was just eight thirty and I told Brad to stand by the bedroom door while I opened the bathroom, and then we could shout surprise together and sing happy birthday.
I counted to three and threw open the door. I froze, Brad shouted surprise, little did he know the surprise was on me, I started screaming her name over and over. There was blood everywhere, I grabbed towels and tried to stop the bleeding, I was calling for Brad to help me get her out of the bath so I could do CPR, that asshole, took one look and puked all over the floor he said he couldn't deal with that and took off. I was angry at him and at Summer and myself, I tried to pull her out of the bath but it was too hard, I couldn't get a good grip on her and I kept slipping on the blood on the tile, I ran out of the bathroom to call 911 only I slipped on Brad's deposit and fell down into all the blood, banging my head on the side of the bath.
It took a minute for the room to stop spinning, I could only crawl at this point, I felt sick and my head hurt so fucking much. I managed to call 911 and get an ambulance, I crawled back into Summer and was begging her to stay with me, but deep down I knew I was too late, there was too much blood, I put my arms around her and just held her until the fire fighters came running into the bathroom. They pulled me away from her and took her out of the bath; one of them was asking me all kinds of questions, what is her name? How old is she? Was this a suicide pact? I couldn't even think straight; I didn't even know my own name.
They sent me in another ambulance, I was trying to tell them what happened but I couldn't get the words out. I heard my name and saw Brad's older brother in the ambulance he is a paramedic. I was thankful that someone knew me I just closed my eyes, I woke up two days later and my friend was gone"
I sat in the booth of the diner bawling like a baby, Knox moved over beside me and handed me more napkins. He put his arms around me "Jesus Bailey" he says shaking his head "I'm sorry you had to go through that" He smooth's my hair on my head I feel his hand pass over the lump I have now, he runs his fingers back up the spot and rubs it "fuck Bailey, I don't even know what I can say to you" I lift up off him "It's ok you don't have to say anything" I look at my watch I can't believe that it's already this late. "We better go" I say "We have classes in the morning" he nods and gets up out of the booth, we walk out to my car in silence, he opens the passenger door for me and waits for me to fasten my seat belt then he runs around and gets behind the wheel "Oh did you want me to drive, sorry I just assumed" he says looking unsure, I nod yes and sit back to stare off into my memories.
We reach my dads house about forty-five minutes later, my heart is heavy again from reliving that night and I can feel the blackness returning. Knox presses the button to open the garage door and hops out of the car; he walks his motorcycle out of the garage and pulls my car inside. We get out neither of us speaking; he uses my keys to open the house and holds the door while I disarm the alarm system. We walk into the kitchen and I flip on the lights, I head straight for the aspirin and a bottle of water. I turn to see him standing at the table rubbing his hand through his hair "Are you feeling ok?" he asks, "Not really but I'll be ok, I think I will just go to bed, sleep off my emotional hangover"
He rubs his hand across his jaw "I don't want to leave you alone, Bailey. What kind of friend would I be if I did?" I walk over to him and place my hand on his chest, I can feel his heart thundering under my palm "You have been a very good friend Knox, I know we only know each other a little while but thank you for listening and not getting pissed off at me for crying like a baby all the time" He takes my hand and puts it on his shoulder and then wraps his arms around me "I could never be pissed at you for crying Bailey and yes I know it's been a few days but I think you are one of the strongest people I know" he leans down and gently touches his lips to mine. I reach my other arm up and hug him tight, his kiss is soft and tender and gone all too soon. He steps back and coughs "I better get going, take my number and call me anytime if you need to talk. Even if it's three in the morning and I have just gotten into bed" he smiles. I take out my phone and create a new contact, I put in his number "Thanks again" I say sheepishly, He opens the door to the garage turns and smiles at me "See you tomorrow" he says and walks out to his motorcycle.
The next morning I am sitting in my computer class when Paige walks in, she comes over to take the seat next to mine, I just ignore her and look at my assignment. Through out the class she tries to get my attention but I don't want to talk to her right now, by the end of the class she has put a folded up piece of paper on my desk, the class is running over and I am getting late for my intro to forensics class, as soon as the instructor lets us go I take off and leave the note behind.
I am running down the stairs because my next class is over in the main building, I hear a familiar voice call my name. Looking up I see Knox walking my way with his computer open laying on his forearm, I wave and head over that way "Hey sorry but I am late for my class, can I catch up with you at lunch?" I say walking by him, he turns around "Sure, ok" I smile and then take off as quick as I can across the quad.
By the time lunch arrives my brain is overloaded, I go into the campus cafe and grab a sandwich and soda to go, I like sitting out on the quad for my lunch. I always sit under the oak tree, it gives shade but doesn't block the sun altogether. I pull out my phone to text Knox,
Me: Hi where R U now?
Knox: Who wants to know???
I laugh and remember I never gave him my number. I decide to have a bit of fun with him.
Me: girl 4rm other night.
Knox: Who? I don't know a girl from the other night. How did you get this number?
Me: U gave it 2 me
Knox: I don't think so; you may have the wrong number
Me: awe R U sure? U seemed to like me
Knox: I don't like anyone
Me: That's a shame because I like U
Knox: who is this? Max R U fuckin around?
Me: lol nope not Max
Knox: Do I even know U?
I decide to leave him for a minute and open my sandwich and soda. I am looking around, people watching when I see him holding his phone in his hand standing inside the main building. I see Gemma heading his way so I pick up my phone.
Me: Bogie 3 o' clock
I see him turn around noticing her, he runs out of the building texting furiously,
Knox: thanks who is this?
Me: :-) I don't kiss and tell
Knox: I am gonna kick your ass Bailey. Where U at?
Me: look up :-)
He is about twenty feet from me now; he looks up and straight at me. He is smirking all the way over "Think your funny?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. I laugh at him "Hell yeah that was funny" "Well now because of you're fooling around I didn't grab lunch" he puts his bag on the ground beside his leg, I push my untouched half a sandwich over to him, "Here you can have mine" "It's the least you can do" he says smiling at me, he picks up his phone and is messing on it, then waves it at me "Now I have you saved so no more trickery" I stick out my tongue at him. "Very mature Bailey" I smile and he snaps a picture with his phone "Oh just need a picture for your contact info on my phone"
We sit together for another twenty minutes; he doesn't say anything about last night but talks about school, the weather anything but the kiss. "Are you coming to watch us play on Friday?" I look at him "I'm banned remember" he winces "Oops forgot" "Yeah some dick banned me" I say flatly, he chokes on his soda and laughs "Harsh Bailey, Harsh" I smile sweetly at him and he chuckles. "It's about that time" I say picking up my bag, Knox looks at his watch, "What's your next class?" he picks up my trash and takes it over to throw away. "English" I groan "You?"
