Thank you so much @Larry_Stylinson109 for sending me this wonderful cover!
***
"Cayden," I said, my voice barely breaking through the haze of confusion. He lifted his head and met my gaze, but only for a second before looking back at the guy he just punched.
"What the fuck, Cayden? I thought we were friends!" James said, wiping the blood from his nose and struggling to push himself off the floor.
"You should have thought about that before you laid your hands on her," Cayden replied coolly. I glanced at him, but he didn't return the look. Instead, his focus remained on James, who was now swaying on his feet.
"Yeah, I actually would," James sneered, the bravado in his voice contrasting sharply with the way he was trying to regain his balance.
"Oh?" Cayden said, folding his arms. "As far as I know, you're the type who fucks around and fucks things up."
Logan appeared, cutting through the tension. "James! You need to leave the party!" He stepped forward, attempting to guide James toward the door, but James resisted.
"Wait, hold on!" James exclaimed, his voice laced with arrogance. "Has Cayden had a taste of you already? Because if so, I'd really like to know what he's gotten into."
Before I could process his words, Cayden lunged forward and threw another punch. It caught James off guard, sending him sprawling to the floor, unconscious. I blinked in shock, the adrenaline pulsing through me. Cayden turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, bewildered. "Thanks," I mumbled under my breath, though I wasn't sure if he could hear me.
"Hailey! There you are!" Amelia burst into the kitchen, her eyes wide with excitement. "Did you see that? I was looking everywhere for you!" Her enthusiasm faded as she registered the scene before her. "Damn, you're lucky you witnessed that!"
I rolled my eyes and pulled Amelia away to a quieter corner of the kitchen. "What's going on? Did something happen?" she asked, concern replacing her excitement.
"I just got harassed," I hissed, the frustration bubbling up again.
"What? Who was it? I'll kill him!" Amelia's eyes flared with anger, her protective instincts kicking in.
"It's okay. Cayden already took care of it," I said, trying to calm her down.
"C-Cayden?" Amelia asked, her eyes widening in disbelief. I nodded, and she grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly. "You are so lucky! God!"
"Stop that," I said, pushing her hands away. "Can we just go home? I'm starting to feel dizzy." The earlier excitement and anxiety began to overwhelm me, making it hard to focus.
Before I could finish my sentence, darkness closed in around me. I collapsed.
***
I came to with the sound of sirens blaring, the ambulance doors swinging open. Paramedics were wheeling a stretcher towards the emergency room. My head felt heavy, and everything seemed surreal.
"Hailey!" I heard Amelia's voice through the haze, frantic and close. She rushed alongside the medical team, her face etched with worry.
A nurse approached Amelia, her tone professional. "What happened?"
"She collapsed for no reason! I think someone drugged her drink at a party!" Amelia explained, her voice rising in pitch.
"Are you awake?" the nurse asked, turning her attention to me. "Are you feeling alright, dear?"
I nodded, though my head felt like it was floating.
"That's a good sign. We're going to run some tests to make sure everything's okay," the nurse said reassuringly. I watched as they wheeled me into the ER and set me down in a small room, pulling curtains around for privacy.
"You kids are really into parties nowadays, huh?" A familiar voice broke the clinical atmosphere. It was Janice, my neighbor, who also worked here.
"Please don't tell my mom about this," I whispered as she pulled out a stethoscope.
"I'm sorry, but we have to. She has the right to know," Janice said gently. "I'll be back in a minute with your CT scan and X-ray results."
I nodded, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me.
Amelia was still hovering nearby, her face a mix of concern and relief. "You scared me! I thought you weren't going to wake up," she said, peeking her head through the curtain.
"Yeah, sorry about that," I murmured, still disoriented. Just then, Cayden walked in, and the atmosphere shifted.
He glanced at me, and for a moment, we locked eyes. "Do you need anything?" Amelia asked, breaking the moment.
"No, I'm good," I replied, my gaze still on Cayden. He dragged a chair closer and sat down, concern etched on his face.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"I wanted to see if you were okay," he said quietly. "I saw James put something in your drink when you were talking to him."
My stomach dropped. Had I really been that careless? "Uh, thanks?" I said, looking away.
"Thanks? I saved you back there," he pointed out, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.
"Wow, sounds like you think you're a hero. Well, thank you!" I shot back, rolling my eyes.
"No need to sound harsh," he replied, his tone softer than before.
"Hailey!" My mother's voice cut through the tension as she rushed into the small space. Her face blanched when she saw me lying on the hospital bed. "What happened?"
Cayden stood up, glancing between us. "I better go," he said, leaving me with a mix of emotions.
My mom cupped my cheeks, inspecting my face as if searching for injuries. "Are you alright? What happened? I had no idea you were at a party! You should've told me!" Her voice rose with concern.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I just wanted to have some fun," I said, trying to explain.
"Fun without my consent? You could have been raped, for God's sake, Hailey!" Her words struck like a knife, making me flinch.
I had never seen her this angry. "I left work because of you! I had so much to do, and I come here to find you fainted after getting drugged at a high school party?!"
Her words echoed in my mind, and guilt flooded over me. I knew I had been reckless.
"I'm sorry," was all I could muster, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I know you expect so much from me, and I'm sorry that I disappointed you," I added, trying to convey my feelings.
My mom's expression softened, and she sat down in the chair beside me. "Hailey, I'm sorry for being like this. I just don't want you to end up like me. Your grandfather wanted to abandon me for being carelessâI got pregnant at an early age and dropped out of college to provide for you."
I didn't know how to respond. Her revelation hit me like a freight train. I had never heard her speak about her past like this.
"I'm sorry to hear that," I said softly.
Janice returned, carrying several papers and a clipboard. "Everything seems to be normal now," she announced. "Here's your CT scan and X-ray results." She handed them to my mom, who examined the documents intently.
"Her brain looks good in the CT scan, and the X-ray results are clear," Janice added, handing my mom another paper. "This is her discharge paper. The doctor signed it, but I need you to sign as well. Also, you'll need to pick up some medicine on the way home."
"Thank you, Janice," my mom said gratefully, her expression softening a bit. Janice smiled at me before stepping out of the room.
Eventually, we were cleared to leave. As we walked to the car, the weight of the day pressed heavily on my shoulders. The silence between my mom and me was palpable.
When we reached the car, my mom jogged around to open my door, helping me out. "Are you still mad?" I asked, peering at her as she held the door open.
"I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed in how careless you've been," she replied, her tone still sharp.
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry? I'm not perfect," I shot back, bitterness creeping into my voice. I turned and walked towards the stairs, but stopped when I heard her voice behind me.
"Hailey, it's not just about being perfect. It's about being safe," she said, her voice softer now.
"I know that," I replied, my frustration bubbling over. "I just wanted to enjoy being a teenager!"
"I get that, but you need to understand the consequences of your actions. I can't lose you," she said, her eyes pleading.
As I made my way upstairs, I felt the weight of the day settling in. Everything felt off-kilter.
When I finally crawled into bed, I couldn't shake the events from my mind. Today had been overwhelming, more than I could ever have anticipated. I closed my eyes, hoping for a sense of normalcy to wash over me, but all I felt was a whirlwind of confusion and fear. I didn't just need to process what had happened; I needed to figure out who I was amidst all of this chaos.
***
I'm so sorry for the one month delay. I've been very busy lately and wow, a lot has happened, let me just tell you that. but anyway, here is today's update. I hope I'm not yet too late. I wanted to take a break for a few months, actually but I just keep missing writing stuff for you guys. but if you want updates about me and updates from this story, just follow me on twitter.
as always carry on and happy reading!~
-The Author