Chapter 2: The questioning

"If you aren't nervous, do you really care?"

Jaimie-mae collapsed onto her bed after kicking off her vans and slipping off her sweater.

Her mind wandered to the boy who she left alone in the ambulance. They wouldn't let her get into the ambulance with him but after four tries and multiple 'you aren't family' she finally gave up.

She made up her mind that she would visit the hospital as soon as she could. Maybe after she got out of school.

After some thinking she realized that neither of them knew each others names. How was she supposed to find a boy whose name she didn't know?

She tried pushing the boy out of her mind and she lifted herself up off her bed and went over to the shower. As the water ran down her skin, she tried to wash away the images of the boys beat up body with the warm water and lavender soap; for relaxing. She was sure the image of his broken and bloodied body would keep her up all night, but she desperately needed the sleep. She was already exhausted from a full afternoon of work.

After hopping out of the shower, Jaimie-mae wrapped herself in a towel and went to the kitchen for a small bite to eat. It was quite late in the evening so she just decided to have crackers and cheese and a warm mug of citrus berry tea.

After finishing her food she went back into her room, changed into a tank top and pajama shorts, then collapsed into her bed. She lay still there for what seemed like hours, but soon she was off to a restless sleep.

***

"I don't know if you noticed, but you're kind of late to school."

Jaimie-mae rolled her eyes at her friend, Kasey Haynes. "You don't say."

"I do say." Kasey studied Jaimie-mae's face "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Y- Kind of."

"Kind of? You know that sleep is really important when you are in your last year of highschool right."

"Yes. I've been told... multiple times. I couldn't help it. Every time i closed my eyes, that image was just right there at my eyelids."

"What image?" Kasey asked curiously.

Jaimie-mae wondered if she should tell her friend about the boy. She didn't even know if the boy survived or not. He could have died on the way to the hospital for all she knew. She really hoped he didn't.

She had big expectations for the boy in the jean jacket. She knew he was strong, he'd survive. If he didn't, she'd be extremely upset. She might not have had proof of him being alive but she had hope.

"Are you going to tell me? Or..." Kasey trailed off.

"Ugh. Its kind of a long story."

"We have time," Kasey pushed.

"Well. Last night after i was coming home from work. There was this car speeding and then i noticed this boy up ahead and he was running. The car literally collided with him and drove off. I went over to him and he was all b-bloodied and cut up. And his elbow was on a weird angle. And... i had to do chest compressions and i-i cracked one of his ribs." The sound rang in her ears as she relived the moment in her mind. She could feel her mouth get watery; the usual sign of when she needed to throw up. She didn't really have a weak stomach, but this was different.

"Ouch, brutal," Kasey said as she frowned. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. Did he... survive?"

"I don't know. I'm sure he did. But I'm planning to go to the hospital after school today since i don't have work."

"Cool."

After that both girls went quiet and sipped on their juices slowly, waiting for the next bell to ring to let them know they could head into class.

***

Jaimie-mae was copying the notes down from her textbook when a police officer and the councilor walked into the room. Everyone looked to the door when the officer cleared his throat.

"I apologize for interrupting, but I'm looking for a Miss... Jaimie-mae Cole. Is she here?" the officer asked the teacher.

Every ones heads snapped to Jaimie-mae and she hesitantly raised her hand.

"That would be me," she said quietly.

"Can you come with us please Jaimie-mae. Bring your bag," the councilor said as she backed up towards the door.

She got up silently and stuffed her books into her backpack; ignoring the curious gazes burning into her skin. She pulled her jacket tighter around herself as if it would shield their wandering eyes, but obviously it did nothing.

"What did you do?" Kasey whisper yelled.

Jaimie-mae just shrugged in reply and walked out of the door, closing it behind her slowly. Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might beat right out of her chest. She tried to pretend she felt calm, but she was anything but calm. She had a tendency to overthink things and she was sure her mind would get her hurt one day.

The councilor, Mrs Benson, seemed to notice her nervousness because she gave Jaimie-mae her best words of comfort. "You're not in trouble or anything sweetheart. This police officer just has to ask you a couple of questions about a situation. Can you help him with that?"

Jaimie-mae wordlessly nodded her head. She knew if she spoke, her voice would fail her anyway.

"Good. Would you like me to sit with you for this?"

"Y-yes please."

"Alright. Follow me to my office please." She nodded to the officer and made her way down the halls to her office.

After getting seated the officer introduced himself.

"My name is P.C Danny Gray. I just want to question you on something that happened late last night. I need you to answer as detailed and honestly as you can."

"Okay. So this about that boy last night, right?"

"That is correct. Now, can you tell me what you were doing out at such a late time."

"I was walking back home from work."

"Can you tell me what happened to the boy?"

"He got hit by a car," Jaimie-mae said plainly.

"Did it seem purposeful or by accident?"

Jaimie-mae thought about it silently and realized that it didn't seem much like a mistake. It seemed a lot like it was on purpose and she realized that could have easily been her if they were just randomly choosing. But also it might not have been random. The thought made her stomach churn.

"It seemed... like they hit him o-on purpose."

"What makes you think it was done purposefully?"

"He was running. And they were speeding. By the way they were swerving around though made it look like they were drunk. Or not completely aware of what they were doing." Jaimie-mae fidgeted with the ends of her shirt nervously.

"Did you know this boy personally?"

"No. Not personally."

"So you knew him?"

"No not at all."

"Can you give me the description of the car that hit the boy?" he asked as he propped the notebook on his knee.

"Um. I didn't really get a good look at the car. It was dark and the headlights kind of blinded me."

"Okay, no problems. Just give me the best description you can."

"Ugh, the car could've been a silverish blue, or a silver green color. I didn't think to look at the license plate. I'm pretty sure it had a small scratch or dent below the door handle on the right side."

"Okay. That's good information." He quickly scribbled things into his notebook then abruptly stood up. He nodded to Jaimie-mae and Mrs Benson. "Have a good rest of your day."

"Um, excuse me. Can you tell me what his name was?"

The officer looked at her shocked. "You mean you didn't even know his name at least."

She shook her head.

"That was very brave of you. I'm sure his name was... Fabian Sharp."

Jaimie-mae smiled at the sound of his name. It kind of seemed fitting for him in some way. "Thank you."

"No problem. You're a sweet young girl Jaimie-mae. Keep it up, yeah?"

She smiled shyly. "Thanks. I will."

She didn't exactly know what she was keeping up, but she'd do it.