k's

dering where I was headed, but in a situation like this,

ure if she would keep clingin

t wearing a helmet would have been ridiculous, so I wound my way

sidewalk outside the emergency room.

d, noticing she was stil

aced my hand over hers, hoping she wo

e released her

motorcycle, realizing she was stil

d have the doctors look

, her fists clenched tig

met's visor down, I couldn't see her face. I had no i

ct at all as I eased it off, and her face came into view again, streaked

, but her green eyes were visible-shining with te

he was scared o

ie's

I spotted Derek's motorcycle revving up in the distance, a

But it was obvious how taken he wa

early twenty-six, and this wasn't the time for h

e partner?" Ayden asked

like we've lost Der

my phone began to ring. I glanced at th

you seal the de

hie!" he snapped. "Can y

sked, surprised. "D

?!" Derek exclaimed,

me what's going on? You sound furious," I as

nd hurry up!" he orde

y churning inside me; Derek almost never sounded

everything okay?" Ayden

ut I think Derek's gotten himself into troub

en asked, now soun

e hosp

What are you waiti

n't joking. I'll let you know as soon as I find out what

t stupid thing did you get

na's

rned to the bikes, but Alix and t

somewhere having fun, just li

girl," I replied, scanning th

st in her sketchbook, barely paying att

spoke to boys, and since she wasn't sociable,

spotted the guy she'd been with. Letting go of Daniel's hand

a mix of surprise and wor

while ago," he replied, he

r at all. We were on the other side of town,

ound and grabbed his arm just

telling me!" I shouted, una

et a drink. Just call her, then you'll know where she is

uickly dialed Alix's numb

jerk ride off while I was still left

l chimed in. "Your girlfriend's frigid

he was my best friend, and I was the only one allowed to say that. Without war

k's

I couldn't force her to go inside, so I had called S

to calm down before she arrived, because I knew I would

oothly. If I had just gotten off the motorcycle an

my cigarette just as the Mustang roared into the emerge

owing up. With the way she reacted to everything, I half expec

led as she stepped out of the

he motorcycle, and her fa

me?!" she screamed as

let me explain!" I said,

ith that girl?! Do you want to end u

explain!" I snapped, tryin

As I told her what happened, Sophie's expression shifted to disgust. I saw the same

x's

ospital and risk having my humiliation begin all over again. I only wanted to go home and wa

home, fall asleep,

else could find out wh

blame herself for pushing me to go out, even though none of this was her fault or Marina's. It was my fault. I s

jolted so hard I nearly slipped off the motorcycle, b

fted my face to look at her, I recognized her as

earlier at the race." S

called her to convince me to g

comfortable with me when going in

ut also capable of defending herself. You could see it in her eyes, in the confide

phie, and your

" I mu

y tucking my hair away from my face. "

knew it. Surely they must have had better th

d I finally decided to get down, onl

d back in surpri

ou've been through. Your body's nerves haven't calmed

ld gather enough strength to le

me that my bag wasn't with me;

for a check-up to make

hat hospital," I said as I

morrow will be too late. We must do it

acking away toward the road. "I don't want anyone to t

n understood what was happening, I felt myself being

ophie was hovering above me. I realized she wasn't leaning over me

fine. Stop looking at me as if

m his hold. When he still didn't rele

hat moment was both s

that bastard," he told me coldly. "And another thing, she

who seemed so strong, had lived

e smile and extended h

eyes, and rose to my feet. Without letting go, I walked t