Chapter 8 - TRUST
Oh, Chloe… what have I done?
I sat in the hallway with my head in my hands. It had not gone well at all. It was several minutes before the ICU nurse came out to see me.
"She's under sedation again; hopefully she'll be calmer when she wakes up."
"Thanks," I replied dully.
"I'm so sorry to hear about your friend Rachel. It was all over the news this morning. Terrible business. I can't believe a teacher could do such a thing."
I nodded, drying my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time today, and it wasn't even 10 AM yet.
Chloe's reaction to the news was almost exactly as it had been in the junkyard, except now every racking sob had sent a stabbing pain through her side.
"How long were you gonna wait before telling me?" she'd wailed at me. I'd tried to explain that David had just found out last night, but she'd refused to listen. She was angry at the fact that I'd known and hadn't told her the very moment I came in.
I'd tried to reach out, to comfort her with a touch, but she'd turned away, weeping into the pillow.
In the end, they'd had to sedate her for fear of her stitches opening up again.
"You can sit with her if you want," the nurse said, interrupting my reverie.
"I need to go clear my head for a while, but I'll be back," I said, thanking her for her help.
Walking away, I felt the familiar warm trickle in my nose, accompanied by the usual rusty metallic taste in my throat.
I crumpled up a tissue and jammed it in my nostril, ignoring everyone's stares.
Drying my face with a paper towel, I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. The nosebleed and headache had disappeared as quickly as they'd come.
Chloe must hate me now.
Was I being sensitive or selfish for not telling her about Rachel right away?
Get your shit together, Max.
I reached into my pocket, suddenly remembering the thing Bree had slipped me.
A flash drive? What's she got in here, more shitty B-movies like Warren?
I quickly left the bathroom and found a quiet corner where I could call Bree.
I pulled into the Two Whales parking lot, stopping Chloe's truck next to Frank's grimy RV. I could hear his dog barking inside.
Bree wasn't here yet; I was early for our meeting.
I waved at Joyce as I entered the diner, then sat at the counter near the TV. The news was on, with a bunch of talking heads expressing their shock and distress at the whole Jefferson affair.
Frank was in the corner booth on the left, ignoring everyone, nursing his plate of beans and looking utterly shattered. I felt sorry for him. Despite being a skeevy drug dealer, he had a good heart. Chloe didn't know it, but he'd genuinely loved Rachel. Hearing about the awful circumstances of her death would have destroyed him.
"Max honey, is everything all right? How's Chloe?" Joyce asked.
I shook my head sadly. "I had to tell her about Rachel. She didn't take it well at all. They had to sedate her."
"Oh, my poor baby," Joyce sighed. "It's been all over the news."
The grizzled trucker next to me spoke up. "About time old man Prescott got his name dragged through the mud."
"I noticed there was no mention of his son Nathan at all," Joyce replied to him, "apart from yesterday when he was being taken away in handcuffs."
"Looks like his dad managed to suppress that bit of info," I said darkly.
Joyce pursed her lips. "Everyone's hiding something in this town. Anyway, Max, you must be starving. What'll you have, sweetie?"
"Your famous bacon omelette, please Joyce," I smiled. I'd only had a piece of toast before heading to the hospital earlier.
"Go grab a table, honey."
I turned toward my usual booth, second from the far end, and saw Warren and Brooke sitting there. Another girl was with them, her back to me.
It wasn't till I drew closer that I recognized her.
"Kate? Wow, you look really nice." She wore a purple cardigan and her hair was down, freshly brushed and cascading halfway down her back. She looked happy.
"Aww, thanks Max. You look good too, those clothes suit you. Come join us." She slid along the bench toward the window, making room for me. I sat down opposite from Brooke, who regarded me with curiosity. Warren was next to her, smiling at me with undisguised admiration. I had to admit it was endearing, if a bit embarrassing.
He was wearing that clever Schrodinger's Cat shirt, and Brooke had her lightsaber hoodie on.
They were sipping on coffee – tea for Kate – with their empty breakfast plates stacked neatly on the table.
"So how are things on Planet Blackwell?" I asked them.
Warren was quickest on the draw. "Pretty crazy right now. Everyone's talking about that freak Jefferson, and how awesome you were for saving that girl from Nathan."
"That was pretty amazing, Max," Brooke added. "You're like the official 'Everyday Hero' of Blackwell."
"Please don't…" I stammered. "I'm not… I just had to save my friend."
"Victoria hasn't left her room," Kate chimed in, shifting gears. "I hear her crying sometimes, through the wall."
"Well, yeah, nearly every girl in that class wanted to sleep with Mr. Jefferson," Brooke replied, "but Victoria… everyone knew she wanted it the most. And then this happened… I get the shivers thinking about what might have been. She could have been another Rachel Amber or - " Brooke halted, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, Kate."
"It's okay, Brooke. Anyway, how are you feeling, Max?" Kate asked, changing the subject again. I knew she was uncomfortable talking about Jefferson.
"Better than yesterday," I admitted. "You?"
"The last few days were hellish, but now it's like a huge weight has been lifted off me. Everyone's been so nice now that the truth is out. Even Mr. Madsen sent me a lovely message apologizing for how mean he's treated me, and asking how I was holding up."
I smiled at that. My respect for David had just gone up even more.
"How's your friend doing?" Warren piped up. "The one with the cool blue hair. What's her name again?"
Brooke bristled at that, but Warren didn't seem to notice. I smiled inwardly. He could be so clueless sometimes.
I'd been like that once, but the crazy week with Chloe had changed me. A week I was now living again in an entirely different way.
"Her name's Chloe," I replied, twirling my fingers in my lap. "Joyce's daughter. She needed surgery yesterday but she's doing well. I was with her at the ICU last night and this morning. She's sleeping now, and I just thought I'd step out for a bit. I'm actually meeting someone here."
Joyce arrived with my food before they could ask who else was coming. "Bacon omelette for the hungry lady," she announced.
"This looks amazing, Joyce. Thanks." I was famished.
"I'm sorry about what happened to Chloe," Kate told her. "We're so glad she's okay." Brooke and Warren voiced their agreement.
Joyce smiled. "Thank you, sweetie. It's Max here who deserves credit for that." She laid a motherly hand on my shoulder. I sat silently, embarrassment coloring my cheeks.
"Now, can I get y'all anything else?"
"No thanks, Joyce. We're set," replied Warren, pulling his wallet out. "Relax, ladies, I've got it covered."
"Well, what a fine gentleman you are. Enjoy your breakfast, Max," Joyce said, taking Warren's money and the empty plates, and heading back behind the counter.
I dug in, enjoying the flavors and textures of the bacon and scrambled egg mingling in my mouth.
"Don't forget to breathe, Max," Brooke chuckled.
"Ignore me," I said around a mouthful of half-chewed goodness. "Long night, big morning."
They continued talking, about the lockdown of the main building, how Principal Wells had cancelled the End of the World party, how the Vortex Club was pretty much finished, how nearly half of the students had been pulled out of school by their worried parents.
Finishing my breakfast, I leaned back feeling much better than I had an hour ago. I hadn't felt like replying to their messages earlier, but now I was glad for their company.
The door opened and I heard Joyce greet the newcomer. "Well, hello there. I haven't seen you in a while, sweetie."
Joyce walked up to our booth with Bree, who greeted us all in turn. Warren was slack-jawed, unabashedly staring at her until Brooke nudged him. I didn't blame him; she somehow managed to make a police uniform look glamorous.
"Miss Marsh… Kate," Bree continued. "You look well. Thanks for the talk yesterday, it was a big help."
"No problem, Bree." Kate blushed at the attention. "What brings you here?"
"I'm actually here for Max," she replied, flashing a brilliant smile. "Don't worry, she's not under arrest. You'll have your friend back when I'm done."
Saying goodbye to the trio, I turned to follow Bree. Her partner had come in and was ordering coffee at the counter near the cake display.
"I'll be right back, Chris," she told him. "Hold the fort."
He pivoted on the stool to face us. He was in his 30s, solidly built, with a shaved head and a brown goatee. He looked intimidating but his hazel eyes were kind.
"Gotcha, B." He looked at me and smiled. "Don't let my partner here scare you," he said in a low voice. "She loves to act all tough but she's a big ball of cookie dough. Soft and sweet."
Bree rolled her eyes in mock exasperation as I giggled. "That's it, X. I'm calling your wife tonight."
"Go on and take care of business, B," he chuckled. "I'll be right here checking out Joyce."
"Oh, stop it, you," Joyce laughed. "Will I see you at the hospital later, Max?"
"Definitely."
"Hop in," Bree said, getting behind the wheel of the patrol car. "We won't be long."
"Where are we going?" I asked, suddenly worried.
"Not very far."
I'd only met Bree yesterday, but I trusted her, especially after what Chloe had told me about her past.
I got in the passenger seat and shut the door.
