When I woke from my drug stupor, Andie's parents were sitting next to the bed looking tired and worried.
"Hey." I said catching their attention.
"How are you feeling?" Mom asked.
"I will get the doctor." Dad said leaving the room.
"I'm ok." I said. "Really."
She nodded. "We were so worried."
"It's a broken arm."
"It needed surgery, Andrea. Don't pretend it wasn't a big deal."
I rolled my eyes lifting up the head of my bed. I wasn't going to argue my way out of how she felt. The door opened; Andie's dad walked back into the room.
"Dr. Cullen will be here shortly. He said you should be going home today."
It didn't take Dr. Cullen long to check on me. He made sure I was keeping down food before he agreed to discharge me. The nurse removed the IV and strapped my arm in a sling after I changed into a tank top and sweats. I was able to get my left arm in my jacket, and mom zipped the coat from falling off. In the car, she strapped me in. Once we were finally home, they seemed to relax.
"Where's Ang and the boys?" I asked as we entered the quiet, empty house.
"Mrs. Cullen offered to watch your brothers while we picked you up, and Angie's at school." mom said. "Why don't you go up and rest?"
"I've been in a hospital bed resting. I don't know if I could handle more rest."
Mom smiled. "I'll make lunch, why don't you join me?"
I sat at the table while mom pulled together sandwiched. Dad left to pick up the twins, leaving just the two of us.
"I'm really ok." I said as the silence stretched on.
Mom stopped cutting sandwiches and took a deep breath. She looked up at me. "Andie, I don't know what that boy told you, but he can't hurt you. We won't let him, but if you continue to protect him, he will hurt someone else. Then how would you feel? I know you want to believe you're doing ok, but you're not." Mom walked around the counter. She pulled out a chair and sat in front of me.
"Sweetie, I can't fix this for you, and I would give anything to make it right, I hope you know that."
I nodded.
"We will stand by you no matter what you decide to do, but please, really think about it. He can't hurt you, and you shouldn't let him hurt anyone else."
I nodded again. She kissed my cheek, hugging me. It felt like minutes ticked by as she held me, before she reluctantly let me go, and continued making lunch, without another word about it.
The boys were excited when they got home. The chatted about the fort at the Cullen's house, and playing with Emmett and Jasper. They also liked drawing pictures on my cast. Stick figure pirates battling together in red and black sharpie. When mom set the boys down for a nap, I decided I was ready to rest a bit more. I headed to the room and curled up on the bed with a book. A random mystery Angela had on her nightstand, nothing too intriguing.
I woke up, not realizing I'd even fallen asleep. Angela was opening the door talking to someone, she stopped when she saw me on the bed
"Sorry. I didn't know you were asleep."
"I'm up." I sat up kicking my legs over the bed. The cast still felt strange on my arm as I tried to stretch.
Angela pushed the door open, Bella followed into the room.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Bella's face reddened as she leaned against the closed door. Angela sat next to me taking my good hand in hers.
"Chief Swan wants to talk to you." Angela said. "With all the talk at school, and Dr. Cullen's assessment."
"I'm fine."
"You may be fine, but what about next time or the next person?" Bella asked. "I'm really sorry this happened to you, but we've all heard the rumor of the beach with you and Kyle, plus the rumors about other girls. It's not just you."
Angela nodded. "Maybe someone else will speak up if you do. And we are all here for you. Bella, me, mom and dad."
"I don't really know what happened on the beach." I sighed. I tried to push the dream from my head, but it was constantly spinning like a movie on repeat.
"My dad thought it would be easier for you to talk to us first." Bella said. "Angela has told him how apprehensive you are, and that you don't really remember. Dr. Cullen confirmed your memory loss, but said it was short term."
"Just tell us what you remember or tell us what happened at practice." Angela said. "You can't play this year, and it's because of him."
I stood walking around the twin bed to the window. I couldn't cross my arms, I couldn't feel comfortable with the heavy cast. I couldn't be sure the dream was what happened between Andie and Kyle, and if there was even a chance it was wrong, I didn't want to hurt anyone like that. I couldn't be sure my own nightmares weren't playing a part in the dreams. I turned and faced Bella and Angela.
"Kyle stepped on my wrist pretty hard, then lifted his foot and came down again. I think it was on purpose, I think he did this to me on purpose." I held up the cast. "As far as anything else, I don't know. I can't remember."
"My dad will want to know if you want to file charges." Bella said. "If you think he attacked you, you should."
"There are others that were at practice that saw what he did." Angela said. "They've given their side, and it's why Chief Swan wants to talk with you. Even with the witnesses, you have to press charges."
"Is that what you think I should do?"
Bella and Angela both nodded.
Bella stepped toward me. "I don't know how hard this is for you, and I've never been in your position, but if someone hurt me, I would want them held accountable."
"I will talk with Chief Swan." I said.
"Good. He's downstairs." Angela said. "He wasn't going to push, but Bella and I thought we could convince you to at least hear him out."
Angela hugged me. "You can do this, and we will be right there with you."
I hated feeling lost and broken, and worse I missed Gwen desperately in this moment. Angela was taking care of her sister, but I wanted my sister. I wanted to girl who'd been with me my whole life, stood by me, laughed and cried with me… But missing Gwen made me hate how I treated Angela. I'd want Gwen to have someone to lean on, if I was suddenly gone. Angela deserved the same. I really hated feeling so lost, torn and broken.
"Ready?" Bella asked opening the door.
Angela led us downstairs. Chief Swan sat at the dining room table sipping coffee with mom. I sat at the table with them, and Bella and Angela stood in the kitchen. Chief Swan looked at me, then at Bella.
After a deep breath, he said. "Do you want to tell me what happened in Gym yesterday?"
"Kyle stepped on my wrist." I said.
"How many times did he step on your wrist?" Chief Swan asked.
I shook my head. He had the answers, he just needed to hear from me. "What were you told?" I asked.
He smiled. "I need to hear your side first."
"Fine." I sat back in the chair, my hands resting in my lap. "We were scrimmaging. Kyle checked me hard, and I landed against the floor. I don't know how he was standing over me so quickly, but suddenly he was there and his foot was on my wrist. I tried to pull my arm, but he twisted. Then he stepped off, and before I could move, his foot came down again. I heard a pop or a crack, then everyone was surrounding us."
Chief Swan had taken notes as I spoke. "Are you willing to press charges against him?"
"He said it was an accident."
"I have statements from six other students that say it wasn't."
"What happens if I press charges?"
"He's still a minor, and this is the first time he's been charged, so not a lot, but it will start a trail if this happens again." Chief Swan scooted closer to me. He rested his hand on my shoulder. "I can't promise he won't hurt you or try to retaliate. That does happen, but I will do everything I can to protect you from that, and if he does anything else to you or anyone else, he will see jail time. I know it's a lot to ask, and I will stand by your decision, but you need to think that if he's done this to you, who else has he hurt or will he hurt."
I nodded. "Ok. I will press charges."
