Chapter 3: Reality Kicks In

Jay: "Oh my God…..Sean?" Jay checks for a pulse and…nothing. He's not breathing.

Jay: "Sean! Sean! Can you hear me? Sean!" Sean is just lying there…like deadweight.

Jay whips out his cell phone and calls 911.

911 operator: "Yes? What's your emergency?"

Jay: "There was a car crash….my girlfriend is breathing, but unconscious. The guy in the other car….he's not breathing."

Operator: "Are you hurt, sir?"

Jay: "Did you hear me? A guy could be dead! He's not breathing! Don't ask about me!"

Operator: "I heard you, sir, but are you ok? Are you wounded at all?"

Jay: "No! I wasn't part of the crash. I just witnessed it."

Operator: "Ok, sir. Where are you?"

Jay: "Uh…route 66."

Operator: "Ok, an ambulance will be right over. What's your name, sir?"

Jay: "Jay…Jay Hogart."

Operator: "And the girl?"

Jay: "My girlfriend…Emma Nelson."

Operator: "Do you know the other boy? Can you ID him?"

Jay: "Yes. I'm positive it's…Sean Cameron."

Jay can hear the ambulance coming closer. Without thinking or saying good-bye, he hangs up on the operator. He stands back, watching the EMT's carrying Emma out of the car…and others carrying out Sean. One of the EMT's comes over to Jay.

EMT: "I think you should also come to the hospital and get checked out."

Jay: "I wasn't in either of the cars. I just witnessed it. My car's over there."

EMT: "Alright, well, you still need to come with us. The police are going to question about what happened, and since both victims are unable to speak for themselves, they will question you."

Jay: "Great…"

Jay goes into the ambulance where Emma is. He holds her hand.

Jay: "I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I love you, Em."

They arrive at the hospital a few minutes later. Emma and Sean are rushed inside, but Jay is stopped by the police.

Officer: "I'm Officer Brown." He shows Jay his badge. "You witnessed the accident?"

Jay tries to pass through him, but the officer stops him.

Jay: "Yes, I did. But my girlfriend needs me right now."

Brown: "I understand, sir, but let the doctors do what they need to do while I get your statement. It will kill some time…"

Jay: "Fine."

Brown: "What's your name?"

Jay: "Jay Hogart…and the 'victims' are Emma Nelson and Sean Cameron."

Brown: "So, what happened?"

Jay: "Emma left a party early. I followed her to see where she was going. It was late and I wanted to make sure she would get home safely."

Brown: "So you stalked her?"

Jay: "No!"

Brown: "So, why did you feel like you had to follow her?"

Jay: "She…she left upset. Her and a friend got into an argument….I was just making sure she was getting home alright."

Brown: "Was she speeding?"

Jay: "No."

Brown: "Did you notice Sean's car?"

Jay: "I saw it further up the road."

Brown: "But Emma didn't?"

Jay: "Guess not."

Brown: "How could she not see a car right in front of her?"

Jay: "I don't know! How could Sean not see her car in front of him?"

Brown: "So…what? The cars just collided?"

Jay: "Yup….are we done?"

Brown: "For now…I'll wait and see how Sean and Emma are doing…I'll get their statements when they're up to it. But I will hear more from you, Mr. Hogart."

Jay: "Great. See you, officer." Jay leaves, but he notices another policeman going up to Officer Brown. He hides behind a wall to hear them talk.

Brown: "You heard anything from the doctors yet?"

Officer: "Yea. They did blood work on them."

Brown: "And?"

Officer: "They found alcohol in Ms. Nelson's blood."

Jay: "Oh, no…."

Jay tries to walk away, but Officer Brown caught up with him.

Brown: "Mr. Hogart, did you know Emma was drinking?"

Jay: "No…I didn't notice."

Brown: "You know, we're dealing with a DUI – Ms. Nelson could get in a lot of trouble for this and you lying will only make things worse for her."

Jay: "I didn't know! Look, can I call her parents on the payphone? They're probably worried from not hearing from her."

Brown: (sigh) "Make it quick, I'm not through with you."

Jay goes to the payphone and calls Emma's house. Spike picks up.

Spike: "Hello?"

Jay: "Sorry to wake you, Mrs. Simpson."

Spike: "Jay? Is that you? What are you doing calling here so late!"

Jay: "I'm sorry, but…it's Emma."

Spike: "Emma? What about Emma?"

Jay: "We went to Manny's party….Emma left and took my car….and drove drunk. She got into a car accident. She's in the hospital and I'm here."

Spike: "Oh, my God! Is she ok?"

Jay: "I don't know yet…but Mrs. S….she's going to have to fight a DUI.."

Spike: "Oh my God…I'll be there soon. Thanks for calling Jay." She hangs up before he can say anything else.

Jay is in the waiting room…half asleep, but his attention is caught when he hears Spike fighting with a nurse.

Spike: "What do you mean I can't see my daughter?"

Nurse: "Please, Mrs. Simpson, don't make this harder for me or yourself. Your daughter is in critical condition and she needs attention from the doctors. Let them treat your daughter."

Spike: "I should be able to see her!"

Nurse: "You can when the doctors give the ok. She was in a bad crash and it's late…she needs her rest." Before Spike could answer back the nurse walks away.

Spike: "The nerve of that woman…"

Jay: "Hey Mrs. S.!"

Spike: "Hi Jay. Thanks again for calling me. You haven't heard anything?"

Jay: "Nope…nothing on her or Sean."

Spike: "Sean?"

Jay: "Emma hit into another car….Sean was driving the other car."

Spike: "Oh my God…"

Jay: "Yea, but, I'm really concerned for Emma…how is she going to beat the DUI?"

Spike: "I'm not sure…but I think I can talk to the police…maybe make a bargain. Have her do community service and be on probation or something."

Spike goes to talk to the police and Jay waits in the waiting room. He tries to listen in, but he's so tired….he falls asleep.

Jay wakes up in the morning, around 11, and Spike is there.

Jay: "Any luck with the police last night?"

Spike: "They were understanding, surprisingly…they remembered about the school shooting case, and so we agreed on probation, community service, and her license to be taken away for a year."

Jay: "Wow…that's good news."

Spike: "That is good news, but we have some bad news."

Jay: "Brown wasn't happy that I lied…"

Spike: "No, not that. Well, he wasn't happy, but that's not what I'm talking about."

Jay: "Then what is it?"

Spike: "There's still no news on Emma.."

Jay: "But Sean?"

Spike: "They don't think he's going to make it."