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Ch. 13 Whispers a Scream
(CLARE)
"…we're going to Joey and Caitlin's after K.C.'s football practice to see the…"
"Adam!" I exclaim cutting Jenna off as she tells me about their plans after school before 1st period starts. "Something's wrong," I tell them leaping up from my desk. I feel pain and fear and run out of the class just as the late bell rings.
"Clare where are you going?" Miss Dawes calls after me.
I ignore her and run to the art room where Adam was going when I last saw him, he was walking Maya to class. I get to the door and look in but don't see Adam, Eli does see me however and walks over while the teacher is looking at Maya's painting and she doesn't see me. Zig does though, he walks over and Reese sees me and grins.
"Clare what's wrong?" Zig asks.
"Where's Adam?" I question.
"He walked Maya to class and waved to me he should be in class," Eli tells me.
"But he's not and something's wrong I have to find him."
"I'll come with you," Eli says putting his hand on my back and walking with me down the hall. We walk past classrooms with people as Adam wouldn't be in there. Eli checks the boys washrooms but Adam's not in there. After looking in several dark classrooms and not finding Adam I'm beginning to panic. I'm starting to think we need to go to Simpson and have him page Adam when we open one more door and I see my twin on the floor.
"ADAM!" I scream running over to him. He doesn't respond, he's not moving, I see some blood and wrist looks broken. "Adam, Adam," I call to him desperately but he doesn't respond.
"Careful Clare he could have a neck injury," Eli says kneeling next to me and we carefully turn Adam to his back.
"Oh Adam," I cry when I see my brother's face. Swollen and bloody his nose seems to be broken, his lip busted. I stare at him and I'm sure I'm not breathing. I lean down and am a little relieved to find Adam is breathing but it's strained, he's wheezing and sort of whistling.
"I'm calling 911," Eli tells me getting out his phone.
"You have to be okay Adam I need you," I sob looking at my brother's beaten face.
"An ambulance is on its way I'm going to tell Simpson," Eli says and runs from the room. While Eli is gone all I can do is look at Adam and cry, he looks awful, he doesn't sound good either, he barely sounds like he's breathing and I fear that my twin is going to die.
"The ambulance is coming move back Clare," Simpson instructs but I don't move. "Any idea what happened?" Simpson questions and I shake my head.
"We just found him here," Eli replies as I hear the sirens approaching the school.
"Move back Clare the EMTs have to get in," Simpson tells me again and this time he takes my arms and pulls me up from Adam.
Simpson lets go of me and I turn to Eli as the EMTs come in. Eli puts his arms around me and I cry on his shoulder. I hear the EMTs moving Adam, they talk fast and when I hear them putting Adam on the stretcher I look over.
"We have to get him to the hospital immediately sounds like a punctured lung," one of them says.
"I have to get Drew," I tell Simpson pulling out of Eli's arms.
"I'll have Drew excused from class is Spinner at work?" Simpson asks and I nod. "I'll call him then he can pick you and Drew up," Simpson says.
"I'll walk Clare to Drew's class," Eli offers and Simpson nods.
I'm trying to hold it together but all I can think about is Adam dying. We never knew our mother and never thought about growing up without one until we realized other kids had moms. We love her and miss her, there's a sort of emptiness from her loss but we never experienced it the way Dad, Spin and even Drew did. However Dad dying destroyed my entire world and I have no idea how bad Adam's injuries really are. They could be minor and just be a lot of bruises but he looked awful and he could barely breathe and I keep thinking I'm going to lose the person that's closest to me in this world. Just as we reach Drew's class the secretary's voice comes over the class intercom to tell Drew to come to the office.
"Clare what is it? Where's Adam?" Drew questions putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Being taken to the hospital he was beaten up very badly," Eli explains.
"Shit," Drew breathes out with worry and pain in his voice for our brother.
"When you get back to class tell Maya and Zig please," I request of Eli.
"Yeah," he nods and walks off leaving me with Drew.
"Simpson called Spinner he should come to get us," I tell Drew. He puts his arm around me and we walk out to the front. When Spinner pulls up a minute later we run down and get in the car.
"What the hell happened?" Spinner asks as he begins driving to the hospital.
"Adam didn't come to class and I knew something was wrong. I went to Maya's art class because he was walking her to class. Eli said Adam had left and we started looking for him. Adam was unconscious on the floor of a dark classroom, he didn't wake up and he was bleeding and not breathing well," I tell them as I sob.
Spinner reaches over and squeezes my hand. We drive in silence the rest of the way to the hospital. Parking at emergency we all run in together. Spinner tells them we're here for Adam Mason who was brought in from DeGrassi and the nurse looks it up.
"He's in emergency surgery you'll have to wait," she tells us.
Upon hearing this I feel ill, nauseas and lightheaded, I can no longer get a breath. I grip onto Drew and the world seems wobbly.
"Clare?" Drew asks concerned.
"I feel dizzy," I respond and he picks me up.
"Is she alright?" The nurse questions.
"She'll be okay, she's been crying a lot. Adam's her twin they're very close," Spinner informs her.
"Leon get the young lady an electrolyte drink," the nurse says to an orderly I assume. "Please have a seat someone will come speak with you shortly," the nurse tells us. Drew carries me to a chair and sets me down. He and Spin sit on either side of me and we wait for news.
"Adam Mason?" A voice questions after what seems like forever.
"Yes he's our brother," Spin says getting up.
"Come with me please," the doctor tells us and we follow him back to a room. It's currently empty but presumably Adam will be brought in here. "Adam had a broken rib, it punctured his lung and we had to re-inflate the lung, repair the puncture and reset the bone. That was his most severe injury but he also has a fractured wrist, broken nose and several other contusions over nearly his entire body. He'll be brought in from surgery shortly and you can stay with him. He didn't have any head trauma as far as we can see; we took x-rays but had to deal with his punctured lung immediately. Because he was unconscious when he was brought in if he's not awake in an hour we'll take him for a CT."
"Thanks Doc," Spinner says.
"Does that mean Adam won't wake up?" I question when the doctor leaves.
"No he'll wake up, don't worry Clare Adam will wake up," Spin assures me and then Adam is brought in. He's on oxygen, parts of his face is bandaged and his lip sown up. His wrist is in a brace and that's just what we can see.
"Fuck whoever did this is dead," Spinner growls.
"Reese, it was Reese," I tell them sitting on Adam's bed when the nurses leave.
"How do you know it was Reese?" Drew questions.
"I don't, not really and I saw him in class but I just…have a feeling," I reply.
"He's been in fights and been beaten before because he's trans," Spinner comments.
"Jenna did say Reese was threatening Clare I wouldn't be surprised if he beat up Adam to punish her. I believe Reese is that vindictive and that stupid," Drew comments.
"He was in the art class but I'm sure his idiot friends did it they were with him last ni…" I'm saying and I stop myself.
"What do you mean they were with him last night? Last night when? Is that why you screamed and dropped your dishes?" Drew questions and I bite my lip. "Why the hell didn't you tell us?"
"Because when you all came running in they all left, I only saw them outside of the window for a second and I knew they wouldn't do anything with everyone home."
"Reese is dead, his friends too," Spinner says looking at Adam. "I need to call Paige and check in at The Dot, I'll be right back."
Spinner goes out of the room and doesn't come back for a while. When he comes back I can see that he'd been crying. He tells us that Paige will come after work but that's all he says. I'm watching Adam and the clock; I'm waiting for Adam to wake up and hoping he doesn't have to get a CT. Drew sits on the bed behind me and Spinner in the chair, I lean on Drew and Squeeze Adam's hand finally he begins to stir.
"What's everyone looking at?" Adam asks in a groggy voice opening his eyes.
"Waiting for you to wake up little bro," Drew grins.
"I must look pretty bad," Adam replies coughing a little and closing his eyes again.
"Who beat you up?" Spinner asks him.
"I don't know it was too dark to see and they didn't say anything," Adam says.
"It was Reese I know it was Reese and his cronies," I state.
"We'll get them," Drew proclaims.
We stay at the hospital mostly watching Adam go in and out of sleep. None of us eat because none of us are hungry. Nurses and doctors come in every twenty minutes to check on Adam. Morning turns to afternoon and a doctor has just left after doing a very thorough check on Adam.
"Take the car and take Clare home," Spinner says.
"No, no I'm not leaving," I shake my head.
"Clare I can barely stay awake, go home with Drew. I'm just going to be sleeping, you should all go home," Adam tells us.
"No I'm staying I'm your legal guardian and I'm not leaving you. You two need to go home and get some rest, call everyone and tell them. Paige will come after work she can bring me home," Spinner asserts.
"Get better fast little bro," Drew says hopping off the bed.
I kiss Adam's forehead and reluctantly leave with Drew, we drive home in silence and Drew starts calling people. Johnny isn't working today and he comes right over. Lucas comes over and hangs out until he has to go to work. The guys spend the time talking about hot to kill Reese and his friends for hurting Adam. Everyone comes over after school, except Owen and K.C. who have football. Maya's upset about Adam but calms down when we tell her he was awake and he'll be okay. Jenna and K.C. were going to meet with Joey and Caitlin but they cancelled when they heard about Adam. Spinner calls in the evening and tells us he's sleeping at the hospital but assures us that Adam is fine and he's only staying to keep Adam company. Owen and K.C. arrive at the same time as Sean and Jay then Emma shows up with Paige. Since no one has eaten yet they start making dinner. I'm not hungry I just keep thinking about Adam and the fact that Reese beat him up to get to me. I know it was Reese and his friends.
"I'm tired I'm going to lie down," I say to no one just quietly announcing it to the room so they know.
"You want me to bring you some food?" Johnny asks and I shake my head.
I go back to my room taking my backpack, which Zig brought home for me, and get out my cellphone. I roll through the contacts and find Reese's name clicking on it.
"Heard about Adam if you need a shoulder to cry on I'll be right over," Reese says when he answers.
"Go to hell I know you sent your friends to beat him up. I knew you were stupid but I didn't think you had a death wish, or that you'd sign the death warrants of your friends. Everyone we know is out for your blood the three of you dead."
"I have friends too and I'll bet I get to you before your friends get to me," Reese says and hangs up. I set my phone down and sit on my bed just as there's a knock on the door and Owen comes in.
"Drew said to bring you some dinner, said you needed to eat something if I had to force feed you," Owen tells me setting a plate of food on my desk.
"I'm not hungry, I can't even think about food I just keep thinking about Adam."
"He's going to be okay; the doctors said he'd be okay. Adam is tough; he's the toughest guy I know because of what he goes through everyday just to be himself. He'll get over a punctured lung and a few bruises and be back to help keep you out of trouble in no time," Owen assures me sitting on the bed.
"But he wouldn't even be in the hospital if I'd just…"
"What?" Owen interrupts me, "Just done what Reese wanted? Reese would still be an asshole, he'd hurt you and we'd all kill him anyway. Reese's stupidity is not your fault, his ego and not being able to let you go are his bad qualities and not something you're responsible for."
"I know but they might have killed Adam and after losing Dad…" I stop biting my lip and holding back the tears. "Reese is still being cocky, he's not admitting to anything but still threatening to get m…"
"When did you talk to him?" Owen cuts me off.
"A few minutes ago, I called him and he's not worried. I want you guys to kill him, when you find him I want you to kill him. I want him to hurt so bad he doesn't have any ego left. I don't know what I ever saw in him."
"Then next time I tell you a guy is bad news and stay clear of them you need to…"
I silence him by mashing my lips to his, kissing him hard. All my frustration and anger and fear all merge together and they all come out in the kiss, they merge and I want more. I push Owen back lying him down and pulling his shirt up, I get his fly open then sit up breaking the kiss. I start pulling off my shirt and Owen grabs my arms pulling my shirt back down.
"Stop, we can't do this Clare," Owen tells me.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of Drew, he said you could do anything you want with me."
"That's not at all what he said and we're not doing this," Owen replies and leaves my room.
When he's gone I curl up on my bed and start to cry, not so much upset about Owen just everything. My crying suddenly ceases with a gasp when I hear rapping on my window. I fear that it's Reese and consider yelling for Drew and the others. However I realize Reese probably would have opening the window and with everyone at the house he wouldn't be trying anything, even he can't be that stupid. So I go to the window drawing back the curtain and smile when I see Jeff. I open the window right away to let him in.
"What are you doing here?" I question while I'm hugging him tightly and grateful that he's here.
"Anya called and I heard about Adam, I knew you'd be upset so I came to see you," he tells me embracing me tightly.
"You drove an hour just because you knew I'd be upset?" I question pulling my head from his chest to look at him.
"And maybe I really missed you and this seemed like a good reason to come and see you."
"I'm glad you did," I grin releasing him and locking my door. I plug my phone into the speaker and turn on some music so no one hears us talking. Then I take Jeff's hand and bring him to my bed, he sits on it keeping his shoes off and I lie on the other side with his arm around me and using his chest as a pillow.
"So how's Adam?"
"The doctor said he would be okay, he had a punctured lung and a lot of bruises."
"Well that's good do you know who did it?"
"No one saw anything but I'm sure that Reese had his friends beat Adam up. I wrote you back, I only mailed the letter yesterday though."
"Yeah I guess I kind of broke my own rule about nothing but letters until Thanksgiving," Jeff laughs.
"That's okay I'm glad you're here and six weeks is a long time but I do like the idea of writing letters. It's sexy and fun," I smile.
"Well I had to do something to put me above all my competition; according to Anya you are quite popular with the male population. So just who is my competition?"
"Well Reese isn't competition anymore and when my brothers and our friends get a hold of him he'll be a dead man. Fitz is in juvie for at least six weeks so you don't have much to worry about with him right now. Owen and I are just having fun s…"
"Fun? Like the fun we had at the BBQ?"
"Yeah and Drew found out but he didn't kill Owen like he would have any other guy. Owen's one of his oldest and best friends so he told Owen we could fool around as long as he kept other guys from me."
"So I should watch out for Owen then. Anyone else I should be aware of?"
"Just Eli and he only became interested in me recently. He is cute but we haven't gone out or anything."
"Well that doesn't sound like the competition is too bad. At least there's only two guys I really need to worry about right now. They might get to be with you for the next six weeks but I'm going to you write to you every day and I have six whole weeks to plan what to do when I'm up here for a whole weekend with you," Jeff says and I grin. "It looks like you didn't eat your dinner," Jeff comments after a moment.
"I wasn't hungry can't stop thinking about Adam."
"You should eat," Jeff asserts getting up and bringing me my plate. He sets it on the bed and sits with me. I nibble a little and he nibbles a little too and we sit on my bed in silence. I don't eat very much and push away the plate after a while, Jeff leans back and I lean against him. "I'd love to stay all night but I have to drive back to Guelph and still have homework to finish," he says after a short time.
"You promise to write tomorrow?"
"Promise and I'll be back in six weeks," he replies with a grin and gives me a tender kiss.
I walk him to the window and he kisses me once more before hopping out. When he's gone I lock the window and grab my partially eaten dinner to take it to the kitchen. Just about everyone's in the living room and they look at me when I come out but no one says anything about me staying in my room or barely eating anything. Drew does tell me that everyone is sleeping over. Sean and Em will take Spin's room and Paige will sleep in Adam's with Maya on the floor on the air mattress. Everyone else will be in the living room. I toss my half eaten food and rinse my plate and put in the dishwasher. I walk back to my room nearly running into Owen as he comes out of the washroom.
"I'm sorry about earlier, I wasn't thinking. I was scared and angry; I just wanted to not think about it and was worried about Adam. I'm glad you stopped me though," I apologize.
"Because I care about you and I knew you would have regretted it. How you feeling? Did you eat?"
"I ate a little, I feel restless, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight I can't stop thinking about Adam."
"I can sleep in there with you, Drew's okay with it and I don't want you wandering around because you can't sleep especially with Reese out there."
"Thanks Owen," I smile standing on my tiptoes to kiss him.
(SEAN)
I sit at the table in the visitor room of Toronto Juvenile Correctional School; usually it's pretty full because they only allow visitors on Saturday. They also only allow family members to visit so I'm up here every Saturday, Mom will never come and the others can't. Today I'm the only one in here because it's Thursday and they only let you come on a day that's not visiting day when it's a family emergency.
"What's wrong with mom?" Fitz asks when he comes into the room and sits at the table with me.
"Nothing Mom is fine."
"Then why are you here they only let people come if it's a family emergency."
"Adam was beat up at school yesterday, pretty badly he's in the hospital. Adam's family I thought you should know, of course I had to tell the guards he was our cousin."
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Yeah he'll be out of the hospital on Saturday."
"How's Clare?"
"She stayed home from school to be at the hospital with Adam. You know how close those two are and Clare's convinced it was Reese's buddies that beat Adam up so she's feeling guilty. The rest of us are planning how to get Reese and his friends."
"Get them good, real good and tell Adam hi for me."
"Yeah I will, I gotta go to work. I'll be back on Saturday."
"Yeah tell the others I said hi and watch Clare, if Reese t…"
"We'll take care of Clare and we'll make sure Reese pays. You know you should just ask her to be your girlfriend," I advise my kid brother.
"Yeah I'm trying to make myself someone that's worthy of her," Fitz says and I grin.
I hug my brother and leave as he's escorted out. I have the day off and Emma has school all day and work tonight so I decide to go to the hospital. I haven't seen Adam yet and I know Spin went into work so someone should check on him and Clare.
"Hey how you feeling Adam?"
"Not sure they have me on morphine," Adam replies.
"Fitz told me to say hi," I told him.
"You saw Fitz? I thought you could only visit on Saturdays?" Clare questions.
"And for family emergencies, Adam being in the hospital counted. Do you guys need anything?"
"Clare needs to eat," Adam replies.
"I'm not hungry and Owen made sure I ate breakfast this morning," Clare shakes her head.
"Did you eat it off him? Is that why you two were in your room so long this morning?" I tease Clare and she twists her mouth at me. "Emma told me you two were fooling around but I thought she meant you guys were kissing and driving Drew crazy."
"He made sure I ate, if I wanted to eat it off of him I would have done it without so many people at the house," Clare shoots back.
"She still needs to eat and she won't leave," Adam says.
"I'll grab you something I have to eat too," I tell her.
"Thanks," Adam grins as I leave the room.
The cafeteria here has pretty good food so I go down and get a couple of sandwiches, a salad and two drinks. I eat in Adam's room, Clare and I split the salad and when I'm done with lunch I leave. Emma's between classes right now and I drive to Ryerson to see her.
"Hey what are you doing here?" Emma smiles when she sees me. Before I can answer she loops her arms around my neck and joins our lips for a kiss.
"Just wanted to see my girlfriend, needed to see you and I know you'll be working tonight."
"Did something happen?"
"No but I needed you. I went to TJCS to tell Fitz about Adam, then I went to the hospital and had lunch with Clare and Adam," I tell her taking her hand and pulling her to a bench so we can sit. "I have the day off and I really just wanted to be with my beautiful girlfriend."
"It's nice to see you and spend time with you even if it's just a few minutes. I love you," she grins turning to kiss me again.
"I love you too and you know I want to be with you for the rest of my life but right now my mom and Fitz need me. It wouldn't be fair to you."
"I know and I think it's wonderful the way you and Fitz take care of your mom and the way you take care of both of them. I'm really proud of you and it's one of the many things I love about you."
"They won't always need me, not like they do now. Fitz showed real signs of maturity today; I think he's growing up."
"That's great," Emma grins, "I really do love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you too."
I smile and cup her face ensnaring her lips for a blistering kiss.
(MAYA)
"I cleaned your room and we got it all set up for you. Mom said I could sleep over so you won't have to do anything," I tell Adam.
It's Saturday afternoon and he's finally being released from the hospital. I came with Clare and Spinner to bring Adam home. Spin was supposed to work but he switched the shift because he has to sign Adam out. Drew is at work, Paige and Bianca are at the house to get it ready for Adam and clean, just generally keep busy. Emma, Johnny and Lucas are doing the same. My mom is working so are Jay and Sean who already went to see Fitz. Jenna and K.C. are with Joey and Caitlin today.
"I can do things I just have to take it easy for the next couple of days," Adam replies.
"Someone will always be there with you, Reese and his friends weren't at school Thursday or Friday. Drew thinks they're hiding," Clare comments.
"Of course they're hiding they know they're dead men," Adam replies.
"Okay you're all set to go," Spinner says walking into the room.
Clare and I help Adam up, Spinner gets the bag of Adam's things and we go out to Spinner's car. I sit in back with Adam on the drive home. When K.C. told me on Wednesday that Adam was in the hospital I was so upset. He'll be okay after a few days of rest but it was scary. When we get home Spin helps Adam into his room and everyone comes in to greet him. After everyone says hi to Adam and makes sure that he gets settled they leave his room, all but me and Clare. We sit with Adam, talking about the last two days and after a while Adam falls asleep.
"Hey dinners almost ready and he's asleep you guys need to let him rest," Spinner says poking his head into the room.
"Okay," I nod.
"Maybe Maya and I should walk to the corner market and get Adam's favorite ice cream since he can't eat much," Clare suggests as we leave Adam's room.
"Yeah good idea, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes," Spinner says getting his wallet out and giving Clare some money.
We leave the house to walk to the market less than half a block away. Clare and I talking about what to do for Adam and how to keep him from getting cabin fever but we stop talking when a car pulls up alongside us.
"Hello Clare," Reese grins at her.
"Maya run back to the house and get the boys," she tells me and I turn to run but bump into someone.
"Oh I don't think so," Reese's friend says grabbing my arms and shoving me into their car.
"LET GO OF HER!" Clare screams hitting Reese's buddy.
"Get in the car," Reese says calmly but pulls out a switch blade and holds it to Clare's neck.
Clare and Reese get in the backseat with me and his friend while his other friend starts driving. Clare and I are squished in the middle I grip her hand.
"What do we do?" I whisper to her.
"It'll be fine just stay with me," she whispers back.
"You know beating your boyfriend was fun but I'll bet you're more fun," Reese's buddy says brushing my hair back.
"Don't touch her you creep," Clare snarls at him.
"I wouldn't worry about her Clare, I'd worry about yourself," Reese comments putting the knife to her throat again. Then he uses the knife to cut her purse straps and tosses Clare's purse out the window. "Can't have you calling the big brothers to come save you. I told you I'd get you before they got me."
Such an awful cliffhanger and you have to wait until the 22nd for the next update. Next weekend is a milestone birthday for my dad and there will be a big party so no chapter. The update will pick up around here.