FORBIDDEN CH. 2 FRIEND
1/10/09
During my little blackout I was probably carried deeper into the forest because when I woke up I was in the middle of nowhere. There was a fire lit beside me, maybe to keep warm. My head hurt pretty badly. It was palpitating like crazy. I sat up on my elbows and looked around. No one was here. I was alone. Great, so I didn't know where I was and I was alone. "Hello?" I called. No one answered. I carefully stood up on my feet. I was still a little unstable.
I steadily walked toward a bigger tree. I couldn't even see the trail. I kept walking until my legs gave up. I sat down where I was and sighed. I dug for my phone inside of my pocket. Once I found it I dialed Phil's number. I didn't want Jacob to know that I got lost. And anyway, if I get Phil to come get me Jacob will never find out. He is so good at keeping secrets. I tell him everything.
I have known him since we were in diapers, literally. The only bad thing is that he goes to a different school than I do. I go to Collierville High, while he goes to Germantown High. The school he goes to is for smart people only. True, he is much smarter than me, but I can whoop his butt at monopoly. The phone started to ring and on the second ring he answered. "Hello?" He said in groggily. "Phil, hi it's me Eva. I need your help." I said.
I heard him swear on the other side of the line. "What happened?" I asked. I could hear paper being crumpled. "Nothing, I just read the grades on my report and I got a C in Science. I think I'm going to get kicked out of school." Phil's school was kind of strict and didn't let students get lower than a B. I felt sorry for him sometimes. "Well, I'm sorry, but the situation I am in right now is bigger than yours." He asked what the big situation was and I told him that I was lost in the woods. "I'll be right there, don't move an inch. I know the woods better than you."
He hung up the phone. I put the phone back in my pocket and laid back. The sun was starting to set. I kept my eyes open and stared at the sun. The sky was orange and pink and yellow. The sun was huge, so huge I thought it was coming too close to the Earth. Every inch of my body was aching. How did this all happen? I don't remember anything. I don't remember getting here and I don't remember getting all of these bruises. How did I get this blood on my jeans and t-shirt? All I remember is skipping class and coming in the woods. I remember seeing that new kid Addam. I remember seeing him punch someone by his car. After that I was blank. I must have gotten hit on the head pretty hard if I couldn't remember anything. I heard the cracking of a twig. I sat up and turned around.
It wasn't who I thought it would be. It was Addam. "Uh, what are you doing here?" he asked. I had no answer for him. I stood up carefully. I almost tripped over, but he held onto my arm to keep me steady. "What happened to you? You look like hell. Come on, I'll take you to the hospital." He pulled my arm. I was dazed. He didn't even know me. I just stared at him in amazement. Did I miss something?
He probably got tired of my pulling back, so he picked me up and carried my in his arms. This felt really weird. "Can you please cooperate with me if you want to get treated?" I nodded in answer to his question. I locked my arms around his neck and held on tight. He started to run. We were at his car in no time. He had the silver Arden Range Rover. I knew it had the wings. He slid up the passenger door for me and then sat in the driver's seat. My phone started vibrating in my pocket and it hurt.
"Hello?" I said, in pain. "Eva where the hell are you? I've searched the whole perimeter of the woods behind your school." He yelled. I couldn't speak so Addam took the phone and talked to Phil. "Hello, Phil right? Listen I found Eva in the woods alone covered in bruises and blood and I didn't want to leave her there so I'm taking her to the hospital. She's severely injured and needs to see a doctor right away. I hope you don't mind. You can come down to the hospital if you'd like to see her." He was talking so professionally. He hung up the phone and handed it back to me.
"He said he would meet you in the hospital. Don't worry my mother is a doctor over there so you can trust her." He reversed out of the parking spot and was on the road in a second. "How can I trust her if I don't know if I can trust you?" I finally said. I was starting to get my voice back. He stopped smiling and looked at the road. I looked at my arms and saw how hideous they really were. I had purple smudges all over me. I looked up and caught him looking at me.
"What?" I said. He shook his head and turned the radio on. We got to the hospital about ten minutes later. It wasn't that far from the school. He opened the door for me once again. I followed him to his mom's office. She was on the first floor so we didn't have to take the elevator or stairs. He went up to the receptionist and asked to see someone named Genevieve. Probably his mom.
We didn't have to wait. We went straight in, even though there was like no more room for anyone to sit down in the waiting room. We walked down a long hall until we reached a door that said, "Dr. Aciari's Office." It didn't say what kind of doctor she was. I wonder why. Addam knocked on the door and his mother, I suppose, answered. She had the same amber eyes that Addam had and the same color hair. She was beautiful. She looked like she was still in her twenties. She didn't look old enough to be a doctor at all. She had a perfect tan and a perfect complexion.
She looked kind and caring, but not like a mother at all. Addam stepped in and I followed. "Mother, this is Evangeline Greene. She goes to my school. I found her bruised and bloody lying down on the forest floor. Can you please check for any major injuries?" How did he know all of this? I don't remember telling him my name, or my last name. I just wish I could remember everything that happened to me before I blacked out.
The office was big, like a library. There were shelves with books and everything. There was a huge desk in the middle of the room. I just wish Phil would have taken me that way Jacob wouldn't find out. "Um, Addam, can you please not tell my dad, Jacob, anything. I don't want him to worry." I whispered. He nodded. "I won't tell him anything. But the few stitches that are going to close that gash in your head will." He smiled at his little joke. There was a loud rap on the door. Addam opened it this time.
It was Phil. He came in loudly and hugged me. "Are you okay? Wait what am I saying just look at you. What were you doing?" He turned to Addam. "Thank you for bringing her here. It was a good thing you were there. Thank you so much." Addam had stopped smiling when Phil came in. He nodded once and then went to talk to Dr. Aciari. After they were done she came up to me. She told me to sit down on a hospital bed. I hadn't seen this until now. I did as she said.
She checked my eyes first. "Follow my finger." She held up her index finger and a small flashlight. She moved them both at the same time. I did as she said and followed her finger. "Her vital signs seem to be okay. You just need a few stitches on your head." Her voice was so melodic. Every time she spoke, it was like she was singing. She went to get a bag from a drawer in her desk. "Could you please tell your boyfriend to step out?" she asked, her voice putting me in a trance. I saw Addam, a sad look on his face, in the background. I wonder why he was so depressed all of a sudden.
I quickly realized what Dr. Aciari had just said to me. "What? Phil, oh no, he is not my boyfriend. He is just a friend. We've been friends since kindergarten. Phil get out." I said. I was babbling. Yeah maybe to an outsider we probably look like we are together, but we aren't. Maybe when I was twelve I had a small crush on him, but I got over it. I also used to have a crush on Michael. I got over that too when he and Maddison started to go out. I knew I couldn't do that to my best friend. We are just friends now.
Addam was leaning against his mother's desk. "Wait, how come he gets to stay?" Phil yelled. I suddenly came out of my trance and noticed that Phil was still here. "Addam is my son. He stays no matter what. I actually need his help. So will you please....?" She motioned her hand toward the door. He silently walked out. "I am going to put an anesthetic on your head so you don't feel the pain. Addam could you pass me that." She motioned toward a huge needle. I closed my eyes quickly so I couldn't see anything.
Addam was visibly happier. I felt a small pinch and the next thing I knew my head was numb. She kept talking to me to make the time pass faster. "So, today is Friday the Thirteenth, did you think this was bound to happen?" The incident had totally made me forget that today is my birthday. "Yes, I did think this was bound to happen. This also happens to me on regular days. Today is my birthday, so I was actually looking forward to it." She gave a small laugh. "So you go to the same school as Addam, Nicolette, Elizabeth, Isaac, and Nathaniel eh?" she asked, cutting the thread. I was finished. The cut was closed and I was free to go home. "Yes I do, Addam is actually in my English and Biology class. And he and his brothers and sisters have the same lunch period as I do."
"Well that sounds great. You are done here, you can go home now."
"What about my fee?" I asked, confused. "Free of charge." She sat back down at her desk and started working. "I'll take you home." Addam said. He opened the door for me and I walked out. Once we were in his car I realized that my car was left in the student parking lot at school. "Um, Addam you can just drop me off at the school. I need to pick up my car." He made a U-turn and drove back toward the school. "I will follow you home in case something goes wrong. Like you faint or something." I nodded and we reached the school. I got out of his car and sat in mine.
I just remembered that I had forgotten about Phil. I took my phone out of my pocket and dialed his number. He answered on the first ring. "Eva, did the doctor say anything? Did you break any bones? Are you okay?" He started flooding me with questions about my health. "I'm fine, the bruises will go away. I had to get stitches on my forehead. The only thing I need to worry about is telling Jacob." I heard a chuckle in the background. It wasn't from Phil, but it was from Addam and his sister? How did she get here? It was Nicolette. They were laughing at something funny. This reminded me of when my brother and I used to hang out like that, but then he went to college.
We played pranks on each other a lot. Jason, my brother, and I had so many inside jokes. I miss him so much. He's actually engaged right now. He has a great job working for Microsoft. "Phil, I'll call you back later." I hung up the phone and reversed out of my parking space. I passed them and grieved for a moment on never getting to see my brother. Someone yelled stop and I slammed down the brake. There was a tap on my window and I rolled it down. "Yes?" I asked him. Addam held up my iPod and handed it to me. "Oh! Thank you! I would've gone mad without this!" I took it from him and set it down on the passenger seat. He smiled just a little bit.
He was shy? He looked so cute like that. Like a ten year old boy talking to his crush for the first time. Nicolette was smiling real big in the background. She waved to me and I waved back. "Hi! My name is Nicolette, but you can call me Nicole. Do things like this happen to you on a daily basis?" She was at my window in front of Addam. I shook my head no. "Not really. Sure in the summer I broke my arm, but that was the only severe injury this year. Today is Friday the Thirteenth so this is a different story." She laughed a little bit.
"Well, I have to go. Jacob is cooking tonight and I have to be there on time if I don't want to die of starvation." They waved goodbye and I drove away. I was getting the hang of driving now. I had to thank Phil for the car when I see him next time.
The next Monday was very harsh. My head ached and so did my body. I needed to go to school today. I had to see Addam again. Or at least hear his voice again. I was becoming addicted. Oh Eva, get over it. He only talked to you because you were hurt. My conscience was right. He only talked to me because I was severely injured. That was all. I shouldn't have such stupid scenarios on what he might do when he talked to me today. He probably wants to stay away from me.
I also felt stupid when I told him that I didn't know if I could trust his mom if I didn't know if I could trust him. That was a very stupid action. I rolled out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. I didn't want to see Jacob's face right now because I didn't want to see that face he gave me Friday night when I came home with stitches on my head. I lied to him and told him that I was walking to my car when I fell and hit my head on the curb. He believed me, but e was also furious. He was mad because I never informed him that I was going to be home late from school. I totally forgot about that.
I told him half of the truth. I said that one of the new kids at school took me to the hospital and his mom was a really big doctor over there so she fixed the gash free of charge. The face he gave me broke my heart. I hurt him and that I could not live down. After my shower I went downstairs and ate breakfast alone. Jacob had gone off to work early. He's an architect and he also owns a catering company. Right now he's working on restoring some really old house that has been here for centuries.
When I got to school I got a really good parking spot and I had a few minutes to spare before the bell rang. I talked to Maddison about a few things. Michael and she were going to the Winter Dance together and she wanted to know if I was coming. "No, not this year, I have too much on my mind right now and I can't even dance. So what's the point of coming when I'm only going to watch other people have fun?" I answered. Her face fell and I immediately felt sorry I even said anything. Amber came up to me and hugged me from behind. "Great news, I'm going to the dance with Nick Williams. He is so cute! He asked me and I said yes. Can you believe it? A girl like me going with a guy like him! Happy day!" She walked away and I thought she was crazy.
I had to head to English before Mr. Ferrel went mad. I rushed to class and made it just in time. I sat down in my regular seat. I noticed that while I was walking down the isle to my seat everyone was staring at my forehead. Once I sat down I noticed that Addam was right next to me. He was actually smiling today and......humming. "Addam, I just wanted to thank you for saving me yesterday." Once I said that he stopped smiling and faced me. "I mean I couldn't remember anything and it was great that you were there to take me to the hospital." He calmed down. He faced the front of the classroom. He was not smiling. He looked so peaceful when he smiled. I wanted to see that dazzling smile again.
He was sort of mysterious in a good way. "No problem. I was just worried for who ever got hurt." I stopped smiling. He was only trying to help. Why does that make me feel so mad? What did he even say that made me so mad? I hated feeling this way. Feeling so insecure and self conscious. I looked away from him. His amber eyes were liquid today. He didn't look irritated and agonized today. Mr. Ferrel started class and I stared out the window. What was going on over here?
After class I looked around for Amber and Maddison. I suddenly remember Amber telling me that she was leaving early for a doctor's appointment. Maddison was cutting class with Michael. I was going to dread lunch today. First, because I had to sit alone because when Michael and Maddison cut class, they cut class. Second, my lunch period was the same as Addam's. I didn't want to be in the same room as him anymore. He was too intimidating. My second period gym class was okay today. We played volleyball and that was fun. I like volleyball because I love to put my anger to the ball. I also get to calm myself down a little bit. The only bad thing is that I get hit in the head with the ball a lot. And with my new head injury and all, that was kind of bad.
This day was going by very slowly, I wanted it to end so I could just sleep and forget everything again, or remember everything again. I had no idea what happened before I woke up and found myself on the floor beside a fire, covered in bruises. I am very restless right now. I can't just let this pass thinking that it will come back to me sometime. I mean, what if it never came back? I needed to know. All I remember is that I saw Addam fighting with someone in the school parking lot. After that I remember going into the woods and listening to my iPod. Everything was blank after that.
1