Page 11 of Avenged

I didn’t want to manhandle her, but I didn’t know what else to do. She needed to go to the ER.

Violet was at the door and backed up as I came out holding her sister.

“Grab her things and meet me out at the pickup,” I told her.

“Do not grab my things,” Jersey said. Suddenly, she stopped fighting as a wave of pain made her face contort, and she tucked her knees toward her chest instinctively.

“Fuck,” I said and all but jogged down the stairs.

Violet was slamming doors and things behind me.

When I got to the pickup, I carefully placed Jersey in the passenger seat and went to put the seat belt on her when she sat up and shoved against my chest again. “I’m not going to the hospital.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”

“I always have a choice. It’s my body. This is just—” She looked away, cheeks flushing again. “It’s just a period. It’s just cramps.”

“Jersey, this isn’t just anything. Not if you’ve been throwing up and bleeding through everything.”

“Violet shouldn’t have called you.”

“I’m glad she did,” I told her.

“I can’t go…” she trailed off, pulling her legs up to her chest again, eyes closing.

“What’s the worst that can happen? They give you something for the pain—that’s the worst.”

“I can’t pay the bill, Travis. I don’t have insurance. I can’t afford to go.”

This stunned me into silence. She didn’t have medical insurance? Even as poor as I’d been growing up with Mom, we’d always had insurance. First, from my grandparents while Mom worked at their video store before they’d closed it in order to keep the one in Oregon alive, and then from the doctor’s office where Mom worked as a receptionist.

“Wait. But Violet takes a ton of medicines,” I said dumbly. It was true. I’d seen the prescription bottles while I lived with them.

“Yeah. She has Husky B. It’s the state-funded insurance for kids. I’m not a kid.” She rested her head on her knees as Violet came up behind me with a bag and a purse.

“Jersey, please. Let’s just go and make sure you’re okay. We’ll figure it out. Truck said he’ll get me a summer job at the academy,” she said.

Jersey’s eyes flew open. “You what?”

Anger, hurt, and pain were all reflected in those pale eyes.

“I didn’t say that. She asked, but I didn’t say I would,” I told her.

She pushed against me. “I’m going to be sick.”

Violet and I jumped out of the way as Jersey heaved onto the driveway. But nothing came out.

“Go get in the back,” I told Violet, waving at the driver’s side. Violet didn’t hesitate; she ran around and climbed inside. I carefully pushed Jersey back into the pickup and shut the door, then I jogged around to the other side.

They didn’t need to figure out a way to pay; I would. I had money in savings. Not a lot after paying for the first, last, and down on the house that was probably out of my real price range, but I had money and credit cards. Violet was right. We’d figure it out.

Jersey

STAR

“Everybody needs an answer,

Everybody needs a friend.

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