Page 95 of Talk Nerdy To Me
“I think I need a hospital,” I tell Krysta, who is nodding like she agrees as she limps beside me.
“Me too,” she says just before she drops to the ground, her hand gripping her side.
Someone actually steps over her instead of offering to help, and I drop to the ground on my knees beside her, that panic quickly returning because I don’t know what to do.
“Shit, I need a minute,” she says through strain. “Don’t leave.”
“I-I’m not,” I stutter, swallowing thickly.
My vision is boxing in, growing smaller and smaller, as my breaths come quicker and quicker, growing shallower with each one.
Everyone is everywhere, and too many are too close, and so many are so loud. The music is still so loud. All of it is too loud, and I can’t tune any one thing out as it all presses down on me, trying to come all at once.
Base is still singing, because I can hear him, and he’ll never hear his phone. And—
My thoughts cut off as my remaining vision lands on my brother just as he pushes away from his car, eyes widening as he just stares at me as if shocked.
I look around, wondering if my panicked mind has somehow tricked me into thinking this is really happening, since that makes more sense than Dane actually being here.
He hurries toward us, looking very much real, since people dart out of his way to keep from getting trampled as they fight over who was in line first.
He cuts through them all like a knife and doesn’t even bother asking what happened as he lifts Krysta. She whimpers in pain, and points out her ribs. I…I can’t really concentrate enough to hear her.
My hands start shaking as though the panic has doubled, and he gives me a tight expression as I force myself back to my feet, working through it.
“I wasn’t stalking. I promise,” he assures me as he gestures for me to follow him, his jaw ticking as he keeps any anger out of his tone. “I just worried, since this place is known for horrible crowd control, and they have two big bands coming up later. Talk to me, Britt. What do you think?”
“You were right to worry. And it’s more uncaring than violent,” I tell him, even as my voice shakes just a little, but I focus on this one conversation, just like I’m supposed to. “It happens so passively and so quickly that you don’t realize it’s happening.”
“I imagine,” he says, keeping his voice neutral as my nerves begin to calm. Safe. I feel safe. “I’ve been in rough crowds before. It escalates quickly.”
My vision slowly starts expanding as I sit down in the passenger seat of his car, cradling my injured hand to my chest.
“I think I got stepped on,” I say as he puts her down in the back. “Her ribs are hurt. Don’t be mad at Base. He was playing. He couldn’t see. There’s a lot of important people he gets to meet tonight, and the lights—”
“I won’t say a word,” he says tightly, cutting off my spitfire rambling and giving me a more forced smile when I look over at him.
“Promise?”
He just nods.
“He just isn’t as cautious as I am,” Dane tells me as he drives quickly through the traffic. “I’ll deal with this very peacefully, if you promise that next time you’ll skip a club I warn you about.”
I nod, definitely deciding that’s a smart decision I should have made.
Dane reaches over, clutching my shoulder, and I exhale shakily again.
“You’re in my car. You’re safe,” he says very quietly.
“I know,” I tell him as I shut my eyes, feeling my muscles begin to relax. “I know.”
“I’m so glad you’re her brother,” Krysta groans from the back seat. “Imagine that. Britt Sterling’s first bad life decision is the one time I’m with her. Ruby is going to kill me.”
“Ruby isn’t going to kill you,” Dane assures her before looking over at me as Krysta starts muttering something about being cursed.
Dane wastes no time grabbing a wheelchair for Krysta, and I go in, letting him takeover as he signs us in and starts doing the paperwork for both of us.
I sit down beside him as Krysta stays in the wheelchair.
