Page 37 of The Second Kiss
She’s still talking. “Part of my job is to keep you safe, and right now there are physical signs I can’t ignore, the broken arm, the bruises.” She leans closer. “You don’t have to be embarrassed or afraid. I just want to help. Whatever it is, it isn’t your fault.”
I jerk my arm off the desk. Pain shoots through my wrist. I can’t hide the disgust in my voice. “I broke my wrist when I almost fell out of a tree while we were playing paintball. Call my mom and ask her, or bring in my real friends. They’ll tell you what happened.”
She starts to say something, but I stand up. “I’m sorry to waste your time. Maybe you should get the facts before you listen to anonymous reports.”
She sits there with that dumb, sympathetic look on her face.
“Can I please go now?” Without waiting for her answer, I go to the door.
“I’m obligated to call your parents about this,” she calls after me.
“Go ahead.” I shut her office door behind me, resisting the urge to slam it.
Class just let out and I’m walking against the current. Someone laughs. I catch my name in bits of conversation. I’m going crazy. It feels like everyone is talking about me.
Taryn catches me by the arm when I walk by without seeing her. “Hey, are you okay?” She pulls me over to the wall and out of the stream of students.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I lean back and try to get control of myself. I reach into my pocket and touch smooth silver. “I have to get out of here.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home. I don’t feel good.”
“Do you have your car?” The look on her face is the same one the counselor was wearing. I’ve had about as much sympathy as I can stand.
“No. I’ll walk over to the middle school and get my mom’s car. Then I’ll pick her up after school.”
“Okay.” She looks like she wants to say more, but I turn away. "Call me later?"
I don't answer. I shove my backpack in my locker and head out the back door without bothering to sign out in the office. I walk for two blocks and then break into a run toward home. My head pounds and my wrist throbs. I ignore it and run until the pain blocks out everything else.
I'm so numb that I don't notice the car until it's right behind me. I step off the side of the road to get out of the way and fall. I catch myself with my right hand. Pain shoots up my arm. I curl into a ball and roll into the gutter.
seventeen
Rescue
Iblink a couple of times because I can't believe he's here. "Jacob?"
"Jess, what the...? Are you okay?" He kneels next to me.
I roll to my side to face him, still in shock that he's here. I work to sit up without using my right arm. "Yeah. I think so."
"What are you doing out of school?" He reaches like he wants to help, but he's not quite sure if he should touch me.
"I didn't feel good. I decided to go home."
"You decided to walk home? It's got to be like five miles from the school to your house, and with your broken arm..."
“Wrist,” I snap. I'm hurt, embarrassed, and shaken by everything that's happened today. I don't mean to take it out on him, but I do. "I don't have a car that runs, so I walked. What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be on base?"
"I worked the night shift. One of the parts came in for your car. I wanted to see if I could get it installed." He sits back. "Sorry I scared you, and made you fall...again. Here, let me help." He puts his hands under my elbows and stands, lifting me until I'm on my feet again. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm okay, I think." I step back, but my voice sounds shaky, even to me.
"Is it broken?" he gestures at the cast.
"Yeah."
