“If you’ll look over here at this x-ray, Kris, you’ll see what’s up with your ribs,” the doctor said. It was the same doctor that took care of her when she was in the hospital after the accident. Kris trusted him with her life, and that was a lot these past few months. Kris looked up at the x-ray. It was definitely broken, that was obvious. The rib was cracked in half, but luckily still in place. “So, mind me asking what happened?”
“I fell down the stairs.”
“Ouch.”
“Luckily it was only the last couple. I was carrying the laundry down and tripped.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t have broken if you weren’t in such a brittle state. That rib just healed.”
“Trust me, I’ll be living downstairs from now on.”
“I’ll just give you some pain killers and you’ll be all set to go.”
“I got enough. You gave me way too many last time.” Kris got up carefully and brushed the wrinkles out of her shirt.
“You sure?”
“Yes, I have enough. More than enough. You’re trying to get me addicted, aren’t you?” she asked with a smile.
“You caught me.”
“I knew it! See you later.”
“Hopefully outside the hospital, Kris.”
“Hopefully.” Kris grabbed her purse and walked out of the hospital. After she stepped out, she looked back. She wished that she’d never have to go back there. The car wasn’t that far off, but she had to get shoved onto the side of the road twice because of ambulances. That was the one thing she hated the most about hospitals. So many sick and dying people in one place. She didn’t want to go to the hospital because her problems felt so inferior to some of the things she saw in there.
Kris got into her car and pulled out onto the road. As she drove home, all she could think about was the lousy day she had. She got out of school at three and drove straight to the hospital. It was nine at night now. So many delays and things to check at the hospital that she didn’t get out until now. She was sure that Brian left ten messages on her machine.
School wasn’t any better. Every class she had with Brian she could feel his eyes bearing straight into her, silently questioning her. He was wondering all day if she would crack and tell somebody what really happened. Of course she didn’t, and she didn’t want to. She knew if she said anything to anyone Brian would beat the shit out of her, and she was looking forward to being sent back to the hospital.
She pulled up into the driveway and grabbed her bookbag from the back of the car. She was lucky homework was pretty much obsolete to Seniors, or the rest of her ribs would crack in half. Now what to say to her mother? The trip to the emergency room took way long than expected. She figured she’d be home before her mom pulled in at seven, but she wasn’t so lucky.
“Where the hell have you been?” Cynthia asked when Kris walked in the door. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“Me and Brian were studying for the big Chemistry test at the library! I thought I told you!”
“I thought you just had a Chemistry test.”
“No, that was English.”
“Alright, but next time make sure you tell me where you’re going. I had no idea and I was really worried.”
“I’m sorry mom.” She put her bag down. “Mr. Siracusa mentioned you guys were going out again this weekend, but he wouldn’t give me details. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, he said he was going to surprise me. That’s probably why he didn’t want to say anything to you.”
“Well let me know how it goes. You know me and Brian are going out for my birthday.”
“Yeah, but make sure you take care of yourself. And you know if it was anyone else I wouldn’t let you stay over.”
“I know, I know. But it’s Brian so everything’s okay. We’ll be fine.”
“Did he give you sympathy for your wounds?”
“Yes, and I think he’s starting to baby me. He insisted on carrying my books wherever we went.”
“That boy is so good to you.”
“I know. But don’t expect anything big, mom. I’m still seventeen.”
“Eighteen tomorrow.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Kris sorted through the mail, just in case she got anything, then went upstairs to check her messages. She looked at the machine, then laughed. “Eleven, I was off one.” She pressed play and sat down to listen.
“Hey Kris it’s Brian—” Click.
“Kris—” Click.
“Where the hell are you?—” Click.
“Hey Kris, it’s Taylor.” She took her hand away from the next button, and turned the volume up. “I know it’s been a while, and I doubt you want to even hear my voice right now but we’re in town for the week and I figured I should call you. Zac told me you called up Misty and you talked to him for a little bit…well anyway we’re in the Chicago Marriot, the same place we always stay. If you want to talk I’m here, pretty much anytime. I think you still got my cell number lying around somewhere. If not, oh well…”
Kris grabbed the phone and immediately dialed the number to his cell phone. Right after she dialed, she hung it up again. What the hell are you doing? She bit her lip and looked at her phone. It wouldn’t hurt to just call him and say hello. It wasn’t like they were running off to get married or anything…
“No, don’t do it,” she whispered to herself. She dialed a different number and put the phone to her ear. “Hey, Brian?”
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Loser, I was at the doctor.”
“For six hours?”
“I broke a rib, it takes a while to x-ray, check everything out, get a check up for everything else in my body, and put the bandages around my chest.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes! I just got back from the hospital five minutes ago, Brian. But I’ll be fine, thanks for asking.”
“Whatever. Are we still on for this weekend?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?”
“Well you’ve been a bitch lately, I just figured you’d blow me off to go do something else.”
“No, just because things haven’t been going well since yesterday doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. I’m actually looking forward to being with you.” She bit her lip. She was lying, but so far he was believing it.
“Well, okay.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“If I told you, Kris, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises, tell me now!”
“No, Kris.”
“Come on! Tell me!”
“I said no,” he answered, his tone slightly harsher now. She wondered how these mood swings got triggered. He went from bearable to bitter with the snap of her fingers.
“Oh, okay.”
“You better learn when no means no, Kris. I don’t want to spend an entire weekend with you if you don’t understand when I say no, I mean you should shut up.”
“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have went on. I’ll learn.”
“Well I’ll let you go and think about what you’ve done. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Alright, see you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, then hung up the phone. He sure as hell had a way of making her feel lower than crap. She didn’t know if it was the way or he said it or just the things he said, but lately when she talked to him she always felt inferior when she left.
Kris didn’t know if calling Taylor at that moment would make her feel better or worse. It’d been so long since they’d talked. First off it’d be awkward, and second off she had no idea what she was going to say to him. For a second she thought writing down a few things, but that’d seem so stupid that she immediately dismissed the idea. Maybe Cynthia could give her a bit of advice.
Kris walked downstairs and looked around for her mother. She found her in the kitchen, fixing herself something to eat. “Nothing for me?” Kris asked.
“You’re going to be eighteen tomorrow, don’t you think it’s time you starting making your own meals?”
“No.”
“Well you’re going to have to because I don’t feel like it.” Kris sat down on a chair and looked glumly at her mother. “What’s wrong?”
“Taylor called while I was out.”
“Well did you call him back?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I don’t know what to say. It’s going to be weird talking to him again, and I really don’t want to start anything up again. Brian will get upset if he ever finds out.”
“Screw Brian, now that Taylor’s calling again you should really go back to him.”
“Mom? I thought you liked Brian.”
“I liked Taylor a lot more.”
“Why?”
“He’s got money!”
“Mother! I had no idea you were that low!” Cynthia shrugged.
“I don’t care. He’s cute, he likes you, he happens to have lots and lots of money. I just want my daughter to be happy. It’d just be nicer if my daughter could be happy and rich at the same time. You never know, Mom might need a new pair of shoes or a new car or something.”
“You know his money doesn’t interest me at all. If it did I’d stay with him forever and ever. But I’m not that way. I do it for love, not for money.”
“Yeah, and the pope’s a disturbed transsexual.”
“That’s where I got it from!” Kris suddenly said. “You say it all the time. Mr. Siracusa asked me where I got that from this morning and I couldn’t remember. But anyway, I’m not that way. I don’t care what you say. And the reason I came down here was to see what you think about me calling Taylor.”
“Sure, call him, I don’t care.”
“Do you think Brian would get mad?”
“Don’t let Brian find out. Your first mistake is to even think about Brian in this situation.”
“Fine, I’ll call him.”
“Can I listen?”
“No!”
“Fine.” Kris walked out of the room and back into her bedroom. She grabbed the phone and quickly dialed Taylor’s cell number. She put the phone to her ear.
“Don’t pick up, don’t pick up, don’t pick up…”
“Hello?”
“Taylor?”
“Kris? Hi! I wasn’t really expecting you to call back…”
“Well I got up enough nerve to talk to you. I guess I’ve been wanting to; I just haven’t had the guts to do so.”
“I’m taking you really don’t want to talk to me.”
“I might as well, Taylor, it’s not like I hate you or anything.”
“I would have thought otherwise.”
“Taylor…”
“Kris…” She smiled. “Zac told me you’re back with Brian.”
“Yeah. Actually we just have our one-month anniversary yesterday. And we’re spending the weekend together for my birthday.”
“I was going to call you tomorrow instead of today for your birthday but of course I’m stupid.”
“You’re not that bad, Taylor.”
“Well, happy early birthday.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m still older than you, so it doesn’t make any difference.”
“Yeah, yeah, shut up. It’s three hours to my birthday, don’t ruin my time of glory.” Taylor laughed. She forgot how much she missed his laugh.
“Is he being good to you?” Kris thought about it. It took her a little bit to get what he was asking, but now that she got it, she wished she didn’t hear it.
“Yeah, he is.”
“You sound convincing.”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s everything I want and more.” Kris immediately scolded herself in her head. That was not the right thing to say.
“Well I’m just glad you’re happy,” Taylor said. “You are happy, aren’t you?” Not as happy as I could be with you, Kristina thought, and closed her eyes.
“Yes.” Taylor was another person that she couldn’t lie to.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Then don’t. I’m happy with Brian. A lot has changed since the last time we’ve talked, Taylor.”
“I’m sure.” Kris got up and walked to the mirror. She shifted her weight to her good leg; the other one was starting to hurt again. It must have been from walking on it all day long. The mirror showed her, bruised and beaten, tired and weak, and extremely upset at herself. She hadn’t looked this disheartened at herself since the accident. But she knew that was more over Taylor than her physical wounds.
“Look, Kris, I got stuff to do right now. Happy birthday, I miss you, goodbye.”
“I miss you too.”
“Then why can’t I see you anymore?”
“Because it’ll ruin everything I have with Brian.” She left him at that, and hung up the phone. She threw the phone onto the bed and then sunk to the floor.
“Shit.”
“You look a bit better today,” Mr. Siracusa said, looking up at Kris from his desk. He had his radio on, and it blasted some new song that Kris didn’t bother to pay attention to. This time, there was no one else in the classroom yet.
“Not really.”
“Why?” She pulled up her shirt a little and showed him the trace of her bandage on her stomach. “What’s that?”
“I cracked a rib.”
“That must have been some door.”
“You know it wasn’t a door.”
“I’m keeping your story, though. It’s what you want to hear, isn’t it?” Kris sighed and opened her locker. She was surprised to find a bouquet of white roses in back of her locker, a card dangling from the side.
“Brian doesn’t know I like white roses…” Kris said, and then looked at the card.
Happy birthday…love Taylor.
“Oh my God.” She shut her locker door. “Who was in here?”
“It’s been just me since I got in here.”
“No one else walked in here? Not at all?”
“Well a delivery man walked in with a bunch of white roses and asked for your locker number, but that’s pretty much it.”
“I’d consider that someone!” She took the bouquet out of her locker and looked over them. “They’re really pretty, but I can’t take them.”
“Want me to put them in something? I’ll keep them here until you go home.”
“No, I don’t want them.” She put them on the desk and started getting out her books for the day.
“Why not?”
“They’re from Taylor. I can’t take anything from him. I don’t even want to think about him right now.” She grabbed a book and threw it in her bookbag.
“Don’t get angry because someone cares about you enough to give you flowers for your birthday.” She rolled her eyes. “Fine then, I’ll just give them to your mother.”
“Take the card out first. Mom won’t like the idea of recycled flowers.”
“I won’t say anything if you don’t say anything.” He put the flowers on the ground next to him, then left the room in search for a little bucket with water. A few minutes after he left, Brian came in.
“I was looking for you this morning. I should of known you were in here talking with Mr. Siracusa. Are he and your mom still dating?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s dirty.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with it. My mom’s allowed to do what she wants, and so is Mr. Siracusa. I found it a little odd when they hooked up but they’re both cool about it and I just want my mom to be happy.”
“Yeah, whatever. Well I got you this,” he said, and pulled a tulip from behind his back. Kris smiled. At least he knew she liked tulips better than most flowers (besides white roses).
“Thank you! You didn’t have to.”
“You know I did.”
“I was just trying to be polite.” She took the flower and kissed him. Taylor’s flowers were better. “But still, thank you.”
“I knew you liked tulips, so I found one around…”
“Just lying around?” Kris joked. “It was sitting on the side of the road, just waiting for someone to pick it up, right?”
“Yeah. I was gonna get you some other ones, but it was just lying there helpless, screaming out ‘take me, take me’ as I walked by. I felt bad.”
“You’re a nut.”
“You know it.” At least he’s in a good mood today. “So, how’s your rib?”
“Broken and bandaged, but better.”
“Where’s Mr. Siracusa anyway?” he asked, looking around. “I know I saw him in here earlier.” Kris tried to think of a lie, but none came to her mind. The last thing she wanted to say was that Taylor gave her flowers, but it was the only thing she could say.
“He went out to get some water. I got flowers from Taylor today, and I didn’t want them, so I gave them to Mr. Siracusa. He’s gonna give them to my mother…”
“Taylor gave you flowers? Nice ones?” Kris nodded, looking away. “Are they in here?”
“Behind the desk.” Brian walked behind the desk and saw the beautiful bouquet of flowers lying there. “He really shouldn’t have, and I didn’t want them anyway.”
“You like white roses?”
“Yeah.”
“More than tulips?” Kris backed up as Brian came close to her. “Well?”
“Yeah.”
“How come you never told me you liked them better? Just so he could give you the better bunch?”
“Brian! It’s flowers! I didn’t even want Taylor to give me anything! I haven’t even talked to him since we broke up, this was entirely his move.” Brian pushed her into the lockers, causing a big bang and a cry of pain from Kris. As she slid to the ground, Brian failed to notice that her locker was inverted.
“Are you lying to me?”
“No!”
“I don’t believe you.” He picked her up and smashed her against the lockers again, but this time he held onto her by her shirt. She cried out again, but he put his hand over her mouth. “Shut up! Do you want to cause someone to walk in here?” She shook her head. “When was the last time you really talked to him?”
“Yesterday.”
“I knew it. I knew he wouldn’t send anything if he hadn’t talked to you.”
“But Brian, he called me, I didn’t call him…”
“Shut up! I don’t care who called who, I just knew you talked to him. And before you know it, you’ll be seeing him again behind my back. I’m not going to take it this time, Kris.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears coming to her eyes.
“I bet you are.”
“No, I really am. I didn’t mean for anything to happen. I don’t want to be with him, I only want to be with him. Stop being so jealous over something as stupid as a phone call!”
“Are you telling me what to do?”
“No.”
“I think you are.” He slapped her across the face, on the opposite cheek of where she had a bruise. “Remember, I own you know. You’re mine, and you can’t do anything to change that.” He leaned in so his lips were next to her ear. “If I can’t have you, no one can.” He let go of her and walked out of the room.
She slid back to the ground and started to cry. When the door opened again, she dried her eyes and looked up. Mr. Siracusa had a small bucket with water in it, but it dropped to the ground when he saw her. “Kris, what happened to you?”
“That door attacked me. You should of seen it! I just was trying to walk out of the room and boom! It hit me!” Instead of the smile she hoped to see, Mr. Siracusa only grew more worried.
“That’s why your locker’s inverted?” Kris looked up. She didn’t notice it either.
“It can throw objects pretty damn far.”
“Who did this to you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He sighed. “Do you think I could go home? I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it through a full day of school.”
“You’re in no condition to drive yourself home. I’m taking you there.”
“You don’t have to do that, I can take myself home. I mean the bell’s gonna ring in a few minutes and you have a homeroom to take care of…”
“I can get someone to cover for me.” He helped her get up. Halfway there, she winced and whimpered, and just sat on the ground again. “Well the first part of going home is getting off the ground.”
“It hurts too much.”
“Come on.” She stood, despite her pain, and began to walk. It killed, but she made it to the office without a big deal. Most people were too busy talking with each other than to pay attention to a limping girl and a teacher on their way to the office. Once inside the office, Kris took a seat on the sofa while Mr. Siracusa walked up to the desk. She tuned out whatever they were talking about and tried to focus on getting in a position where there was as little pain shooting through her as possible.
“Yes, I’m taking her home. She’s in absolutely no condition to take herself home.”
“Why don’t you let her mother come to pick her up? You are not her guardian. As much as you think you are, you’re not. There’s no one available to look over your class while you go out and take random students home!”
“She’s hurt, now let me take her home.”
“Fine, do what you want.” The woman behind the counter rolled her eyes and went back to her desk. “I’ll send someone over.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Siracusa turned around, a bit exasperated. “Come on, let’s go.” Kris pulled herself slowly up, wincing as she straightened her back out, and followed him to his car.
“What are we going to do about my car? And my stuff?”
“I’ll take care of it.” He opened the door for her, and she slowly sat down in the car. After she got in, he closed the door and went to the driver’s side of the car. “Are you alright? Do you want me to take you to the doctor?”
“No, I’ll be fine. If I’m not better by tomorrow I’ll go to the doctor. But I think I should be fine.”
“You’re not going to tell me what happened, are you?” She didn’t say anything, but that was all he needed out of her. “That’s okay, I don’t need to know. It’s not my business.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Just, if it gets too out of hand, tell someone. I’m worried something could happen to you, and no one would have a clue.”
“A few people have a clue what’s going on; they just don’t want to say anything to me about it. Like Mike, I know he doesn’t believe me and I’m not the best person when it comes to lying. Especially not to the people I’m close to. I just try to get out of it, but I know one of these days I’ll crack.”
“As long as you say something before whoever’s doing this to you ends up pushing it too far.”
“I’m telling you, that door! It’s vicious!” Mr. Siracusa cracked a smile. He made an abrupt stop, causing her to lunge forward slightly.
“Sorry.”
“Dammit, I hate cars.” She shivered, thinking of why she hated cars.
“Why?” I knew he was going to ask that, she thought.
“You know about the accident.”
“That’s why?”
“Well, yeah. I was in the hospital for three weeks. Broken skull, punctured heart, a few broken ribs, the whole bit.”
“Did you have to get stitches?”
“Yup, but I had the least out of all of us. I only had fifteen. Five in my head, five on my leg, and five here on my arm,” she said, and stuck out her arm to reveal a scar. At least I wasn’t as bad as the rest of them. I walked out and I look pretty much the same. I mean Taylor had 166 stitches. His arm is just one big scar. The stitches outlined the back of his hand, went up the inside of his arm, stopped around the middle of his forearm, then started up again around his elbow. He broke his leg, completely messed up his neck, and had to have his hairline sewed back together.”
“Was he the worst?”
“On external injuries. Zac was the worst overall. I mean I was in surgery forever trying to help out my skull but Zac was in a coma. He had a piece of the car stuck in his stomach. Plus he kinda had a drug overdose, so he had to get his stomach pumped.”
“You had drugs?”
“We were at a club. Zac met a girl who got some Ecstasy and we were all pretty high that night. Zac passed out—that’s why we left. Taylor drove drunk, we ran a light and got smacked by two cars on both sides. I didn’t have a seat-belt on, and we were in a convertible, so I flew out of the car and landed about thirty feet away.” Kris looked down at her feet, carefully avoiding the windows. When driving she was fully observant, but if she didn’t have to look, she didn’t.
“So now you’re afraid of cars?”
“Not exactly, I just don’t like them.” She closed her eyes, pain shooting through her back. It didn’t stop, no matter how she tried to ease the pain. “Maybe you should take me to the doctor.”
“Are you alright?”
“I don’t think so. My back really hurts.”
“Okay.”