LOGINCHAPTER 120
The Brooks’ house has felt warmer these past few days, and that probably has to do with Tyler’s Dad being less of a… well, jerk… since the accident.It isn’t just the “formal” family photos displayed anymore. Finger-painted masterpieces from Sophie and Lucas are now proudly stuck to the refrigerator with colorful magnets. One of Tyler’s old football trophies sits crookedly on a shelf because, according to Mabel, “life is too short to care if things are perfectly straight.”CHAPTER 120The Brooks’ house has felt warmer these past few days, and that probably has to do with Tyler’s Dad being less of a… well, jerk… since the accident.It isn’t just the “formal” family photos displayed anymore. Finger-painted masterpieces from Sophie and Lucas are now proudly stuck to the refrigerator with colorful magnets. One of Tyler’s old football trophies sits crookedly on a shelf because, according to Mabel, “life is too short to care if things are perfectly straight.”It’s slowly becoming one of my favorite places in the world.Which is probably why Tyler’s text this afternoon makes me smile.Tyler: Mom’s really serious about throwing a party for her birthday. She says she wants you to come over and help with decorating. But I think she really just wants to gossip about me.Me: Your mother and I have better things to talk about.Tyler: Ha ha, very funny.Me: Enjoy practice.Tyler: Whatever.I laugh as I pocket my phone and rin
The strange thing about life is that it never stops.No matter how earth-shattering something feels in the moment, the world somehow finds a way to keep turning.A few weeks ago, I was sitting outside an operating room, wondering if Tyler was going to survive. Now, I’m sitting in Calculus pretending to understand derivatives while Maya doodles little hearts around Alex’s name in the margin of her notebook.Life is weird like that.“Mr. Holland.”I blink, turning around with the rest of the class just in time to see Jake throwing a ball of paper at Tyler. An exasperated sigh leaves my mouth as I roll my eyes. Honestly, I don’t know which I prefer, those two as antagonizing enemies or chaotic friends.Mr. Larry glares at Jake, who looks completely unbothered. “Since you have nothing better to do than disrupt my class. Would you care to solve the problem on the board?”“…No?”The class bursts into laughter.Mr. Harrison pinches the bridge of his
Tyler’s POVEverything hurts.My ribs ache every time I breathe too deeply, my neck feels stiff, my head is pounding with a dull, relentless throb, and every machine around me seems determined to remind me I almost died with their rhythmic beeping.The nurse finishes checking my IV before smiling kindly. “You’ve had quite a few visitors today.”I smile weakly. “So, I’ve heard.”“Try not to overdo it. Your body needs rest.”“I’ll try.”She nods and steps out of the room, gently pulling the door shut behind her.I close my eyes, my body immediately begging me to fall asleep again. But I can’t stop thinking about Lila.The image of her terrified face through Noah’s passenger window refuses to leave me. The panic in her eyes as she mouthed my name… I’d never been so scared in my life. Nothing compares to believing I might be about to watch the girl I…The door clicks open, and I don’t need to look. I’d recognize those footsteps anywhere.
CHAPTER 117As I walk back into the hospital, it almost feels like I’ve lived an entire lifetime since I left only a few hours ago.Unfortunately, Jake got a call from his sister halfway here, so he can no longer stay with me. “I’ll come by tomorrow,” he promises. “If you need anything…”I nod, smiling. “I’ll call.”He seems conflicted as he looks past me. “When he wakes, tell him…” He exhales, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Tell him I’m still not letting him off easy on the field.”Before I can think twice about it, I take a step forward and wrap my arms around him in a hug. “Thank you, Jake. For being there.”Jake immediately goes rigid, his muscles slowly easing as seconds pass by. Eventually, he hugs me back. “See you around, L.G,” he says, before walking away.I watch him leave before taking a slow breath and heading towards the waiting area. My strides slow when I see my parents already there.Mom looks exhausted, her eyes swollen from cryin
CHAPTER 116I’ve never been to a police station before, but it doesn’t take a few seconds for me to decide that I hate it.Jake walks beside me through the front doors without saying much. We’d barely been in the hospital for an hour when one of the nurses insisted Tyler would still be in surgery for a while and that sitting in the waiting room would not make it go any faster.Since the police needed my statement, Jake offered to go with me.His hands are shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, looking just as exhausted as I feel.Neither of us has changed out of our ruined clothes. And every time I notice the dried blood on my sleeve, my stomach turns.A detective leads us into a small interview room. “I’m Detective Boris. I’ll just need Miss Garcia’s statement.”Jake nods. “I’ll wait outside.”I immediately shake my head and grab his arm. “No.”He looks surprised, but he doesn’t question it. He immediately turns to the detective. “Can I stay with
It feels like someone has reached into my ears and ripped every sound away.I cannot breathe, move, or think. The crash was so loud that all I hear now is silence. I stare straight ahead, my hands still gripping the dashboard so tightly my fingers ache.We’re... alive.The realization barely has time to register before my eyes drift toward the driver’s side window. Toward the road where Tyler’s car is...“No.” The word leaves my mouth as a whisper.The sleek sports car is barely recognizable, the entire front end crushed into the guardrail. Smoke curls from beneath the mangled hood, and one of the headlights flickers weakly before dying altogether.My heartbeat and sound return all at once, fast, violent, and terrifying. “Tyler.” My voice cracks as I fumble for the door handle that won’t open. The impact has jammed it shut. “No!” I shove harder, again and again, until it finally gives way.I stumble out of the car on shaking legs. The salty ocean win
The late afternoon sun glints off the hood of Tyler’s car as I help him into the passenger seat.After two days, the hospital finally decided to discharge him. And apart from the twins, Alex, and Maya, no one else visited. Not even his parents. “Careful,” I murmur, keeping my hand on his good arm
Tyler’s POV“Again.”Alex groans from across the yard. “Dude. This is so not what I had in mind when I asked if I could come hang.”I toss the football at him anyway. “Again.”He catches it automatically, but doesn’t throw it back. Instead, he stares at me like I’ve completel
“Okay, Liam,” I say, crouching to zip up the four-year-old boy’s hoodie. “Rule number one of playground adventures?”Liam flashes me a toothy grin. “No running into the road!”“Correct.”The park is louder than usual today, and Liam is practically bouncing on his feet, eager to j
My thumb hovers over the screen of my phone, ready to tap it again even though I’ve read the message on it nine times.Congratulations. Your submission has successfully passed the preliminary stage of the Northbridge Institute of Fine Arts National Student Competition.A small sound







