LOGINThe 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
Tyler’s POVI have never driven this fast in my life.My car roars beneath me as I tear through the familiar roads toward Monty’s Cliff. Every few seconds, my eyes flick between the road and the little blue dot on my phone mounted beside the steering wheel.I grip the steering wheel harder. “Please be okay,” I whisper. “Please.”The road begins climbing toward the coast, and a line of parked cars comes into view. My pulse spikes at the sight of people gathered near the cliff’s edge, pointing and shouting.Before I can think of stopping the car, someone runs into the middle of the road, waving both arms. I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching across the pavement as Jake reaches my window before my car has completely stopped.“Jake?” I ask, rolling down my window. “What are you…?”“It’s Lila!” he shouts, breathing hard.My eyes widen. “Have you seen her? I know she’s here somewhere.”“No.” He shakes his head violently. “She’s in Noah’s car!
You’d think I’d have gotten used to the stares and whispers by now, but when I walk into the cafeteria holding Tyler’s hand, it’s like stepping onto a spotlighted stage all over again.Tyler, as usual, just doesn’t care. He squeezes my hand gently, leaning slightly closer. “Relax, Garcia
Every time Tyler’s lips graze the back of my hand, my heart skips a beat.He hasn’t let go of my hand since we resumed the drive to his house, and I feel his eyes on me every few seconds, like he’s still confirming I said yes.“You’re staring,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on the road.
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







