Four - Consequence

I shake my head in disappointment as I listen to my mother speak on the other end of the phone. She sounds genuinely worried.

She's relaying everything Ava told her about what’s happened to us in the last two weeks.

Down to the part where we went to Carl's house for revenge for Jayden. Can you believe that?

Can’t say I’m surprised. Ava and my mom have this weird daughter–mother relationship. It’s been like that since we were kids. Ava literally tells my mom everything.

Sometimes I wonder if my mother easily agreed for us to be put in the same dorm because she had her own ulterior motives — getting Ava to spy on me and report back to her since I’m a closed-off bitch who barely talks to her most times.

I love my mother, yes, but I don’t usually tell her my business. I’ve just been this way since I was a kid.

The only thing I have close to a best friend is Ava, and that bitch has betrayed me more times than I can count. And it’s funny because I forgive her every single time.

However, listening to all the things my mom is saying, I feel like driving my fist into Ava’s mouth.

“I can’t believe she sold me out,” I huff when my mother finishes talking.

Her voice comes through the device, soft and tender. “Ava didn’t snitch on you, Whitney. She’s worried about you.”

“Yeah, right.” I suppress the urge to roll my eyes at her defense. “Like all the other times she’s gossiped about my business to you.”

“Come on, baby girl, you know it’s not like that. We both have your best interests at heart. I’m your mother. She did the right thing involving me.”

I shake my head as I stare down at the novel in my hand. “Well, I’m fine, Mom. It’s not that serious.”

“Are you sure? She mentioned you haven’t been the same since the incident. Wanna talk about it, baby girl?”

“I’d rather not, because it’s nothing, Mom.”

“Hmmm.”

I decide to change the topic. “What else did Ava tell you aside from our failed mission?”

My mother replies, “She said you both were lucky you didn’t get caught, and I’m grateful for that, Whitney. What the hell were you even thinking? How could you be so reckless?”

“Here we go again.”

“This isn’t an argument. I’m calling you out on your bad behavior,” she counters.

“Yeah, right. Bad behavior…” I mutter.

“You know, sometimes I wonder where you got that from, because you sure didn’t get that stubbornness from me. Maybe from your father!”

“Please, can we not do this right now?” I retort. “Please. Don’t mention him.” I’m boiling on the inside, and this close to hanging up on her.

She knows how I feel about my father. She knows how much I hate it when he’s mentioned, talk more of implying that I resemble him in character.

My mom sighs, her voice softening. “I’m sorry. Sorry I broke my promise. I won’t mention him again.”

“Thank you.”

“Baby girl, but you need to be careful. Seriously. I’m really worried here. I’m barely holding back from catching the next flight to L.A…”

“Mom, I said I’m fine. I’m not a kid anymore,” I add calmly, reassuringly. “I can handle myself.”

“Well, I better hope that’s true.” She pauses. “And don’t hold this against Ava, alright? She’s a good friend. She only meant to help.”

“I hear you.” I sigh loudly. “Gotta go now. Talk to you later.”

Later as in one or two weeks’ time.

“Sure thing, baby girl. Take care of yourself and say hi to Ava for me. If something else is bothering you, I’m always — I mean always — here whenever you need me.”

“Thanks. Bye now.” I end the call, releasing another heavy sigh like I’ve been holding it in for far too long.

I revel in the tranquility of the room I share with Ava. She’s not around at the moment, hence the quiet. And I can’t say I’m not grateful for that.

I probably would’ve started another argument with her right after ending that call with my mom. I hate that she told her all of those things and made her worried. But I’m also relieved because Ava didn’t mention the other dreadful part of this whole mess.

I mean the part she doesn’t know anything about. Because if she did, my mom would already be updated.

And I seriously cannot imagine how she’d handle my issues with Carlos Martinez.

Speaking of that evil prick.

It’s been a solid week since I last saw him. I mean, since I defied his request.

I’ve been looking over my shoulder whenever I go to class, and you’re damn right I’ve avoided the library like it’s one of the plagues.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, well, I didn’t honor his invitation to “redeem myself.”

I honestly don’t know if that made him angrier or if he’s totally forgotten about my existence, since he hasn’t reached out to me in any other way.

I’d thought that after the night I didn’t show up, he’d go after Jayden again. But Jayden is alright. No attack was planned on him — at least none that I know of.

I was worried about Ava too, but she’s fine.

So now I’m thinking it’s one of two things. Either Carl is taking his time figuring out how to deal with me, since he mentioned there would be consequences. Or he’s simply forgotten about me. After all, he has zero interest in people like me.

I’d really appreciate it if the latter were the case. But I can never be too sure.

Behind every psychopath lies a twisted plan, and Carl isn’t the most normal person I’ve encountered lately.

I huff. I still can’t believe he seriously asked me to suck his dick the first night we met.

Again, who the fuck does that?

The door to my room swings open, breaking the silence as it reveals a blonde girl — dressed in a short, jean skirt and a black crop top, her face lightly made up — standing in the doorway. Ava.

“Hi,” she greets, her lips attempting a smile.

I can’t tell if she’s happy or nervous. Or both.

But I regard her.

“Hi?” I reply coldly. We still aren’t on speaking terms, but I’ll always respond if she says something to me. Something meaningful, I might add.

“It’s Jayden,” she says, almost out of breath.

I spring to my feet instantly, agitation surging through me. “What about him?”

Ava grins. “He just regained consciousness, Whitney.”

“What?” I breathe, disbelief flooding me.

“Yeah! Yeah!” Ava exclaims. “I’m genuinely so happy. The hospital is allowing visitors now.”

“Yeah? Don’t fucking play with me, bitch. I’m already mad at you as it is,” I warn.

“I mean it, Whitney. Our boy has risen.”

I can’t help the smile that breaks across my face. Ava rushes over to embrace me, and I hug her tightly.

She sobs tears of joy on my shoulder and I shut my eyes, excitement, happiness, and relief coursing through me.

Finally. 

I can’t believe this.

“Let’s go see him, Whit,” Ava suggests after we pull away, and I totally agree.

~~~~~~

We arrive at the hospital in thirty minutes and quickly head to Jayden’s ward after being granted a pass.

Tears brim in my eyes as I walk into the room where my friend lies in a hospital bed, IVs connected to his arms.

I cover my mouth, tears trickling down my face as I approach him with cautious, uncertain steps.

Ava is already by his side, gently holding his hand and smiling down at him.

“Hi, Jay,” she calls through tears, and I’m not sure if he says something back because I’m not close enough.

So I quicken my pace, fearing he might slip back into another coma.

“Hi… hi.” There’s a lump in my throat as I stare into my friend’s blank eyes.

He looks so pale. He’s lost his vibrancy, but definitely not the warmth.

Because when he tilts his head and sees me, a smile of recognition spreads across his face.

And I didn’t know Jayden was ever this handsome.

I lower myself and embrace him gently — hugging whatever parts of him I can. I inhale his scent from his neck and plant a kiss on his forehead before pulling away.

“What the hell happened to you, Jay? How could you do this to us?”

“I’m not sure he’s capable of speaking yet,” a third voice in the room says, pulling my attention to the entrance.

It’s the doctor. He regards us with a smile as he approaches. “Give him time, dear.”

I nod before looking back at Jayden. He seems exhausted.

How wouldn’t he be?

Clutching his hand gently, I whisper, “I need to know who did this to you. It’s Carl, isn’t it?”

He doesn’t say anything. He can’t. But an emotion flickers across his face that I don’t decipher before it vanishes.

“Carl did this to you, Jay. I know it. And trust me, I’m handling it,” I reassure him.

He remains silent — because he still can’t speak.

So I tell him one last time, “You’re going to be alright, Jay. You’re going to be alright.”

Ava and I stay with him for about thirty minutes after the doctor’s examination. He informs us that Jayden is recovering swiftly from the surgery he underwent. Yeah, it was that bad.

I feel incredibly grateful he’s regained consciousness after so long. At least now he can take the necessary steps by pressing charges against those who did this to him.

I’d really be more than happy if that son of a bitch gets thrown in jail for attempted murder.

I’m still in the ward alone with Jayden since Ava left to grab us lunch a few minutes ago.

But Jayden has already fallen back asleep after Ava nearly bored him to death with updates about everything he missed.

A warm smile rests on my face as I watch him from where I sit. Aside from the bandages covering him, he looks relaxed and peaceful. I savor that.

My phone dings, pulling me from my thoughts.

The screen lights up with a notification from Ava.

that-girl-ava: Lobby now!

A frown creases my face, but I know it has to be an emergency for Ava to summon me like this.

Getting to my feet, I glance at Jayden once more and mutter something before heading for the door. I inform his nurse I’ll be right back, and with that, I leave.

Jay’s ward isn’t far from the lobby, but it still takes a few steps.

I spot Ava pressed against the wall, panic in her eyes. She’s staring at something. Instead of following her gaze immediately, I rush over and ask what’s wrong.

As she turns to me, a spark of relief flashes in her eyes before she exhales. Her voice is barely a whisper. “Am I daydreaming, Whitney, or is that Carl and his gang members speaking to the receptionist?”

The moment I hear that name, every hair on my back stands on end. My heart leaps and my stomach drops.

“What?” I mutter before slowly shifting my gaze in the direction she was looking.

And lo and behold, I’d recognize that killer face — and I don’t mean it figuratively — anytime, any day.

There he stands with two other guys of athletic build beside him.

Even in this moment of panic, I notice him — he's clad in black jeans and a SIHL customized students’ jacket. His black hair is messily drawn back, and his side profile as he speaks to the receptionist is lethally striking.

He is lethal to look at.

I’m dumbfounded, struck with disbelief because this is the last thing I expected to see today.

Why is he here?  

What is he doing here?

I take a step — unsure — then another, just close enough to hear what he’s saying.

And just then, I freeze when his attention suddenly shifts to me.

His eyes meet mine from across the room. They’re wicked, brimming with malice.

The way he’s looking at me is personal, and I need no soothsayer to tell me I might be the reason he’s here at the hospital.

He smirks knowingly — menacingly — before returning his attention to the receptionist, the expression gone as quickly as it appeared.

My nerves fray with anxiety.

But my uncertainty shatters when Carl blatantly lies after the receptionist asks who they are to the patient they’ve come to visit.

“We’re Jayden’s friends from campus,” he says smoothly.

The one on his left adds to the string of lies. “He’s our buddy, and we just heard he regained consciousness.”

Like fuck they are.

“No, you’re not!” I shout, my voice echoing across the hallway and capturing everyone’s attention — including the receptionist’s. “They’re lying!”