Alle Kapitel von Graduation Trip Gone Wrong: The Med Swap: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 8

A low-battery warning popped up on my phone right after I sent the text.Zayden's face darkened at the message I'd sent my father. A second later, he sneered, "Using the same old threat on me again? Grow up, Noelle."He tried to snatch my phone, but I kept it out of his reach. I was already nauseous from the wrenching pain in my chest and the struggle to get enough oxygen to my brain.Going for broke, I swallowed the two ibuprofen pills Zayden gave me, but they didn't help with my altitude sickness. If anything, they made my stomach churn even more.Nausea and retching were natural consequences of altitude sickness, but the ibuprofen made those symptoms worse.At that moment, Erica walked over with my bottle of imported medication in hand. She eyed me piteously. "Noelle, don't be so hard on Zayden. I'm just so physically weak that the smell of gasoline makes me nauseous."Right in front of me, she poured out two pills and slowly swallowed them with water. She deliberately slowed

I wanted to stop Erica, but my body refused to obey my will.Erica poured all the remaining medicine onto the ground and crushed it hard under her foot.Red clouded my vision. I gathered my strength to push her aside and clamber out of the car. I cried hoarsely, "That medication could've saved my life! My life! Do you have any idea what you've done?"Zayden and his friends were barbecuing nearby when he heard the commotion. Frowning, he came toward us.Erica's face immediately scrunched up, and tears promptly rolled down her cheeks. She threw herself in Zayden's arms. "Zayden, I was only trying to talk some sense into Noelle, but she pushed me and destroyed all the pills…"Excuse me? My eyes widened in disbelief. For a second, I wondered if my ears had deceived me.Zayden's gaze fell on the white powder on the ground. A grave look registered on his face. "Noelle, you’re hopeless! That was life-saving medicine! You’re ruining yourself and framing Erica?""I didn't do it! It was h

The sight of the security guards brought Zayden to his knees. His face was a mess of tears and snot. "Mr. Shepherd, I'm sorry! Our families go way back. Can't you find it in your heart to give me a second chance?"Dad looked down at Zayden and said in a cool, hard voice, "Our families may have known each other for years, but that friendship means nothing next to my daughter's life.""I truly didn't know her condition was that serious!" Zayden was losing breath from all the crying. "I thought she was just trying to get my attention. I thought—""Thought what?" I snorted. "You didn't even check my medical records or learn about my medication. Why were you so confident in your assumptions, Zayden?"His mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't come up with a single retort.Just then, the room door swung open again. Zayden's mother stormed in. She leveled an angry finger at me as she snapped, "What the hell are you playing at now, Noelle? Are you happy now that you've turned Zayden int

The security guards dragged Zayden and his mother out of the room. His mother was still struggling to break free. "Noelle! Noelle, you can't do this to us! Zayden truly loves you! That tramp led him astray, that's all!"Sweet silence resumed the second the door slammed shut.Logan handed me a glass of warm water. His fingers grazed the back of my hand."Take it easy. Your father will take care of the rest," he reassured me in a voice so calm and steady that I thought it might soothe all my wounds.I clutched the glass of water and suddenly felt like sputtering. This was the first time in years someone had spoken to me this way—no orders, no expectations, only concern."Thank you, Dr. Gardner.""Call me Logan." He sat by the bed. "We're friends from now on."Friends. I liked that.Three days later, Dad entered the room with a smile I hadn't seen him wear in a long time. "Hey, I have good news for you, Noelle."I set my book down. "What is it?""Lowry Corporation's been investi