“Haley called Isaiah,” says a female voice to the left. Haley and I jerk our heads toward the darkness. Haley bolts up and jumps over me, acting as if she’s my protector.
I’m dreaming. This is all a bad dream. I’m going to wake tomorrow and think how crazy real this whole thing felt because there is no way my little sister’s best friend would be here.
“I’m Abby,” the voice says to Haley, closer now. “You and I go to Eastwick together.”
Like a stunning yet sadistic version of the grim reaper with long dark hair, Abby walks into the light wearing a black hoodie and skintight blue jeans.
“No, you don’t,” I mumble. “Eastwick is a public school. Abby goes to private school. Not mine—one of those religious ones.” Saint Mary’s. Saint Martha’s. Saint who-the-fuck-knows. It’s what Rachel told my mother. This is a dream. Just a dream.
Haley’s eyes flicker from me to Abby, then back again. She never relaxes her position and my mind stops and starts like it’s stuttering. Fuck me—Haley’s in the same stance as fighter guy.
“I’ve seen you around,” Haley says to Abby. “Do you know him?”
“Yeah. Do you?”
“We sort of ran into each other.”
I laugh and they both stare at me like I’m insane.
“That’s West.” Abby slurs my name. “He’s been causing problems for a friend of mine.”
Haley edges herself between me and Abby like she’s willing to box this girl for me.
Abby chuckles. “Relax. You called Isaiah and Isaiah called me. For the moment, I’m playing guardian angel.”
Isaiah? “Hell no.” I shove off the ground like I’m doing a sit-up and only get far enough to prop my arms on my knees. I’ve never liked rides that went in circles and I haven’t recently changed my mind. My eyes shut tight. “I don’t want that bastard’s help.”
“Well, you’re getting it,” says Abby. When I reopen my eyes, Abby smirks. “And it looks like you need it.”
“Screw that,” I mutter and spit out new blood that’s trickled from the cut on my lip.
Isaiah is Rachel’s boyfriend and he’s the reason why she’s in the hospital. Dad found Rachel with him at a dragway and that’s where Dad and Rachel had their accident. I’ll roast in hell and haul Isaiah there with me before I accept his help. “How does he know about this?”
Haley drops beside me. “You were out. Cold. I found your cell and I was desperate to find someone who knew you to see what hospital you should go to, so I dialed the first number I found—”
“And he answered,” I cut her off. Haley must have called Rachel. My brother told me that except for a few hours here and there Isaiah’s been chained to Rachel’s bedside at the hospital. Night and day. And that h
e carries her phone because he discovered it in the wreckage the day after the Jaws of Life pulled her out of the car. We assumed it was broken. Who would have guessed a phone would make it when Rachel barely survived?
“West.” Haley surveys the damage to my face, my hands, my body. “I really am sorry.”
God, I’m jacked up because everything pounds like a bitch and I can only think about her beautiful dark eyes. “It’s all right.”
She grabs a bag off the ground and stands. “I’ve got to go. I’m late.”
Abby tilts her head as she assesses Haley. “You know who I am?”
Haley straightens like she’s greeting an ax murderer. “Yes.”
I’m missing entire puzzle pieces here, as in everything except for the one corner piece I hold. Nothing here is as it seems, and I hate being the odd man out.
Abby thrusts her chin in my direction. “His younger sister is my best friend. I can help you...with whatever situation this is.”
“No,” says Haley quickly. “I’m fine. Look, I’ve really got to go.” She takes a step into the darkness.
“What the hell are you two talking about?” They ignore me, and why shouldn’t they? It’s not like I could get up and force them to listen.
Abby shrugs. “If you change your mind...”