She ran over and hugged the man tightly.
“I am so sorry…what happened?” she whispered, letting go and looking at the man sadly.
“He was driving too fast…and…he hit another car. He tried to break but…the impact threw him through the windshield…he has several broken bones—an arm a few ribs, his leg…head injuries…they don’t know if he’s going to make it,” Mr. Lowman choked up and started to cry.
Taylor, too, began to cry and held him again. “Did you call Lisa and his brother?”
“I called Lisa….she’s his mother, she ought to be here…she’s coming in as soon as she can. I don’t even know how to find Keith…I don’t want him here, though…Scott never really knew him anyway…”
“Okay, okay…it’s alright. Scott’s a fighter…he’s gonna make it. I know he won’t just quit on us,” Taylor spoke quietly, trying to assure herself as much as Mr. Lowman.
Landon hung back, unsure of what to say. He felt out of place not being as close to Scott as his company.
“He looks so…painful…” Mr. Lowman shook his head. “I need to smoke…will you sit with him in the off chance he comes to. I don’t want him to be alone when he wakes up.”
Taylor silently nodded and watched the man walk away.
Landon approached her carefully and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m going to see him…will you please call Brook for me and let her know he’s here?” Taylor squeaked.
“Sure thing, love,” Landon nodded then walked over to the nurses’ station.
Taylor slowly walked into Scotts room. Her eyes welled up with fresh tears and her heart broke at the sight of him.
His left arm and leg were in casts. His abdomen was wrapped up. His handsome face was cut and bruised and swollen. The side of his head was stitched with what looked like at least a hundred stitches. He was attached to every machine she could ever imagine being in a hospital—one of which was helping him breathe.
“Oh, god, baby…what did you do to yourself,” she asked quietly as she sat down at the chair on the right side of his bed.
The room was silent save the beeping machines and the rhythmic oxygen pumping into his lungs.
Taylor could only stare and cry.
“How’s he doing?” a young nurse asked quietly as she walked into the room.
“I don’t really know…I was hoping you could tell me…what exactly is wrong with him?” Taylor wiped a few tears from her cheek.
“To be honest, we can’t be sure of everything right now because he is unconscious. What we do know is the obvious. The broken leg is from being thrown through the front of the car and it caught on the steering column. The arm is from when he landed—all of his weight went onto it. The stitches are because he skidded across the pavement. Broken ribs, again from landing and probably the force of being thrown out of the car—they may have hit the wheel in the process. The broken ribs caused a minor puncture to the lung, which is why he needs the oxygen. The head injuries are what we need to be most worried about. Stitches come out and bones heal. We don’t know for sure if there’s any brain damage or even nerve damage, and we won’t know until he wakes up,” the young woman explained sympathetically.
“What about the other car? Is that person okay?”
Broken arm and a few stitches across the forehead.”
“Is Scott gonna make it? Tell me the truth.”
“He’s alive now and that’s a miracle in itself. Most people wouldn’t have lived after colliding with the pavement, their head taking the brunt of the impact. It proves he’s strong. And he’s fighting, I know he is…if he keeps this up, I’d say his chances are good. But anything can happen…there aren’t any guarantees at this point…it’s still too soon to say what’s going to happen with him,” she answered gently. “He’s lucky though…he has people that care about him…his father only left when you arrived and even then I can tell he was reluctant…he’s got a lot to live for.”
Taylor smiled weakly. “Are you here all the time? Who’s his main care taker?”
“Me….I’m Gabriella…and don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him. He’s my primary patient, so he’ll have my undivided attention until he gets better.”
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome,” the woman smiled, then quietly left the room.
Taylor let out a sigh and gently took Scott’s hand in hers.
“Why were you going so fast…you’re the best driver out of all of us…the safest, most conscious of everything…what made you do it?” she questioned quietly. “You gotta hang on, okay sweetie? You have to be alright. This is gonna come out really selfish, but I can’t have another person leave me…first Hayden goes to college, then me and Sam…Brook’s distancing herself. I can’t lose anyone else…especially not you. You’ve become my best friend, Scott…and that sounds so strange to say out loud…I never really knew you until recently. I just now got to find out how great you are…how funny and sweet and loyal…God, Scott, when you took care of me after what happened with Sam…I never expected that…and I can’t lose you yet…I don’t want to lose you ever…”
Taylor was so fixated on her broken friend that she didn’t notice Brooklynn approach the room, and hang back in the doorway.
“I need you around, baby…and I need to be around for you. I swear that when you get out of here, I’m gonna take such good care of you that you’ll want me to just leave you alone. We got so close so quickly…nobody’s ever won me over so fast…I can’t lose you…you’re too important and too good of a person to be gone so soon…. I love you, Scott. And you know I don’t take that word lightly…I love you more than I ever would have imagined I could…” she continued to speak to him with silent tears rolling down her face. She leaned over and lightly kissed his lips.
“When were you going to tell me?” Brooklynn’s icy voice broke the moment.
“Brook…thank God you’re here,” Taylor sniffled.
“I can’t believe you would do this to me…”
“What? I don’t understand…”
“Save it…what happened to him?”
“He wrecked…I….what happened this morning? He had to be upset to be so reckless.”
“We got back together last night…but it ended again this morning…we had a fight,” Brooklynn answered coolly.
“Back together? Like a couple?” Taylor asked confusedly.
“Something like that. Things got a bit…heated…after you left us alone.”
“Heated? Brook…ohmygod…you didn’t? You two…you didn’t?”
Brooklynn said nothing. Her silence confirmed it all.
“How could you!”
“Why you so mad, Taylor? What’s wrong…pissed that I got your man in bed—again?”
“My man? What are you talking about…I simply can’t believe that knowing Scott like you do you would let him be involved in something like that…”
“So now you’re gonna lie about it…I heard what you said to him just now.”
“Me and Scott? Never…”
“I know it’s true. You two have been together every day since he and I broke up and I suspected something even when we were still together…and now this—‘I love you Scott’… ‘I need you Scott’…When were you planning on letting me know?” her voice rose with each word as angry tears threatened to spill over her cheeks.
“Are you mental? I just left my husband…he was with Sabrina at the party…apparently he had sex with you…we aren’t together, and we’ll never be together. I don’t think of Scott like that and I know he certainly doesn’t think of me in that way.”
“I don’t believe you. You have always taken every man that I ever liked. First it was Sam. Then it was Hayden. And now Scott…and you’ve gone way too far with this one, Taylor. How fucking low can you get…oh but wait, the plot thickens! Now that I recall my morning, I believe Will said you and Landon left together last night and Landon never came home…so that’s just wonderful, Taylor…thank you so much for taking every last chance at happiness I can have!”
“You know what…you’re being petty and selfish. I’m done with this conversation…maybe we can pick it up again when you’re a little more reasonable and we know if Scott’s gonna get out of here,” Taylor answered firmly.
“I just wanna know what your glitch is…how can you sleep at night knowing that you’re all up in your best friend’s fucking Kool-Aid…you aren’t just dippin’, either…you’re fucking sitting in the fucking jug doing laps for Christ’s sake!”
“Your Kool-Aid? What are we fourteen again?”
“You know what…fuck you Taylor. Get out. I want to see him alone,” Brook snarled nastily.
“Fine. But you know what…just for the record. Scott and me are just friends, Sam and Hayden came to me, and I’m not what’s keeping Landon from being with you. You can’t blame all of your problems on me, and if you continue to do so, I won’t be around to be your scapegoat much longer,” Taylor glared before exiting the room.
Landon greeted her with raised eyebrows and a look of surprise. “What’s got her panties in a twist?”
“Don’t ask,” Taylor sighed.
It was only after Taylor had left the room that Brooklynn truly understood what was in front of her. She was so caught in the heat of her anger, that the obvious had escaped her eyes.
Scott. The love of her life—the one man that she could justify giving her whole heart and soul and love to—caught somewhere between life and death. There was no promise of tomorrow for him.
She was so angry at him for getting himself in such a state that he’d wreck his car. At the same time, she was terrified that he wouldn’t make it—that she’d truly lose him forever. But mostly she felt guilt. It was her fault he’d been so emotional, therefore it was her fault he’d wrecked his car. Her fault that he was lying there as she looked down at him through bleary eyes.
She wanted to tell him how sorry she was about the previous night. The last thing she’d wanted to do was hurt him, and she never imagined that making love to him (and yes, she felt they’d made love as her heart still belonged to him and him alone) would have pushed him away and made him so angry. She had thought—hoped—that it would instead bring him back to her. Make him rethink his decision to end their relationship.
As Brook watched his unmoving body, it dawned on her how much her feelings for him conflicted.
She loved him. Nobody could ever question that—she would love Scott Lowman until the day she died, even if it wasn’t as passionate as it was now. Yet at the same time she hated him. She hated him for leaving her. Hated him for moving on so quickly. Hated him for bonding with her supposed best friend so closely that she couldn’t tell if they were truly just friends or something more.
Brook realized suddenly that she couldn’t stand to be near him or look at him. It hurt too much. Made her too angry.
“Brook, are you alright…” Landon asked quietly as she emerged from the room.
“I’m fine,” she snapped coolly.
“Sorry I asked,” he sighed.
“So…did you two have fun last night? After you left together and spent the whole night alone?” she asked viciously.
She knew that the timing and place was wrong for such a confrontation, but she was so angry at them—at Taylor—that the words spilled from her mouth before she could stop them.
“I already told you, Brook…it’s not like that. We’ve only just met,” Taylor answered tiredly. Her emotions were spent and a fight with Brooklynn was the last thing Taylor was ready for.
“Whatever,” she sulkily sat down on a chair. “Just like you and Scott are just friends.”
“What is your problem? Why are you being such a bitch?!” Taylor lost her cool.
“I already told you what my problem is,” Brooklynn glared.
“And I already explained to you that all of your accusations are ridiculous and untrue. What goes on your head…I’d really like to know. We’re standing here in the God damn Intensive Care Unit because Scott’s half dead, and your trying to fight with me because your feelings are hurt over something that never actually happened.”
“I can’t stand you! You always have to play the God damn Saint, the fucking martyr or the tragic victim. I know about you and Landon, alright—something happened or he wouldn’t be standing here so quiet, staring at the floor and you wouldn’t be trying so hard to make me look stupid. But that’s not my main concern—I’m pissed about it, don’t get me wrong, but what I’m really, really, floored by is you and Scott. You two were never close and then all of a sudden, he dumps me and you two are inseparable? It doesn’t work that way—not in the real world. So let’s review—not only are you a shitty friend, scamming on not only my current interest, but the man that I love, but you’re a fucking ho on top of it all!”
“Scott has been around for Draco. Not me. Sam’s gone and now my son has no father figure…Scott wanted to help.”
“Well isn’t that cute. One happy little family. Oh but wait…how does Landon fit into the equation? Scott wouldn’t give it up to you so you had to get a boy on the side, right?”
“Brooklynn, Taylor and I are just friends,” Landon interrupted calmly, hoping to calm her as they were now drawing looks from nurses, patients and visitors.
“You know what—don’t even get me started on you, okay? Just stay out of it, Landon.”
“No, I will not. Your attitude sucks and you’re talking crazy. You’re starting to sound a lot like Scarlett and it isn’t very becoming,” he answered seriously.
“This is not your business. This is between me and her!”
“When my name gets dragged in you better believe that it’s my bloody business! I assure you that I am not attracted to Taylor at all, and we did not make love or do anything remotely close to it last night, nor will we ever.”
“And what, your word is supposed to ease my mind?” she scoffed. “You’d never admit it.”
“And why wouldn’t we? If we wanted to be together, why would we lie and try and make some dirty little secret?” he reasoned.
“Because she knows that I like you. And you’re the first man that I’ve truly been attracted to since I met Scott.”
“Why would I hurt you like that? You’ve been my best friend since were eleven years old…you’ve been like a sister to me,” Taylor pleaded.
“Because you’re miserable and misery loves company!” she shouted angrily.
A stiff, harsh looking nurse hurried over with a venomous look on her face. “This is a hospital. It is the ICU…and we have very sick patients that are trying to rest. If you cannot keep your voices down and act like civilized adults, I will have you removed.”
The nurses words brought Brooklynn out of her fury and back into reality. Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away from them.
“I have to go to her,” Landon sighed, looking at Taylor, hoping she’d understand.
“Go,” Taylor nodded quietly.