"They really want to charge Summer."
The hushed statement made the blood drain from Summer's face and she stopped on her trek to the kitchen for hot raspberry tea.
She listened to her mother's indrawn breath. "Can they?"
Her father's tired sigh tugged at her heart; "They're trying to get her on the basis of what's happened before. They think she came up with the plan and someone else pulled it off for her."
"But what about Lex's and Jakob's and Zac's testimonies? Don't they mean anything in her defense?"
Summer silently thanked her mother for sticking up for her. Even if it was a very weak fight.
Mr. McPherson scoffed, "They're her friends and her sister… need I say more?"
Summer stepped out from the hall, "Yes, you do." She answered tightly. "I didn't do this. I told them that so did Lex, and Jakob, and Zac. Who else do they need? Doreen knows that I called up to her, and Becky would know that I wasn't there with her!"
Her hands got firmly planted on her hips. "I know no one wants to believe me on this, but I didn't do it! I know that last time I said the same and I did. But this time I did not do it!"
Feeling the hot sting of tears, Summer dashed out of the house and towards her car. Watching her parents in the front doorway she peeled out of the driveway and pressed hard down on the gas pedal. It was time for that long drive that's supposed to clear the mind.
Stopping at the stoplight, she glared at the red color staring back at her. Her damn life was a freakin' stoplight. Stop and go. Stop and go. Slow down. Stop and go. Stop and go.
Thinking hard of the accident and her possible arrest, Summer steered her car towards the hospital. Since it started, she hadn't had time to see or even think of how Becky was doing, or if she was in the hospital anymore.
"No harm in asking." She murmured as she turned into the parking lot. "Besides, she might be the only one not thinking it was me at the moment."
Packing up her guts and all her courage, she started for the automatic double doors and strode carelessly inside. Smiling sweetly at the secretary she gave the name and her reason and relation, and in return given a room number.
Stopping at the gift shop first, she chose a rose scented bear holding a plastic rose in it's paws and the took the stairs because elevators freaked her out. Whistling quietly to herself on her way up, she smiled as her shoes clacked loudly on the white tiled floor.
"Forget the toys. I'm a noisemaker all by myself." She murmured grinning as she pushed open the metal door to the third floor.
Trying not to breathe through her nose, Summer hurried down the hallway. Knocking on the right door, she opened the door and walked in. "Greeting's from the human world without white coats."
Becky, sitting up in her bed grinned broadly. "Summer!" She squealed delightedly.
Handing over the bear and rose, Summer hugged her tightly. "And how are you doing, Becky girl?"
She continued grinning, "I'm great! I get lots of ice cream here."
Summer laughed at her enthusiasm. "That's good, but how about your feet though?"
Becky was still smiling when she answered, "I'm fine, Summer. No muscles were torn. Just a few little cuts, and they're a bit worried about infection on one, so that's why I stayed here."
Silently absorbing the information, Summer filed it all away in her memory bank. She took a deep breath, "Becky, I gotta ask you about that night."
She nodded slowly, "I didn't tell the police everything." She whispered softly, drawing in her bottom lip between straight teeth.
Summer closed her eyes, praying it was something she could use, "What didn't you tell them."
"Chrissy told me I could practice up there. She said that no one would bother me, or mind, and even counted the steps for me."
The questioned popped into her head before Becky even finished her sentence. Why?
