A New Journey (Second Chance #3) (15 page)

“Karla, you have got to take it easy.” Rylee said as Karla walked into practice Thursday afternoon.

“I am taking it easy. You three won’t even let me carry my own backpack. You’re driving me crazy.” Karla said irritably. Andrew had told her friends that she wasn’t supposed to do anything and they were following his orders perfectly. “You three can report back to Dr. Daddy that I did exactly what he wanted me to do, which is absolutely nothing.”

“Dr. Daddy?” Daniel asked as he walked up behind them. “Is that what you’re calling your Dad now?”

“Yes. Since my accident he has been more doctor than Dad so I’ve been calling him Dr. Daddy. He seems to find it funny.”

“I can imagine. On a serious note, how are you?” He asked and looked pointedly at her arm.

“I have a broken wrist and some scrapes and bruises, but I’m alright. My car is totaled, but these three will haul me around. Not that I could drive anyway.” She answered.
Not that I want to drive anyway,
she thought to herself.

Daniel nodded and walked to the front of the classroom. Karla and Rylee followed him up there and started practice. By the end of practice Karla was exhausted. “I’m ready to go home.”

“You’re going to have to wait for that.” Elliot said from where he’d been watching practice. “I have a surprise for you.” When he grabbed her hand and led her from the room Conner, Rylee and Callie followed them.

“Where are we going, Elliot?” Karla demanded, but Elliot just kept walking. When he stopped in front of the gym Conner stepped behind Karla and put his hands over her eyes.

“Don’t freak, Karla. We have a surprise for you.” Conner whispered in her ear. “Rylee and Callie are going to walk with you so you don’t fall, but I’m keeping my hands over your eyes.”

“You are all something else. All day you have been telling me to rest and take it easy and when I actually want to go home and rest you aren’t letting me. Ugh.”

“I promise you’ll want to see this.” Elliot said as he opened the gym door.

When they stepped inside and stopped Conner kept his hands over Karla’s eyes for a minute.

“One, two, three!” Rylee said from her left and Conner took his hands away from her eyes.

The gym was full of people, most of whom Karla did not know, but a few she did. On the wall above the doors leading outside was a sign that read;
Emmerson Family Fund Raiser.
When Karla read it her eyes filled with tears.

“How?”

“Dr. Daddy did it.” Elliot said with a grin.

When Karla looked over and saw Andrew and Leslie standing at the front of the group of people her eyes filled with tears. “Excuse me.” She whispered to her brother and friends before she walked toward her Mom and Dad.

“How?” She asked when she stopped in front of them.

“I made a few phone calls.” Andrew said with a shrug of his shoulders. “It meant a lot to you so I did what needed to be done to make it happen.”

“You are a very wonderful father.” Karla said and awkwardly hugged him. “And I’ve been acting like a spoiled brat.”

“Hey, look at me.” Andrew said and when Karla looked up at him he gave her his usual half grin. “You have been acting like a teenage girl who has been under a lot of stress. Plus I kind of like the ‘Dr. Daddy’ nickname.”

“You would.” Karla said with a grin. “Now do you want to tell me what you have planned?”

“I will if you’ll sit down and rest while I do. You look beat.”

“Thanks, Dr. Daddy.” Karla said with a grin as she sat on the bottom bleacher. “Now, care to share?”

“Well you mentioned wanting to find a way to raise money to help them so that’s what I did.” Andrew answered honestly. “I got their hospital balance and pulled a couple of strings to get the balance from the doctor too. We have a lot to do, if you feel up to it.”

“Of course I do.” Karla answered and smiled. “Thank you.”

“Anything for my girl.” Andrew answered. “Now, let’s get this party started.”

An hour later they had organized a rummage sale, which would be held in the school gym, and a planned a pot luck dinner. All the money raised would go into an account and would be used to pay off all the medical bills the Emmerson’s had. Karla was exhausted, but she felt great about the progress that had been made.

“Karla, you look beat. Ready to head home?” Andrew asked, but before Karla could answer Trevor Carpenter stepped up beside them.

“May I speak with Karla a moment please?” He asked Andrew.

“Not alone.” Andrew answered. “You can say whatever you have to say in front of me or not at all.”

“Understandable.” Trevor agreed before he focused on Karla. “I know my words will never be enough, but I am deeply sorry for everything I have done. I honestly don’t remember most of it, but Travis and Dad have told me some horrible things I did to you. I want you to know that I am on medication now and am having weekly sessions with Dr. Morgan. She’s great and diagnosed my problem very quickly. Thank you for not pressing criminal charges against me and for allowing me to get help. I know you may never forgive me, but I hope that someday we can try to be friends.”

“Trevor, you were sick and you did not know what you were doing. How do you feel about me right now?”

“I see you as a smart, funny and beautiful girl, but I also see you as nothing more than a friend. My obsession with you was caused by the form of bi-polar disorder I have and as long as I stay on my meds I won’t have those feelings anymore.”

“I think we can be friends someday.” Karla told him. “But if you come off your medication that’s when our friendship ends.”

“Understood.” Trevor answered with a small smile. “Now I need to go talk to Conner. I have a feeling it’s going to be harder to get his forgiveness than it was yours.”

“You’re right about that.” Elliot said as he walked up beside Karla. “Callie and Rylee have pulled him out in the hall at the moment.”

“This is going to be fun.” Trevor said quietly before he took a deep breath and walked out the doors to talk to Conner.

“I should go out there.” Karla said ten minutes after Trevor walked out of the gym.

“No you shouldn’t.” Elliot said and stepped in front of his sister when she took a step toward the doors. “You have to trust that Conner will do the right thing.”

“Elliot’s right.” Leslie said. “Conner knows what was going on with Trevor and you have to trust that he will handle it how he feels best. Have faith in him, sweetheart.”

“I do have faith in him, but I also know he has a temper.” Karla told them.

“Believe me, we all know he has a temper.” Elliot told her. “But he knows that you wouldn’t want him to hurt Trevor so I think he’ll keep his temper in check.”

“I hope so.” Karla said. When she sat on the bleacher she’d been on most of the evening Elliot sat beside her.

“You’re exhausted, sis.” He said and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Maybe we should have waited to do this on a night you didn’t have practice.”

“I’m alright.” Karla said, but she was starting to feel a little light headed.

When she laid her head over on Elliot’s shoulder and closed her eyes she instantly fell asleep.

“Karla?” Elliot said and when she didn’t respond he started getting a little worried. “Andrew, I think Karla passed out.”

Andrew hurried over and kneeled on the gym floor. “Karla, honey, wake up.”

When he didn’t get a response he gently shook her and her eyes opened slightly. “What’s wrong?” She asked softly.

“Are you okay?” Andrew asked. Her normal mocha colored skin had taken a pasty pallor and he was concerned.

“Yeah, just really sleepy.” She responded. “And a little light headed. I think I over did it today.”

“I have to agree with you on that.” Andrew said and sat beside her on the bleacher. “I think it’s time we got you home. Think you can walk?”

“Not sure.” She responded and stumbled as she tried to stand up. “Guess not.”

“Come on, sweetheart. We’ll get you home and in bed.” Andrew said as he lifted her easily into his arms. “Elliot can you get Leslie and tell her we’re leaving? I’m going to get Karla to the car.”

“I’ll find her.” Elliot responded and darted off to find Leslie. Once he found her he sent Conner a text and followed her to the car.

****

“Conner, can I talk to you for a minute?” Trevor asked as soon as he walked out into the hall.

“What do you want, Trevor?” Conner answered.

“I wanted to apologize for everything. I know words don’t mean anything, but I intend to prove to everyone that I’ve changed. I’m not that person and I never really was. I have a disease that caused me to behave like that, which I’m sure you already know, but that isn’t an excuse for what I did to Karla. She’s forgiven me, but I will totally understand if you can’t.”

“Trevor, you hurt Karla. You drugged her and you had every intention of raping her. If Travis hadn’t stopped you when he did you would have broken something inside her that I would have had to work for a long time to repair. I understand that you’re sick and that it wasn’t really you doing it, but I cannot forgive and forget as easily as she can.”

“Believe me when I say that I am truly sorry. I hope to prove to you that I’m not that person, but until them know that I respect you and your decision. I will stay far away from Karla if that’s what it takes to prove to you that I mean what I’m saying.”

“I will leave that decision up to her, but I will be watching you at all times and if I notice you doing anything that could possibly harm her I will personally make you regret it. Do I make myself clear?”

“Crystal.” Trevor answered just as Conner’s phone signaled an incoming text.

“I have to go.” Conner said after he checked the message. “I’ll see you around.”

“I really am sorry for everything.” Trevor said before he turned and walked away.

Once Trevor was gone Callie walked over to Conner. “I’m very proud of you, Con. I really thought you were going to punch him.”

“I really wanted to.” Conner admitted. “But Karla wouldn’t have liked that and she’s the most important person in this entire situation.”

“I’m proud of you.” Rylee said. “Now, I saw Andrew carrying Karla out the back doors. He wasn’t rushing or anything so I’m assuming she was just really tired, but I think we should stop by there before going home just to be sure.”

“Let’s go.” Conner said and they all left the school together.

“I’m fine.” Karla reassured Conner for the fifth time. “Now can we please go to this competition? As a captain I can’t be late.” 

“Okay, okay, we’re going.” Conner said as he backed out of the apartment complex parking lot.

“Thank you.” She said in an irritated tone. When she saw the concern on his face she took a deep breath and in a much calmer tone said, “I really am fine, Conner.”

“Less than a week ago you were in a car wreck that could have killed you. Sorry if I’m annoying you with my concern, but I can’t turn it off and I wouldn’t even if I could so you’re just going to have suck it up and deal with it. ”

Karla stared at him in shock for a minute before she turned her head and looked out the window. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears forming in them from falling, but it didn’t stop them. When Conner stopped the car in front of the school a few minutes later she jumped out without waiting for him and dashed straight into the bathroom.

“Karla? Are you okay?” Callie asked from outside the stall she had locked herself in.

“Yeah.” Karla answered, trying to hide the tears in her voice. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

When she heard Callie sigh and leave the bathroom she opened the door and walked to the sink. She washed her hands and face before quickly reapplying her mascara and lip gloss. When she looked at herself in the mirror she was pleased to see that all signs of tears was gone. She pasted on a fake smile and walked into the hall to join her team.

“You okay?” Rylee asked as she searched Karla’s face. “You were crying when you went in there.”

“I’m fine.” Karla answered as they walked into the gym together. “I do think it would be best if I rode home with you though.”

“What happened?” Rylee asked and Karla just shook her head.

“I’ll tell you during the break.” Karla mouthed silently and Rylee nodded her head.

When the first round was over Karla’s team was leading by five points. When they walked into the classroom where lunch was being served Karla sat at a table with Daniel, Alissa and Lane, another sophomore on the team.

“What’s going on, Karla?” Rylee asked as she and Callie walked up to the table.

Karla sighed and stood up from the table. “Let’s go out into hall and we’ll talk.”

“Alright, now spill.” Callie said as soon as the door closed behind them.

Karla took a deep breath and told them what Conner had said this morning. “I understand he’s worried, but I really am fine.”

“Karla, you could have died.” Callie said in a calm voice.

“You don’t think I know that? Every time I close my eyes I relive that day. I hear the crunch of the metal and see that truck and car hit my car. Every day I think about how lucky I am to be here. I don’t need the constant reminders of that. What I need is for everyone to just back off a little and trust me to know what I can and cannot handle. I am not a helpless child and this is not my first broken bone.”

“We know you aren’t a helpless child, but we all felt like helpless children when we found out about the wreck. None of us could do anything to help you. I’m not saying what he said was right, but it wasn’t meant to hurt you.” Callie told her and Karla’s eyes filled with tears again.

“Well it did nonetheless.” Karla said. Before either one of her friends could respond she turned and walked away. She needed some air so she walked out the front doors of the school and sat on the steps.

Less than five minutes later she heard the door open and knew without looking up who walked out and sat beside her. “Hey, Daniel.”

“How on earth did you know it was me?” He asked as he handed her a plate with a sandwich and an apple on it.

“The way you walk and your cologne.” Karla answered as she took a bite of the sandwich. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Daniel answered and handed her a bottle of water. “I knew you were upset, but I also knew you needed to eat. I’m sure the pain pills you’re on make you sick if you don’t eat.”

“I’m just taking ibuprofen at the moment.” Karla answered and fished the bottle out of her purse. “Speaking of which, can you open these for me please?”

Karla handed him the bottle of ibuprofen. “How many?”

“One.” She answered. “They’re prescription strength so one is all it takes.”

“Are you in a lot of pain?” He asked as he handed her the pill and closed the bottle back.

“Not really. I’m a little uncomfortable, but that’s to be expected. My biggest problem is that everyone keeps treating me like I’m going to break.”

“So is that what’s going on with you and Conner?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Karla, it’s so obvious that kids from other teams are commenting on it.”

“Great.” Karla said and pulled her knees to her chest.

“I wouldn’t sit like that if I were you.” Daniel said and Karla looked at him in confusion before she remembered the skirt she was wearing.

“I always have on shorts under this thing.” She said with a small smile. “You never know when a big gust of wind is going to blow.”

“That’s a good thing.” Daniel said and grinned.

“Well don’t you two look cozy.” Conner said from behind them and they both turned to look at him.

“Hey, Conner.” Daniel said as he stood up and checked his watch. “We have another hour before we’re up again. I think you two should talk.”