Every Little Piece (9 page)

We sat in silence, the swish of the rain surrounding us like we were the only ones alive. Where would Seth go? Where would he go with a girl? I really didn’t think he was planning on cheating on me. But he might’ve wanted to flirt and show off. “Got it.”

I moved the car into gear and went in reverse, the wheels spinning and spitting out gravel.

“Where to next?” Brin asked.

I pulled out of the lot and drove like a mad woman. “Where’s the one place Seth might bring a girl to impress her or show off.”

“The pool hall,” they said in unison.

I headed back to our town. “I didn’t realize he was so drunk. I mean, I knew, but…” The words stalled and died. That it was graduation night and for some reason that made it more acceptable to drink. Because that was a horrible reason. “I don’t want to find his car wrapped around a pole.”

“We’ll find him.” Brin stated with a confidence that escaped me.

“What’s that?” Kama asked. “Shh. Listen.”

It was hard to hear over the rain but then I heard it. Sirens blared off in the not-so-far distance. My imagination sped forward, and I imagined Seth crushed in an accident. “Shit.” My heart raced, and I pressed the gas harder. The Beast groaned, and the wheels spun, sending the car into a tailspin.

I slammed on the brakes but it sent the car careening off to the side. I lost complete control as the wheels hydroplaned. And then we were spinning.

I heard screams. The colors blurred outside.

I whipped at the wheel and hit the brakes again and again. But the car didn’t stop. A horn blared and headlights bore down on us. I closed my eyes and braced for impact. We got hit from the side. The car shuddered. Metal crunched. Tires squealed. My stomach turned as the car flipped upside down.

I rolled onto my side with a pounding headache and groaned. Somehow I’d ended up at home and had managed to stumble up to my room and fall in bed. My clothes were wrinkled and reeked of beer and smoke. I pulled the pillow over my head. Images from last night seared my brain, hot and pulsing. I remembered Haley’s face when I spit out insults that hurt her feelings. Guilt and regret needled me, and the urge to puke built in my throat.

My memory came back in pieces. Angry words. Pulling away. Storming off. Scenes played out like a movie in my head. I’d tripped up the stairs and went back to the party. Carly had talked to me. We’d walked down the driveway toward my car. Oh my God. Had I left with her?

My fingers curled around my sheets. The truth was like a vice grip. Was I like my mom? A cheat? I wanted the earth to crack open and swallow me. I needed coffee and aspirin.

The downstairs was strangely silent.

“Mom? Dad?” I called. The words didn’t bring any response. “Anyone here?”

I found a note on the table.

Last minute errand. Be back soon. We’ll talk later about the van.

Shit. What I’d do? Leave it on empty? That always pissed Mom off.

I poured some coffee and slumped down at the table with Mom’s iPad to play some stupid mind-numbing game. I switched over to her webmail but it was signed out, and I didn’t know the password. Mom was a lunatic about passwords and changed them every month. But that made sense now, if she’d been hiding an affair with Carly’s dad for the past four months or longer. I pushed away from the table. Too many things were banging around in my head for me to process. Dad leaving. Mom cheating. Me possibly cheating. Leaving Haley high and dry at the party last night.

I shuffled into the living room and flopped on the coach and surfed Netflix for some rerun of something that didn’t make me think. I was drifting off into a nice sleep that would be sure to take the edge off my hangover. Maybe I’d wake up after lunch. Yeah, that was a plan. Then I’d call Carter and crawl back to Haley and beg her forgiveness.

My phone buzzed, jarring me awake. I stumbled into the kitchen and fumbled for the phone on the counter where I dropped my keys last night.

“Hello?”

“Hey, asshole. You up for breakfast?” Carter asked.

“No. I’ll call you later when I wake up. Much later.” I went to press End but he called my name. “What?” I was fully annoyed at this point. He knew better than to call early on the morning after a party.

“Graduation?”

“Oh, shit.”

“You coming over, or what?”

“Yeah, yeah. Let me jump in the shower and I’ll be right over.”

I dropped the phone. Graduation. Totally forgot. I wished I could postpone it about a week. With all their drama, my parents probably didn’t even remember.

My phone buzzed again. I sighed with annoyance ready to ream Carter out. I got the point. I was coming. The caller ID popped up with Carly. Shit. I ignored it. The last thing I needed was to confront her or find out what happened between us last night. If I kissed her, she was doing the morning after call to try and hook up today or see if it would turn into more. If my memories were correct, and I walked out with her, there must be some mistake. No way would I have left with her on my own.

After showering and forcing down dry toast, I headed outside. Carly called four more times. I ignored all of them. She must’ve been desperate. When I got to the top of the driveway, I froze. My mom’s minivan. The front end was completely smashed. I rolled my neck. Maybe my headache and body aches weren’t due to just a hangover. I shuffled forward, filled with regret. I didn’t remember getting in an accident. How could I forget something like that?

The bumper and grill looked like some monster clamped down on it with fierce and sharp jaws and took a bite. I got home last night so it must still be drivable. I shrugged. It would have to come out of my measly college fund, which I wasn’t counting on anyway. This day was turning out to be crap.

On the way over to Carter’s, Carly called three more times. I was tempted to pick it up and tell her where to go, but it was better to not play her game. I parked down the road instead of in his driveway, because I didn’t want the comments or questions about the van, especially since I didn’t remember. I plastered on a smile and tried not to act like I wanted to crawl into a cave.

Carter took one look at me and smirked. Walking through the breakfast buffet his mom set up, he whispered. “You look like hell.”

“No kidding.” I bit back the questions. Carter had to know about last night. I hoped.

Over breakfast, his parents peppered us with questions about our future, about the day, until Carter gave his mom the signal to quit it. Then they turned the conversation to all the memories of us getting into trouble. It was relaxing and for a few brief moments, I forgot. About everything. If that had been their goal, then it had worked.

A loud rapping at the door interrupted our walk down memory lane. Carter’s mom left the table.

“It’s probably Jamie,” Carter joked. “He was supposed to be here.”

I mustered up the energy to join in. “We’ll save the dishes for him.”

There was a commotion in the entranceway. Carter’s mom sounded flustered. And above her voice was Carly’s. Shit. I hadn’t answered the phone, so she followed me here? Stalker. I pushed back from the table and stormed over to the door.

“What’re you doing here?” I demanded.

She was frantic and ran to me, clutching my shirt and shaking me. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all morning!”

I pushed her away in disgust and scolded her in low tones so Carter’s family couldn’t hear. “Listen, I don’t know what happened last night but I was drunk and it didn’t mean anything. So you can go home.”

Tears streaked her cheeks. “You’re an asshole, you know that. I’ve been to your house, Jamie’s and now here.” She pushed my chest, her eyes turning crazy. “And for the record, we didn’t do anything. I was just trying to be a friend.”

Heat crept up the back of my neck. Now everyone knew. And she was right. I was so paranoid about Haley finding out, and so off with the news of our parents, that I was taking it out on her. I took a deep breath, gaining control of my emotions. “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve to take the heat of my anger,” I whispered. “What happened between our parents is separate from us.”

Carly cried harder. “Don’t do this, Seth. Not now. Our parents, us, that’s not important right now.” She bit her lip as if not wanting to share the information.

Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach, and I wanted to lose the scrambled eggs and bacon I just ate. “What?” I asked. When she didn’t say anything, I asked again. “What?” My voice shook. Carter stood next to me, along with his parents.

Carly broke down. “There was an accident last night. It was raining. The car hydroplaned.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I’m sorry, Seth.”

I struggled to breathe. “Haley?”

She nodded. “They’re not letting anyone in or releasing any information. That’s why I’ve been calling you. I’m so sorry. I hope they’re okay.” Then she turned and ran away.

She hoped they were okay? Brin and Kama must’ve been with her. I grabbed Carter’s shoulder. “Let’s go, man.”

Carter’s parents promised to call mine, and they’d be over soon. I raced to the van with Carter following.

“Whoa, what happened to your mom’s van?” Carter asked after we slammed the door closed, and I gunned the engine.

“I front ended a car when leaving the party.” For some reason, I couldn’t admit that I couldn’t remember.

I could crush the steering wheel I was squeezing it so hard. I whipped around corners and flew along the straight-aways. The rest of last night’s rain streamed down the windshield.

I had to get to the hospital.

I couldn’t believe I made this all about me. I ignored Carly’s calls. I assumed she was flirting. I was such a jerk. Why had they been out on the road? Haley should’ve stayed at the party, laughing, and having a good time.

I’d never gone back to the party. I meant to, just to show them all that I wasn’t drunk, but my heart had been teetering on the edge, and I couldn’t face Haley. Not after I’d lied to her all night and then laid blame on her for not being committed. I should’ve gone back. I should’ve been there.

I rounded a corner and cut off another car. The driver laid on the horn. Almost there. I threw out all sorts of promises to a God I didn’t believe in.
Just make her okay
. We pulled into the hospital, parked the van, and ran.

Drip, drip, drip. Still raining.

I tried to move but the weight of the world pressed on my body. I panicked and struggled to move. My mind was blank, a clear slate with not even a scribble on it. I couldn’t recall even a fragment of a memory. How had I ended up here? Where was I?

“She’s awake!” a voice called.

People rushed around me, creating a slight draft. Fingers pressed into the crook of my arm. Beeps beeped and machines hummed quietly in the background. Hushed whispers. I faded them out. A hot tear trembled against my eyelashes. I was in a hospital, and I was the one hurt. What had happened?

Drip, drip, drip. The rain. Graduation. The night flashed back. Everything from our crazy wager to the hot tub to the party. SETH! The word screamed out, pulsing in my head and crashing against my chest as I repeated his name. I groaned and tried to speak.

“Seth!”

A hand smoothed my hair. “No worries, dear. You’re lucky to be alive.”