Chapter 6
959 Words
The screams started almost immediately. People ran toward the truck while others called emergency services between sobs and desperate voices. The driver was still trapped inside the vehicle, bleeding over the steering wheel.
Seconds later, Hank’s black SUV appeared in the parking lot and my driver rushed out as soon as he saw the accident. I felt the entire world spinning around me. I felt Easton’s hands grabbing me just before my legs gave out beneath me and everything went black for a moment.
♡
When I opened my eyes again, I was already lying on a stretcher inside the emergency room.
A sharp pain throbbed through my head.
“The patient’s awake,” I heard someone say nearby.
One nurse checked the bruise near my ear while another adjusted the uncomfortable neck brace around my neck.
“I’m fine…” I murmured weakly.
Nobody listened to me.
The only thing replaying inside my head was the sound of the impact… and Easton shoving me against the car right before the truck crashed into us.
Easton.
I opened my eyes quickly.
“Where is he?”
“Your boyfriend?” one of the nurses asked.
Heat immediately rushed to my face.
“I… yes.”
“He refused medical attention and left a while ago.”
Of course he did.
That sounded exactly like something Easton Cash would do.
As soon as the nurses walked away, I quickly took the neck brace off and hid it under the bed. It was already humiliating enough that half the university had watched me being loaded into an ambulance like I was dying.
Eventually, the doctors confirmed there was nothing seriously wrong with me, which meant they refused to give me any medical leave. According to them, I was perfectly capable of returning to class normally.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to organize my thoughts.
I promised myself that I would thank Easton for saving my life.
However, something inside me told me I wouldn’t see him again for a while.
And I was right.
Easton didn’t show up to class the next day.
Or the day after that.
Two entire days passed and Easton still hadn’t stepped foot back on campus.
How was I supposed to fake a relationship with him when I didn’t even know where the hell he was? I was tired of having to smile and pretend everything was perfectly fine while Cassie and Nate publicly showed each other affection just to mock me. Deep down, I knew they were doing it on purpose.
They just wanted to annoy me.
“Hey Ashley, is it true that Easton caused the accident and that’s why he hasn’t shown up at the university?” Lisa asked me while we walked through the main hallway.
I shook my head and let out a nervous laugh.
“No, those are just rumors...” I said. “Easton is sick. He caught a cold after the accident and has been resting these past few days.”
“Oh…” the three girls exclaimed in disappointment.
“So he’s really just sick?” I nodded.
“Yes, but I’m personally taking care of him myself.”
When the last class of the day ended, I decided that it was finally time to carry out what I had been planning since that morning.
Today, I was going to pay Easton Cash an unexpected visit.
“See you tomorrow at practice before the game,” I murmured, saying goodbye to them.
After the three girls left the building, I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder and headed toward the principal’s office, hoping to find him there. Otherwise, my entire plan would fall apart. Luckily, when I arrived, I found him getting ready to leave.
“Miss Donovan,” he greeted me with a smile when he saw me. “What can I do for you?”
“Principal Presley, I’m… I’m a little worried about Easton since he hasn’t shown up at the university these past few days and, well, I thought it would be a good idea to bring him my notes about… what we’ve been studying in class lately.”
That seemed to please him.
“I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“There’s just one small problem. I don’t know the address of his apartment.”
The principal frowned and tilted his head slightly.
“You don’t know where he lives?”
“No. Easton still hasn’t wanted to take me to his apartment. He wants us to take things slowly.”
My face felt very, very hot.
“Well, that certainly isn’t what I expected from him,” he said, adjusting his glasses with a smile. “I’m glad to know he’s behaving like a gentleman with you.”
“Yes…”
He smiled and opened his briefcase to search through it. After rummaging around for a moment, he pulled out a slightly wrinkled piece of paper and handed it to me.
“This is the address of his apartment. I’ve only been there a couple of times, so I should warn you that you might not find it to be a very pleasant place.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, confused.
“You’ll understand once you see it with your own eyes.” He glanced at the silver watch on his wrist and grimaced. “Well, I have some matters to take care of, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Oh, of course. Thank you for the address.”
“You’re welcome.”
After Principal Presley left, I looked down at the paper and frowned.
Why had he warned me like that?
How bad could the place where Easton lived possibly be?
- Writer
