My Bestie’s Brother

S.O.S.

*John’s POV*

I watched in horror as 10 guys rammed their boats into Riley’s. These dudes needed to chill. After the second attack from Wyatt and Brody’s side, her boat flipped. Oh no. Riley needed help. I took off my shirt, socks, shoes and placed my phone, wallet and keys next to them. I dove in. I had to save her.

I got to her boat and noticed she wasn’t breathing or moving. I had to move fast. The straps were malfunctioning and wouldn’t budge. I took out my trusty knife and cut her loose. I grabbed her and we resurfaced together. I got really worried since she wasn’t breathing. I slapped her face a couple times and said, “Riley I need you to take a breath. Just take a breath for me.” Nothing. Thankfully I spent my summers volunteering at the hospital and knew CPR. I started my compressions.

*Wyatt’s POV*

Oh man. I watched in horror as the boat flipped. The rest of the boys were laughing so I joined in with my bros. Brody gave me a thumbs up. “Man we got her good!” Brody said. I chuckled for a bit. Then I noticed she didn’t come up. We were gonna be in so much trouble. I said, “Um guys. She didn’t come up.” I looked around as all the color drained from their faces. They knew it too. That jerk she came with immediately went to her rescue, but I wanted it to be me. I stood in my boat frozen. I did nothing but stare as her new knight in shining armor brought her up. My moment of relief was shortened when we noticed she wasn’t breathing.

I sat back down and drove my boat to the docking area. The rest of the bros followed. We all walked towards John who was now giving her CPR. I stepped forward to help and he looked at me and screamed, “NO! YOU CAUSED THIS. I GOT IT FROM HERE JERK JUST CALL 9-1-1!”

I stepped back and tried to pick up my phone. I was shaking so much that I couldn’t do it. Before I knew it, the bumper boats operator called in his management and they called 9-1-1. Then I saw something that ripped my heart apart. His lips on hers.

*John’s POV*

Come on Riley. I kept giving her chest compressions. Nothing. After a couple of times, I knew it was time to breathe air into her lungs. I put my lips on hers just as the nurses taught me. I felt a weird tingle as I did. Like the universe was telling me how special she was. Suddenly after my second breath, she opened her eyes and started coughing up water. Thank goodness she’s okay!

*Riley’s POV*

I’m unsure what had happened but I woke up with John close to me and me coughing up water. Now I remembered. I had almost drowned. I look over at John who is soaked as much as I am. He must have helped me. I gave him a huge hug and started to cry. He was so sweet to me and he saved me!

I sat in his embrace for a little bit and suddenly I heard sirens. John broke our embrace as EMS came to check me out. I felt okay, but they didn’t think I was. They wanted me to get checked out at the hospital. They placed me on the stretcher and started to roll me to the ambulance. I started to shake a little and John was immediately at my side. He grabbed my hand and said, “Everything is going to be alright darlin. Just relax.” His presence was calming. I smiled through my tears as the stretcher was placed in the ambulance. Before the doors closed. I noticed two people with the same expression of worry. John and Wyatt.

The ambulance started to speed away. The EMS person asked me multiple questions I could answer. Not being from here, I didn’t have a doctor or any insurance set up. I was still under my parents so I gave them my parent’s contact information. The attendant used the phone in the ambulance. I suddenly went pale. I didn’t know where my phone, wristlet and keys were. I couldn’t even get back into my apartment!

The lovely lady called my mom. No answer. That’s normal mom is usually really busy with work. Dad picked up immediately.

Lady: “Hello is this Mr Miller?”

Dad: “Yes this is Roger. May I ask who is calling?”

Lady: “Yes I am with Abilene State University Hospitals. Your daughter Riley was in an accident and is on her way to be checked by our doctors. Riley is conscious, but still at risk. I need to ask you a few questions”

Dad answered every question quickly. I am a daddy’s girl. I loved him so much. He asked if he could talk to me and the lady told him he could quickly.

Dad: “Riley Jo are you okay?”

Me: “Yes dad. I inhaled a little too much water. My head really hurts too.”

Dad: “Okay let the doctors take care of you. I will start driving now and will come straight there.”

I could always depend on my dad. He was the one who rushed on the court when I tore all the ligaments in my knee. He drove me home when I couldn’t play at Tulsa State anymore. He would always come to my rescue.

Me: “It’s too much trouble. Thanks though dad. I’m sure the hospital will take care of me.”

Dad: “Nice try but I’m coming. See you first thing in the morning when visiting hours start.

I started to cough and handed the phone to the lady. More and more water kept coming up. She said goodbye to my dad and rubbed my back. “It’s good this is happening. I know it hurts, but it will clear out all the water you inhaled.”

It burned coming up. I was tearing up. I was tired of this pain already. I just wanted to go home and sleep.

We arrived at the emergency room. The doctors worked quickly to get me situated. I hated hospitals. It reminded me of my injury junior year.

*FLASHBACK*

There I was in the championship game. The final game of the season! I played super hard and was a good shooting guard. I made sure to practice hard up to this game and so far, all my baskets were made. I looked up into the stands. I saw my parents, younger siblings and my best friends Mark and Leah. My new friends Jennifer and Maci held up a huge, “WE LOVE RILEY” sign. I smiled but the one person I wanted to see was still not with me. I swallowed that sadness and focused on being the best.

The game went on and I had only one foul. Usually I fouled out, but I knew the team and coach needed me. I had stolen the ball and went up for my shot. It was a nice jumpshot. As it was in the air, I felt someone crash into me. I felt as my knee bent a new direction and I heard several pops. Suddenly pain was shooting up my right leg and I couldn’t help but scream in horror. Even though the shot went in, I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate that. I crouched and grabbed my knee.

Dad rushed onto the court as the refs paused gameplay. I was crying and screaming in pain. I didn’t dare look at my knee. I knew it wouldn’t look correctly. I looked up at my dad who was giving directions to my mom. “I’ll take her in my car and you take the rest home. I’ll call you if there’s any changes.”

Our trainer rolled out the wheelchair and helped my dad put me in the car. I was still crying in pain as my dad started the car. Suddenly the door opened and my youngest sister Delilah hopped in. She looked at dad and said, “I’m helping. Ground me later for not listening to you.” She was a feisty 10 year old.

We got to the hospital and Delilah helped me as nurses came. They put me on a stretcher and asked my very mature youngest sister what happened. She told them in detail about my injury. It suddenly made me sick so I turned over and threw up. The nurses comforted me and told my sister to wait. The doctors immediately hooked me up to pain medication and started to examine my knee. Every touch hurt. I screamed in pain. “STOP!” The doctor whispered something to the nurse and she left. He calmly looked at me. “Ma’am you had a serious injury to your knee. We are going to sedate you and get you an MRI and take you from there.”

I started feeling sleepy. It came. When I woke up, I was surrounded by my parents. They had been crying. I tried to speak, but my mouth felt like I had a million cotton balls in it. My dad quickly got a cup of water and a straw. I gulped down as much as I could. I looked at them and asked “What’s wrong?” I looked down and saw my right leg was covered in a cast and I couldn’t touch it. Before my dad said anything, the doctor walked in.

“Hey Riley. Good to see you awake. I heard your shot was incredible and the team ended up winning the championship! Congrats! Unfortunately I come with some disappointing news.” I looked at him with wide eyes as he continued, “The hit you took caused you to tear all the ligaments in your knee. We have scheduled surgery for tomorrow to repair them and try to get you back on the court. It is very unlikely you’ll be able to play again.”

I sobbed. Basketball was my life. I loved playing it and the thrill of winning. This man just told me my worst nightmare.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

As I sat in bed, the IV was hooked up to me. I trembled since I hated needles. Luckily I knew not to look anymore. The doctor calmly said, “Ms Miller we are going to get you a cat scan. Nothing to worry about but we just want to make sure you’re okay since you have some memory loss.”

I calmly looked up in the machine. The hospital gown showed my nasty scar on my right leg. The constant reminder of what was taken away from me. I tried earlier to pull my gown down, but it was a losing battle. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I was internally freaking out, but there was a calm voice in my head. “Everything’s going to be alright darlin. Just relax.” Oh John.

The next thing I knew, I was in a bed. It was nicer than the one at my apartment and I was relaxed. The doctor came in. “Riley your results came back normal which is good news. But we need to keep you overnight for evaluation.”

“Okay thank you sir.” I was just tired from all the events of the last 3 days. So much had happened. So much pain. Tears started to fall. I had no ID and no way to contact John to let him know I was okay. I was tired of it all. I just took deep breaths and let the monitors lull me to sleep.