“I called my mom right before you guys got to my house. She said that she’ll do all she can.”

“Thanks Spencer.” Kyla says, looking at the girl with a small, grateful smile. Spencer just nods her head and stares out the window. She feels someone tap her on the shoulder and turns to see Jacy looking at her.

“She’ll be okay. She’s the strongest person I know.” Spencer can feel the tears starting to gather in her eyes.

“But you didn’t hear her voice. She sounded so small and there was so much pain in it. I’m scared that she might not make it. I mean if she hadn’t been talking to me then maybe she wouldn’t have gotten into the accident. I shoulda made her get of the phone but I …” Jacy cuts her off.

“It’s not your fault Spencer. We don’t know what happened but I know that it wasn’t your fault that Ashley got into an accident.” Spencer lets a few tears fall and Jacy reaches over to wipe them away. Pulling her into a gentle hug, Jacy tries to reassure her friend.

“Hey, she’ll be fine. I bet when we get there she’ll be up and complaining about her precious car being wrecked okay.” Spencer lets out a watery chuckle at what Jacy says and pulls away.

“Thanks, Jacy. I can see why Ashley thinks of you as her big sister.” Jacy sends Spencer a small smile. Even though she had said those things to Spencer didn’t mean much. Inside she was just as terrified as Spencer was for Ashley.

***

They reach the hospital and they all jump out the car and run into the emergency room. Kyla reaches the desk first.

“Ashley Davies please.” The nurse looks up startled by the four teenagers around her desk. Typing in the name, she glances back up at them.

“Are you family?” Kyla nods her head.

“Yeah. I’m her sister.” the nurse nods her head.

“She’s still in surgery. You can wait in the family room for the doctor to tell you more about her condition.” They all don’t look very happy with the little bit of news but don’t argue and start towards the family room. Spencer walks back up to the desk and gets the nurses attention.

“Do you know where I can find Paula Carlin? She’s my mother.” Spencer says so there’s no questions.

“I’ll page her for you.” The nurse answers.

“Thanks.” Spencer turns around and catches up with the rest of the group.

“I got the nurse to page my mom. Maybe she’ll know more the she did.” They all nod their heads. After sitting for five minutes, a taller blonde woman who looks like an older version of Spencer walks into the room.

“Mom!” Spencer jumps up from her chair and runs into the open arms of her mother, silently crying on her shoulder. Composing herself quickly, Spencer pulls away a little to look at her mother.

“Mom, do you know anything about how Ashley’s doing?”

The older Carlin looks at the four scared teenagers and dreads telling the little she did know.

“I only know a little. You guys better sit down for this.” The for increasingly scared, alarmed looks on the four teenagers’ faces did not go unnoticed by Paula. The four sit down. Aiden and Kyla next to each other holding tightly to one another’ s hands with Spencer next to her mother and Jacy. Paula takes a deep breath and lets it out.

“Okay, so this is what I know…”