November Sky (Hardest Mistakes Book 2) (7 page)

When we reach the parking lot beside Kristian’s apartment building, I nearly jump for joy. Finally, this date or not date is over and we can go inside, away from this crazy girl.

Kristian stops and spins around to face her. “Well, I’ll see you—”

“Wait,” she interrupts him, reaching for his hand. “Can you hear that?”

“Hear what?” I can hear the annoyance in his voice as he stares down at her outstretched hand.

“The music, Kristian.” She snatches his hand and pulls him close to her, spinning them both around. I growl under my breath and move to see Kristian’s face, to see if he’s as mad as I am.

I open my mouth to scream when I see his shocked expression. He’s not mad, not even upset. I refuse to stand by and watch this.

Pushing my body to appear back in Kristian’s dark apartment, I let the jealousy and rage overtake my senses. I throw my hand out, a gust of wind smashing the TV into the wall. Next I turn to the kitchen. Lifting my hand; all the cutlery and plates fly out of the cupboard and smash into the opposite walls. I don’t stop there, all of my pain flies around me in a storm of Kristian’s possessions.

***

KRISTIAN

Bailey’s head rests against my chest as we turn in circles. I think she’s dancing to the barely there music echoing down the street. She’s not following any particular pattern, we just sway and turn. I hesitate and then wrap my arms around her shoulders. She leans back to say something, but I don’t hear her. A buzzing starts in my ears and then a sharp pain hits me in the stomach, winding me. I let go of Bailey, groaning in agony. My knees hit the tarmac with a thump as I double over. My mind blanks at the force of the pain. Something’s wrong with Jess. I clutch my stomach and lean forward, closing my eyes to try blocking it out.

“Kristian!” Bailey kneels on the ground in front of me. “What’s wrong?” I ignore her. She can’t help me, I need to find Jess.

Bailey’s hands suddenly grip either side of my face firmly, pulling my head up. “Look at me.” Her hard voice makes me open my eyes slowly. I must look so weak to her. I close my eyes again when I see her concerned expression. She pulls my face closer and presses her lips to mine roughly. The pain in my stomach momentarily forgotten, I lean into her without thinking.

Bailey pulls away first, very slowly. Her light blue gaze holds mine, searching. She looks surprised at her own actions, or maybe at my reaction to them. The world around us abruptly comes back into focus and I realize the pain in my stomach has lessened. This was a mistake, what if Jess saw us together? It would crush her, and I can’t lose her again.

I turn away from Bailey, not willing to look her in the eye. “I have to go.” Pushing myself off the ground, I head toward the door to my building.

“Wait? What?” Bailey calls after me. She doesn’t follow. I glance back at her as I reach the door. She’s still kneeling in the middle of the empty parking lot, looking confused. I take a deep breath and jog up the stairs to my apartment. I have to find Jess, to see if she’s okay.

The kitchen is dark as I enter. Something cracks and crunches under my feet as I step forward and I frown.

“Kristian,” Jess whispers near my ear. I turn toward her voice.

“Jess? Are you okay? What happened?” I reach over and flip the light switch. The fluorescent light illuminates the mess. I gasp; everything I own is broken or destroyed, including the furniture.

Jess’s whisper comes from behind me. “I don’t know. I was right beside you when that girl started dancing with you. You let her and that hurt.” I stay quiet, what am I supposed to say to that? “I was upset, but then I came looking for you. I was worried I’d hurt you like last time. I was wrong.”

She saw the kiss. Panicked, I spin around, trying to reach for her.

“Jess, wait! It’s not what you think.” I can’t feel her around me anymore. “Jess?” I ask again, quieter, but she’s gone.

It feels as though she’s died all over again. I can’t handle the grief that swamps me. I clutch my still aching stomach and sit down amidst the broken glass in the kitchen and hang my head. How did everything go so wrong? A tear dribbles from my nose and hits a shiny piece of glass, followed by another and another. Why do I have to wreck everything? It’s all my fault, all over again.

I don’t know how long I lay on the cold kitchen floor, glass poking into my side. I remember the sunrise, but then I also remember seeing the sunset. My phone is a constant annoyance, buzzing or ringing in my pocket. I’ve had enough. Pulling it from my jeans, I hurl it across the room. It hits the hard floor with a loud crack and skids to a stop between my broken TV and the stuffing from my couch.

I feel empty.

By some miracle, I had a second chance. Jess was here with me, that’s all I ever wanted. I’ve ruined everything.

I roll over so I’m lying on my back. A broken plate presses into my spine, but I ignore it.

“Jess?” I call softly into the darkness. Still no answer. She’s gone.

My stomach grumbles in protest, I really should eat something, but every time I think about food my stomach churns, making me feel sick. My mouth feels dry, I need water. I just can’t bring myself to get up.

I don’t know how much time has passed or how long ago my phone finally gave up and died.

A loud knock startles me, my eyes snapping open. I stay where I am, waiting. If I stay quiet, maybe they’ll leave.

“Kristian, are you there? Open the door,” Bailey’s voice yells from the other side of my locked door. I turn my head away, ignoring her. I no longer have the energy to get up.

“I’m warning you right now, Krissy; I know how to pick a lock.” She goes quiet, waiting for my answer. I wish she would just go away.

“Right, well, I warned you.” I hear something drop on the other side of the door, and then a scratching noise. She really is trying to pick my lock. A loud curse escapes her mouth and something clangs on the floor. I sigh under my breath and close my eyes.

Suddenly she shouts in triumph and my door swings open. I hold my breath. If I don’t move, maybe she won’t see me.

“Kristian!” Never mind. “Oh my god.” I hear her slide across the glass strewn floor and stop beside me, her fingers probing my shoulder and arms. “Oh my god, Kristian. Please be alive,” she whispers frantically, gripping my shoulder tightly and shaking. I groan in frustration and open my eyes slowly.

“I’m not dead, yet.” My voice comes out hoarse and dry.

“What happened?”

I can’t bring myself to look at her panicked face, so I just stare straight ahead; her knees press into the broken glass on the floor, creating little droplets of blood.

Maybe if I ignore her long enough, she’ll leave. “Are you hurt?” Yes, I’m hurt. The pain and loss I feel has crippled me, obviously. She places her warm hand under my cheek and lifts my face to look at her. Glass shards bite into my skin, but I don’t really feel them.

“What happened?” she asks again, more forcibly this time. My eyes wander away from hers, uninterested. She shakes my head slightly to get my attention. I meet and hold her searching gaze. I suppose she deserves some sort of explanation, she has been a good friend.

I look away again. “I’m giving up.”

I hear her suck in a sharp breath. She stays silent. I glance at her quickly. Definitely the wrong thing to do. I’m practically able to feel the anger radiating off her.

“So you’re just going to give up? Quit?” She pauses, letting go of my face; my cheek hits the floor with a thud. “No, I won’t allow it. Get up!” She’s yelling at me now. Grabbing my arm roughly, she drags me up. I’m momentarily stunned at her strength. “Get up, Kristian.” She stands, pulling me with her.

My limbs feel like jelly. I slowly lift myself up with her help. I sway, unsteady on my feet. My head feels light and dizzy; pins and needles run up my legs and arms. I try to sit down on the floor again, but Bailey growls at me and drags me out the door. My shoes scrape across the mess.

“Where are we going?” I croak out as she helps me down the street. We take it slow, one of my arms wrapped around her shoulders for support. She doesn’t answer me. Her face is still screwed up in anger. I drop my head back down to watch my feet on the pavement.

I don’t realize where we’re going until Bailey walks me through the automatic doors at Brokenridge General Hospital.

I frown down at her and stop walking. “Why are we here?”

Bailey shakes her head at me impatiently and tugs me further into the white, sterile reception. As soon as she lets go of my arm, I collapse into a plastic chair. If I could leave by myself, I would. I don’t need to be here, I’m not sick.

A moment later Bailey returns with a young nurse pushing a wheelchair. I’m having trouble focusing my eyes, my vision is starting to blur around the edges. The nurse and Bailey help me up and into the wheelchair and then it all goes black.

***

My eyes are heavy and crusty, I struggle to open them. My whole body feels tingly and weak. I’m lying on something soft, my arms resting limply at my sides. I try to focus on my surroundings and swallow, my dry throat aches. I need water. Bailey’s face appears above me holding a plastic cup. I reach for it and she knocks my shaking hand away. She puts one hand behind my head and the other tilts the cup to my chapped lips. I hold her piercing gaze as I gulp the water down greedily. Her blue eyes are still glittering with anger.

The young nurse from earlier enters the room holding a clipboard. She walks to the side of my bed and stops, writing something down. She leans down and removes the IV from my wrist.

“I have your discharge papers here. You’re okay to leave.” She turns to Bailey, who’s standing to the side staring at me. “Are you going to take him home with you?” Bailey jerks her head up and looks at the nurse, confused. The nurse’s face softens. “He probably shouldn’t be left alone, and seeing as how you brought him in, I thought you two must be close.”

I open my mouth to protest and tell her I’m fine, but Bailey interrupts me. “Yes, you’re right. I’ll take him home.” I frown at her and turn my head away. I don’t need a babysitter.

CHAPTER 8

KRISTIAN

Bailey holds my head down as she pushes me roughly into a yellow cab. The drive to her apartment is short. I stare out the dark window, letting my grief take over again. I wonder where Jess is now. I shouldn’t have let Bailey convince me to go with her to the observatory and I shouldn’t have let her kiss me. That was a mistake.

We’re both quiet as she helps me up the stairs. Once we’re standing in the bright living room of her apartment, I turn to her ready to settle this. “I don’t need you to look after me Bailey, I’m fine.”

She raises an eyebrow at me incredulously. “You didn’t look fine when I found you curled up on a pile of broken plates.” She grabs my hand and leads me down a short hallway to the bedroom. I try to pull my hand from her grip, but I’m too weak. “What happened anyway?”

“Nothing,” I answer, trying to walk away from her. I don’t even make it two steps before I stumble and she grabs a hold of my arm to keep me steady. She nudges me closer to the bed.

“This is your bed?” I ask quietly, looking over the colorful blankets and the trinkets on the nightstand.

She nods. “You need it more than I do.”

I turn on her, annoyed. “I’m not sleeping in your room, on your bed.”

She glares at me. “Oh, and you have a bed to go back to at your place, do you? Or would you like me to smash up a few of my things for you to sleep on instead?” Her sarcasm hurts a little and I flinch away. She pushes my arm again forcefully. I falter and sit down on the bed.

I stare at her as she pulls the covers back and gently helps me lie down. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I can feel the weight of sleep pressing in on me. My eyes are already half closed and heavy. Bailey sits on the edge of the bed and bites her lip.

This might be my only chance. I have to know before I lose the courage to ask.

“Why did you come looking for me?”

Her expression softens as she looks up. “I was worried about you, Krissy.”

“But I left you outside my building, alone. And I’ve never been very nice to you. I don’t understand why you stick around…why you care.”

“Shhh.” She places her hand on my cheek. “Shut up and go to sleep.”

She stands and leaves the room, stopping at the door to switch off the light and look back at me. I watch, struggling to keep my eyes open, until her shadow leaves the doorway.

***

“Are you going to work today?” Bailey’s soft voice wakes me. I groan and roll over, facing away from her. She takes the hint and with a loud sigh, leaves a moment later. I hear the front door slam and the lock click. I try to close my eyes and sleep again, but I’m no longer tired. Huffing out a complaint, I throw the covers back and climb out of the bed. My legs are wobbly at first, but I manage to keep myself steady as I wander out into the living room.

Bailey’s apartment is much bigger than mine. She has a full kitchen and living room. All of the rooms are decorated very tastefully. The walls are warm colors and the furniture looks extremely comfortable. I amble around the main room, pausing at the large fireplace to gaze at the photo frames lined up along the top.

The picture in the center is of her and Riley, except they look much younger. I do a double take and glance once more at all the photos; none of them show their parents or any other family. I wonder why? Leaving that thought alone for the moment, I walk over to the large wooden desk, sitting in front of the window. She has a nice view of the city. I open the window, letting the gust of fresh air wash across my face before sitting down in the desk chair.

Something amongst the paper bills on her desk catches my eye, and I shuffle them aside to see. It’s a large sketch of a lounging cat. It’s incredibly well done and the signature at the bottom is Bailey’s. I didn’t know she could draw, she didn’t say anything. Then again, it’s not like I’ve been very forthcoming with anything either, I suppose. I pick up the sketchbook and flip through the other pages. The drawings get better and more accurate as I go. I flip the next page and freeze. My own eyes stare up at me from the paper; I’m stunned at the effort and detail. Laying the sketch pad back down on the desk, I place my hands on either side of it and gape at the pencil lines.

The door clicks open and Bailey strides in holding a plastic bag in one hand and her keys in the other. She looks over at me and frowns. Rushing over she snatches the sketchbook away from me and tucks it under her arm, her face turning bright red.

“Like going through peoples stuff, do you?” she asks sarcastically.

I ignore her and lean back in the chair. “I thought you were going to work?”

“No, I rang them and said I had a family emergency. I also told them I’d heard you were sick.” I spin the chair around and look back out the window at the bright day. “I went to your place and got you some clothes so you can have a shower.” Glancing back, I raise an eyebrow at her. “You smell awful, Kristian. Go take a shower. That’s not a request.” She shoves the plastic bag into my arms and takes a step back. I glare at her as I get up and stomp off to the bathroom.

The shower is a bathtub with a curtain around the outside. I can’t bring myself to look in the mirror, so I strip off and slide under the warm water as quickly as I can, letting it wash away all my aches. I’m nearly dozing when the sound of the door opening startles me. I poke my head around the curtain and frown at Bailey. She smiles sheepishly, her face turning pink as she places a towel on the counter.

“Sorry, I forgot to give you a clean towel.” She stands there for a moment, and then as if suddenly realizing where she is, she spins around and fumbles with the doorknob to get out.

The smell wafting from the kitchen when I exit the bathroom has my mouth watering. I sit at the kitchen table and run my fingers through my still damp hair. Bailey glances at me as she stirs something in a pot.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better.” Much better, actually. Jess leaving hurts, but being around Bailey is a welcome distraction, although I’d never admit that to her out loud.

“So, tomorrow do you want to head over to your apartment and start cleaning up?”

“Sorry?” I’m a little confused. I hadn’t really thought about the state my apartment.

“Krissy, your place is a mess. I don’t know how it’s possible, but everything is completely destroyed. I’m not sure if there’s a single piece of furniture not ruined,” Bailey says as she reaches on her tippy toes to grab some plates from the cupboard. She sets them down, then starts dishing out the food.

“I guess. Please stop calling me that, my name is Kristian.”

She places the plate down in front of me and looks at her creation proudly, purposely ignoring what I just said. I tilt my head and stare down at the food, dubious. The pasta is a funny color and the mince doesn’t look like it has any sauce.

She huffs at me. “Oh, don’t be a baby. Try it.” Sitting down across from me, she shovels a forkful into her mouth. I hesitantly lift some mince on my fork and place it in my mouth. Almost right away the flavor hits me and I groan at the amazing taste. I didn’t realize how hungry I actually was, and now that I’ve put food in my mouth, I can’t stop. Before long my plate is empty and practically licked clean.

I look over at a smug Bailey.

“It was good, wasn’t it?”

I nod and push the plate away. “Thank you for everything. I’m glad you came looking for me.” I glance away, feeling like a weakling for admitting I need help.

“What are friends for?” Bailey says simply, standing and taking our dishes to the sink. I get up to help her wash them, but she pushes me away.

***

I pause in the doorway of my apartment and look around at the destruction. Everything I ever owned is gone. I reach into my pocket and subconsciously finger Jess’s silver bracelet, I miss her so much.

Bailey stops beside me and gives me a sympathetic look.

“Come on, let’s get started.” She touches my arm gently and walks into the kitchen.

I scrape a pile of broken glass from the TV into a dustpan. This is one of the most depressing things I’ve ever done. I can’t even feel Jess anymore, wherever she is, she’s not close.

Bailey taps me on the shoulder a little while later. “I think we’re done for today.” She holds out her hand, I grasp it and she helps me off the floor. My legs are stiff from kneeling too long. I follow her out the door and lock it behind me.

***

If I have to answer one more person when they ask me if I’m okay, I’m going to break something. I nearly curse when Fiona stops beside our desk and leans in close. I just know she’s going to ask too.

“How are you, Kristian? Feeling better?” I open my mouth to give her the same answer I’ve been giving everyone else, but she stops me, holding up a finger. “Never mind, I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re back at work. Our meeting is in five minutes.” She strides away looking pleased with herself. I’m not even hurt by her comment, I’m just really confused. Bailey giggles from across the desk. I turn and glare at her. She covers her smile with her hand.

Shaking my head, I gather up my notebook, papers, and pen. Bailey and I walk to the meeting room side by side. To anyone else, we look like two people who work together walking through our office, completely normal. To me, it’s too intimate. She’s walking too close, our hands are nearly brushing. I slow my steps slightly so we’re no longer side by side. She throws me a weird look over her shoulder as she enters the room. I gulp down any emotion I might be feeling and follow her through the glass doors.

I try not to make it obvious that I’m waiting at the entrance for her to choose a seat before I sit across from her. Fiona stands at the head of the room and flicks off the lights, the projector screen coming to life and flashing statistics from the latest news polls. Fiona’s voice goes in one ear and out the other, nothing sinking in. I lift my head from my notebook slowly and gaze over at Bailey. She’s facing the front of the room, focused on whatever Fiona is saying, tapping her pen against her book. Someone makes a comment about something on the screen and she giggles along with the rest of the room. When she shakes her head and adjusts her glasses, her eyes meet mine and she freezes. I know I should look away, but for some reason I can’t bring myself to do it. She tilts her head, her mouth popping open slightly, a light blush shading her cheeks.

“Mr. Reed?” My name snaps us both out of it. I jerk my gaze away from her and up to Fiona’s harsh face. “Nice of you to finally join us here on Earth.” She smirks and launches back into her speech.

I quickly glance at Bailey, whose face is flushed a beautiful pink in embarrassment, before turning back to the projector screen.