Page 21 of Unraveled

Izzy groaned at that remark. She leaned further into her hand, and some of her long hair fell forward, revealing deep, purple bruises on her upper arms.

My stomach flipped, and I thought I might drop for a second. Leaning over her, I reached out for the dark tender spots but stopped myself when she flinched. “How?” My tone was no longer teasing in any sense.

Just as I asked, the door to the office burst open and Coach Larson and the security officer were steering Zane into the room, both his arms pinned behind his back. He looked over at us, his gaze resting on Izzy.

She didn’t look up, just staring at her lap and slouching, looking like she hoped the couch would swallow her.

Zane’s gaze went from concern to anger when she refused to look up, and he scowled at me as the officer guided him to the principal’s office.

It didn’t take a genius to putthattogether.

“Izzy, what did he do to you?” I kept my voice gentle, but my tone still demanded an answer.

She sighed and blinked watering eyes. “He shook me.”

“He what?” I’d heard her, but I couldn’t believe it.

“He lifted me and shook me. He’s on steroids. I felt like a rag doll, okay? I’m still dizzy and sick to my stomach.” Izzy squeezed her eyes shut, tears welling, and I was leftstanding there, my mouth hanging open when the bell rang.

“Okay, Jet. Lunch is over. Now, get to class.” When I didn’t move, Ms. Teiger added, “Jet. Go to class now, or I’m writing you up for defiance.”

Shit.As much as I wanted to stay for Izzy, I couldn’t afford that. Not with my scholarship. Frustrated, I gave my friend a comforting squeeze above her wrist before I left, pulling out my phone.

At least, now I know what to tell Annie and Tucker.

ISABEL

“Izzy?” Mom’s slightly frantic voice carried through the door of the nurse’s office, and she rushed up to my bed still dressed in her scrubs from work.

Relief and apprehension rushed through me. It felt so nice to have Mom here, but things weren’t completely fixed between us yet, and I wondered how long it would be before one of our tempers flared.

“Oh, baby,” Mom murmured when she saw my arms, and she ran her hands through my hair. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I offered her a smile, her touch easing some of the ache in my head that the ice pack hadn’t been able to help. Even though the room had finally stopped spinning, I was still a little queasy and lightheaded. But the less of a big deal we made this, the better. I was pretty sure I was still slightly in shock.

Mom turned to the nurse like she was expecting a different answer.

“No permanent damage that I can see here. But you still might want to take her to a doctor. The way that boy shook her…” The nurse shook her head. “It’s no wonder she got so sick.”

“No, I’m fine. Really.”

“Isabel…” Mom warned. “After your concussion last year and the accident last December, I really think I should take you in. Just to be sure.”

“Mom, please don’t. I really don’t feel like it. I just want to go home and rest.”

Mom pursed her lips, her eyes raking over me in scrutiny. “You’re really feeling fine?”

I nodded and forced myself not to wince. Sitting up, I set the ice pack aside and slid to my feet, smoothing the hem of my shirt down to my hips against my jeans. Thankfully, my legs were cooperating again.If I could just get that message to my head.

“See?” I smiled, holding out my hands. “I’m fine.”

Mom exchanged a look with the nurse, hesitating before giving in. “Alright, but if I seeanysign that you’re hurting or something’s wrong, I mean even ahintof it, you’re going in.”

“Okay.”

A light knock sounded on the door, and Ms. Lane popped her head inside. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Donovan, I know you’re worried about Izzy, but, if you don’t mind, I really would like to talk to her for a few minutes to get her side of what happened.”

“Of course. No problem. She says she’s feeling fine. A few minutes won’t hurt. Right, sweetie?” Mom smiled asshe gathered my things someone had dropped off earlier, but by the tone of her comment, I was afraid she could already tell about my head.

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