Page 68 of Into the Shadows

“You hit your head on the cooler, sis.”

“Caro?”

“You’ve got us all hovering like hummingbirds at the only feeder in town.”

“Not helpful, Caroline,” Dad reprimands. “Open your eyes, sweetheart.”

“I don’t want to. My head hurts. Think you could turn down the fireworks?” A boom hits right after I say that, and I wince.

“She’s fine. Her jokes are just as bad as usual,” Caroline says.

I blink my eyes open to find Caro leaning over me with a goofy grin. “You go away. I’m injured. I shouldn’t be subjected to this type of treatment.”

“Yeah, she’s fine.” Dad laughs. I hold my hand out for him to help me up.

“No, but really, what happened? One second, I was looking around the field, and the next, I was on the ground.”

“Uh…well.” Dad looks over at Mom, who gives me a look of pity.

“We’re not exactly sure either,” Mom says. “When the first firework hit, Teddy yelled something.”

“It sounded like, ‘Get down,’” Caroline interrupts.

“And when we turned around, he was lying on top of you as if he was covering your body from the blast.” Mom’s lips turn down.

I look around the field to find him, but he’s nowhere to be found.

“He left as soon as he realized he’d knocked you over,” Dad says solemnly.

“Ran is more like it,” Caro mutters.

“Caroline,” Dad barks. “You know nothing about what happened.”

She looks properly chastised. “I’m sorry, you’re right.”

“I need to find him.” I start to stand up, and the world goes dizzy.

Dad grabs my arm. “Whoa. Absolutely not. You need to get checked out first.”

“I hate to say it, but your dad’s right.” Mom pushes my hair off my forehead. She reaches around to feel the bump on the back of my head, and I hiss at the probing.

“I’m fine. Some Tylenol and an ice pack will do the trick.”

“You blacked out, sis. You probably have a concussion,” Caroline points out.

“I can go check on him,” Noah offers from my left. It’s only then I realize my whole family surrounds us. Worry lines each of their faces while fireworks explode in the background. Seems strange for them to be this worried about me over a bump on the head. The scene of Teddy yelling and knocking me down comes to mind. That was probably pretty scary.

I look at Dad. “Do I have to get checked out?”

“Yes.” He’s got his stone face on, which means there’s no arguing with him. I find Noah again. “Go check on him. And tell him to call me. I have a feeling he’s not going to answer if I call first,” I mutter the last bit to myself.

Mom and Dad get me to the car while Caroline calls Doctor Upton. He has a family practice in town where most of us go when we have the flu or need a general checkup. I’d tell them not to bother him, but my complaints won’t be heard.

“Clint—Dr. Upton is going to meet us at the clinic.”

I raise an eyebrow at Caro across the back seat of Mom’s car. “Clint?”I mouth.

“Shut up.”Caro gives me a death glare.

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