Page 16 of Never Stop
Jett is here, too. Where is Abbie? Abbie was supposed to be with them. Why isn't she? Why are they even here? They hear me approaching quickly, and all their eyes turn to mine. I stop dead in my tracks as I see their faces.
It's the look of horror. Of apology.
"What's going on?" I managed to get out, unsure if they heard me because my voice was small, barely even a whisper.
Jett and Izzy look at each other like they're looking for the words. Izzy starts sobbing as she shakes her head.
They heard me.
Ander runs his hands down his face slowly and starts walking towards me, unable to look me directly in the eyes.
"Someone, please tell me what the fuck is going on,"
He finally reaches me and pulls me into a tight hug so that we don't make eye contact. I can tell they're all searching for the words. I push him back softly, forcing him to look at me.
"Anderson, tell me. NOW!"
"I'm so sorry, V, I'm so sorry," He starts crying, and it just pisses me off.
I look at Izzy, searching for answers in her eyes.
"V, we've been trying to call you. We still aren't sure exactly what happened, but there was an accident—"
Her voice fell flat. Her mouth was still moving, but no words were forming. Why weren't words forming? Maybe they are, butI can't hear them. I close my eyes and count to ten; when I open them again, I'm counting out loud, grasping onto Ander like my life depends on it.
Jett and Izzy walk up, pulling me into a tight, quick hug. I don't reciprocate. Hell, I don't even move.
I still have no clue what's happening, and I feel like I'm floating. Like I'm watching them in slow motion from above. Yet, I want to vomit at the same time.
Ander's voice of reason is collected when he speaks this time, "V, listen to these next few sentences carefully. I want you to take a deep breath between each pause because we must head straight to the truck after I finish." Izzy and Jett step back, giving us a second, and then both start pacing.
I close my eyes briefly.
This isn't good.
This has to be bad. Where the fuck is Abbie? I take a deep breath, open my eyes, and nod, signaling for him to continue. He locks eyes with me for a brief moment, then nods softly. I can see the pain all over his face as he hesitates.
"Last night, after we left, Natty changed her mind. She wanted to come to Izzy's with you. Your mom showed up with her around 8:30. Izzy tried covering for you, but it didn't work. She was upset with you for not being honest with her. They went home and picked up your dad to look for you since Izzy wouldn't tell them where you were. They didn't get far before a vehicle malfunction occurred, and the truck went off the road… It isn't good, V."
The tears are flowing down his cheek, and he walks a few steps into the living room and throws a forceful punch into the back of the couch. I stand there stunned. I can't move. I can't even react.
After about a minute, when he's standing back in front of me, it finally starts to sink in, and I gasp. I can feel the horror covering my face as my hands slap over my mouth.
"W-what are you saying?"
He takes in a deep breath and goes to speak, and the next thing I know, Izzy has her arms wrapped around my neck, sobbing into my shoulder. I push her back. At this point, I'm fuming with frustration that no one is being direct. I understand being gentle with me, but god damn. I'm not this fragile. The panic and not knowing are swallowing me whole.
Izzy holds back tears.
"Your dad was ejected out of his seat belt and was pronounced dead on the scene. Your mom and Natty stayed restrained and were flown to the main hospital in the city, but--",
"ButWHAT,Izabel? But what?" I lose the words. I see all of their heads fall slightly.
It's Ander who speaks up first.
"We need to hurry and leave now, V. It doesn't look good, and we need to get you there now."
He walks up to me assertively and wraps his arm around me, ushering me out of the house. I can hear Izzy and Jett quickly following behind.
