Page 52 of Make Her Bleed
Dax and Nico run out of the locker room and pull us away from each other as we start throwing fists.
Knox doesn't want to accept the blame. I refuse to settle for anything less. We're at an impasse.
"Fuck you, Kade!" Knox snaps at me as he shakes off Nico, a tremor rippling through his arms, his fists clenching. "You didn't do shit to help her either. Do you think you're some kind of saint or are you really just pissed because she actually wanted me and not you?"
"You fucking—" I nearly tackle him but am pinned by Coach Patrick against the wall opposite of Knox, who stares in shock.
"No fighting, period. Just because you assholes have your panties in a twist doesn't give you the right to fight on school property. You got me?" he hisses, dashing his gaze back and forth between me and my enemy.
"Got it, Coach," Knox groans out.
"How about you?" Coach Patrick turns his piercing gaze to me, a warning clear in his eyes.
"Crystal clear, Coach."
"Good," he mutters, stepping back, an edge still present. His expression sours with sadness as he rubs his temple. "Practice is canceled. I need to go to the hospital."
"What's going on, Coach?" Dax presses, concern on his face.
Everyone knows there aren't many people close to him which leaves the list very short of possible people he's going to see.
Coach Patrick sends each of us an angry glare but it softens when he sees we're just worried about him.
"It's Aria,'' he admits. "She just got out of surgery. I need to be there when she wakes up."
My heart breaks apart at his shocking words. I only register the words “Aria” and “surgery.” Everything else fades to the background.
"Why is she in the hospital?" Knox asks, seeming mortified by this news.
"Like you don't fucking know?" It's the stupidest question he's ever asked. Obviously she's there because of whatever Kai has done to her.
"Fuck you, man. We're all worried about her."
Coach just stares at us like this thought has never crossed his mind. He probably thinks we’re just Kai’s errand boys, but we all care about Aria even if there’s only so much we can do to help her.
We're not Kai. We aren't a group of psychos. We want Aria to be safe, and Kai is the furthest thing from safe.
"We'll see you at the hospital, Coach," I say right before he walks away. I leave the dumbshits to gossip about what could be wrong with her.
If she just got out of surgery, that means she's not dead. Their next priority should be to check on her instead of hanging around like a bunch of gossiping biddies.
I rush to change out of my gear and hightail it to my car.
* * *
I pullup to the hospital and rush over to the registration desk, telling them Aria's name. She gives me the room number but as I'm heading there, I see Kai and Coach Patrick talking with hushed voices. I barely sneak past them and make my way to her room silently.
Her normally vibrant hair is dull and stringy in a knot on top of her head and her skin is translucent as hell, but she looks at peace, laying on her side.
She must still be out from surgery but I don't see any bandages.
What the fuck did Kai do to her?
"Who's there?" she asks weakly as I close the door.
"It's okay, Aria. It's just me," I say before moving over to the chair next to her bed.
She doesn't open her eyes but lets out a relieved breath. "Rowe? What are you doing here?" she asks, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She looks at me but it's as if she doesn't even see me.
