Noah Silas Anderson

Chapter Ninety-two: "There's been an accident"

"-No! No, fuck that," I yelled at this random boy I met at this Christmas party. It was more of a chiller, not a lot of people but enough to have a good time - just drinking and shit.

We were having a heated discussion about some bullshit, you know how that guys, but it was all in good fun.

He went "dude" and blew air from his cheeks. I looked at his friend who was remaining neutral.

"Look at this guy, he's not even saying anything," I scoffed, standing above them all. He just smiled and shook his head.

"My name's Paul, that's between y'all," he said with the red SOLO cup to his lips.

"It's because you know I'm right," I laughed, slapping his hand.

"Fuck outta here with that shit, man," the first guy grumbled, throwing a stack of playing cards down on the centered table.

The group laughed and I threw my arms up. "I rest my case," I said a little cocky.

"What you tryna drink?" he asked me, changing the subject.

I glanced at my phone and saw it was later than I would've liked to stay. The guy who invited us was Connor, he was my age - I think - and we played that alumni football game with him a couple months back. He randomly hit us up and invited us over, saying he was hosting a kickback or whatever so with nothing better to do, Gael and I agreed to go.

"Where's Gael?" I asked, looking around the room.

"Uh, he went outside," Connor told me. I nodded and slapped everyone's hands down the line.

"I'ma go smoke," I said, walking towards the door.

Like Gael, I wasn't trying to drink. I had gotten fucked up last night. Sky was back and wanted to tell me about her honeymoon and shit. We went to a bar then we met these college kids who threw a party we got into and it was downhill from there. When I woke up, I saw that I sent all these dumb ass texts and voicemails to Brooklyn. She probably thinks I'm up to no good and fucking miserable without her, which, I kinda am, but she doesn't know that.

When I stepped foot on the porch, Gael looked up at me. He asked if I was ready and I nodded, feeling for my lanyard against my joggers.

Gael hopped in my Hummer and took up the passenger seat as I beat myself up for losing the blunt I rolled earlier.

I clicked a light on and searched for it in the cup holders. As I did so, Mr.Can't-help-me-look took a phone call and sat back. Who's calling him anyway, I know it's not Cassie or any other girls?
I started to laugh, thinking what if it's Courtney.

"It wasn't me," Gael spoke into the phone. "I'm not even home."

I wasn't sure who he was talking to but Gael shot me a curious look. He put the phone in the middle and said, "He's on speaker, what's going on?"

"Yeah, there was a home invasion in Apartment three-eleven. I always see you both with Brooklyn and Cassie, and they've been taken to the hospital. I'm not sure if you know, but I told the officer that I would contact someone." It was Marvin speaking. He talked fast like he was nervous and out of sorts.

Gael froze for a second, his eyes open big. "What the fuck? Are they okay?"

My heart started thumping, I didn't know what to think. All I heard was: home invasion, Brooklyn, Cassie, hospital.

"What hospital," I roared into the phone.

Marvin told us, "One is unresponsive and one is beaten..badly." He stopped to take a long breath. "And the USC medical center on Marengo."

One in the morning, Gael and I rushed inside the emergency center. I don't even think I turned off the truck or the lights, I just hopped out and parked it in front of the doors.

Gael and I marched in and my eyes fell on a woman behind the desk. I lunged right up to her and leaned over that desk.

My eyes cut from the nurse she was conversing with and I stared at her until she met my gaze. She didn't look happy, but who would, working this shift?

"We're looking for Brooklyn Brankovich and Cassie Steele," I told her, almost yelling.

Gael stepped in and raised his voice. "Cassandra," he roared.

The nurse typed away at her computer. "Mhm," she sounded. "Have a seat please, we'll be with you in a moment." I sucked my teeth.

In a moment?! We might not have a moment to spare!

Gael started to walk away, just as pissed as I was. Then, with a pound of his fist, he turned back around. "Okay, that's not gonna work," he snapped at the receptionist. "That's my wife back there, and his wife." Why didn't I think of that?

The woman just looked at us both and then returned to her screen.

After a huff like she had some fucking attitude, she told us, "Brankovich one ninety-four, Steele, one eighty-six."

I cared about Cassie, I swear, but as soon as I heard room one ninety-four, I pushed off the desk and started to walk that way. Gael tapped the counter and beat me through the doors of the emergency center.

We went our separate ways, both pummeling the halls in search of these girls.

I hope she's okay, I kept thinking in my head as I walked with my fists nervously balled.

"One ninety, one ninety-two..." I mouthed the room numbers as I passed them. Finally, I was outside of one ninety-four. I wasted no time pushing the door open and making my presence known.

Three heads turned: a cop, a doctor, and Brooklyn's. My eyes blinked away from the men and fell ok Brooklyn as she sat on the examination table.

I felt kind of relieved seeing she was conscious and
didn't look too beaten up. There was a bandage on her forehead and under her left eye. Other than that, she just looked exhausted.

The officer moved and I caught sight of Brooklyn's arm in a sling. My eyebrows furrowed seeing her like that.

"Sir?" The doctor said to me.

I clenched my jaw and couldn't take my eyes off of Brooklyn.

"I'm her husband. What happened?" I crossed my arms and sized up the officer.

Brooklyn just looked down and the doctor stepped closer to her, saying something I couldn't hear.

Officer Rhodes nodded his head and walked us outside the room to talk, I guess.

"I'm Officer Rhodes, I responded to the home invasion call at The Beach Plaza tonight, I'm just trying to get some information. Your wife hasn't said much, maybe you can help. Any idea as to who could've done this? Any enemies? Seen any suspicious people around the building lately?"

I shook my head, I wasn't going to cooperate with him either way, but I knew exactly who did this. Zane.

The officer closed his booklet. "Well, there's not much we can do. There were no signs of breaking-and-entering - no fingerprints, he must've worn gloves. We'll do our best, but you stay safe," Rhodes said, tilting his hat before walking down the hall.

I walked back in the room and saw Brooklyn being assisted in coming off the table.

"-And keep that arm in a sling until the pain goes away, which might be in a few days, but it takes up to sixteen weeks to recover. You should be able to resume regular activity in two weeks, but avoid heavy lifting and sports for up to three months," the doctor told Brooklyn. He released her right arm - the good one - and smiled.

"As for that concussion," he said, digging his hands in the pockets of his white coat, "just rest. Alright? Take care of yourself."

Brooklyn blinked slowly and walked passed his body, heading out of the room.

"She's not trying to be rude, she's probably just-" I tried defending her.

He put his hand up and smiled. "I get it all the time. She's had a long, hard night. But you're here now, you can go home and take care of her. Make sure she rests, please."

"Well, she doesn't listen to me, but I'll try. Thanks, doc," I said, looking down.

I made my way back to the waiting room and saw Brooklyn sitting in a chair directly under the tv.

She looked so... I don't even know the word for it. Her eyes were dark and spaced out like she wasn't mentally with us. And emotionally, she was clocked out. There was no expression on her face that's gone pale.

I walked up to her, offering my black full-zip Nike hoodie since she only had on a pair of red shorts, a tank top, and adidas slip-ons. Her hair was stringy and looked wet, I could tell she was cold.

I felt so bad. I couldn't think of what to say. All I wanted to do was hold her and tell her I'm gonna fix this and that it'll be okay. And it will be okay, once Zane is dealt with.

Brooklyn shook her head at first, pushing the jacket away but I shook it and kept my arm out firmly.

She looked up at me and snatched it, mumbling a "thanks" as she covered herself.

"Are you okay-" I tried making conversation but she got up and flipped the hair off her back as she walked to the lady at the receptionist desk.

"Is Cassandra Steele okay? She's been back there for a while now, and I-"

The woman cut Brooklyn off and Brooklyn made a face. "Have a seat, ma'am, she'll be out."

Brooklyn's top lip curled and she walked away, cursing the lady.

I sat down right beside Brooklyn and she just anxiously looked all around at each exit to see where Cassie could come out from.

"What happened?" I asked in a low tone as I looked straight ahead and cracked my knuckles.

Brooklyn didn't say anything. So I spoke again.

"Well, what happened to your face?" I know I sounded like a parent - or worse, her mother - but I cared and demanded some goddamn answers already.

She pulled her head away when I tried lifting her bandages.

"I'm fine!" She whisper-yelled, replacing herself in the chair a couple seats down.

"You're not fine," I yelled. "Look at your face, your arm!"

I saw Brooklyn's chest pumping and her breathing got harder so I sighed and lowered my volume.

"I just care about you and I know you're pissed but I'm trying to figure out what happened so I can do something about it," I grumbled and stood to pace.

Gael came out and Brooklyn didn't really talk to him either. The three of us waited and waited for Cassie, and finally, she was released.

Brooklyn was the first on her feet and immediately clung to Cassie's body. Brooklyn was taller and blocked the view of Cassie so I couldn't quite catch her face to see if she was beat up like Brooklyn, or worse, but I could tell it wasn't good.

The girls talked and then they just walked outside. Brooklyn glared at me and I just took that as a cue to follow, so I did and she told me to take them home. They climbed in the back, and as you can imagine, the car ride home was painfully quiet.

***

Gael and I figured the girls didn't want to be alone after what happened, and we wouldn't let them even if they did.

Brooklyn didn't say it out loud but she wasn't ready to go back to three-eleven. When we passed her apartment, she squeezed Cassie's hand.
I let Gael go ahead with them to Cassie's place where we'd all be spending the night. Meanwhile, I went to check out the crime scene.

The door was locked but I had a spare key. Not because I was, like, ready to move or anything, but because she lost hers once and got a spare that I didn't trust her with.

I stepped inside and let the door close, not turning on any lights at first. I don't know, I was waiting to see if the attacker stuck around, I guess.

I walked around, my memory of the furniture layout guided me through the darkness.

"Zane?" I called out his name.

"Why don't you come out and fight a man? A real man. I know it was you, and when I see you," I paused to chuckle, "you're dead."

I stopped myself and turned on a light only to see someone right in front of me. It was just my reflection.

Realizing no one was there, I walked out and locked the door.

Getting tired, I walked into Cassie's. The door was unlocked and I shook my head, being sure to lock it after me.

Even though I was sure to shut the door carefully, Gael noticed and looked up at me.

I'm going to fucking kill him," was the first thing I heard Gael say. He was stressed, I could tell the situation was eating him up. At least we were both on the same page and knew who did this.

I tensed up. "Did you see what he did to them?" My jaw clenched.

"More of a reason to get rid of him," Gael said, standing up, his fist balled. "He fucked them up, and Cassie's-" Gael stopped himself.

"Cassie's what?" I asked, standing in place.

Gael sarcastically laughed, looking away from me. "She's- Cassie's pregnant. And didn't even tell me." I had a feeling about that, I should've said it before.

"Shit, I don't even know what to say. That's big. But you know Cassie, she probably wanted to tell you."

"She doesn't even want to fucking look at me," Gael barked. "And she kept telling me she was just sick. But I can't stop thinking about if Zane would've fucked something up."

"What do want to do?" I asked Gael for a plan, he seems to be more fueled than me and he's usually the brains between us. I swallowed and walked into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. The door slammed shut and I hoped it wasn't loud enough to disturb the girls.

Gael trailed me into the kitchen and we finished talking. "I'm going to send his ass a message this time," Gael affirmed. I liked the sound of that.

I crushed the plastic bottle in my palm after drinking some. "What are we going to do to him? When?" I emphasized.

Gael leaned on the countertop, shrugging his shoulders. He said, "I would say kill him, but I'm not a murderer. So, fuck him up, I guess? And I don't know. After Christmas?" I nodded.

"I know the club's closed after Christmas, he'll probably be alone then. He can't get away with this," I said, shaking my head.

"And he's not going to," Gael added, "So, just get him at the club?"

I stiffly nodded to agree. "Let's end this," I said. For good.

"Bet," Gael agreed. "Do you think this is ever going to get better? Cassie fucking hates me. I think."

"Cassie doesn't hate you, even I know that," I tried to joke and make him feel better. "I don't think Cassie is capable of hating anybody. She'll come around."

"Yeah, you have a point," Gael nodded. "We'll see."

"Are you gonna ask her about, you know, the baby?" It was hard for me to say because I couldn't believe Cassie would be having a baby, and by my best friend. I'm gonna be an uncle.

"Not while everything is all fucked up. She might go off on me or something," Gael laughed a little, loosening up.

"Don't wait too long," I told Gael, pushing his head in.

*

I walked to the guest bedroom, the one that was Emereigh's when she stayed with Cassie. In it was an air mattress that Brooklyn lied on. I figured she was sleep so I tried not to wake her.
As quietly as I could, I made myself comfortable on the floor.

When I looked up, I saw Brooklyn blinking her eyes.

"I thought about what I would say to you," she spoke, her voice flat. "I wanted to cuss you out, but you have to sleep with knowing this is your fault."