Carden

The blood screamed loudly in Carden's ears, the noise almost making him cradle his head and scream for it to just shut up. His heart rattled so hard against his rib cage he swore Zoë could hear it, his breathing was shallow, nervousness running throughout his veins.

Please, just stop. You need to calm down. Stop.

Who knew one girl could make him feel like he wanted to vomit?

"Carden?"

Zoë's fingers gently rested on his arm, squeezing gently. Her hand was warm and it sent bursts of sparks up his skin, making him shiver. When he met her eyes, she looked genuinely concerned. "Carden, you okay? You look like you're about to be sick."

He pulled his arm away but she twined their fingers, oblivious to what she was doing to him. "I'm serious Carden. Do I need to get you help?" Her hand twitched in her lap, like she was deciding against an idea. Like maybe running her hand through his hair...maybe? Hopefully?

Carden faked a smile. "Tsk tsk, Miss Dedicated. Do you even know me? I'm totally fine! It's probably just adrenaline."

Zoë raised an eyebrow. "You were nervous earlier at school today and you said it was just nerves. You said you'd be fine after the game but this," she waved her free hand at him, "does not seem normal. What's going on Carden?"

"Nothing!" He smirked. "How was your first football game?"

She frowned at the subject change. "Don't think we aren't talking about whatever is happening with you but I guess it was fun. Dean came around, ditched us when the second half started and of course you know the whole situation with Chloe." She rolled her eyes. "You played great though."

He fought off a smile.

Thank goodness Dean had left Zoë alone. If he had tried to flirt with her, Carden couldn't have done anything to stop him. For all Carden knew, Dean could've kissed her or given her one of his hoodies instead.

It wasn't a secret that Dean liked Zoë. Carden saw the same glimmer in Dean's eye when he looked at her. The sparkling eyes, half smirk, breathless laughs, the hair flips. It was the same things Carden did when he liked a girl but Dean had seemed to give up to easily. Something was coming. Something bad.

Hopefully Zo didn't have any feelings toward him.

"I mean, I always play great but I played even better tonight," Carden said with a playful wink.

Zoë rolled her eyes again and started fingering with one of the draw strings on the hoodie. "I have to admit, shoving stuff in Chloe's face is fun when it comes to cheering for you."

"And saying you love me to almost the entire school is 'shoving it into Chloe's face?'" He grinned at her. "Actually, that was pretty great. It made me play a lot better."

Carden ran his fingers along her cheek and whispered in a teasing tone, "But don't you dare worry, I do too."

I really do.

Zoë giggled softly. "Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!"

He leaned back against the metal behind him, sighing deeply. "Fineeeeee. Whatever you say Miss Dedicated but it was probably one of my favorite moments in the entire game. Believe me. There could've been other dope moments like that first touchdown. I mean, do you know any other quarterbacks can front flip over six foot high schoolers?"

"Dope?" She laughed into the hem of his hoodie, which she pulled up to cover her beaming smile. Why was she always so adorable? "What year do we live in? The 80's?"

"Are you ignoring the fact I'm that amazing?"

"Yup."

He scoffed. "But you can admit, I could be a great football player in the 80's..."

She shoved his shoulder. "Take a joke, genius."

"Did you just call me smart?" He faked a look of shock. "Because that is one of the best compliments you've ever given me. Calling me handsome isn't a compliment." He ran a hand through his hair and winked at her. "That's a fact."

Zoë groaned loudly but smiled. "I mean you need me to tutor you so that kinda cancels out that compliment." She paused. "Have you been studying for the test next week?"

"Yes," Carden lied. He'd meant to but with Jared's anniversary, the football game, and the stress of asking Zoë out officially, he hadn't. But he would though. The last thing he wanted to do was let her down.

She let out a breath. "Good. I thought I was failing you."

Mental reminder : Study for test so you don't let Zoë down.

"So...why'd you want to talk to me?"

And there were those words that Carden wanted her to never ask. All the nervousness came back with a vengeance and the taste in his mouth almost made him vomit. Just do it.

"Hey, woah." Zoë wrapped her arms around his neck as he nearly fell flat on his face. "It's okay. We don't have to talk about it right now."

Carden sighed and wrapped his arms around her waist, the smell of her sour watermelon hair making him blush. "I just..."

"You just what?"

"I need to ask you something."

She pulled back. "Then just ask. I won't judge or anything."

"It's not that easy."

"Just say the words. I'll make them into a sentence for you."

That gave Carden the courage he needed. "Zoë, will you-"

A loud beeping from her phone interrupted him. She gave him an apologetic look before picking up her phone and standing. She listened intently and Carden watched as the blood drained from her face. "Okay thank you. I'll be right there."

Zoë looked at him, her phone slipping from her hand and landing with a thud. Her legs gave out and Carden caught her right before she slammed into the pavement.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as he gently pulled the elastics from her hair and ran his fingers through her wavy hair. "What's wrong?"

She choked out five words. "Mom. Ambulance. Hospital. Drive. Now."

*****

Carden pressed down on the gas pedal as they sped down the road toward the highway. After Zoë had nearly passed out and uncontrollable sobs took over her entire body, she finally got out the words she needed to say.

Amelia Flynn has been found unconscious in her kitchen by Alec, which really ticked Zoë off, and took her to the hospital. The cancer doctor there had told them it was getting way worse, worse than he had expected, and had her transported to the cancer specialist hospital in Los Angeles. That was nearly an hour and a half drive.

Zoë was curled up in the passengers seat, half asleep and still crying.

All Carden wanted to do right now was wrap his arms around her and hold her but he couldn't. He needed to get her to LA as quick as possible. Her mom needed her.

Cars couldn't seem to go fast enough as Carden switched over three lanes into the express lane. He smiled at her. "It'll be faster this way."

She didn't say anything.

The entire time, his foot was nailed to the gas pedal. He didn't take it off the entire drive until they skidded into the hospital parking lot and Carden had to wake up Zoë from her nap.

Her legs gave out almost immediately the second she stepped onto solid ground so he gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders and half carried, half walked her to the doors.

A cry escaped her lips as the blinding lights met them and the usual hospital smell wafted around them. People at the desk looked at Zoë with wide alarm, some rushing to help her. Carden waved them away politely, responding with a hasty, "Excuse us."

He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered softly, "It's okay. Where are we going?"

Zoë stopped crying for a moment. "I...don't know." She forced Carden to face one of the watching nurses. "Excuse me, I'm here for Amelia Flynn."

A flash of pain, worry, and sadness crossed the nurse's face. "You can join the couple over there." She gestured toward the back corner by the vending machines.

Carden gently carried her over there, sitting down with her in his arms. She sniffled and softly cried into his polo shirt. He rubbed her back and whispered softly, "Shhhh. It's going to be okay. Just breath, Zo. Just breath."

"I see they're letting just anyone in now," the man next to Carden hissed. It took him a moment to recognize the man as Alec, who was surprisingly sober.

He glared at Alec. "Now is not the time, Mr. Flynn."

The women next to Alec, who had black and purple hair with startling green eyes and the woman from the park, gently kissed his cheek. "He's right. Let's just let the divorce stuff go for a second." She looked to Carden with a soft smile. "I'm sorry about him. I'm Vanessa."

"Carden."

Carden ignored Alec's grumbles and gently ran a hand through Zoë's soft hair. Amber rushed through the doors a second later and threw herself down in the chair next to them. "Any info?"

He didn't question her. She probably saw Carden carry Zoë into his car and followed them all the here. She was a good best friend to Zoë. "Nope."

"Should I call Cam? He's out in the truck."

"You drove Cam here?"

She blushed. "Yes now, should I tell him to come in or not?"

"If you want."

Amber looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Why such the short responses, Mister Popular? Shouldn't you be gloating about your fabulous win today? Seems like the type of thing you'd be doing right about now."

Carden shot her death glare. "I'm more worried about Zoë at the moment."

It was like Amber just realized the state Zoë was in. Her eyes were scrunched shut and her cheeks were tear stained. Her light hair covered some of her blotchy face, her hands clinging tightly to Carden's shirt.

"Zo?" Amber whispered quietly. "You alright?"

She slowly shook her head.

Carden wanted to press his lips onto the crown of her head and keep telling her it was okay but by the nervous looks Alec and Vanessa were exchanging, it couldn't be okay. Whatever had happened wasn't good.

His phone beeped loudly and Carden adjusted Zoë to pull it out.

Sir - Where you at son?

In LA

What, why???

Zoë's mom is in the hospital so I drove her here. Cam and Amber followed us here. Her dad and his girlfriend are here too

Is everything okay? How's Zo?

Not sure. Her dad looks scared and the nurse's don't seem happy and I'm not sure. Zoë is just sobbing into my shirt right now

Mom and I will be there in a bit

Why?

Cause my son's girlfriend's mother is in the hospital

Carden sighed as he placed his phone on Zoë's leg and gently rocked her as the clock above them ticked. He was asleep but still awake to be able to sense when someone reached for Zoë and gently pulled back her hair.

He pulled her closer to him as if they might take Zoë away from him but then he heard, "Are you okay?" in Mother's soft voice said as she knelt in front of them. Dad had gone and introduced himself to Alec, who seemed pleased to be in the presence of a retired NFL player.

Zoë just whimpered and Carden hugged her tighter.

One of the doors opened and a young nurse stepped out, a file pressed close against her and her face full of fear. She cleared her throat and said, "Family of Amelia Flynn."