Maybe she wouldn't tell Audrey that she'd spent the first five years of her life in the country. When her parents were together. Because she was greatful to be around good people. Even if it was awkward more times than not.

      Standing on a ledge, she overlooked a river. Dark, bottomless as it seemed due to the dusk surrounding them. It was crafted around a tree, and the ladder up it was fragile. But the names carved into the trunk told many stories.

      Looking down at the trio below her, she'd tried not to feel afraid.  The only thing in her mind was the absence of breathing. The exacto balde they gave her to carve Clem into the tree was now dull, but she stabbed it into the bark.

       "Use the rope!" Audrey yelled.

      Hands grasping the old thing, she tugged and watched the place where it was tied. Surely it was dangerous. It could break over her weight. But she didn't want to live up to expectations and become the wimpy rich girl.

      She was in just a tank top and shorts. The cool air hitting her bare back gave her goosebumps. And she was self conscious, which added a heavy feeling. Watching the trees dance across the river, mind filling with various scenarios. Even picturing herself losing her footing. Which was not a lovely idea.

      "Can't I put on a jacket at least? I'm very unsure about... sticks and stuff in the water." She spoke the blatant truth.

       Max was tired of standing around, "Jesus, you where uncomfortable on the way here. What's the difference?"

       "You'll get my car wet," Audrey added, "You're not ruining my seats. But you look great!"

        Deciding it was now or never. She hoped that she had enough  upper arm strength to hold her up. Fingers wrapped around the thick rope. She got to the edge of the platform and tried not to look down, staring straight ahead as she began.

      Jumping to curl up onto the rope, she'd immediately felt the wind whip her hair behind her. Everything in slow motion as her eyes that were shut tight, snapped open at the cheers coming from down below. Feeling herself start to slide down, she let go.

      Not wanting to pencil dive, nor land on her stomach or back, she tucked in her feet. Finally closing her eyes without worry as she waited for the water to envelope her. The chilly river crashing against her as she sunk. Freezing for a moment underwater.

      Her surroundings were barron as she'd opened her eyes. Feeling the slimy rocks on her bare feet, she'd hoped there wasn't any fish. It's the one reason she was so hesitant to swim in anything but pools. Because the fish were somehow unthreatening, but terrifying.

      Popping up with hair covering her eyes, she'd peaked through and saw Audrey with extra clothes. Neatly folded, with a grin on her face. While Rob clapped, and Max stood quietly staring up at the sky. Glancing back as Clementine made her way to shore. Only to widen his eyes. Noticing the blood trickling down her face from her nose, unaware completely. The others gaped their mouths.

       It looked exactly how it did the night her and Max had a scuffle in the woods. Red covering her chin. Her own expression changing drastically as feet hit the sand. Watching the others looks twist into shock. She pressed her hand to her lower face, and brought it out to see the blood plastered all over.

     The trio standing before her all jumped back when she crashed to the ground.

      "Oh shit." Rob breathed out.

        They stood together and just glared at her slumped over body. Sand woven into her wet hair.

       Audrey broke the silence an went to the girl, sinking to the ground as she shook her shoulders desperately, "Hey. Hey. Clem. Wake the fuck up- Clem-"

      Max budded in, pushing his friend aside as he grabbed the unconscious  girl's  wrist. Finding her pulse almost immediately. Using what knowledge his mother gave him to know CPR wasn't necessary. But that some sort of medical help was needed.

      "Rob, pull the jeep up so we can carry her in without a struggle. And Audrey... uh- put something warmer on her." He ordered, watching them spring to action immediately.

      "Are we taking her to the hospital?" Audrey asked, struggling with the shorts

       Oh, he thought. I hadn't really looked that through well.

      Shaking his head he stood and raked his fingers through his hair, "Uh. I- Shit man. My mom's gonna kill me."

        She forced the sweatshirt over Clementines head, "We can't just leave her and you know that Max."

       "We'll all be in deep shit. Her dad will find out. Police will be called. We don't even have her information and we sure as hell can't afford a hospital bill." He stressed watching the jeep pull in.

        Rob emerged, and quickly ran to his girlfriends side. While Max fished his phone from his pocket and took a deep breath. Finding his mothers number in the recent call logs. A regretful push of the green button as he pressed the phone to his ear.

      It only rang twice.

      His mother sounded peppy, "Hey Maxwell. Whats up honey?"

      Pinching the bridge of his nose as he stared down at the scene below, "I've got a big problem mom. Someone is injured. And listen. She doesn't want her father to know she's hurt-"

       "She?!" His mom interjected, "You're not talking about Audrey are you? What girl are you with!?"

       "Our new neighbor Clementine... She passed out, has a pulse, but won't wake up." Max cringed saying it.

       A long pause met the phone conversation, "Bring her to my work. I'll tell my supervisor it's urgent. And that I will take care of it. I'm gonna have to work overtime for this, so you better be one hell of a greatful son."

     "Oh my god thank yo-" Before he could even finish, his mother had hung up.

          Rob began to grab under her shoulders, signalling the other boy to help. Her legs soon hoisted up as they carried her to the car. Barely being able to drag her along, the two placed her in the trunk with the seat down. Both stepping back as they admired their work.

       Max looked at Rob, "I think I need to work out more, Jesus Christ."

       "I know right? My arms feel like little noodles." He grinned, causing the two to laugh.

       Audrey only noticed the girl start to fall from the jeep when she turned around, trying to get anything out, she only cursed; "Shit!"

       They all watched in silence as her limp body rolled from the car. Smacking the dirt face first. Arms sprawled out. The dirt from the ground making mud in her damp hair. Everyone sat with mouths open.

       Rob looked up and sucked in his bottom lip, "We're terrible people..."

       "Yeah..." The girl paused, "Just get her in before we become murderers. I'll sit in the back with her." She sighed, feeling like a mother again.

       -----

     The unfortunate part about being in the country is that hospitals are a good ten minute ride. So the group of teens sitting in a jeep with a lifeless girl in the back were quiet. The trees rolling by as the sun behind the trees faded away. Giving a whole aura of blue. From the mood. To the scenery.

       Once the town came into view. The hospital on the hill became less as a background image to them. And more of a necessity. Pulling in to realize that Clementine had dried blood all over below her nose.

       Trying her best to wipe it away when they arrived, Audrey watched the guys go in. Seeing Rob emerge first with a wheelchair, and Mrs. Larson speed walking after him. Max lagging behind with a weary look on his face.

      It had started to rain. The misty kind that gets caught in the lampposts. Casting an orange glow to the wet cement of the parking lot. The St. Mary's sign, and lights inside the building being the only other light.

       Upon popping the trunk, Mrs. Larson gasped, quickly grabbing the girls wrist, causing Audrey to scramble out. Max's mother running her hand through her hair.

      "You poor girl." She said in sadness, quickly turning to the kids behind her and switching moods quickly to anger, "Get her in this chair now. I don't even have the energy to scream at you. Let alone care for her. But, I'll choose the latter."

       Plopping her down. She was actually beginning to gain conciousness, slumping at first, but lifting her head in the drowsy state she was in. Max stood away from everyone to thwart his mother's path of rage. Letting the sprinkly rain fall on him.

     Floursesnt lighting blinded them all. The sliding doors parting for the group of rough looking teens and a nurse. Other people sitting in the waiting room all began to stare.

     "Go sit. I'll take care of her." Mrs. Larson demanded.

      Watching her son start to walk away, she placed a hand on her hip, "Uh-uh you get your butt back here. We're gonna have a little chat while we help her."

      Audrey and Rob sat down and watched as they disappeared behind two metal doors. The long hall greeting them on the other side. They made their way all the way to the end. Wheeling her into a room. And slamming the door shut as the lights automatically flicked on.

     Max watched as his mom lowered the bed that took up most of the space. Only assisting when they both helped her into it. He watched her chest rising and falling slowly for confirmation he wasn't going to prison for homicide.

     Rachel Larson looked at her son. Wet and pale. His clothes sticking to his body. Hair plastered on his face. Obvious knowing in his expression of reluctance.

    She sighed and closed her eyes, thinking of how much he reminded her of her husband when he was young. How he looked when they both got caught in the rain. His face twisting in the most sympathetic ways to show his grief. Clouded mind distracting her, she'd decided to save these thoughts for later

     "If it wasn't child abuse. I'd smack you." She hissed, stomping her foot in anger.

      He flinched, "Mom I'm sorry!"

      "Hell yeah you better be! I raised you better!" Her knuckles turned white they were clenched so hard.

       "It wasn't even my fault fully! She jumped off the rope swing! Everyone jumps off the rope swing!" He tried to defend himself.

        Mrs. Larson regretted what she said as soon as she spat it out, "Your father would be so disappointed in you Maxwell."

     Everything falling to silence, the two looked at each other in sadness. Watching as his mom clutched her mouth. Turning away from him to hide her tears. He searched for the right words, knowing how right his mother was.

      Neither of them spoke up.

     Clementine did.

     She sat up frantically and gasped, looking at a stranger and a bully, "Oh my god. What happened? Am I in a hospt- Wait-"

     "Am I dead?"

      Going to her side and pressing her cool hand to the girls forehead, the nurse stood back, "No sweetie. You passed out, and evidently your nose started to bleed. Unfortunately this is how we meet, I'm Max's mother."

     "I believe it was the sinus lining. If not cleared out they can cause tightening. Have you had anything happen that could cause chronic nostril bleeding?" She asked, grabbing a medical wipe to get rid of the red stains on her face.

       Looking at the girl, Max turned red and looked away, causing his mom to turn around and back again, "Is there something I'm unaware of?"

         Max started, "Well. Uhm..."

     Clementine finished,  "The other day I was walking home from a bonfire at Audrey's in the dark. Max was coming to it. Both of us weren't paying attention and slammed into each other. My nose bled profusely afterwards. It was a total accident."

     Wiping the girls face, Mrs. Larson looked back to her son, "You helped her right?"

        He'd felt the ultimate guilt this time, "No. Mom. I was so scared I shoved her and she fell. I was mad and yelled at her. And I have no idea why she's defending me. Really. There's no reason to. We just met a couple weeks ago."

      "It's not like you pushed me on purpose." Clementine muttered.

      More disappointed than before, the nurse gaped her mouth, "Maxwell Larson. That is no way to treat someone."
     
     The girl that evidently soaked the bed with her wet clothes spoke again to clear the conversation, "So why did I pass out?"

      Realizing she had a job to do, Rachel opened a drawer and dug around, speaking behind her, "It could be a lack of drinking water to shock from the cold water. You will be okay. But make sure to take it easy."

       "My son and his friends will take you back home. I do deeply apologize for this whole situation." She just simply closed the drawer and turned around.

       "So are we good to go?" Max asked, pushing off the wall he leaned against.

       With a nod, the teens stood up. Clementine feeling feeble on her feet. Pulling her sandy, knotted hair from her face. Being the first one to exit the room. Followed not close behind by the boy. Both of their shoes squeaking on the tile. And impurities of being in the rain showing in the lights.

      Before they departed, Mrs. Larson called out to her son with the nicest tone possible, "Maxwell."

      He turned and raised a brow, "Yes?"

      "No car for a month." She smiled warmly, walking down another hallway.

       Clementine covered her mouth to stop her grin, "Oh dang dude your mom is a savage."

      He glared, "Shut the hell up."