The ER towered in front of us, reminding me of all the terrible things that happened here. A lump appeared in my throat, as tears welled in my eyes the longer I stared. The memories that happened here hit me like explosions, the debris ripping into my flesh. It had been almost a full year since I was last here. Out of all the hospitals in the area, Miles went to the one my father died in.

I looked at Miles with fury, and pain, as he turned the car off. He wouldn't understand why I didn't want to go in. But instead of protesting, I followed him out of the car.

Here we are, we can't go back now. I just needed to keep it together.

As we walked through the glass automatic doors of the ER, my breath hitched.

Not noticing my work up, Miles said, "I'll check you in."

Through my emotional state, I rose an eyebrow. The lump in my throat dissolved as anger turned my cheeks hot. "Do you think I'm not capable of signing in myself?" I snapped. "How could you sign me in if you know nothing about me?"

"Well, your right hand is messed up. I thought this would be easier." He shrugged.

"But what if I was left-handed?"

He paused in thought. "Are you?"

"No," I mumbled in defeat.

He chuckled, making me angrier. "Fine, then it's settled, you can tell me what to write. Do we have a deal?"

I chewed on his words for a quick moment, knowing this was probably the best option. There was no way I would use my right hand, and no one could read anything with my left, so Miles would have to help.

We walked to the front desk as a nurse smiled at Miles widely. "Hi, Miles."

Wow, first name, I'm impressed. Questions about Miles filled my mind like water fills a tub.

"I'm checking Isla in. She messed up her hand in a skateboarding accident."

"Such a Good Samaritan you are," she gushed.

Good Samaritan my butt. She clearly was interested in him for a reason I didn't understand. Yes, he was handsome with his tanned skin and lean build, but he also pushed me off my board, so he wasn't an angel.

She quickly put some documents together, then handed him a clipboard.

"How does that lady know you?" I asked him as we found a seat in the nearly empty ER waiting room.

Miles sat down next to me and his face twisted up. "Why did you hesitate to leave the car once we arrived?"

I shook my head as I clenched my left hand into a fist. We didn't know each other; he had no right asking me such personal questions. He was a stranger. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would walk right out these doors, never to return. "Touché," I said, as I looked at the papers. "My full name is Isla Anne Maas."

He nodded as he jotted it down.

"No, it's Maas, with two a's," I corrected his scribble. "And my mother, her name is Deb. This is her phone number." I showed him my mother's contact information on my phone.

His hands flew over the paperwork as if this wasn't his first time filling it out. Before I knew it, the paperwork was completed and he was at the front desk chatting with the nurse.

He casually leaned against the desk and chuckled with the lady like they were friends. He then looked at me then smiled as if we were friends. We weren't, and I refused to smile.

Time passed slowly as I tried to convince myself it was fine to be here. Finally, they called my name. I stood up from my chair and Miles looked at me as if making sure I wasn't too injured to stand, then followed me through the doors.

He stood next to me, making me uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if I would rather be alone or with a stranger. Either way however, I suppose I was alone.

"I heard about your Good Samaritan act, Miles. Isla, you are a lucky girl," another nurse chirped as she guided me to a small room.

I was unable to hold back venom from my laugh. Everyone here was in love with him, but that would never be me. I would not fall in love with a man that pushed me off a board. I had enough of people pushing me around.

"The doctor will come get you for X-rays." She smiled lightly then left the room.

As my eyes scanned the room, bringing a fresh wave of emotions. Rooms like this were too familiar to me. Memories of Dad in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines, barely able to open his eyes. My heart raced. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't.

Breathe.

I took a breath in and let it out slowly, not wanting to have a meltdown.

"Are you ok?"

My gaze snapped to Miles. I forgot he was still here. "Yeah, it's just my stinking arm."

He nodded. "I will give you some privacy. I'll be back in a while," he said then walked out of the door.

Good riddance.

As I looked around the empty, haunted room, I realized that maybe I didn't want him to leave. I ran my shaking non-injured hand through my hair. The ceiling met my gaze as I tried to pull myself together.

Damnit, Isla. Breathe.

Dad's voice echoed in my mind, reminding me to breathe, calm down. His voice, once strong and forceful, was starting to turn into a distant memory which made this moment even worse. I swore I would remember him all my life so how could I forget his voice?

What was wrong with me?

"Isla, are you ready?" a voice asked from the other side of the door.

Unable to stand any longer, I sank to my knees as tears came streaming down my face. "Just give me a minute more," I choked out then took a deep breath in.

Pull yourself together.

I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath in. "Ok, you can come in." I stood up from the ground as I waited for the voice to open the door.

A man with a white coat came in with a small smile. "Isla, is it?"

I nodded.

"Let me see your wristband." He scanned the paper-thin wristband that I got from the front desk. His machine beeped then he nodded. "Great. Let's see your arm. May I?" he asked as he took a seat next to me.

Silently I showed him my hand.

He took glasses from his pocket to look at my hand and wrist in detail. His smile slowly turned into a frown which made me squirm. I had seen that frown from other doctors before; he knew my wrist looked serious, but he wouldn't tell until he was sure. "Let's get you an X-ray."

I hated how doctors never told you anything that they actually thought. With a nod, I got up from the chair and followed him down the hall.

Minutes later, I was back in the same room, glaring at the ground hoping it would prevent me from melting into a puddle of emotions. Begrudgingly, I sat at the foot of the bed. It was stiff and uncomfortable, making me feel awkward.

"So you mentioned skateboarding did this?" the doctor asked as he looked through some drawers.

"Yeah."

He hummed a tune in thought as he took out some padding and bandages, then moved a cart beside us.

Through the crack in the door, Miles peeked into the room.

We made eye contact and before I could shake my head, he walked into the room. I bit the side of my cheek as I stared at him. If I could physically throw daggers with my eyes, I would.

Finally, the doctor was done treating my injuries. With a sigh, he looked at Miles then me in silence. There was uncomfortable tension in the air and I'm sure he felt it as I glared at Miles. "Well, I will let you two have some privacy. I'll come back when the results are in." He walked out of the little room we sat in, leaving us alone.

With hot cheeks I pointed my newly wrapped hand at him, fuming. "You broke my hand!"

He crossed his arms over his chest, as if that would protect himself against my words. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

"Well, Miles, I'm pissed and sorry won't make it better." This was going to mess up my early soccer training. I was a senior, and I needed to find a way to make it up with the team after all that happened last soccer season.

He was silent for a moment. "Let me make this up to you," he said as he took a seat by the bed I sat cross-legged on.

I raised my eyebrow with a slight smirk. This was going to be good. What could the stranger offer me?

"Let me take you on a date."

I laughed harder than I had in a while. Now that was too good. Who did he think he was? Couldn't he see I hated him? A date wouldn't make anything better. "And that will make it up to me?" I asked, wiping a tear from my eye. He must think of himself so highly.

He shifted in his seat as if I chipped his armor. "I thought it would."

"I don't know you, Miles. I don't even know your last name. How do you think a date will make up for this?"

"Keen. My last name is Keen," he said without hesitation.

"Ok Miles Keen, you have to try harder than that."

He was silent for a moment as he thought about what he would say next, but it was clear he didn't have a backup plan.

I chuckled even though rage boiled under my skin.

"I don't know what else to offer you."

"Then you can go. Never run into me again, and we're even."

He looked distraught. "Please, one dinner at the nicest restaurant in town. It will be a start," he begged in desperation.

I sighed as I mulled over his words. Redding had very few options in regard to restaurants, but I knew the nicest place in town. It had always been a dream of mine to go there. I heard the entrees were out of this world. It would be an experience and if he would pay for it, then maybe it was worth it? "Fine."

He beamed at me. "Really?"

"Don't make me want to take this back," I threatened.

"Ok," he said as the doctor came back into the room.

The doctor smiled as if he had some glorious news to share. "So, the good news, it's not broken. It's just a mild sprain so you'll need to wear this wrap for the next two weeks."

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't broken. "Thank you," I said as I got off the bed, ready to leave.

"You'll just need to sign some documents and you're out of here." The doctor handed me the paperwork with that, he left us alone again.

Before I knew it, we sat in his car again, ready to leave this hellish place.

"Ok, where to, Isla Maas with two a's?" he asked as he turned the car on.

"Do you know where Redding High is?"

He shook his head. "No, but I'm sure Maps can find it," he said with a smile as he took out the newest iPhone model from his pocket. "Are you sure you don't want to be dropped off at home?"

I shook my head. My car was at the school, which I would have to get. "Nope. The high school is fine," I said as he drove out of the hospital parking lot. "You don't know where the high school is, but you know where the hospital is? You aren't from here, are you?"

He chuckled lightly but looked uncomfortable as he wiggled in his seat. "No, I'm not from here."

"Where are you from?"

"Maine."

I raised my eyebrows at him. I wasn't expecting that. "That's far."

"Have you been to Maine before?" he asked as he got onto the freeway.

I shook my head. "I haven't ever left California."

"You should leave sometime. The world is too big, and life is too short to stay in one place," he said as if he knew this for a fact. But the thing is, I knew that was true, Dad always told me there was more out there. I was just waiting for my time.

"I know. But I'm too busy and don't have enough cash to go anywhere." It was my dream to leave Redding someday. I didn't know why I was telling him this. I didn't tell anyone anything about my life.

He looked confused as he drove in silence.

I glared at my shoes. Wow, great, Isla. Just killed the moment, something I was so good at. Another reminder why I only had Zoe and Tristen as friends.

"When you have time, let me know. Maybe I'll show you a place or two," he said finally as he drove into the high school parking lot.

I couldn't hold back a scoff from my lips. Ever since we met, I had been nothing but mean to him. So why was he so intent on being nice? "Why? I don't know you."

He chuckled at me. "Because something tells me I can trust you."

I rolled my eyes as I threw my hands up in the air. Oh please. He was just trying to reel me in like a fish on a line, but I would not fall for it, not this time. "Well, thank you for the ride," I said as I opened the car door.

"No problem."

I got out of his car and walked to my car, only to be stopped by the sound of my name. I turned back to face Miles. "What?"

"Tell me your number."

I hoped he forgot about the date. He was smart and persistent, finding a loophole in every excuse I gave. Too tired to fight with him, I quickly told my number to him and a second later my phone buzzed from a text from him.

"Good to know that it worked." He smiled then got back in his car.