nyc prep continued

Sam pulled away slightly and wiped his tears. "I'm getting you a drink."



Paige rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said. "Dinner's almost done."

He just nodded. How many had died. There had been tyre in his class...how many more would the news report on?

Sam came back a few moments later with two glasses and a bottle of whisky. She filled one glass and handed it to him.

Brooklynn nodded and hugged her back. "How is he ?"

Jeff looked at the glass for a moment befor throwing back the whole thing .by burned but it was a good burn...a burn that would help him forget

She stepped aside, "hes awake." She said with a smile

She stepped over to the side of the bed. "Hey genius"

Sam drank hers in one gulp then refiled his glass. This time she would be the responsible one, she had to be. Because tomorrow he would still remember what happened.

Carl looked over at her and smiled, "hey beautiful...your ok..." He said lelieved, "in glad."

The drinks flowed through Jeff like water but he wasn't getting drunk enough fast enough. He could still hear thier limp heads hitting the desks in front of them...he could hear the screaming.

"You need to slow down," sam said as she gently took his glass away. "Do you want something to eat?" He couldn't just drink

He looked at her his eyes devoid of anything but sorrow, "i just stood there Sam." He mumbled, "i jist stood there and watched as thirst lives were snuffed out," he snapped his fingers,"just like that."

"Thanks," Jarid smiled. "For helping me and stuff. And I'm sorry about... about my dad."

"Yeah, I'm okay. How are you?" she asked, taking the seat next to the bed.

His mother slipped out of the room as quietly as she could. Carl shrugged ,"we won't know the full extent of it till the medication wears off and I can feel my lower extremities again."

She reached over and took his hand. "It will all be okay, I'm sure of it."

He nodded squeezing her hand in return. He didn't want to say what was on his mind but sooner or later they would talk about it

"Why didn't you just stay in the gym?" she asked softly. "Why were you out in the halls?"

His eyebrows pulled together,"i was coming to find you."

A small, sad smile quirked the corner of her mouth. "You are an incredible, amazing, sweet person, Carl." She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it.

Paige smiled. "There's no where else i'd rather be." She turned the stove off. "And your dad seemed nice, he just wants to keep you safe. My dad would have started a lawsuit against the school by now. He still could but with my mom coming he's distracted."


"Don't, don't do that." Sam took his face in her hands. "Don't blame yourself. What happened was horrible but it was not your fault."

"Your mom is coming into town?" He asked, she hadn't said anything before.

He felt tears in his eyes and rached out touching her arm ever so slightly, "but I couldn't stop this."


"but I saw her walk in...she just walked in like she was coming up class...she just..." The sobs spilled out again

Sunlight_Streaming wrote:

"Your mom is coming into town?" He asked, she hadn't said anything before.

"Yeah, she saw what happened on the news." Paige shrugged as she put food on their plates and handed him one. "My dad is picking her up. I'm not sure if I'm going to see her or not."


Sam pulled him close again. "Its not your fault, its not."

Who was the girl. He had seen her in the back od his class but didn't remember her name. Each sob felt like accrushing weight falling onto his shoulders.

Brooklynn shook her head. "Stop it. I'm fine."

"Oh. Well it's nice that she came in." Jarid tried to look on the bright side.

"Yeah," Paige admitted. "I hope you like your dinner, its just fancy mac and cheese."


Sam wished she knew what to do. But she didn't, she didn't know what to say to make him feel better so she just held him. Maybe she should have let him keep drinking.

"Sounds delicious," Jarid grinned. "I don't know how you found something to eat in this kitchen."

"It wasn't easy," Paige joked. She took a bite of her food. "Its not that bad."

He nodded though he disagreed, "do...do you know who it was?"

Jarid took a bite. "Yeah, it's good," he grinned.

"I think I've seen her around, but I don't know her name," Brooklynn replied, looking at his hands.

Paige finished her food in a few minutes then started cleaning up. "Do you want anything else? I think I saw some ice cream in the freezer."

"Sure," he nodded. "Then... you want to watch a movie?"

Sunlight_Streaming wrote:

"I think I've seen her around, but I don't know her name," Brooklynn replied, looking at his hands.

What would cause someone to do this? He reached up and touched her face, "im just glad you are ok."

"Sure," Paige got the ice cream out and put some in bowls for them. "What do you want to watch?"

She turned her face and kissed his hand. "You'll be okay too," she nodded.

"Nothing too serious," Jarid said softly.

Paige walked around to his side of the table and stood in front of him. She set the ice cream down. "We don't have to watch a moive," she said softly. "If there's something else you'd rather do or if you just want to rest that's ok."

He gave her a tired smile. "I might have to rest. I'm sorry."

He cracked a smile, "im sure I will be."
"of course he will be."vhis dad said from the doorway, "brooklyn I'm glad you are." He said genuinely

She turned to look at him. "Thank you." she looked back to Carl. "My parents are out in the waiting room. Give me a second and I'll send them home."

Sunlight_Streaming wrote:

He gave her a tired smile. "I might have to rest. I'm sorry."

"Dont be sorry," Paige said. "you looked exhausted you should rest."

Carl squeezed her hand, "youdont have to stay here. You should get some rest ." His tone obviously written with concern

"What about you?" Jarid asked. What was she going to do? He didn't want her to leave. He couldn't think of being alone right now.

"I don't want to leave you," she said softly.

Jaimie struggled out of the bed, embarrassed by the hospital gown she wore. "I'm calm now. Please. I need to see Braden. Please."