I turn and run down the street and hear him yelling my name. I’m not paying attention, and instead of stopping at the crosswalk, I bolt right through it.
I feel the jolt and see Xander and hear him screaming as I go flying. Then everything becomes dark, then light, then red lights.
“Charlotte,” Xander is saying my name. I can’t move my neck or my body. Everything hurts. Lights are flashing, and I can hear a lot of people talking about me.
I try to speak, but my words come out mumbled.
“Shh,” Xander whispers, as a tear drips onto my cheek, and his hand pets my forehead.
His eyes come into focus, then out, then back in. Everything disappears except for his eyes, and his voice.
Suddenly, I feel like I’m moving, but I can’t move my body. “Xa…”
“It’s okay, baby. Shh. We’re almost there.” I feel his hand on mine, and his eyes once again come into focus.
Pain courses through me and I moan and struggle to focus.
“Stay awake, Charlotte. Just stay with me,” Xander pleads.
And I try. But the darkness overpowers me.
23
Xander
Charlotte won’t talkto me or text me back. All weekend I try, but she won’t budge. When Sunday comes around, the guys knock on my hotel door and drag me out to the coffee shop.
“Vivian said she told Charlotte to talk to you,” Chase claims.
“Well, Charlotte isn’t listening.” I sink back into the booth.
“Eventually, she has to talk to you. You two work together,” Jamison points out.
I shake my head. “She will tell me to keep it professional, I bet. That’s what she tried to do last time.”
Noah is sitting across from me. “I know that phrase way too well.”
I roll my eyes at him.
He turns to Chase. “What’s up with you and Vivian? You aren’t playing here, are you?”
“Will everyone stop asking me that? I am not playing with Vivian,” Chase insists.
“Then what is going on between you two? I don’t need Piper upset with me over whatever you’re doing with her.” Noah scowls at him.
Chase shakes his head. “Yeah, well she refuses to talk to me until Friday, so tell Piper to line up on the list of people pissed at me.”
“What did you do?” Noah asks angrily.
“I’m not getting into it. I’m a dick, I need to talk to her; she won’t let me until Friday. End of story.” Chase looks away hurt.
“What’s up with you and Quinn?” I ask Jamison, trying to give Chase a break.
“Another good question. What are you doing, Jamison?” Noah raises an eyebrow in question.
He is about to answer when Noah says, “Keep your cool, Xander.”
I soon find out why he said that.
