Chapter Fourteen
Tommy
BANG BANG BANG
What the fuck?
Who the hell could be banging on my door at this time in the morning? Struggling to open my eyes, I roll into a sitting position, my head in my hands. Rubbing my face to try to wake myself up. What time is it? This feels too early, even for me. Checking the time, the clock reads 3.11 am.
BANG BANG BANG
Shit. The feeling of dread is digging into me. No one would wake me up at this time unless there was something seriously wrong. I stumble over my getaway bag as I rush to the door. After only getting back to Worcester around midnight last night, I fell straight into bed. Yanking the door open, I am greeted by a red-eyed Max.
“What the hell, Max? Someone better have died for you to wake me at this time,” I bark. Thinking he must just want a place to crash aftera night out. I’m not a fucking hotel.
His face drains of colour, leaving a ghostly white behind.
Fuck.
I’m closer to the mark than I thought.
“Get dressed, we need to go to the hospital now. I’ll fill you in when we get in the car.” Like hell you will.
“No! Tell me now. Who is it? Mum?” I feel nauseous at the thought.
“Not mum. It’s Maya. There’s been an accident. Now hurry the fuck up, we need to go now!”
I can’t breathe.
I can’t move.
My body is frozen, my limbs not cooperating. I’ve only just got her. I’m seeing her tomorrow. This can’t be happening.
Max grabs a hold of my shoulders and shakes me hard.
“For fucks sake, Tommy. Come on!”
Like a switch had flipped, I’m in action mode. Running to my bedroom, I yank on last night's joggers and sweatshirt that I’d left on the floor. Rushing back to Max, I chuck on the first pair of shoes I see, then head down to the underground garage. The hospital isn’t that far, but taking my car will get us there much quicker than Max’s.
“Explain,” Is all I can muster. Unable to speak words, but needed to know more. My hands are vibrating on the steering wheel as I try to get us there as fast as I possibly can.
“Bro, I have no idea. They’ve been calling us both for hours. The only reason I woke up was that I went to take a piss.” Shit, my phone was on vibrate. Usually that would wake me, but I was dead to the world. “All they said on the phone was that Maya and Harry were hit by a car leaving 96. Fallon is in a bad way, man, she saw the whole thing happen.”
“What condition are they in?”
“She didn’t say, just that she needs us. Listen, I know something is going on between you and Maya. I don’t know what, but you need to come clean. She’s going to need you.”
“I love her, Max. I always have.”
We travel the rest of the way in silence, both lost in our own worlds.
Come on, Maya baby.
We run into the emergency department and head straight to the front desk. Max goes and joins the queue, whereas I can’t wait that long. Striding past all the people waiting to be seen, I make a beeline for the back double doors. Looking for anybody who will help me find my way to her. I walk through the corridors until I come across the first person I see wearing some form of scrubs.
“Excuse me, I’m looking for Maya Houghton. She was brought in earlier.” Whatever expression she sees on my face has her rushing aroundto the nurses' station, beckoning me with her.
“Maya Johnson?” I nod. “Ah, she’s still in surgery. Are you family?”
