Temptations

Accident

Halloween sits in the midsts of my favorite time of year, not because the holiday itself - i don't really care about that part - but the summer heat finally lifts for a bit. Also with fall comes school which i've always been a fan of for whatever reason. Leah - one of my very best friends - is the opposite. I practically have to drag her to school every morning, but she doesn't go for me, she goes so she can make out with her boyfriend Cole behind the building. Like i said.. opposites. I still love her none the less but we probably wouldn't even be friends if our moms weren't.

~~

Most people hate Mondays but i find them kind of nice. I get up out of bed and desperately try to find my phone that's blaring Taylor Swift. The key to setting a great alarm is to make it something that you immediately want to be turned off.

Half ready I call Leah - knowing her she either isn't awake yet or never went to bed.

"What?" she said in her oh so cheery morning voice.
"Good you're awake, i'll be there in 20," I say before she can argue about not wanting to go. Finishing my mascara I half check the mirror and head down stairs. The house is pretty dark considering my dad works nights and won't be home for another couple hours. I grab my keys and head to the car which is parked across the street since my dad hasn't put his boat in storage yet.

~~

I pull up to Leah's house and honk as she flips me off from her bedroom window. After an eternity of going back and forth - honking and the finger - she plops into the passenger side and starts her rant about how school is pointless. The back door opens too and by the time I look back he's already in the car. He, being Anthony. He's Leah's older brother who recently got busted for driving while intoxicated and had his license suspended. Great. I decide to not say anything to him in attempts to have a peaceful drive.

"You drive like a bitch," he interrupts into his sister talking "let me drive".

"Maybe you're just not used to being sober in the car," I start while rolling my eyes "and besides you kinda need a license for that and—"

"Ugh will you guys shut up already," Leah interrupts and continues openly talking about Cole.

I glance into the rear view mirror at Anthony. He's looking at his phone with a small smile. I wonder what's amusing him as he chuckles a bit.

"Tara what the fuck! You missed the turn," Leah shouts as I indeed drive right passed the street our school is on.

"See told you i should be driving," Anthony adds while laughing at me. His comment is returned with an eye roll as I turn around.

~~

As I sit in chemistry I pull out my phone to see a couple missed calls from my mom. We don't talk much since her and my dad separated but that's partly my fault. It was only a few years ago and at the time I was so angry at her. Shortly after, Leah's mother got sick and that was really hard for her and Anthony. Our moms had been friends since college and had always planned that 'best friend shared life' stuff.

"Tara Alwich," my head jerks up to see our principal standing at the classroom door, which is now silent "Can you please come with me?". I nervously stand while some kids start quietly chanting that I'm in trouble. But for what?

I sit at the chair in front of the principals desk and start to study the room. I've never been in here before, it's smaller than i thought it would be. There's some plaques on the wall behind the desk and a white board with nothing on it to my right. The principal - his name is Dr. Rhodes but most of the school just calls him Dr. R - sits down in front of me and another woman who I don't recognize takes them seat to my right. My heart starts to beat at a much faster pace than before when he doesn't immediately say I'm in trouble.

"Ms. Alwich, there's uh..there's been an accident involving your father," he says before quickly directing his attention to the woman sitting next to me. I follow his eyes and look at her, still not sure who she is or what happened. She faintly smiles at me assuring me that everything is fine. She doesn't even look like she believes what she's saying as she speaks and my mind starts wondering to what could have happened.

"Tara," Dr. R says, breaking me from my thoughts. He hands me a pass and tells me that he's in the hospital a few towns over.

"Why is he in Greensburg? That's like 2 hours from here," I ask realizing that's the first thing I've said since we sat down. Dr. R looks at me and then to the woman and it's clear that they don't know.

~~

My mind is jumping from thought to thought and I don't know what to focus on. I have to get there as quickly as I can. I start heading to the car until I remember I'm Leah and Anthony's ride. Fuck. I try Leah on her cell and she doesn't answer. After i few unanswered texts I try Anthony.

Me: i have to leave tell Leah to find a ride.

Surprisingly he responds immediately, unlike his sister.

Anthony: where r u going
Me: Greensburg
Anthony: wtf is in Greensburg
Me: my dad
Me: he got into an accident
Me: I'm kinda freaking out and Leah isn't answering
Anthony: what is he ok?
Anthony: I'll come w u
Me: no I'm fine I'm leaving now

As I rush to my car I don't even notice Anthony leaning on the hood right away.

"why aren't you in class?" I ask attempting to unlock my door. I didn't realize how shaky my hands were until Anthony comes around and take my keys and unlocks the door.

"I'm driving," he said and shuts the door before I can argue, "we'll get there after if I'm at the wheel". I dont argue, I just sit in the car and let him drive.

~~

I walk into the hospital room and see my dad on the bed, he has a tube down his throat and nurses are checking his monitors. I didn't realize I was squeezing Anthony's forearm as he stood next to me. The nurses kick us out of the room after explaining more of what happened. On his way home he was hit by a drunk driver. At 7:30 AM. A fucking drunk driver that early. He's in a coma and the doctors have no more information for me. I feel sick like i could throw up at any moment. I feel like I should be in there with him or finding out why this happened. Instead I'm in my car with Anthony. Not even Leah but her rude, gross brother.

"He's gonna be okay ya know," he says noticing I'm lost in thoughts. I look over at him and see sympathy in his eyes. He makes a faint smile almost like the one i saw him make this morning.

"How do you know?" I ask, knowing it's an unfair question. He still looks at me and slightly opens his mouth as if he's gonna say something but turns his head. It's barely 1 o'clock and the sun is pouring in through the windshield. His eyes look lighter, they are normally dark and cold.

"What?" he says now looking at me, "why are you starting at me weirdo?" he says smiling. I don't have an answer because i really don't know.

"Just lost in thoughts dont flatter yourself," i reply now looking out my window. His phone rings suddenly and he takes it from his pocket, "it's Leah," he says before answering abs filling her in. I guess I've been too distracted to notice the 17 missed calls from her. I look back at the ones from my mom earlier this morning. Is this what those calls were about? I decide to text her.

Me: hey mom, dads in the hospital. They said he was in a car accident and rn he's in a coma.

"My mom said you can stay with us for awhile until you're dad gets better," Anthony says to me and I nod. We sit in silence for a few moments until he turns on the radio. He begins the two hour drive home and we continue just listening. Neither of us speaking but it's not awkward. It's kind of nice actually, sitting and enjoying the company.

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Ahhhhh!? Ive never attempted a story like this before but I'm kind of excited abt it:) let me know what you think lm going to start part two rn:)