Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"Hey," Mayson says, stepping into the room. My eyes go from his to the black bag in his hand. My black backpack that I’ve had since I was seven years old. I don’t have a chance to look at it too long before my eyes fly to the blonde walking in behind him.
Her eyes find mine, as her face fills with a huge smile at the same time as tears start to run down her face. “Is this a good time?” she says, not looking at anything but me.
“Um,” I start to say and look down at my hand. “Sure.”
“Hey,” Quinn says, going to her and hugging her. “Are you supposed to be walking?"
"That’s what I said," Mayson pipes in. “She refused to sit in the wheelchair I found at the front door.”
"Would you two knock it off." She pushes Quinn away from her and then comes to me. “Hi,” she says. “I’m Chelsea."
I’m expecting her to stand by my side, but she comes closer and leans in and hugs me as gently as she can. I hear her sniffle. “Thank you," she whispers. I don’t have a chance to say anything because she lets go of me. Her eyes lock on to mine, and I see the love in them. She looks at me like I did something for her, when, in fact, I was the one who helped the person who hurt her. "I’m sorry,” I say softly in a whisper. “I tried to get help."
"I know,” she says softly and moves away from me and smiles again. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," I say to her and then look back when Mayson comes to my other side.
"I brought your bag,” Mayson says, and my eyes light up. "This fell out of it,” he says and holds out the locket that I kept in a secret compartment.
"It,” I say, grabbing it in my hand. “It was my grandmother’s." My voice trembles as I look down at the locket I got when I was seven. "She wore it every single day. The day of her accident." I close it in my fist. “She forgot to put it on." I wipe away the tear running down my face. “Thank you,” I say, and he nods at me and puts the bag down on the bed.
"I need some help," Mayson says, looking at Quinn. “Can you come and help me?"
He looks at him and then looks at Chelsea. They share a look, and he nods. "I’ll be right back." Quinn looks at me, and I nod at him.
My finger taps the bed beside me. “Willow," Chelsea says. “I don’t know what happened to you."
"I told Mayson," I start to say, and she shakes her head.
“The only thing I know is that you got hurt because of me,” she says and puts her hand in front of her mouth. She laughs and cries at the same time. “I said I was going to be strong for you.” I look at her. “We are in debt to you.”
“You don’t have to,” I say, not sure I can take what she has to say.
“You have to let us be there for you,” she says. “Just give us a chance.”
“What is in this?” Quinn says, saving me from having to say anything to her. I look over at him and see him carrying a big green bag.
“Well, that,” Chelsea says. “Quinn’s mom and I thought you might need a couple of things for when you get out of here."
I sit up as I look at the big green army bag. “We had to borrow Ethan’s bag."
"I can’t take that." I look at the bag that looks like it weighs a hundred pounds.
Chelsea puts her head back and laughs. “There are three more bags at Quinn’s house."
I sit with my mouth open as I look at her and then back at Quinn. “My family can be a touch …"
"They are the best," Mayson says, looking at me. “It can be overwhelming in the beginning, but if you just let the love in, it’s going to be everything."
I can’t say anything to either of them. “We should get going so you can get some rest," Chelsea says. “But if it’s okay." She looks down nervously. “I can come back some time with my cousin Amelia."
"Um …" I look at Quinn, who just smiles. “I guess so."
Chelsea claps her hands together. “She’s going to be so happy,” she says, and my head just turns around and around.
Chelsea walks up to Quinn and gives him a hug, and Mayson shakes his hand. I watch them walk out of the room, holding hands, and then turn to look at him. “You have to take that bag." I point at the green bag. “And you have to tell them to take it back."
He puts his head back and laughs. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh so freely. "No chance."