I stopped trying to talk, but I shook my head. It was the smallest movement I could muster. I was trying so hard.

“We won’t let this out, but the paramedics have to come and get you. We’re scared of moving you.”

I closed my eyes. I could breathe easier, as easily as I could. He understood. Mason and Logan wouldn’t find out until later. I hoped to be the one to tell them, if I could, but when the EMTs came in with a stretcher, I was beginning to realize that it would be a long while until I could do anything for myself. When they rolled me onto the stretcher, I couldn’t move. My ribs ached. My chest pounded. Sharp pangs stabbed me, shooting up and down, all over me.

As we rolled down the hallway, I saw Cory beside the lockers. She stood there with Rain huddled behind her. Their hands looked as if they were clasped together, but I couldn’t be sure. When her gaze caught mine, she lifted one side of her mouth. I tried to relay my thanks. She saved me.

I couldn’t see her anymore as they wheeled me the opposite direction and out a back door. I barely felt the cold air. It stung my face, but the rest of me was wrapped in a blanket. I could move my legs, even wiggle my toes, but they hurt. Everything hurt.

“Yo, what’s that?”

Principal Green let out an exasperated sound. “If you two are here for the game, you should be on the other side of the school.”

“Relax, dude. We don’t even go here.”

“Then you’re trespassing. Get off the school’s grounds. Wait,” his voice rose, “get away from her.”

“Relax …” the voice trailed off, and I saw Brett Broudou standing above me. When he recognized me, his eyes widened, and his mouth opened. The cigarette he had poised at his mouth lowered. “Whoa …”

“Who is it, Brett?”

That must’ve been Budd.

I wanted to look away, but I didn’t. He wouldn’t move. He kept staring, so I looked back at him. A storm of emotion flashed in his gaze before he demanded, “Who did this to you?”

“That’s enough,” my dad stepped forward. He held a hand up and moved him back. “She needs to get to the hospital, son.”

“Son,” Budd ground out from somewhere. There was a bitter laugh in him. “You hear that, Brett? Geezer called you ‘son.’ We’ll show you ‘son’. We’ll show you a whole different meaning—”

Brett snapped at him, “Shut up, Budd.” He gentled his tone and asked, “Is she going to be okay, sir?”

My dad paused, frowning at him. “Are you friends with her?”

I needed to tell him. I had to stop him.

“Sir, I met her at Manny’s.”

“Brett, come on.” Another menacing growl from Budd. “This is f**king ridiculous. Her pu**y’s damaged now. Let’s focus on the Kades.”

That got my dad’s attention. His head jerked to wherever Budd was. I could still see Brett, and I saw him flinch, before he sighed and moved out of eyesight.

“Let’s go.” Principal Green stepped forward. His authority came out full force, and he pounded a hand on the ambulance’s door. “David, don’t even bother. I recognize these two. They were banned from the game. I’ll have security take care of them. You go with your daughter.”

“She’s your daughter?”

“Who cares? We need to go, Brett. They’ll escort us out, and we’ll have to sneak back in. Let’s tail it now.”

Principal Green stood above me now. He was watching them, but he glanced down. He gave me one reassuring look before he murmured quietly to me, “I won’t tell, Sam. They won’t know.”

The relief was overwhelming. Again. Tears burst forth, but I couldn’t wipe them away. They had strapped me to the stretcher so I wouldn’t shift any bones or my insides. I was in so much pain.

“David,” Principal Green said as my stretcher was lifted into the ambulance. The paramedics got me into place. “You can go with her. Malinda already took your car. She’s going to meet you there.”

“Yeah, okay.”

When he climbed inside the ambulance, he sat as close to me as possible. The doors were shut, and it wasn’t long until the engine was started. As it turned onto the street, David reached out and took my hand. I’d never seen him this sad. He brushed at a tear, but tried to smile for me. “Don’t worry, honey. You’ll get looked at and everything will be fine.”

No, Dad. Everything wouldn’t be fine.

That was the truth. I was just realizing that I still hadn’t let him in on it.

When I left the locker room, only a few were still in the gymnasium. Most were heading to Manny’s and then to Fischer’s for a big damn party. I knew Logan was riled about it, had been during the whole game and after. When I saw him jumping up and down near the bleachers, and our mom watching him, I rolled my eyes. Logan was ready to tear into someone.

“Honey.” Helen stood up from her seat and gave me a gracious smile. If Sam were there, I knew she would’ve been self-conscious. My mother dressed to impress. I never cared what clothes she wore, but it mattered to her what others thought. She pressed a kiss to my cheek and she patted me on the shoulder before moving to press her hair back in place. “You were fabulous. It was a close game, wasn’t it?”

Logan snorted, but kept jumping up and down. He was rubbing his hands together before jabbing them into the air.

“We won by four points. It was close, Mom.”

“See. I know a little about basketball.”

I didn’t care. “Did you see Sam here?”

She stiffened before shaking her head. “No, honey. Was I supposed to look for her? I’m sure she sat with some of her friends.”

Logan snorted again, still jumping. “She doesn’t have friends at this school.”

“Logan.”

“What? She doesn’t. It’s your fault, not hers.”

Helen skirted between us. “Are you suggesting Samantha has no friends because of her boyfriend?”

“Yeah, Mom, I am.” He stopped jumping and gave her a dead look. “Your son’s the cream in a pu**y’s food dish. The claws come out. Bitches and pussies fight over that shit. You should be proud.”

When Helen didn’t respond, I chuckled. “Don’t worry, Mom. You can be proud Logan’s the cat’s meow.”