Souls in Peril (41 page)

“He
’
s a jerk,” she said simply. Max
’
s eyes popped open wide. She
appeared
embarrassed for all of one-point-five seconds before they both laughed.

Max clutched his ribs. “Please don
’
t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”

“Sorry.” She pinched her lips shut, trying not to laugh.

When they got to school, Max went straight to PE, head down, as he maneuvered the halls. Most of the other students were too busy hurrying to their own classes to worry about him and his face. He slipped off his shirt, very carefully, and hung it on the hook in the locker.

“JD, how
’
s the—whoa.” Jeff stepped back. “I had no idea he hurt you this badly.” Jeff scanned his torso as Max slipped his PE shirt on.

“No more walking home, JD. I
’
m serious.” Jeff reached into his backpack and pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen. He jotted something down and handed it to Max.

“Here
’
s my cell in case I
’
m not here working out.”

“Thanks, Jeff.”

“Have you heard anything about Em?” Max shook his head. “Me neither. I
’
m going there after school. Do you want a ride over?”

“Thanks.” As soon as Max finished dressing, Coach called him and Jeff to his office.

“Have a seat, guys
.
”
H
e clos
ed
the door behind them. Jeff headed straight for Coach
’
s leather desk chair. “
Morgan
, don
’
t even think about it,” he said without turning around. Jeff came and sat next to Max on the hard metal folding chairs.

“I heard about what happen
ed
yesterday.” He frowned. “I guess I should clarify. At the moment I
’
m referring to what happened to you, JD. I
’
m very sorry. How are you doing?”

“I
’
m good. I
’
m really worried about Em though.”

“As we all are.” He sat in his chair and leaned forward on his desk. “My
brother is a lawyer. I believe
I
’
ve
mentioned that before. He happened to be visiting a client at the county jail when they brought Nate Stackman in this morning. He
’
s claiming you two came after him with bat
s
.”

“I wouldn
’
t waste Big Berta on a scumbag like him,” Jeff grinned, tipping his chair back.

“What about the gun he pulled on us?” Max pointed out.

“I
just
wanted to give you the heads up so you know what he
’
s claiming
happened
. Nevertheless, it seems Stackman went a little crazy when the police tried to arrest him. He punched one of the officers in the mouth, knocking out a front tooth.” Coach sat back. “And that was after they chased him down several blocks. It
’
s not looking too good for Nate.”

Instead of calming JD, the news upset him. Max knew exactly why. “When he gets out on bail, he
’
s going to come after me.”

Coach
shook his head
. “He
’
s not going to be getting out any time soon, JD. His father is refusing to post bail. And I doubt any of his friends will have the kind of money needed to post it either. You don
’
t punch a cop in the mouth, let alone a female cop, and expect to get a mere slap on the wrist.”

“He punched a woman?” both Max and Jeff said simultaneously.

“Yup. JD, I wanted to make sure you
’
re alright, and by
looking at
your face, I
’
m thinking maybe no PE for you today.”

“You think his face looks bad, you should see his ribs,” Jeff pointed out.

“Okay, no PE. Period.” He stood and
came
around to the front of the desk. “Jeff, I want to thank you for defending JD. I
’
ve heard of things like this happening and people turning their backs and walking away, afraid to get involved. You
’
re a good role model
,
and I appreciate that. I know after Max died, as a team we agreed not to choose a new team captain, but I feel after this you deserve the title.”

Jeff shook his head. “Coach, no. Max was my friend. It doesn
’
t feel right
just brushing him aside
. It could hurt the team morale.”

“What about co-captain?” Max suggested.

“I like that idea, JD. What do you think
,
Jeff?” He shrugged, hesitantly. “Think about it and let me know.” Coach stood. “Alright, Jeff, head on out. JD, change back into your street clothes.”

Jeff left quickly. Max had to move slowly.

“JD. Are you okay? Emotionally, I mean? I know we
’
ve talked somewhat about your home life before. Are things getting better”?

“Slowly,” Max replied.

“I
’
m here if you need a shoulder.” Coach went to pat him on the back then stopped. “You probably don
’
t want me doing that today, do you?”

“You got that right,” Max grinned. “Oh, and the next time you decide I can sit out PE, can you
tell me
before I change my clothes?”

After school, Max and Jeff headed for the hospital. “I heard she
’
s doing better,” Jeff said as they walked down the hall.
“Some of the other cheerleaders talked to her dad today.”

“Really?” Max said. They went straight to the ICU and proceeded down the hall toward Em
’
s room.

The receptionist, a young red-head named Candice,
according to her name badge,
smiled at Jeff. “Just a
minute
. Only family is allowed on the unit. Are you related to a patient here?
Max
shook his head. “I
’
m sorry
.
F
amily only.”

Jeff pulled Max by the arm back down the hall. “Here
’
s the plan, I
’
ll divert her, you go check on Em.”

“How are you going to divert her?”

“I
’
m going to put on the old
Morgan
charm. She
’
ll be putty in my hands in no time.” Jeff flashed a movie-star smile Max didn
’
t know he had
,
and they
strutted
back up to the desk.

“So, Candy.” Out came the smile. Max wasn
’
t sure but he thought the girl cooed. “You don
’
t mind if I call you Candy
,
do you, because I
’
ll bet you are delicious.”

Max bit his tongue to keep from laughing. He wondered if Leo
’
d
given
him tips.

“Candy, I
’
ve got something in my eye
s
, and frankly, it
’
s interfering with my day. I can
’
t eat, I can
’
t sleep. I don
’
t know what to do.” He sighed dramatically.

“What is it?” Concern filled her lightly freckled face.

“You,” he said, offering her another prize grin.

When she dropped her head
to
giggle, Jeff waved Max on. He loped down the hall, straight to Emma
’
s room. He entered cautiously, in case her family was there.
The room was completely empty except for two unoccupied beds.

A man cleared his throat behind him. Max pinched his eyes
shut
. “Do you live here?”

Dr. Colter chuckled. “It feels like it some days.”

Max turned around slowly, mostly because it was the only way he could turn without causing pain. “I guess you
’
re going
to
escort me out of the hospital now?”

“I
’
m going to escort you and
Brad Pitt
over there,” he pointed to Jeff still flirting up a storm, “to the elevators and send you both down to room 387 to see Emma.”

“She
’
s awake?”

“Yes. She woke just after three this morning,
Coma Whisperer
. What did you say to her anyway?” He pulled the pen light from his pocket and looked into JD
’
s eyes.

“Just to not give up,” he said.

“Good advice. How are
you
feeling today?”

“Sore.”

“May I see your ribs?” Max pulled up his shirt
,
the doctor winced.

“How you got away without a break is beyond me.” He slipped the
light
back in his breast pocket. “Go on. Go see Emma, Coma Whisperer.”

“Thanks.” Max grabbed Jeff, much to Candy
’
s dismay, and they went downstairs. Her parents were there, as was Noah.

“Hello, boys.” Marty shook their hands. “Come on in. We
’
re going to be restricting visitors so Em can heal. Please keep it brief
.
S
he
’
s very weak.”

“Daddy, that is so rude,” Emma complained, her voice frail.

“He wants what
’
s best, Em, it
’
s okay.” Max agreed with her dad a hundred percent. Looking at her last night and again this morning unsettled him. He
’
d never seen her
look
so delicate.

“Thank you, JD. And no.
S
iding with me didn
’
t earn you extra time,” Marty joked. At least Max thought it
was
a joke.

Jeff snagged her hand before Max could. Max
’
s blood pressure jumped.
Calm it down, Max. He saved your life yesterday
. He tried not to smile when Emma drew her hand back after a few seconds.

“I
’
m fine. Everyone is making a big deal out of a little accident.”

“A concussion—and subsequent coma, a broken arm and collarbone. I hardly call that a little accident,” Max snapped.

“Thank you, JD. Now that
did
earn you extra time,” her father said. Emma rolled her eyes.

“We
’
re just glad you
’
re alright,” Jeff said. “The school banned the pyramid,
just
so you know.”

“Too bad they didn
’
t do that a couple days ago,” Max complained.

“Sweetheart, I think we need to adopt JD. I like how he thinks
.
” Marty smiled.

“I heard about what happen
ed
to you yesterday, JD. Are you okay?” Emma asked, her voice growing weaker.

“I
’
m fine thanks to Jeff, and we need to get going so you can rest.” Max tugged on Jeff
’
s arm.

“Agreed. Take care, Em. We
’
ll stop in tomorrow.” Jeff nodded to the rest of the family.

“Thank you for stopping in, boys,” Bev said. “And thank you for understanding also.”

Neither said
a
word until they came to the end of the hall.

“She looks terrible
.
” Jeff
broke
the silence first.

Max agreed. “Tell me about it. I wanted to send everyone out of the room so she could sleep.”

“Let
’
s go. I hate hospitals.” He shivered.

“I
need to check on my
friend
,
Izzy
Thurston
, again.
You go ahead,” Max said.

“Are you sure? I have Trig homework I can do while you visit,” he offered.

“No. I live pretty close. Besides
,
now that Nate
’
s in jail, I
’
m good.”