"Watch it!" I screamed over the loud screaming of the crowd. I had no idea why all these people were gathered outside Celine's house. I was trying to find my way to the back door.
Suddenly, people knocked me over from behind. I fell to the ground, landing hard on my left hand. People swarmed like bees on a honeycomb all around me. I stayed where I was, knowing if I moved, I'd get hurt.
I saw a hand reaching out to me. I rolled over and grabbed it, looking up into the kind eyes of a policeman. He escorted me to the edge of the crowd. "There you go, Miss Anderson."
"Thanks." I smiled gratefully.
"Are you all right?"
"I landed hard on my left hand, but I'll live." I could see my fingers swelling twice their size already. I couldn't move it at all. I thanked him again and started walking toward the back of Celine's house.
I had resumed my post at the window, worriedly watching for Gabby's black head. "She's sneaking around the back!" I cried. I ran over to the couch. Zac got there first, and I ended up collapsing onto Zac's lap.
"Tay-LOR!" he said. I got to my feet and plopped on the floor with a book. Everyone tried to look natural.
The back door creaked open, and Gabby came in. "Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw us.
"Where have you been?" Ellie demanded.
"I went to confront Jeremy."
"You could've gotten hurt," Celine said.
"I'm fine, just hungry. Anyone want a snack?"
"Sure." I got up and tossed Zac the book, slapping him on the leg with it. "What happened?"
"I just told Jeremy to back off," Gabby said, grabbing some ice cream. "He laughed and kissed me…"
"He touched you?"
Gabby shrugged. "So I slapped him and told him to leave us alone."
"Think he will?"
"He'd better." Gabby slid a bowl of ice cream over to me and turned to the fridge. She got some Sprite and tried to twist the cap off. I noticed she wasn't using her left hand.
"Here, I'll get it." I poured her a glass and handed it to her. My eyes went to her left hand. "Gabby!"
"Shh!" she whispered.
I tried to touch her hand, but she jumped with pain. "Oh, Gabby, what did you do to it?"
"I fell on it," Gabby said.
"Can you move it?" Gabby shook her head. "Bend it?" She shook her head again. "Gabby…it's swelling! You need to get someone to look at it."
"No! It will be fine."
"Gabby…"
"No." Gabby looked at me. "Don't tell anyone, Taylor."
"Okay," I relented. She picked up her ice cream and walked away.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I'd spent all night in my room, thinking about Gabby and how I could change things. As soon as Tay was asleep, I crept down the hall. I wanted a snack.
I started into the kitchen, but saw Gabby at the table. I stopped when I saw her crying. Something was wrong. She was tenderly holding an ice pack over her hand, and she was crying. I wanted to go to her and see if she was all right, but I couldn't. Silently, I blew her a kiss and went upstairs.
Taylor was sitting up in bed. "Ike?" he asked.
"What's wrong with Gabby? She was sitting at the table, crying."
"She hurt herself tonight."
"What?"
"Shh, I shouldn't have told anyone…especially you."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked angrily.
"You hurt her too, Ike. What's the deal? Did you just stop loving her?"
I dropped my head into my hands. "Not now, Tay. Not now." I dropped onto my bed and heard Taylor creep out of the room to check on Gabby. I rolled over and cried.
Today was the day the stupid, itching cast on my arm would come off. It was a chilly fall day as Ellie, Celine and I climbed into my dad's car and sped off towards the hospital.
"You want me to come in with you?" Ellie asked me quietly.
"No, it's okay, Ellie. I'll be fine." I hugged her reassuringly and left my arm over her shoulders for the remainder of the ride.
Once we got into the hospital, I was told to meet my doctor in a room. I waved goodbye to Ellie and Celine and walked into the room.
"Hey, doc," I chirped.
"Hello, Zac," Dr. Livingston smiled. "Ready to get that cast off?"
"Oh, yeah," I said. I sat down and willed the nervousness to go away.
Soon, my arm was out of the cast and looking strangely pale and blue.
"All right, Zac. Since you haven't moved your arm for months, it's very weak. You won't be able to use it."
"What do you mean?" I tried to raise my arm, but it felt heavy and lifeless. "Oh…"
"I'm going to show you some exercises you can do to regain the strength in your arm. No drumming for a while."
"Aw man!" I missed banging on the drums!
Dr. Livingston showed me a few exercises to do, explaining they would hurt for a while, and gave me the name of a physical therapist. After I thanked her, I left the room.
"How are you, Zac?" Ellie rushed to my side, a worried look on her face. My smile brightened when I saw her.
"I'm fine. Turn around." Ellie looked at me skeptically. "Do it," I commanded. Ellie sighed and turned around. Carefully, slowly, I raised my arms at the same time. Just at the moment when my left arm was about to give, I put my arms around Ellie's thin waist and kissed her neck from behind. "I can actually hold you in my arms again," I whispered, kissing her again.
Ellie put her hands on mine and leaned against me. "Finally," she sighed. Life was perfect.
The next morning, when I woke up, I knew something was wrong with everyone. Zac was frustrated with his arm. I encouraged him to do his exercises and when he got upset, I patiently reminded him that he could put his arms around me now…both of them…and he always did.
Taylor was angry, Gabby was completely out of it, and Ike seemed very tired and sad.
"What's wrong with everyone?" I asked Zac as we shared Oreos and milk in the kitchen.
"I don't know. Strange, huh?" he asked.
"Yeah." I paused. "Maybe we should talk to them."
"You're right. Let's go talk to Gabby first."
Zac got up, putting his healing arm around my waist, and we went to find Gabby. She was sitting in her room with a pencil in her hand, her math book open and a bag of Hershey's Kisses in front of her.
"Hey, Gabby," I greeted her.
"Hey, Ellie," she said, leaning back in her desk chair. I studied her for a moment. Her long curly hair was pulled back in a clip up off her face. She seemed so pretty.
"What's up with you?" Zac asked her.
"What?"
"Why are you so out of it?"
"I'm not…"
"Yes, you are. Is it Ike?" I asked. She looked down. "I'll take that for a yes," I said, looking over at Zac. Gabby looked up at me and sighed. "Are you sure there isn't anything else?" I knew that there was.
"No…" Gabby reached to grab another Kiss when suddenly she reeled with pain.
"Gabby!" I cried upon seeing tears in her eyes. "Zac, go get Celine!"
"No!" Gabby panted. I looked at him and he went. I got Gabby up into a sitting position.
Poor Gabby, I thought as I pounded down the hall to see Taylor, Ike and Celine. Taylor was shaking the tambourine, Ike was playing acoustic and Celine was singing. "Guys! Something's wrong with Gabby!" I shouted.
Taylor looked up at me. Ike nearly dropped his guitar. Celine stood. "Come on." Taylor jumped to his feet and started following Celine out of the room. Ike stayed back.
"Ike, you coming?" I asked. Ike shook his head. "Ike, you're not fooling anyone." I walked over to him. "Come on." Ike looked up at me helplessly. "Come on!" I dragged him to his feet and he willingly followed me out of the room.
I needed to make sure Gabby was okay, so I was secretly glad when Zac dragged me to my feet.
I heard Gabby sobbing as soon as I walked in. Taylor, Ellie and Celine were gathered around her. Celine was holding an ice pack on her wrist.
"What's going on?" I heard Zac ask softly.
"I think she sprained her wrist," Celine said. "We need to take her to the hospital."
"No!" Gabby sobbed. My heart sank at her words.
"Gabrielle, you need help," Celine said sternly.
"Anyone but a doctor," Gabby sobbed. "Ow!" Taylor had accidentally touched her hand. I stepped forward tentatively. "Please?"
"How about a chiropractor?" Ellie suggested.
"No…"
"Gabby…"
"No!"
"Gabby," I said softly. Everyone turned to look at me. Gabby looked up. I said nothing but ran from the room. I had breached the agreement we'd made. I had spoken her name, and I couldn't take it back.
The pain in my wrist was incredibly unbearable. Yet when Isaac spoke my name…it drained away for a moment.
"Gabby." I looked up at Ellie. "Ike would want it."
I sighed. "All right. But I'm not doing it for him." Ellie and Celine helped me to my feet and we left.
