Falling Behind (Falling Series) (10 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Titus

I didn’t know what I was expecting when Mr. Gustin came to get us. I wasn’t expecting to see my mom, along with Reese’s mom sitting in his office with Candice’s parents. Mr. Gustin stuck his head into his office. “Follow us, we’ll head into the teacher’s lounge where there will be more room.”

My mom quickly caught up to me, grabbing my hand and squeezing. I looked into her tear filled eyes. Something was wrong
, very wrong. Looking around our parents I noticed everyone, even Mr. Warner had tears. “What’s going on?”

“Candice is missing. She hasn’t shown up for school and
, as we always do, we called home to check. She wasn’t there.” Mr. Gustin started to explain. He looked at Reese and then me. “She said she was headed to Reese’s earlier this morning to apologize. But we already know she wasn’t there. We need to think about where she and Alex would go. I would say it’s safe to say that they’re together, since he also is also absent.” That was when Reese checked out. I saw it on her beautiful face. She stopped hearing what he was saying and started shaking and sweating, her breathing quick and shallow.

I stepped over to her just as her mom was trying to get her attention. “Reese, Reese?” Her mom shook her. “Listen
, we need your help. Please focus.”

She wasn’t getting through to her. I could see the panic rising in her
eyes. I had been through these with her, before; last year, after her break up with Graham. I knew her mom had, too; but I also knew I could bring her out of it. “Let me?” I asked Diane, waiting for her to step aside. When she nodded and stepped back, I cupped Reese’s chin with my hand. “Reese, look at me.” I stroked my thumbs along her jaw before moving one had to the back of her neck and massaging it. “We need to think about C. Can you hear me now, Reese?”

I waited
, staring into her eyes. I continued to massage her neck when the light came back into her eyes. She was with me, again. She nodded and I continued.  “Candice told her mom she was going to your house, before school, to apologize. When she didn’t show up for school, the secretary called and her mom didn’t know where she was. That’s all that is going on. We just need to think about where they could be.”

I searched her eyes, she was still with me. I was worried I would send her falling
back into the blackness that takes her during an attack. “Reese, I need you to look into my eyes and listen to me. Okay? We need to think, where would he take her? Reese, where did he take her to be alone?”

“Black Bridge.”
She nearly whispered. But we were all so quiet that everyone heard and Mr. Gustin was already on the phone. I wanted, no, I needed to go.

I twisted toward Mr.
Gustin, “Can we go?”

“I think
it will be better if the two of you go home with your moms. Mr. & Mrs Warner and I will call the school sheriff and have him follow us to the bridge. We will contact you both when she is home.” He looked to George for affirmation. George nodded in response.

I had let go of Reese’s head but I held her hand. I loved the feel of her fingers laced with mine. I gave them a gently squeeze, three of them
, actually. Three squeezes meant “I love you”. It was something me and my mom had done, forever. Reese didn’t know what those three squeezes meant, but she will one day, soon. I loved her. With my whole heart.

Diane grabbed Reese’s other hand and led us out the front doors of the office. She wrapped Reese in a hug and the
n embraced me, tightly. Letting go, she looked at my mom, “Nicole, would you and Titus like to wait with us at our house?”

“Yes, please.” My mom had stopped the tears from spilling down her face
, but she was visibly still upset. I held my other hand out to her as we walked toward their cars.

Reese

We waited in silence, for a phone call. I knew she would be there. I was scared of what they would find her doing. Titus was sitting in his corner of our couch and, for the first time in months, I curled up to his side and let him comfort me.

That’s when
my mom’s cell phone rang. “Hello?” There was a pause and my stomach flopped as Titus tightened his grip on my shoulder. “Yes, Mr. Gustin. Thank you for calling.”

Mom looked furious and I couldn’t figure out why. She hung up the phone and looked at the three of us with silent tears streaming her face. “She was under the bridge, down on the side of the river bank. They suspect she had been using drugs. Do either of you know anything about this?”

I shook my head and looked up at Titus. “I didn’t, did you?”

“I had some suspicion
but I wanted some evidence before telling anyone.” He dislodged me from his side, sitting up and putting his head in his hands before continuing. “She was already so upset with Reese for ‘telling’ on her. I thought if I could keep an eye on her, it would help keep her out of trouble.”

Nicole ran a caring hand over his head, smoothing down his hair. “
It’s okay, Ty. You didn’t know. What do think she was using?”

Mom answered
. “They suspect cocaine. She was unconscious. And pretty beat up. Mr. Gustin said he couldn’t go into detail, but her parents were with her in an ambulance, as a precaution, headed to the hospital.”

“Can we go?” I turned my pleading eyes on the three of them.

Nicole and Mom shared a concerned look. “No. Not right now.”

Mom looked at both of us. “Let’s wait until they have time to get to the hospital and give them a chance, as a family, to discuss things. I promise I will take you two to see her, later this afternoon.”

Nicole agreed and then asked if Titus could possibly stay with us
since she had to head back to work, unfortunately. I didn’t find it unfortunate at all; Titus would be able to worry, here, with me.

“Yes, we would love to have Titus wait with us. As I said, when we head in this afternoon he can go with us
; and I will call to update you on Candice.” Mom smiled sweetly at Nicole and pointed to the door. “Let me walk you out.”

“They’re talking about us.” Titus said
, with a bump to my shoulder.

“Yep.
I had no clue she was using.” I turned sideways on the couch, crossing my legs beneath me so I could see his face.

“You aren’t the most observant. Your boyfriend”−

−“Ex!”

He laughed. “Fine, your ex-boyfriend used
, too. Didn’t know that one either, did you?”

“No way
. We were always together; he wouldn’t have had time to use.” My mind started reeling. It made sense: the mood swings, the days he was late. “Unless, the mood swings, I guess it makes sense.”

Titus didn’t say anything just touched his finger to his nose.
Now I wondered if every time he verbally forced me to have sex, he was high. It was all coming together, now. “Do you know anything about that stuff?”

“Not really
, just what I’ve heard some of the varsity team members say.”

I started to ask what he meant when mom walked back in. “Can we go listen to music in my room?”

“Sure, you know the rules. Door open, even with Titus. I’ll let you know when I hear something on Candice.” Mom settled into the couch and we headed to my room.

I was debating whether to talk about what happened with Josh and me or to ask about what the varsity guys said about the coke, when he wrapped me in a tight hug and kissed my forehead. Electricity
, like I’ve never felt, flowed over my body, warming me from head to toe. Just when I was wondering if he felt it, too, he tipped my chin up with his thumb and looked deep into my eyes.

“I’ve waited a long time to kiss you
, again.” His breath brushed my face.

I swallowed back the nerves, this was Titus. I wanted this.
              I didn’t feel his lips touch mine; instead, he let go of me and my eyes flew open. He walked to my collage of the three of us on my closet door. My mom poked her head in.

“Just wanted to tell you I made lunch, if you’re hungr
y.” She looked between me and Titus, curiously.

I begged her
, with my eyes, to go. “I can’t eat anything right now. How about you, Ty?”

He turned with a huge smile
. “I’m starved.” He walked out, following Mom, and took the only chance I’ve ever had to kiss him. I threw myself on my bed and groaned.
What exactly did he mean by “again”?

Titus never came back in my room
. Maybe because I fell asleep; but when I woke up, I was startled by the darkness. Sitting up, I felt around for my phone, finally locating it under my pillow. The display showed six-thirty. It must be night; otherwise the sun would be up. I stretched, yawning, until the events of the last few days came barreling down on me, sucking the air from my lungs. I ran into the living room to find, Titus and Nicole sitting with my parents.

I glanced at everyone and no one
in room would meet my eyes. Something was wrong. Candice. I looked at Titus. “Ty, what’s going on?”

He looked to my mom before standing and leading me outside. He held me in his arms, his body shaking with sobs
; he hadn’t even said a word and I felt my world come crashing down. Alex had killed Candice. Dropping to my knees, I folded in on myself laying in a fetal position. Praying that I was wrong, knowing I was right. The fear that raked through me tore another sob from my chest. I wasn’t aware of anything. For all I knew I was laying on the ground alone, dead, because my absolute best friend was dead.

My heart
was broken, my lungs wouldn’t work right, and my mind was flying through thought after thought of Candice, Titus and I growing up. I kept my eyes closed and focused on her pretty face, her smile and big eyes. I wasn’t ready to face whoever was picking me up, right now.

I felt warmth envelope me and smelled Titus’ pure male scent before he jostled me a little and held me closer. “We’ll get through this
, together. You didn’t let me tell you what was going on. Candice isn’t dead. She overdosed, but they were able to save her. Her physical injuries were bad, but not life threating.” I didn’t open my eyes, so he continued, “Reese, did you hear me? Candice is not dead.”

I was still focusing only on her face, but I could hear him talking
, now. “All I did was hug her and she dropped to her knees and folded into a fetal position. She just stopped crying a few minutes ago, I figured it would be best to bring her in. I told her Candice wasn’t dead, but I don’t know if she can hear me, right now. She isn’t responding.”

“She’s in shock.
” My dad explained. “By the look on our faces, she had already made her mind up as soon as she walked in the room. I could see it in her eyes. She was shutting down before you went outside, Titus. Lie her down on the couch and we’ll cover her up. We need to keep her warm and watch her breathing.” I knew I needed to let them know I could hear them, but I couldn’t get my mind to do anything but stare at my image of Candice.

I felt Titus
lay me on our couch, the warmth of a blanket covering me and his lips brush a kiss across my forehead. “I’ll be right here.” The couch shifted and he put my feet in his lap.

Soon the darkness and numbness took over
, again. I couldn’t hear or feel anything.

Chapter Seventeen

Titus

The warm sun streamed in through the ivory curtains in Reese’s living room. My mom had tried to get me to go home with her. She failed. I wasn’t leaving Reese. She needed me. We needed each other. Our best friend was in the hospital and in serious condition. Reese didn’t even know how serious it was. After the panic attack and going into shock or whatever it was that was her shield to protect her from the news, she had fallen asleep and still had no idea how serious Candice’s condition really was.

I felt
her twitch, then settle right back down. I kept my eyes closed. I waited to see if she was going to wake up and say something or go back to sleep. Out of the corner of my half closed eye, I saw that she was awake staring at me. “I’m not asleep.” I opened my eyes and flashed her a half a smile.

Reese sat up, stretching. “You okay?”

I rolled my head and cracked my neck. Reaching down I rubbed her legs, she had to be uncomfortable. “Stiff. How about you?”

I hated seeing Reese cry. The tears were
already building in her eyes ready to crest over as she asked, “Is she still alive?”

Patting the space next to my hip I said, “Yeah, come here.”

Reese scooted closer. “Tell me what happened.”

I dropped my arm around her shoulders. “When they found Candice she was badly beaten, bruised and bloody. Her body was shaking and
she was unconscious. There was no one with her.” I was disgusted with myself for being weak as the tears rolled down my cheeks. “They got her in the ambulance and her muscles were already rigid even though her whole body was shaking and she was running an extremely high fever. All those signs told them she had overdosed on cocaine. The EMT’s immediately started a cooling process, which the hospital finished.

“Right now
, they basically have her in a coma. She’s on a ventilator and she’s sedated. That’s why we couldn’t see her and I suspect we won’t be able to see her for awhile. They’ll need to keep monitoring her until they are ready to wake her up.”

“Oh
, my goodness.” She closed her eyes placed her hands together and looked toward the sky, “Lord, please let C pull through this.” I squeezed her knee with one hand and swatted away the tears that were clinging to my chin. Reese opened her eyes, laying her head back on my chest. “Do you really think she’ll be okay?”

“I hope so.” Wrapping my arms around her
, I kissed her head. I wanted nothing more than run my hands up and down her side just underneath her t-shirt. I knew I shouldn’t want to right now, not with everything going on. “She’ll pull through this, she has two best friends to support her.” I kissed her head a couple more times. I could feel her heart beat pick up and I wondered exactly what it meant.

Diane once again chose the
perfect
time to come into the living room. It’s not like we’ve never sat curled up together before, but I’m pretty sure she could tell this was different. I needed to hold Reese. She felt like home. She made me believe everything was going to be okay.

“Good morning
, you two. Titus, if you need me to, I can drive you home. I’m on my way to check on Cecilia and George.” She put her hand up. “Before you ask, you may not go see Candice. Not until she is out of ICU and off the ventilator.”

I’d
been a part of this family for so many years that I felt comfortable calling Diane by her first name. I also felt comfortable enough to stay here all day, and shower here, if I wanted. “I’m good. I’ll just stay here if that’s okay with you, Diane?”

“That’s fine.” She smiled at me before locking eyes with Reese. “Your sisters will be back in an hour or so. Dad already left for work. I’ll call you on my way home
; hopefully you’ll feel like eating. You’ve lost too much weight with all this stress. How does pasta, from Fratelli’s, sound?”

“That sounds good
; thanks, Mom. Where are the twins, anyway?” Reese sat up, pulling away from me. I instantly missed her pressed up against me.

“They stayed down at
Aunt Janice’s, last night. I asked her to keep them until I called. They don’t need to know about the drugs, okay?”

We both nodded in agreement. “Tell Candice’s parents that we’re here
and that if we can do anything, we are ready.” Reese stopped talking and jumped up, giving her mom a hug, “Tell them I love them. Tell her, too, if you see her.”

“I will. Be good and
I‘ll see you kids, soon.” Diane walked out the front door, closing it behind her.

Reese fell back on to my chest. I rubbed soothing circles into her back as I held her. Reese’s breaths grew deeper and I wondered if she was falling asleep. Moving my hand from her back
, I ran my fingers from her shoulder down to her wrist and back up again. I felt the goosebumps rise on her arms and her once deep breaths become more quick and shallow.

Now was not the
best time to have this discussion, but it was the first time we’d been alone and I needed to know. “Can we talk about something?”

I felt her stiffen and I pondered what it
was she thought I want to talk about. “Sure.” She started to sit up, but I pulled her back to my chest. I couldn’t look at her when I asked her the next question.

Once she settled into my chest
, I ran a shaky hand through my hair and brought my thumb to my mouth. Thankfully, it was my left hand this time. My right was already sore and bleeding. “What happened between you and Josh isn’t my business; but I can’t stand for you to act like what he did was no big deal. I heard everything. It was a HUGE DEAL. It’s not my place, but I need to know: did he ever do that to you before or again?” My voice was layered in anger. I was biting the side of my thumb as if it had no feeling. I wish it didn’t.

“That wasn’t the first time.”

“Talk to me Reese, please.”

She pulled a blanket up around her placing it between us. “I can’t. It’s over now.”

I lifted her head, cradling it in my hands, rubbing her jaw once again. I stared into her denim blue eyes and found all the dark and light specks mesmerizing. “I want to punch him in the nuts for hurting you. He did something serious, Reese, and you need to talk to someone about it. If you can’t talk to me, that’s understandable; but you need to talk to someone. Please, Reese.”

I wanted nothing more than to kiss her soft pink lips. I knew that she needed a friend
and not someone to push her, again. So I bit my bottom lip and waited, holding my breath for her to answer.

“
Ty, I will. I promise you I had already scheduled time to talk to Sarah and Mr. Wait.” She brought her hands up to cup my hands on her jaw. Soothing her delicate fingers over my knuckles she stared into my eyes. “If you really want to know what happened, how everything transpired, I will tell you. Just not today, okay? We need to think of Candice. Once she’s better, I will tell you both.” She pulled my hands off her face and into my lap, holding on to them. Reese laid her head on my chest, snuggling in closer to me.

I kissed her head and flipped a strand of hair between my fingers.
“Okay.” It wasn’t long before I felt her body grow heavy and the rise and fall of her chest evened out. Laying my head back I fell back asleep with Reese.

Reese

I thought he was going to kiss me; I wanted him to kiss me. I did. But not yet, not like this. I wanted our first kiss to be special. Not stressed related. After telling him I was planning on talking to Sarah and Mr. Wait, I fell back asleep, on his chest. The boy’s muscles have grown since the last time I laid there, and his chest felt amazing.

Candice
would be allowed visitors the next afternoon. Mom and Nicole had planned on taking us. We knew we would have to go back to school soon, but right now, for today and tomorrow, we were excused.

That evening
, Mom decided we needed to go early and talk with Candice’s parents. I couldn’t understand the change in her thoughts. She was still in ICU. Her vitals were strong but they were still concerned about the effects of the overdose on her body. And the injuries… Mom finally told us what all happened to her.

They found several broken ribs, her right wrist and pelvis
was fractured. They had reason to believe, from the extent of the injuries, that she was kicked multiple times with severe force. My heart ached for her. I wasn’t prepared to see the anguish on the faces of the Warner’s. When we walked into the ICU waiting room, her parents were seating together in the corner with tears streaming down their faces. Cecilia’s shoulders shook with silent sobs.

George was the first to notice us. His eyes
darted at each of us, settling on my face. Tears spilled over onto his cheeks and he swiped them away, repeatedly. I was afraid Candice had taken a turn for the worse I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair, capturing a few strands to play with.

Walking toward them
, George stood up to greet me, hugging me tight and whispering, “She was doing so well. They were talking about taking her out of the ICU.”

I looked at
Mom, who had gone to hold Cecilia. Worry and fear etched in the lines around her eyes. Tightening my hug on George─ he was like a second father to me and it tore at me to see him hurting—I asked, “What’s going on, George?” My voice shook with nerves.

He let go of me and hugged Titus. We were all family. He sat back down and pointed for the two of us to sit. Mom continued to hold Cecilia as the pain of whatever
had happened raked through her body. “Well, Reese, she was starting to make some progress. They still had her sedated, but her vitals were increasing. Her blood pressure was back to normal, as was her temperature. Which the doctor said was a good sign. A sign she was overcoming the first consequences of the overdose.

“Just a little while ago
, we heard them calling for her doctor.  There were alarms going off and they were obviously coming from her room. We watched through the little window and waited for someone to us something. Anything.

“Her doctor came out forty
-five minutes later. He said that her heart had stopped, but they were able to get it started, again. He explained that all of her injuries, plus the drugs, had done a number on her heart and he was worried that she may code again, before the night is over.”

I looked at him, waiting for him to continue
; to say that it was all going to be okay, now. Instead, he looked at me and then to Titus with fresh tears in his eyes and I felt my body go numb. The blackness was easing its way into to my mind. I was so familiar with it now that I knew what was coming next.

George took my hand
. “They said if she makes it through the night, we will need to pray for her to make through the next night.”

George was still talking, but I could see Reese going numb; shutting down, again. I needed to help her, but I needed to listen, too. I laced my fingers with hers and waited for George to finish.

“Her heart is damaged and
they don’t know if they can repair it or if it can it can’t recover again, if she were to code. So, Cecilia and I have a very tough decision on our hands.”

“Oh
, George.” Diane let go of Cecilia for a minute, to grab George and hug him, as well.

I
knew that I needed to stay strong for everyone. I felt Reese’s hand go limp in mine.

“Diane, Reese…”

She looked over her shoulder and saw her daughter sliding down. It was obvious Reese was unconscious. I figured it was another panic attack. Diane ran off toward the nurse’s station.

She
came back with a nurse who introduced herself as Millie. “Can you explain what happened?”

“Yeah, she passed out. I think it’s her way of
coping when she feels a panic attack coming on. She’s been doing it a lot lately, almost every time something bad happens or we get troubling news about Candice.”

Nurse
Millie grabbed her hand and felt for a pulse. “She’s in distress. Let me get a gurney and someone to help and we’ll get her into a room.”

I looked at Diane before picking Reese up and asking the nurse, “Where? She needs to be checked out
, right now.”

“
This way. Although this is highly unethical.”

“I’m her mom and I give him permission to carry her to a room for you.” Diane followed
us out of the waiting room. “I’ll be back shortly. I’m sorry.”

George waved us off and Cecilia offered a small smile. “Let us know how she is.”

We got her into a room and the nurse came back fairly quickly, with a doctor. They started to check her vitals and took blood. Within thirty minutes, they were back.

“Mrs. Milson, your daughter’s blood sugar is extremely low. I am concerned that she hasn’t been eating. Do you know if your daughter has been battling an eating disorder?”

“No.” Diane and I answered the doctor, together.  Diane stood up gripping Reese’s right hand. “My daughter has never had an eating disordered. She has always been a great eater and exercised, daily. She has never been overly concerned about her weight. If she isn’t eating, then it most definitely has to do with her breaking up with her boyfriend and almost losing her friend. It has been a rough couple weeks.”