My Best Friend's Brother

Broken

Liam

"Wow, you look...fantastic." I grinned as Sarah covered her face with her left hand.

"You always have been just so nice to me." She laughed as I sat down on the edge of her bed.

I touched her arm, "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged to the best of her ability, "I could always be worse."

"We need to talk about a few things...," I pulled my hand from her arm and ran my fingers through my hair, "I know you are tired, but it's important."

She nodded.

"I don't know what all the doctors or mom or dad have said to you... but when you first got to the ER, they did some bloodwork."

Her eyes immediately fell, she had already knew what I was about to say, "The drugs?"

I felt my eyebrows trying to embrace each other, and she tried to pull herself up into a sitting position. I had her arms and helped her get situated.

"It's not a big deal."

My hand naturally moves to my head, "Sarah, where did you get them?"

She shrugged, "It was one time, Liam. Seriously, it's not a big deal."

I stand up, "Yes, it is. One time or ten times... it is a big deal. So tell me where you got them."

She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side, she let out a deep breath, "I bought them from Grant, for a friend."

I held my hand up, "Jackson Brooks, I know. So how did they end up in your bloodstream?"

She rolled her eyes, "If you would let me finish...I tried to give them to Jack, but he refused. I was upset and alone, so I went to docks," she took another breath and closed her eyes, "You are going to hate me."

I felt my chest tighten, "I would never hate you, but if I did.. then we would be even."

She stuck her bottom jaw out and bit her top lip, "I don't hate you, Liam... and I don't hate Emilie... I just feel betrayed."

"We can talk about that later, what happened at the docks?"

Her chin tilted to the floor, but her eyes still remained on mine, "Heath was there with some friends. I ran into them on my way to the water."

My hands formed fists. The last time I had seen Heath was when his mouth was attached to Emilie's.

She twirled the tie of her hospital gown around her finger, "They were experimenting. I was lonely and they seemed like they were having fun... so I joined them- and gave my bag as an offering I guess."

My chest started to itch and burn, "Experimenting? So you have no idea what you took? Do you not realize how stupid that was?"

A tear fell down her cheek, "Yes, of course I do. I'm sorry."

A laugh escaped, "Sorry? You could have gotten yourself killed. Those dope heads lace their shit with all sorts of stuff."

The one tear turned into several, "I said I am sorry. I was just trying to have some fun."

As angry as I am, I know that she doesn't need stress. I reached over and held her hand, "I know. Next time, talk to someone... and I am really glad you are okay."

There was a knock at the door, I turn to see Emilie and Charlotte standing.

"Can we come in?" Charlotte smiled.

Sarah looked at the other side of the room, and I could see the disappointment on Emilie's face.

"Sure, but Sarah needs some rest so we can't stay long."

Charlotte made her way to the edge of Sarah's bed, and I pulled Emilie over to me.

"How is she?" She whispered to me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Broken."

Sarah tried to smile as she endured the conversation with Charlotte, but her eyes kept meeting mine.

"Hey, Em."

We both looked at Sarah who was motioning Emilie over time her. I nodded for her to go.

Sarah held her hand out to Emilie, "I miss my best friend."

Emilie smiles, "I miss mine, too."

Sarah let a tear fall, "I want to fix things."

Emilie nodded, "Me too."

Charlotte leaned over the bed and sat her hand on top of theirs, "Can I be included?"

They both smiled at her and agreed.

"Let's give her some rest," I motioned the girls to the door, "We will be right outside if you need us, I will send mom to check on you."

She nodded, "Thank you," I was walking to the door when she called out again, "Liam?"

I turned, "Yeah?"

"Do you love her?"

I felt my face let go of the tension and smile, "Yes."

Sarah nodded, "Good."

We exchanged one last set of smiles before I met Emilie and Charlotte in the hallway.

"Did you ask her?"

I nod, "Yeah, but she took them on her own."

Emilie's eyes lose their sparkle, "Why would she do that?" 

I shake my head, "I hate to ask you this, but do you happen to have Heath Dawson's number?"

Charlotte's head snapped towards Emilie and her eyes grew to the side of golf balls.

"What?"

Emilie bit the bottom of her lip, "Actually....he just called me a little bit ago."

My jaw poked to the side and I gritted my teeth together, "Why?"

She slid her foot back and forth as she answered, "He asked me why Sarah wasn't answering her phone. I told him she was in an accident."

I rubbed the front of my forehead, "I need to know exactly what you said, Em."

Charlotte moved her eyes between the two of us, "Is something going on?"

"Yeah," I nod my head, "Heath was with her when she did it."

Emilie puts her hands on her head, "Do you think something was going on between them? Jackson said that Sarah and Justin were arguing a lot, and that something must have happened."

Charlotte crosses her arms, "I swear I didn't expect to be Nancy Drew tonight. I would have worn a cute vest or something."

Emilie and I both look at her. I drop my head, "Did Sarah know that you and Heath kissed?"

Charlotte stomped her foot, "Wait, what?"

Emilie looked at me from the corner of her eye, "She is my best friend... I tell her everything, but I left out why he did it."

I felt my blood boil as I relived the image again, "Sarah has a habit of trying to take things from everyone else. She likes the challenge. If she knew that Heath liked you, she may have tried to take him- it wouldn't be the first time."

Emilie laughed, "Well maybe I am safe with the whole brother thing."

She wrapped her fingers around mine.

"Cute," Charlotte twirled her hair in her hand, "So am I going home now? Or what?"

I put my arm around Emilie's shoulder, "Let's just all go home, all of the world's problems will still be waiting on us tomorrow."

Emilie laughed, "That sounded very..."

I put my finger to her lips, "I will have one less problem as long as you are the first thing I get to see when I wake up."

She smiles, "Liam White, the world is a broken place... you are the glue to my pieces."