Chapter 80

Jordan's POV

"This young man's presence and quick action after the incident is the reason your son made it here in time," the doctor tries explaining.

Mr Ashford marches forward, disregarding him, his merciless gaze drilling through me. I think he might make me disappear with just his eyes and I feel myself shrink away even without moving.

"I asked a question!" he snaps.

I swallow. "I--- I just wanted to see him, sir. To know how he is doing."

"And what makes you think you have the right to do that?"

My chest tightens, compressing my lungs until I can't breathe properly.

"You were with him," he continues, fuming in front of me. "And now he is in intensive care fighting for his life. If you want to help, take his position right now, be the one lying there as it should have been in the first place!"

"Hey, you can't talk to my son that way!" Dad steps in, attempting to defend me but Kaelen's father shoots him a glare.

"If you had leashed him properly, we wouldn't be here now, would we?" He doesn't even spare him a glance. His gaze never leaves me. "You will stop at nothing to ruin my son's life, won't you?"

"That's not wh---"

"Then what is it?" he fires back.

The hallway goes still. I can feel my dad beside me, tense, ready to step in but I already know how this is going to go. Because part of already blames myself.

"I warned him," Mr Ashford continues, his tone dropping colder. "I told him what would happen if he kept surrounding himself with people who bring nothing but chaos."

His eyes drag over me deliberately. People like me. I feel it land harshly and settle inside me.

"If he hadn't gotten involved with you, he wouldn't be fighting for his life right now."

My throat closes and tears trickle down my face. Dad steps forward immediately. "That's enough!" He raises his voice this time and pulls me slightly behind him, shielding me with his body. "You don't get to put that on him. My son never forced him to do anything he didn't want to. He saved him!"

"Saved him?" Mr. Ashford cuts in, scoffing. "He put him there in the first place!"

Silence crashes over us. I don't argue again. I can't. All I see is Kaelen bleeding out in my arms.

All I hear is my voice begging him not to leave me like this, and his saying goodbye.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a second. Just one second to push the thoughts away. When I open them, Mr. Ashford is still watching me. Judging and condemning me in that hallway, under the same roof Kaelen is waiting for someone to hold his hand and tell him everything is going to be okay. I'll do anything to make that happen for him.

"I'm sorry, Mr Ashford," I manage, stepping beside my dad again. "It's my fault everything happened the way it did. I swear I never meant to hurt your son." That makes him hesitate, now quiet just watching me. I continue. "But right now he needs someone. He needs to know that he is not alone when he wakes up. It's no use arguing here while he should be the first priority."

He lifts his hand, already pointing a finger and his mouth working to say something. Kaelen's mother steps forward and tugs on his arm. He glances at her once then breathes loudly through his nose.

"You will stay away," he says finally. The words are calm but final. "From this moment on, you don't come near him, you don't contact him, you don't involve yourself in his life again or I promise I'm going to make your sorry excuse of a life a living hell!" My chest caves in. "Do you understand me?"

I nod before I can stop myself. Because what else is there to do? What else can I do now but bow to fate and preserve the little dignity my family is left with.

"Good," he says.

And just like that, I'm dismissed. He turns away, guiding his wife toward the ICU doors. She glances back once and there is something in her eyes I can't quite make out but she says nothing. The doors close behind them.

I don't remember walking. One moment I'm standing there, and the next I'm outside Elise's room. I knock once before pushing the door open. She is not alone this time. Her mother is sitting beside the bed, her father standing on the other side of her, his hand on her shoulder. They all turn when I step in.

"Jordan," Elise breathes.

"Hey..." My voice is rough.

Her mother stands, giving me space immediately without hesitation or judgment. "You can sit," she says gently. "Elise told us what happened. Are you alright?"

I nod gratefully and move to Elise's side. She studies my face carefully. "Did you manage to see him? Is he alright?"

I nod and shake my head at the same time. "He is alive. Surgery went well but he is still in intensive care."

Relief floods her expression, even through the exhaustion. "Thank God!" Then she looks at me more closely. "What happened?"

I hesitate but there is no point hiding it. "His dad..." I say quietly. Her expression shifts right then, already filling in the words I'm yet to say. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and say them anyway. "He doesn't want me anywhere near Kaelen."

I try to say it like it doesn't matter but it lands heavy anyway. The room is suddenly too still, all of them watching me with quiet concern, prompting my tears once more. Elise reaches for my hand and I let her.

"I'll keep you updated," she says firmly. "Whatever happens, I'll make sure you know I promise."

I look at her, my chest loosening just a little. "You don’t have to. If his father finds---"

"He won't," she cuts in then turns to her parents, "Right? No one is going to tell him."

"Of course, sweetheart," her father says.

Looking at him and how calm he is after everything, it's hard to believe he is close friends with Kaelen's Dad. And her mom... her hand presses on my shoulder and the contact feels like a warm hug I don't remember missing.

"Thank you," I nod at all of them.

Elise squeezes my hand gently. For a moment, it almost feels like things might stabilize, like maybe we made it out. Then the door opens again and this time, it's not doctors. It's police. Two officers step inside, their presence immediately shifting the air in the room.

"Jordan Summers?" one of them asks.

My stomach drops but I stand slowly. "Yes."

"We need you to come with us. We have some questions regarding the shooting of your schoolmate, Kaelen Ashford."

Heavy silence settles in the room. From the tone to the way they call just me and not Elise too has multiple questions running through my head. Elise's grip tightens on my hand for a second before she lets go.

I glance at her then at her parents, then back at the officers. There is no running from this.

"Okay," I nod.