Two Truths and a Lie

28 WE ALL FALL DOWN

“Sutton!”

Thayer’s fingers dig into my upper arm as he yanks me into the thick brush. I kick and scream as he clamps a hand over my mouth again and drags me farther from the parking lot. The brush thickens and attacks my skin in sharp scrapes. Tears sting my eyes and blur my vision, but I can’t wipe them away—he’s got my arms pinned against my sides as he heaves my body over the dirt.

“Thayer, stop!” My voice is muffled against his grip. My feet kick out and send leaves and soil flying.

Thayer drops me carefully to the ground and angles my body against the scratchy bark of a tree’s thick trunk. “Jesus, Sutton, stop screaming for one freaking second.”

I pry his hand from my mouth and take gulping breaths. I’m ready to let out another yell when I see Thayer’s shoulders relax. He drops his arms and plants his hands on his knees, out of breath. “You’re faster than I thought,” he says. His eyes scan the brush over his shoulder. “I’m trying to protect you. I think we got away in time.”

“Wait, what?” I ask, blinking hard. It takes a moment for my thoughts to recalibrate as Thayer cuts through the brush onto the main road. I trail after him. “Was someone chasing us? Who?”

Thayer shakes his head. “Trust me, you don’t want to know,” he pants.

“Thayer, tell me what you—”

Tires screech behind us, and I turn just in time to see a car careening out of the Sabino Canyon lot. Off-yellow, perfectly round headlights rapidly advance on us, and with a jolt I realize it’s my Volvo—my father and I restored the vintage headlights, which look different from modern-day Xenons.

My insides whirl with fear and surprise. I dart off the path, nearly impaling myself on a prickly pear. Then I turn to Thayer next to me. “Someone’s in my car!”

“H-how?” Thayer asks slowly, still breathing hard.

But there’s no time to explain about how I’d dropped my keys by the door. The car barrels straight at us, the tires squealing. I can’t make out the driver’s face, but whoever it is has straight, determined arms locked on the steering wheel. Thayer freezes in the middle of the road, right in the car’s path.

“Thayer!” I scream. “Get out of the way!”

But it’s too late. The car strikes him with a sickening thud. Time slows as Thayer’s body flies into the air, crumpling against the windshield with a loud crack.

“Thayer!” I wail again.

With the scream of rubber on pavement, the car reverses. Thayer rolls off the hood and the car speeds away. The headlights click off and the car vanishes, leaving us in eerie silence.

I can barely feel my legs as I stumble to where Thayer’s body lies limp on the ground. His leg is twisted awkwardly. There’s blood on his head. He looks at me weakly, letting out a low moan. “Oh my God,” I whisper. “We have to get you to the hospital.” My thinking is suddenly crystal clear. I reach into my pocket for my phone. “I’ll call 911.”

“No,” Thayer moans, grabbing my hand with what strength he has left. “I don’t want my parents to know I’m here. They can’t know I’m back in town.” His breathing heaves. “I need to go to a different hospital. Somewhere out of town.”

“That’s impossible. I can’t drive you anywhere. Some maniac has my car,” I protest.

“Laurel.” Thayer reaches a hand into the pocket of his shorts and pulls out his own cell phone. “She’ll do it. I’ll call her.”

A twinge of jealousy spikes my insides. I don’t want Laurel doing this for him. I don’t want my sister sharing in the secret that he’s back. But this isn’t time to get territorial. I sit back on my haunches, feeling helpless. “Okay. Call her.”

Thayer dials, and I hear ringing. “Laurel?” he says when she answers. “It’s … me.”

There is a sharp gasp on the other end; surely Laurel is incredulous. She has every right to be. As far as I know, Thayer hasn’t contacted anyone since June. Except me.

“I’m hurt,” Thayer goes on. “I need you to come and get me.”

Thayer holds up a hand. “I can’t explain, okay? I just need you to go with me on this. I’m at Sabino Canyon.”

He gives her the rest of the details, and I can tell by his relieved expression that Laurel said she’d do it. When he hangs up, I rest my hand on the stubble lining Thayer’s jaw. He feels too cold and his eyes are wild like an animal’s. Blood seeps from the wound on his head. Whenever he moves he winces; his leg is bent horribly.

“I’m so sorry,” I say softly, trying hard not to cry again. “I don’t understand what happened. I don’t know who could have been following us. I should have never suggested we come here.”

“Sutton.” Thayer’s eyebrows narrow in concentration. “This isn’t your fault.”

But I can’t help feeling that it is. I freaked out and ran away from Thayer. I dropped my keys at my car. I bend my face close to Thayer’s and rest my head on his chest. All of my fears about him seem so unfounded. I’d let myself get caught up in the rumors about him instead of trusting that he loved me.

Before I know it, headlights appear on the road, almost as if Laurel’s been waiting around the corner. I stand up and Thayer glances at me with surprise. “Where are you going?”

“I have to hide,” I tell him. “No one should know we’ve been talking. Laurel will keep the secret that you’re back in town, but not if she knows I’m involved.”

Thayer looks shocked, maybe even a little scared. “But …”

“Believe me,” I interrupt. “This is the best way.” I press my lips to his. I can barely make myself pull away, but when I do, I tell him, “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can—look for my note.”

I clamber up the side of a small hill packed with desert sand and hide behind a cluster of thick bushes. The headlights grow brighter and bounce along the trail, illuminating rocks and slick mud. Laurel’s car skids to a halt, and her door flies open. She explodes from the car and runs to Thayer’s side, her blonde hair flying.

“Thayer!” she cries, dropping to a crouch and putting a hand on his arm. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“I will be.” Thayer’s face tightens into a grimace. “I think my leg’s broken. I need you to get me to a hospital … somewhere out of town.”

“But we have amazing doctors here! You could—”

“No arguments, Laurel. Please.”

Laurel nods, staring at the odd angle of Thayer’s leg and looking freaked. “I’ll do whatever you need me to,” she says. I can tell she’s trying to sound tough.

My sister helps Thayer into the backseat of the car so he can sit with his legs stretched out. He moans as he pulls his body across the cushions. I try to catch a glimpse of him, but I can only see his white soccer sneakers dangling over the edge of the seat. Something inside me breaks open. I have a horrible premonition: This will be the last time I ever see him. That tiny peck on the lips was our final kiss good-bye.

Just after Laurel shuts Thayer’s door, she glances around the brush surrounding the clearing. Her hands shake slightly at her side. I watch, helplessly, as her eyes squint and stare. She’s looking through each bush and thorny branch, one by one.

I start to duck, but it’s too late. Her eyes lock with mine. She blinks and takes a sharp breath before running to the driver’s side and slamming the door.

A sharp gust of wind whistles through the branches above my head. My legs feel shaky and I dig my fingers into the wet dirt to steady myself.

Laurel reverses and pivots the car over mud and rocks. She flicks on her brights to illuminate the treacherous path ahead. Then she speeds away into the night. I watch the red taillights disappear into the distance, trying not to think about Thayer. But I can’t help it. I think of him wincing every time the car hits a bump. I think about when I’m going to see him again—if I’m going to see him again. And I think about how someone used my car to run down the boy I’m in love with …

But… who?