Thirteen

ELEVEN MONTHS AGO

Headlights flash through the kitchen window. I keep turning my head, wondering if that's him.

"Can you stop moving? I'm trying to tie this."

"Do I really have to wear it?"

"I told you, it goes with your shirt," Jasmine says.

Daniel should be here any minute now. It's homecoming of senior year. I've never been to a school dance before. Jasmine came home for the weekend to help me get ready. She tightens the knot of Dad's tie around me and straightens my collar. "Okay, there," she says.

I check my phone. "I knew he would be late."

"Are the others waiting at the restaurant?"

"No, it's just us."

Jasmine smiles. "Glad you guys are talking again."

Daniel and I haven't spoken much lately. Things have been different since I saw him kissing Leighton at the party a few weeks ago. They became official recently, posting stories together on Instagram. I thought I wouldn't hear from him for a while. But he texted me the other day, asking if I would be his date tonight. Leighton is in Florida with his family this weekend. I know we're only going as friends, but I can't help thinking something more could happen. Maybe this is my chance to show him we're meant to be together.

I send Daniel another message.

text me when you leave

I grab some water and head to the living room. Headlights shine through the window. But it's just the neighbor's car again. I take a seat on the sofa, waiting for Daniel to arrive. He was supposed to be here at seven. That was half an hour ago. At one point, Jasmine comes to check on me.

"Is he almost here?"

"He should be on the way," I say.

Jasmine lingers a moment before heading back to her room. I keep checking my phone, expecting a text from him with an ETA. His mom is supposed to be driving us there tonight. Daniel said she wants to get some photos of us together, which is sweet. They must have stopped somewhere along the way.

I glance out the window and sit down again. Why hasn't he said anything yet? We're going to miss our reservation at the restaurant. At one point, I go outside and wait on the front porch. It's a little chilly tonight. But I don't bother to head back in to grab a jacket. I'm sure he'll be here any second now. I just sit on the steps until Jasmine comes outside looking for me.

"What's taking him so long?" she says.

"He's just running late."

"You should try calling him."

The last text from him was a few hours ago. Maybe he fell asleep or something. I wait for Jasmine to head back inside before I give him a call. The phone rings, but he doesn't answer. I try a few more times but it keeps going to voicemail. A dozen scenarios play through my head. What if Leighton came back to surprise him? What if they went together instead? As my mind races, I hear piano music coming from inside. Jasmine must be practicing in her room again. Her music usually helps me relax a little. But time keeps passing and he still hasn't shown up yet.

I head back inside and sit on the sofa again. How could he make me wait this long? I get that we're not on the greatest terms, but I'm still his best friend. He must know how much I was looking forward to this. The least he could do is let me know if he's changed his mind. I'm about to call again when the piano music stops. The house goes quiet for a second. Someone must have called Jasmine's phone, because I can hear her speaking softly in her room.

For some reason, there's this strange feeling in my stomach. I'm not really sure how to explain it. A minute later, Jasmine comes into the living room. There's a long silence as she stands there, the phone held to her chest. The look on her face makes me think something is wrong.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Mom just called me," she says in a low voice. "She just heard from Daniel's dad."

"What did he say?"

Jasmine doesn't answer this right away. "There was an accident," she says. "Someone hit their car earlier…"

"You mean Daniel? Is he okay?"

"I'm not sure," she says.

"What do you mean you're not sure?"

When she doesn't answer this, I rise immediately.

"Where is he now? I'm going to find him."

My heart races as I look around for my keys. But Jasmine comes to the sofa, sitting me down again. She kneels beside me, taking both my hands. Her voice is calm when she says, "I need you to listen to me, okay? I don't know how to tell you this, but Daniel is not in the best condition right now." She swallows her breath. "They don't know if he's going to make it through tonight."

My body goes still for a moment. I must have heard her wrong. But the look in her eyes scares me even more. There has to be some terrible mistake. "What are you talking about? He just texted me a few hours ago."

"I'm only telling you what they said."

"Then where is he?"

"I'm not sure."

I rise from the sofa again.

"Where are you going—"

"I need to go find him."

"Eric, come back—"

Jasmine tries to grab my hand. But I pull away and throw open the front door. My hands are shaking as I step outside, hoping to see his car parked at the curb. That this is all some prank that's being played on me. But the street is completely empty. The next thing I know, I nearly trip on the lawn as I break into a run. My button-up shirt is tight against my shoulders as I'm racing down the block. I don't even care if the hospital is seven miles from here. I'm not waiting for Mom and Dad to bring home the car. I have to find Daniel immediately. He must be so scared right now. I need to make sure he's okay. We were supposed to have our first dance together. There's no way he would leave me like this. Especially after the fight we had. I never officially told him I'm sorry.

My heart pounds in my chest as I turn down the street. I'm running so fast I don't see the curb in time, and my body goes crashing to the ground. There's a blur of light, followed by a terrible pain spreading through me. I must have hit my head on something hard. Because all I feel is an ache in my skull as Jasmine appears beside me.

"I'm right here. It's going to be okay…"

Her voice is the last thing I hear as I close my eyes, and everything goes black again.

I wish I could have made it to you in time. I wish we could have danced together.