My Hockey Alpha by Eve Above Story PDF

Chapter 0579

Nina

Lori's sobs wracked her body, and I held onto her tightly, trying to offer whatever comfort I could. The sterile hospital waiting room seemed like it was worlds away from the tranquil pine trees outside, and the smell of cleaning agents was almost dizzying.

"Lori, what happened?" I managed through my own tears, pulling away just enough to look my friend in the eye. She opened her mouth to speak, but it seemed like the words wouldn't come for a moment. All she could manage was "Car accident," before she broke into another sob. I pulled her close again, letting her cry into my chest.

I had never seen Lori like this. Never. She was always the calm one, the one who seemed to always have her shit together even when it couldn't be further from the truth. But when it came to Jessica, Lori wore her heart on her sleeve.

I felt so helpless at that moment, and all I could do was rub her back in gentle circles, hoping to offer some comfort even though it felt as though my soul and my body were splitting into two.

"The doctor said... he said she has internal bleeding," Lori finally managed to choke out between tears. "They need to do surgery, Nina. And he warned me... he warned me that she might not make it."

My heart sank at those words. The mere thought of losing Jessica was unbearable. She had been there with us, through thick and thin, for years now. I still remembered our freshman year together when the three of us got put together as suitemates...

"Hey. I'm Jessica," she said, extending her hand to me. I responded in kind, although it was always difficult for me to meet new people. But there was something about this blonde girl in her all-pink outfit that was oddly comforting, as though we had known each other in a past life.

"Nina," I said, offering her a weak smile.

"Nice to meet you, Nina. And you are...?" Jessica turned on her heel to face the girl who had been sitting in the comer this entire time, her nose buried in a sketchbook.

was wearing an oversized band t- shirt and ripped jeans. She had headphones on, and said nothing

Jessica said before I had a chance to butt in. Without a second thought, she stormed over to the black- haired girl

black-haired girl exclaimed, grabbing her

was trying to introduce myself," Jessica said,

black-haired girl hissed. "Don't touch my headphones.

girl's sketchbook. "Hmm," she said, sounding genuinely intrigued. "You're good. Like,

to put her headphones back on and shot Jessica a confused look, eyeing her all-pink outfit up and down. "You're telling me that you

nodded enthusiastically. "I do. It's my comfort

silence, and I felt like an outside spectator, watching something wonderful that was about to begin. The black-haired girl didn't fully smile, but I could see the ghost of one twitching

the black-haired girl stuck her hand out. "I'm

Lori whimpered, her voice hardly more

red, puffy eyes. "Lori, what are you talking about? This isn't your

something so stupid, Nina. I was so angry, and I kept yelling at her. I should have just waited for her to get

blamed herself for the accident, and I tightened my grip on her. "Lori, accidents happen. There's no way you could have known. Don't blame

face in my shoulder, her tears soaking my shirt. "But I distracted her," she sobbed. "I distracted her, and she swerved into the oncoming lane. It's all

difficult to find the right words to console her, to make her believe

I said softly. "Accidents happen on the road

to me as if I were her lifeline. I guided her over to a pair of hospital chairs, and we sat down beside each other. My own face was streaked with tears, but right now I just wanted to focus on

light could be snuffed out like a candle. How, at any moment, it could all be over-and it could happen to any of us. Even the most vibrant people, like our dear Jessica,

her scrubs crisp and clean, her