Falling Away Read Online Free PDF Page B

they wouldn’t tell anyone his information that wasn’t family, and I didn’t want to draw unwanted attention to myself. But now I was left to wander aimlessly through the hospital.
                  Genius, Jenna. Super smart.
                  I tried the ICU first, since his grandmother had said he was there, but I didn’t see his name listed with the other patients outside the glass doors that led to the rooms. The design made me think of a sunburst, with the nurses’ station and waiting room in the center, and four sets of additional halls hidden behind glass doors that irradiated out, so it was easy to check the names at each main entrance without anyone noticing me. I figured that maybe they had moved him out into one of the less critical wings, and began walking the corridors, hoping that was the case. I pretended to be reading my phone as I glanced at the names on patient doors, just so the staff wouldn’t think twice about me as I meandered through.
                  After sweeping the first two floors and coming up empty, I decided it couldn’t hurt to call the hospital’s operator and try for a room number. This time I skipped trying to find out personal information and just flat out asked to be transferred to Evan Gilden’s room. I inhaled sharply when she said okay and the other end of the line began ringing. For the second time today, my panic almost drove me to hang up. After the fourth ring, I was beginning to breathe easier ‘cause I just knew no one was gonna answer.
                  But then someone did.
                  “Hello?”
                  I whimpered. God, I actually whimpered.
                  It was him. His voice was a little raspy and garbled, but I’d recognize it anywhere. I closed my eyes and could almost feel his breath on my ear.
                  “Evan?” I whispered.
                  “Yeah?
                  Relief flushed my system, and for once my heart tried to beat at a normal pace, my hand pressing flat against my chest as if it could will it to slow more. “Oh, thank God you’re okay.”
                  “Yeah, I’m living. Who is this?”
                  And right then, right at that very second, I should’ve walked away. He was alive, and he was doing well enough to have a conversation with me. I should’ve just hung up and gone home, knowing that he’d overcome unconsciousness again, that he wouldn’t be returning to my dreams again. Not ever. So long as he didn’t pull this stunt a third time.
                  “Jenna?” he asked hesitantly. “Is this you?”
                  “ Wha -…um…yeah. It’s just…I heard you bumped your head again and I wanted to come make sure you were alright.”
                  “Wait. Come? Are you here at the hospital?”
                  Crap-crap-crap. I was so busted. Reluctantly, I replied, “Ye-ah.”
                  “Room four-sixteen. Head up.”
                  He hung up before I could protest, but I guess I couldn’t really anyway. Oh, sorry, Evan. I know I came eight hours by bus to see you but I had no intention of actually seeing you. But thanks for the offer.
                  It was a slow walk to the elevator since my feet had suddenly gained fifty extra pounds. The ride up was only two floors, but it was all the time my body needed to create an insanity of explosion-emotions. I swallowed hard outside his door, my heart defying the internal order I gave it to cease and desist. Once again he must’ve had the far bed, ‘cause there was no one up front and the curtain was pulled for privacy. His television was set to the sports channel, and the announcers were summarizing their predictions for the weekend’s upcoming college football games.