The Color of Heaven - 09 - The Color of Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

need to have this X-rayed,” the nurse said to me. The look in her eyes told me it was most likely broken. “Are you sure you don’t have pain anywhere else, sweetheart?” she asked Jenn.
    “No. Just my arm.”
    Ethan knelt down beside me as well. “An ambulance is coming.”
    “Thank you,” I said.
    “Don’t thank me . I feel like this is all my fault.”
    “It’s not,” I told him, noticing Corrine walking off down the street, totally oblivious while she stopped to check out some leather purses on an outdoor rack.
    “I’m really sorry,” Ethan said.
    “Honestly, it’s not your fault. Thanks for calling the ambulance.”
    He offered his phone to me. “Do you need to call your parents or anything?”
    While the nurse helped Jenn sit up, I took the phone from Ethan. “Yes, thank you. It’s my grandparents, actually. We’re staying with them for the summer.”
    I felt his eyes roam over my face. He studied me intently with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
    As I dialed my grandparents’ phone number, I blushed under the scrutiny of his gaze and had to turn away in order to explain what had happened. I was still on the phone when the ambulance, which had been stationed just around the corner for the festival, pulled up in front of us.
    * * *
    After the police spoke to us about what happened, I got into the back of the ambulance with Jenn. The paramedics put her on a stretcher because they didn’t want to take any chances. Ethan stood on the curb and raised a hand to say good-bye to me as they closed the doors between us.
    I wondered, with a pang of disappointment, if I would ever see that boy again. I didn’t even know his last name. Why hadn’t I asked him?
    It was a short trip to the hospital, but the ER was busy, so we had to wait to see a doctor. As soon as they situated us in a private bay with blue curtains all around, I left Jenn alone for a few minutes so that I could search for my grandparents, who should have been there by then. To my surprise, I spotted Ethan and some other guy walking in through the sliding glass doors.
    They stopped and looked around. As soon as our eyes met, I felt a jolt of electricity ripple through me, followed by a rush of nervous butterflies. Was Ethan here for us?
    For me ?
    I waved at him from a spot near the reception desk, and he approached.
    “Hey,” he said. “How’s your sister?”
    “She’s all right,” I replied. “Still waiting to get X-rayed.”
    “They’ll take good care of her here,” Ethan said. Then he gestured to his friend. “This is Chris.”
    “I didn’t see what happened,” Chris said. “I was on the roof with the band, but Ethan told me about it.”
    “Are you a musician?” I asked.
    “No, but my brother plays the drums. I was just helping out.”
    My grandparents walked in just then and hurried to the reception desk.
    “Gram!” I called out. They turned, spotted me and came running over.
    “Where’s Jenn?” Gram asked, pulling me into her arms. “Is she all right?”
    A clerk from the desk followed them. “You’re the grandparents? Your granddaughter is doing fine, but I’ll need one of you to fill out some forms.”
    “Can we see her?”
    “Of course. She’s right through here. Follow me this way.”
    While the clerk led them away, I remained with Ethan and Chris for a few minutes. “It was nice of you to come,” I said. “I guess it’s been one of those days.”
    “Tell me about it,” Ethan replied. “Again, I’m really sorry. My girlfriend’s a jerk.”
    “She’s not your girlfriend anymore,” Chris reminded him with a nudge to the ribs.
    Ethan gave me a look and nodded. “Like you said—it’s been one of those days.”
    I couldn’t help myself. I spoke my mind without holding anything back. “You’re probably better off without her. Not that it’s any of my business or anything.”
    The corner of Ethan’s mouth curled up in a grin. “It kind of is your business, considering what happened