Seconds Before Sunrise (The Timely Death Trilogy) by Shannon A. Thompson

were talking at school,” I said, hoping he hadn’t noticed how hot my hands were. “ Everyone knows.”
    He glanced at the wall. “Fantastic.”
    “It’s Hayworth. What did you expect?”
    “Some etiquette would be a little nice.” He lifted his chin to stare at the ceiling. His neck was red from the seatbelt scraping him. “I suppose I couldn’t hide it forever.”
    “Why would you want to hide it?” I asked.
    H e didn’t respond the way I expected him to. “Does Zac mind that you’re visiting me?” he asked.
    I tensed. Eric barely knew me, but he wasn’t holding back, and I wondered how much medication they had him on. Without knowing, I took a deep breath. “Zac isn’t my boyfriend.”
    “So I’ve heard.”
    My face burned. “From who?”
    He glanced down from his fixation on the ceiling. “Robb McLain is kind of hard to ignore when he talks to you at our table.”
    I cringed. I ha d always known Eric didn’t like it when Robb and Crystal moved over to our table because he turned his music up. It was one of the reasons I thought he never heard a thing.
    “Robb doesn’t know what he’s tal king about half of the time.” Even though I didn’t have to defend myself, I wanted to.
    Eric smirked. “Robb likes you.”
    “What?” My breath escaped me. “There’s no way. He’s my friend.”
    “A close friend.”
    “Girls and guys can be close friends,” I said.
    “But Robb doesn’t want to be.”
    “That’s gross.”
    “It’s the truth,” he said, winking his good eye at me as he snuggled into his bed like a child. His cheeks turned a light pink, and his eyelashes batted. His medication was affecting him more than I thought.
    “Thanks for checkin g on me, Jessica,” he said.
    M y irritation dissipated. “You’re welcome,” I whispered, and the white curtain yanked open.
    Mr. Welborn walked in, and his eyes fell on his son. “I think Eric needs rest now,” he said.
    I stood up.
    “I’m fine, Dad,” Eric argued, but he yawned and shut his eyes. “I—I’m wide awake.”
    He fell asleep as the words left his mouth. I stared, unable to tear my eyes away. Eric Welborn looked peaceful, even with a black eye and broken ribs. I wanted to stay, but I knew I couldn’t. He was exhausted.
    I tiptoed out of the room, and his father followed me. I spoke when we were safely in the hallway. “Thanks for letting me see him, Mr. Welborn.”
    “Thanks for coming.”
    Teresa stepped away from the wall she was leaning on. “I’ll drive you home, Jess.”
    “Thanks.”
    Mr. Welborn stopped me, and I waited. He ran a hand over his chest, and his watch flashed beneath the lights. “Eric should be out of here soon, but he probably won’t be back at school immediately,” he said. “You could come over if you’d like.”
    “Sir?” Teresa spoke up, but Mr. Welborn raised his hand as if he could control her speech.
    He was still looking at me. “Eric could use someone to talk to.”
    “I’d like someone to talk to myself.” I accepted the invitation, feeling my chest lighten. Whatever burden I’d been holding was suddenly gone. “I’ll visit soon.”

     
    Eric
     
    I didn’t open my eyes when I heard him speak, and I kept them closed when I recognized my father’s voice.
    “She’s gone, Jonathon.” Footsteps echoed off of the linoleum floor.
    I almost thought Jessica was a dream, a hallucination brought on by drugs, but she wasn’t. She had come to see me. I couldn’t believe I had fallen asleep while she was with me.
    “When?” Jonathon asked.
    “Teresa took her an hour ago,” my dad said. “Eric fell asleep.”
    “Eric , sleeping?” Jonathon’s voice lightened. “What a shocker.”
    My father chuckled beneath his breath. “The drugs will keep him like this until tomorrow.”
    “I bet,” Jonathon agreed. “Eric can’t relax unless you force him to.”
    “Can you blame him?” My father’s question lingered as he whistled a low tune. “Do you think this