Chapter PA
make a great poh One Take sim, one two–faced scumbag. They are soulmates
Without another word, Kayla turned on her heel and walked away. Her back was straight despite the pain
rabbing through her shoulder.
Dave and Marianna stood frozen, watching Kayla go, their eyes dark with resentment and spite
Kayla didn’t stop until she reached the rooftop, far from the noise and judging stares. The wind was sharp up there, tugging at her hair and clothes, scattering the last bits of frustration still clinging to her chest.
Finally, she let her shoulders relax. Her muscles ached, her head was spinning, and her whole body felt like it was burning up. She was swaying on her feet.
Unzipping her jacket, she glanced down at the torn skin over her shoulder. The wound had split open again. Blood seeped through the fabric and soaked her collar. Her lips had lost all color.
“Goddamn it, she muttered under her breath.
If it weren’t for Davon jerking her around, her injury wouldn’t have reopened, and she wouldn’t have wasted all that time on him and Marianna.
She checked the time, remembering that she had somewhere important to go. There was no time to hit the hospital.
With no better option. Kayla grabbed some tissues and dabbed around the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.
The pain was worse now–deeper and more persistent. Her body felt like it was burning from the inside out.
Her limbs were trembling, and her forehead was damp with sweat. Even standing still was a challenge.
Her vision began to blur, her head heavy and wrapped in fog. She gripped the railing for balance.
Then a low, steady voice came from behind. “Can I help you?”
Kayla snapped out of the haze and turned her head. She saw Payton Lynch standing there and watching her.
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Inside the school clinic, a harsh voice rang out. “Her wound is badly infected. She’s running a high fever. We need to clean out the pus and reduce the inflammation immediately. Why was she only brought here now? Do you want her dead?”
The doctor barked out the diagnosis while prepping supplies with practiced hands. Her voice was full of irritation and disbelief.
Payton stood nearby, silent, his eyes fixed on Kayla with a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. He didn’t offer excuses.
As the doctor began disinfecting the wound for Kayla, she looked up and said to Payton, “Hey, help me out. Pull down her collar and fully reveal her wound.”
Payton hesitated, his lips pressed into a tight line. He didn’t move.
The doctor flared with frustration. “What are you waiting for? You want her to get worse? If the infection spreads and complications kick in, don’t blame me.”
Payton didn’t hesitate any longer. He reached out, unfastened Kayla’s collar button by button, and gently pulled the fabric aside, revealing the full extent of the wound and the pale skin around her neck and shoulder.
When his eyes landed on the deep, bloody gash at her shoulder, he froze, completely stunned. He hadn’t expected it to be that bad.
‘The wound is so deep? And she’s just been walking around with this? How tough she is, he thought in disbelief.
AD
