Under the Viaduct, H. Anderson [top young adult novels .TXT] 📗

“They have to see you in the ER, it’s a law.”

Blayne shook his head. “No, Kaylee.” He grimaced as he lifted his left hand to lay it on top of her right. “No hospital.”

Kaylee bit her bottom lip. “Okay. But at least let me take you to my roommate’s boyfriend. He’s a medical student, and I’d just feel better if he took a look at it.” She squeezed his hand. “Please.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Okay. Fine.”

“Well, now that that’s settled,” Mama C Said. “Could you please drop me off downtown, near the shelter. I need to find the other kids before they head back to the viaduct.” She turned to look at Blayne. “Meet us there, at the shelter, and we’ll find a new place together.”

Blayne nodded.

“Which shelter do you want me to drop you at?” Kaylee asked Mama C.

“The one over on Park Ave. Do you know where that is?”

“I think so. It’s a few blocks away from Coors Field.” Kaylee pulled her phone out of her pocket and held in the home button before saying, “Call Allie.” She held the phone up to her ear as she turned onto Broadway. “Hey, Allie. Um, what are you and Max up to?”

She waited while Allie’s app translated her speech into text.

“Nothing much. We’re at Max’s place. He’s studying and I’m watching T.V. Why?”

“I’m, uh…” she glanced at Blayne then back at the road, “bringing a friend over that needs some medical care. Maybe stitches.”

Pause.

“Is it that hot homeless guy?” Allie said it loud enough that Kaylee was sure Mama C and Blayne both heard her.

“Be there in about fifteen minutes. Bye.” Kaylee hit “end” before Allie could say anything else. Heat rushed up her neck and face as she concentrated on the road ahead.

She pulled up to the curb in front of the shelter. Blayne got out, wincing as he did, and helped Mama C out of the back seat. “I’ll come find you here when I get done. Stay safe.”

Mama C patted his face and smiled a sad smile. “I will. You cooperate with Kaylee’s friend. I need you to be okay.”

He nodded as she stepped up onto the sidewalk. He slid back in, glancing at the blood on the backrest of the passenger seat. “Sorry about the blood.”

Kaylee rolled her eyes. “I’m not worried about my seat, Blayne.” She turned to face him. “Are you sure Mama C is going to be okay here?” Her eyes flicked to the rough-looking men and women loitering around the shelter.

“She’s just as safe here as anywhere else. But she’ll be a lot safer when I get back to watch over her.” He looked pointedly into her eyes.

With a big sigh, Kaylee put the car in drive and pulled out onto the road.

Allie met them at the door to Max’s apartment with a smile. “You must be Blayne. I’m Kaylee’s friend, Allie. Come on in.”

Blayne raised an eyebrow at Kaylee and followed Allie inside. Allie gestured to a couch and said, “Have a seat. I’ll go get Max.”

“Oh,” Blayne said. “I don’t want to get your couch dirty. Or bloody. I’ll just stand, thank you.”

Allie crinkled her forehead and opened her mouth, she turned to Kaylee and signed.

Looking from one to the other, Blayne stammered, “I…oh…is she…is she deaf? I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay.” Kaylee laughed nervously. “I should have told you. She is really great at reading lips, but she can’t read yours because your facial hair is in the way.”

He reached up and stroked his beard. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“Let’s go in the kitchen,” Kaylee said. She led them to the small kitchen area and pulled a chair out, gesturing for Blayne to sit there. “Let me help you take your coat off.”

“I can get it.” Blayne unzipped his coat and shrugged his shoulders, wincing.

“Oh, just let me help.” Kaylee tugged gently on the sleeves, pulling the coat off. She hung it on the back of the chair.

“Thanks.”

Max entered the kitchen, carrying a medical bag, and held his hand out to Blayne. “I’m Max. It’s nice to meet you.”

After a slight moment of hesitation, Blayne pulled the tattered glove off his right hand and shook hands with Max. “I’m Blayne. Thanks for helping me out.”

“You’re welcome.” He looked Blayne over. “Where is the injury?”

Blayne pointed over his left shoulder. “Back there.”

“Let’s get these shirts off so I can take a look.” Max moved around to the back of the chair.

It took a few minutes for Blayne to remove the button-down flannel shirt and three T-shirts beneath. Kaylee stepped forward to help, but stopped at the narrow-eyed look he gave her. She backed up and stood silently behind him.

Allie grabbed the pile of worn shirts and his coat. “I’m just going to throw these in the washer for you.” She didn’t wait for a response—she rarely did.

“But…” Blayne turned to watch her bounce down the hallway. “I’m kinda in a hurry,” he mumbled under his breath.

Max laughed. “Even if she could hear you, she’d still ignore you. That girl has a mind of her own.” He pulled a chair over behind Blayne and fished some gloves out of his bag, snapping them as he fit them over his fingers. “Let’s take a look at this laceration.”

Blayne gritted his teeth as Max poked around the injury.

“How did this happen?” Max pulled the gloves off and dug around in his bag.

“He was—” Kaylee started.

“I fell,” Blayne interrupted. “Landed on a sharp piece of metal.”

Max raised an eyebrow but didn’t question any further. “Well, it definitely needs sutures, and you’ll need a tetanus shot. I’m going to numb it up before I clean it out. This is going to sting.”

Kaylee winced and turned away, suddenly finding the pattern on the counter-top to be fascinating.

Clouds covered the light of the stars and moon as Kaylee pulled up to the shelter. She didn’t know how Max had gotten his hands on a tetanus shot, but she was glad he had. Besides