Madison’s alarm went off at six o’clock Tuesday Morning. She quickly hit it, shutting it off. When she turned over she couldn’t help but watch Jorey sleeping. She looked beautiful. Madison slightly nudged her, “Baby, we have school. Come on, get up.”

Jorey opened her eyes and looked up at Madison, “Do we have to?”

“Well how are you feeling?”

“Like I was attacked by a coach and his team.”

“You’re still sore?”

“Extremely. How’s my cheek look?”

Madison took her left hand over the side of Jorey’s face. It was shades of light and dark purple, “You look like you’re trying to fit in with the purple people eaters.”

Jorey smiled, “Thanks.”

“Let’s get a look at the bruise on your ribs.” Jorey turned onto her back and helped Madison pull the t-shirt up just enough to reveal the painful purple mark on her ribs, “Oh my god. Jorey it’s bad. Maybe we should take you to the hospital to get an x-ray.”

“No I’ll be fine.” Jorey pulled her t-shirt down and slowly got up out of bed.

Madison was ready to kick into bitch mode, “Jorey you need to get them checked out. You could have a hairline fracture.”

“I hate hospitals Madison. I’m not going.”

Madison got up off the bed, “Listen up Jor. Change your clothes. We’re going to the hospital and you are going so get an x-ray.”

“Madison please. I don’t need an x-ray. I’ll be fine.”

Madison raised her voice, “Jorey!”

Jorey felt like a child being scorned by her mother, “All right, all right. I’ll go change.” Jorey walked out of Madison’s room and into the bathroom. Minutes later she was ready to go and Madison drove them to the hospital. They weren’t going to be at school today.

The x-rays showed a hairline fracture on Jorey’s bottom left rib. Madison had been right. Jorey looked at the name tag of the doctor who had checked her out in the emergency room. The name was Doctor Paula Carlin. Spencer’s mom?! When Paula walked back in Jorey couldn’t help but ask, “You’re Paula Carlin? As in Spencer Carlin?”

Paula’s face looked back at Jorey with nothing but disappointment, “Yes. She’s my daughter. Why do you know her?”