After that day, at Chipotle with Jon, I couldn’t see him again that day. He had me thinking so much. He had basically said he was a jerk, right? Instead of him picking me up, I had asked Suzanne to drive me to the Mazda dealership a little ways away because they were having a good sale and well, I was in desperate need of a car. I texted Jon after school telling him that I did not need a ride because I was going to the dealership which I did not get a response to. This made me pretty angry and along with what happened today- he was not on my good side right now.

Not that I stopped liking Jon, god no. He just overwhelmed me with everything. Calling himself a hot-head, a trouble maker- and to top it off- kissing me on the cheek before I could think. I liked to have my life planned out. I had wanted to be a teacher since 3rd grade when I got a play school set for Christmas. When I discovered the History channel, my life was pretty much set. Jon was not in a plan though. I thought I was going to casually meet someone at my school or at a coffee shop- not a potential NHL player.

Suzanne and I chatted in the car dealership about some school gossip. I hate to say it but as much as the teens that I teacher gossip, the teacher do the same amount if not more.

“And then Joe said to Kathy that they should get lunch later even though he knew she had gotten engaged that weekend! Liz, are you alright, you seem kinda pale?”

“What, oh, i’m fine just I guess some new car jitters?”

Suzanne smiled and nodded and began to blab about god knows what because I was still thinking about Jon.

When we got to the Mazda dealership, I already knew what car I wanted so it only took a couple of minutes to pick it out and the colors. I wanted the Mazda2 in red, a deep red so it’s not so flashy. Truth be told, I only wanted it because it was the cheapest car around here.

The man named Craig helped me fill out paperwork. Thanks to the help of some savings along with some inheritance from my grandparents who had both died last year and a confirmation account that my mother had completely forgot about since I was 14, I was able to make the down payment. Craig handed me the keys because luckily I picked the most cheap and basic car, so they had it in stock.

“Congrats! Hope you love your Mazda! Please call us with any concerns and drive safe!” Craig exclaimed a little to cheerfully for my taste.

I got in the car and drove back to my apartment about 20 minutes away. It was strange, a new car, I always had the hand me downs because I was the youngest of 4 children in my family. As I pulled in my parking space matching my apartment number I could see Kona in his usual spot in the big window in the small living room. Before I got in the apartment, I set up the bluetooth in my new car so I could talk to people on the phone while I was driving. Right before I was about to turn off the car, my car (well, phone) started ringing. It was Jon, I answered carefully.

“Hello?” I squeaked. I don’t know why I was nervous, I really didn’t know what was happening with him since one minute he is good, then angry, then all lovey-dovey, and finally- ignoring my texts.

“Liz? Hey sorr- wait did you get a new car already?” He laughed

And for some reason, when he laughed, my anger at him disappeared. “Yeah actually, I was pretty lucky” I was basically screaming in my car to the steering wheel so he could hear me- I probably looked like a freak to my neighbors. “I got a really great deal on a Mazda2 which I will hopefully have for a really long time!”

“That’s great!” I could hear him smiling through the phone, and I could also hear the smile leave. “Look, I was a real jackass at lunch today, and I am very sorry. I have also realized that we have not properly gone on a date. So, would you Elizabeth Hulbert, like to go to my favorite steak house- Morton’s- tomorrow night with me.... please?”

I laughed at this and smiled “Thank you Jon for that lovely invitation, I would love to accompany you on a date. Also, your apology is accepted.”

“Great!” I could tell he was jumping with glee through the phone. I never thought I had this affect on men. “I will pick you up at 7, and wear whatever you want.”

I knew Morton’s like the back of my hand from growing up and i knew it wasn’t a ‘wear anything’ place. “Jon, i’m pretty sure I have to dress fancy, I mean I can’t show up in a hoodie and look like crap!”

“Ah, there is where you are wrong- you make anything look gorgeous.”

And with that he hung up and my heart skipped a beat. Damn, did a filet mignon sound good.

______________________________________________________________________________

Thankfully it was Saturday, so I could go for a run in the mornings like I love. I usually went when the sun was setting because I didn’t have time in the mornings on weekdays, but the weekends were like running steroids. I loved running in the morning because of the smell of dew, the fellow runners that actually want to run instead of waiting the whole day, and the sky. Everyone says NJ is the arm pit of America but have they seen the sun rises?

I woke up nice and early- 5:45. I knew I missed the sunrise and by the time I ran out of the house with my Asics (nike running shoes are overrated), running leggings, and an old t-shirt- it was 6 am.

I had a route I usually went, it was about 5 miles but I didn’t mind. I actually thought that was pretty short since I was a long distance runner in high school and college, and I was running like 15 miles a day back then. The thought made me shutter.

I stepped out into the cool, crisp October air and began my route. I was super excited for tonight, I even knew what I was going to wear- a vineyard vines dress that I had gotten for my birthday that year and some wedges. (http://www.vineyardvines.com/womens-dresses/whale-tail-jacquard-shift-dress/2Q0365,default,pd.html?dwvar_2Q0365_color=406&start=4&cgid=Womens-Dresses-Skirts)

I was listening to the sound of my feet since I can’t run with headphones for my life when things took a turn for the worse.

Out of no where, a black GMC yukon slammed into my back and sent me flying. I heard a crack, multiple cracks, and then everything went black.

I thought I was dead seriously, how could a huge ass GMC not kill me?

______________________________________________________________________________

Beep....Beep....Beep....Beep

My eyes fluttered open- what the fuck just happened? Where am I? Am I paralyzed? Can I walk?
I started to have a panic attack and tried to jump out of the hospital bed I was in but instead looked like a fish out of water, flailing around in the bed. A nurse with dark skin and dark hair ran in.

“It’s ok! You’re ok! I’m your nurse- Caroline, and I’m going to go get the doctor- stay here! You’re ok!”

I sat there for what it seemed like hours when A tall man with a balding head came into my room.

“Hi Liz, I’m Dr. Brogan, and you’re gonna be fine.”

Suddenly everything in me relaxed knowing that the doctor said I was fine. “What happened?”

“Well, a drunk driver hit you-”

“At 6 am?”

“Guess she’s an early bird? But anyways, your right leg is totally broke, your left ankle is broke, both your wrists are sprained, and you did some major damage to your neck. Also, your face is pretty cut up so some stitches have been put in”

He handed me a small mirror, and thankfully, there were only like 7 stitches in total and they were on the side of my face. He continued-

“With some physical therapy you should be all fine by the beginning of December I believe.”

“December?”

“Yes, it takes at least 6 weeks for the broken leg to heal not to mention the strength to walk on it again. You don’t need any operations but Elizabeth, you were very,very lucky to survive this. I think you had a visitor here since 7:30 am” I checked the clock on the other side of the room- 7:42 pm. “He seems very anxious so I think you should let him in?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Alright get some rest and I will go get the boy.”

It couldn’t be. It could be the family, or James, not Jon. How would he even know?

To my surprise, in rushed Jon with the biggest puppy dog eyes I have ever seen holding a little brown teddy bear.

Notes