Chapter 9: The Detective

Rain

Noah had been speaking too fast for me to understand everything that was happening. I found myself quickly walking through the corridors of a hospital, following closely behind Noah and Maya. I should text someone in my family to let them know I was okay. I hadn’t been home for at least 24 hours. Honestly, I shouldn’t have to, but I don’t want them to worry. Noah and Maya were quickly speaking in hushed tones. I didn’t recognize any words. Maya talked too fast, so it was hard to communicate with her. 

“What the fuck, Maya!” Noah yelled.

“Shhhhhh! Don’t be so loud, dumbass. None of this would’ve been a surprise if you had read my text messages!” Maya yelled back.

“You shush! Don’t tell me not to be loud when you’re just as loud,” Noah exclaimed. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew who the victim was.”

“Too bad,” Maya shrugged. “We’re here now, so suck it up.”

I wanted to ask what was going on, but there were so many people around. My palms were starting to sweat. Noah hadn’t looked at me since what happened in his room earlier. I was worried that I had crossed an imaginary line. Maybe he didn't feel the same thing I felt. I didn’t even know what I was feeling. There were no words to explain the way I felt when he looked into my eyes. Did I imagine the whole thing? 

We stopped outside a hospital room, and a police officer was guarding the door. 

“Hello, Officer Schneider!” Maya said cheerily. 

The officer had a wide grin on his face when Maya spoke. 

“Maya! What are you doing here?” Officer Schneider said. “Are you visiting your mom?”

“Maybe later. I’m here to visit a friend in that room there,” Maya was pointing to the door he was guarding.

“Sorry, Maya. No can do,” He sighed. 

“Please. We’ll be quick,” Maya had gestured toward Noah and me when she spoke. 

Officer Schneider looked at Noah, then me. His eyes lingered for a while on me. I started to twirl my hair around my finger and tried to focus on anything other than the officer. Then he looked back at Maya and started whispering and glancing back between Maya and myself. Suddenly it felt as though everyone in the hospital wing was staring and whispering about me. I pulled harder on my hair, looking for the nearest exit or at least a restroom where I could hide. Just when I was about to make a run for it, Officer Schneider motioned to let us into the hospital room. 

I hated being at hospitals, but I didn’t want to inconvenience them by telling them I wanted to leave. A familiar guy sitting on a chair by the window that stretched across the far wall. It was the same guy that Noah was kissing at the boardwalk a few weeks ago. The feeling I had in my stomach was indescribable. I had kissed someone who was already seeing someone. 

“Hey, Aiden,” Noah said as he rubbed the back of his neck. 

Aiden looked Noah up and down, then slowly waved back. 

“Hey, Aiden,” Maya said, “How is your brother?”

“Been better, you know?” Aiden said softly. 

“Sooooo,” Noah said while looking around the room, “Where is he? Can we talk to him?”

Aiden just stared at him. Then he stared at Maya, who was smiling sweetly. Finally, his eyes landed on me. I tried using my hair as a shield. I wondered if he secretly knew that I kissed Noah. I knew that Aiden didn't know, but what if he did? What if he hated me?

“An Underwood?” Aiden asked. “When did you two start hanging out with the Underwoods?”

“He was our ride,” Maya said nonchalantly as she took a seat next to Aiden. “I need to talk to your brother. I’ll be quick. Promise.” 

“I guess that’s fine. The detective will be here soon anyway,” Aiden said.

“Detective?” Asked Noah.

When Aiden nodded, there was a shake of a door handle, and someone stepped out of the bathroom. He had bandages wrapped around his neck, and his right arm was in a sling. The bruises on his face had begun to turn a bluish-green color on his pale skin. 

“Hiya, Maya,” said a young teenage boy, who I assumed was Aiden’s younger brother.

How did Maya know everyone? How could she manage to talk to so many people without feeling like a nuisance? These were questions I probably would never get answered. 

“Oh, Dylan,” Maya said as she pulled the boy into her arms. “I’m so glad that you’re okay.” 

Maya had led Dylan back to his bed, being cautious around his broken arm as she pulled the blankets toward him. Noah had taken a seat next to Aiden, and they were staring at each other. Did Noah look at Aiden the same way he looked at me? I didn’t know how to handle a situation like this. I had never kissed someone I wasn’t dating. Let alone someone who was seeing another person, but Noah said it was okay to kiss him. Right? What if it wasn’t okay? What if I kissed him and he didn’t want me to do that? Would that make me a terrible person?

The room was getting smaller, I think? Or maybe just hotter? There was sweat beading on my forehead, and my breathing quickened. Don’t panic, Rain. Don’t panic. I looked at my surroundings and named things. Pillow. Bed. Noah. My hands started shaking. I thought I heard someone talking but everything was moving too fast. I needed to get out of here. 

I ran out of the room. The staff in the hall were all looking at me, whispering about me. My feet managed to take me to a restroom, where I sat on the floor in a stall. I pulled my knees up to my chest. I knew I was about to have a panic attack, so I tried following the steps my therapist taught me. I took a deep breath. It had been a while since this happened. If only I had my medication—NO. I didn’t need them. I didn't want them. Not anymore. What I needed was to calm down. 

Tissue. Toilet. Lights. I ran my hands through my hair. It felt smooth at the roots and a little rough at the ends. That was my fault. I needed a haircut. My hands were no longer shaking, so I closed my eyes to focus on the way my hair felt between my fingers. 

When I opened my eyes, there was a pair of white slip-on sneakers standing outside my stall. 

“Try touching something cold,” said Noah’s voice loudly. “That always helps me.”

I quickly stepped out of the stall and moved to the sink to splash water on my face. The cold sensation made my face feel numb, and I let out a shaky breath then turned to look at Noah. His face didn’t display any distinct emotion as he gazed back at me. I clenched my hands together to stop them from trembling again. Noah stepped toward me and placed his hands on mine. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but he hesitated. I took the opportunity to speak first, “I think I should go home.” Noah took his hands away from mine, and I stepped away from him.

 We both studied the floor as we walked back to the hospital room. Should I talk to Noah about what just happened? Honestly, I wanted to ask him about what we did in his room, but I convinced myself it didn’t mean the same to him that it meant to me. Did I have feelings for Noah? Probably. But did he have feelings for me? I don’t know.

Arriving at the room, a new man was standing there. He seemed to be giving Officer Schneider a lecture as Maya stepped out of the hospital room. She waved at Noah and me when we stopped at the door. 

“So you three must be the visitors’ Officer Schneider irresponsibly allowed into the victim’s room,” the man said while staring at Officer Schneider. 

“Detective Owens, the kid deserves some visits from friends. Especially from someone like Maya—I mean Ms. Alvarez.” The officer explained. 

“And what’s so special about Ms.Alvarez that she can do something I explicitly told you not to let anyone do?” The man—Detective Owens—said while he watched Maya move closer to Noah. 

“And who are these other two young men?” asked Detective Owens.

“Ah, well,” Officer Schneider said, “Mr. Hart and Mr. Underwood,” he motioned toward Noah and me when he finished speaking. 

I prepared to run away if the detective's gaze lingered on me for longer than a second, but he wasn’t looking at me, he was eyeing Noah intensely.  He stepped toward Noah and I felt him stiffen next to me. 

“Why is your neck bandaged like that?” Detective Owens inquired. 

Noah looked at Detective Owens with disinterest. “I like to be choked during sex. Being close to death makes me feel alive,” Noah said sarcastically.

Maya was laughing as she hooked her arm around Noah. I wanted to go home. I needed to go home. 

Detective Owens and Noah stared at each other. Neither was intimidated by the other. The Detective’s face grew more annoyed the longer Noah stared at him. 

“That’s an unusual hair color,” Detective Owens said. 

“I know,” Noah said calmly, “it's a bitch to maintain. Well, nice chat. Tell Aiden and Dylan we’ll talk another day. Bye.” Noah quickly ended the conversation and hurried down the hallway pulling Maya with him. I started to follow them.

“Wait,” Detective Owens said.

My whole body froze. The detective put his arm out to stop me from walking forward. Noah and Maya had looked back at me, but I studied the floor as if it was the most interesting thing at this hospital.

“How did you get those cuts on your arms?” He asked, “They look similar to the marks on the victim.

I kept my eyes on the floor, hoping that if I ignored the detective long enough, he would go away.

“Actually,” Officer Schneider cut in. “It's best not to ask questions to Mr. Underwood without either his Father, Elder sister, or lawyer present. Their family is a special case.”

“And does this apply to all Underwoods?” Detective Owens enunciated my last name as if it was a contagious disease. I was praying for my legs to take me anywhere but here.

“Uh. No. Just this one in particular. I believe.” Officer Schneider corrected. 

Of course, my family would apply special rules to me, like a child. When are they going to start treating me like the adult that I was? 

Before I knew it, a hand was dragging me away from the conversation. In my peripherals, I saw a glimpse of Maya's bright pink hair.  I was glad she pulled me away from the conversation. I was a moment away from having another panic attack.

 A second later, someone called out for Noah while we walked away from the detective. When the three of us turned, Aiden was running over to us. 

“Um…Noah can we talk,” Aiden said a bit out of breath. “Privately.”

Noah hesitated at first with his answer, “Maya, you and Rain get home. I have a feeling this is going to take a while.” Noah motioned for Aiden to follow him then they disappeared down a corridor. 

My stomach dropped again. Aiden knew I kissed his boyfriend. I don’t know how he knew, but he does. Did I make a mistake kissing Noah? I was starting to sweat again.