The Phone Call

[Gabby]

January 16th.

"You got me," said the sassy voice answering the phone on the third ring. It was a number Gabby didn't recognize but she didn't just let it go to voicemail like a lot of people would have. It could be important. Something like G had mistaken someone else's phone for his own and was calling because he couldn't survive one more minute without a bowl of clam chowder. She had already been on thin ice with him after the last time she had turned off the phone to hang out with Rix just before Christmas. It had been weeks now, but G still reminded her frequently of the incident; whether she wanted to or not, Gabby had to answer that call so she might as well be her normal chipper self.

"Gabby. It's Alex," said the barely perceptible voice on the other end of the line.

"Alex...who?" Oh she knew who but she wasn't going to say so right away. She needed the time to stop the sudden rushing of blood to her face and to calm her self before she freaked out.

"King's friend Alex...from school." The pause lasted for a few seconds as if Alex was gathering her thoughts before she rushed out with, "King is at RhyDin Memorial Hospital, Gabby. She was unconscious this morning in her bed. I think she overdosed on her pain medication."

Gabby couldn't speak. It felt like someone had simultaneously punched her in the gut and clenched a hand around her throat. After several moments of silence, she hung up the phone without a word, grabbed her coat and bag, and ran out of her room at the Ivy to go to the hospital.