Ena kept her head low as she shouldered her way through the mass of loud strangers, her eyes straining to see through the dark room and flashing lights. She focused on the hand in her gentle grip as she broke free from the crowd and quickly slid out the door. A wave of relief washed over her as her lungs began to take in fresh air, and a familiar sigh reached her left ear.
“Phew, we made it. Sorry I dragged you in there, I guess it was a bad idea…” Bailey murmured. “I just wanted to try and have some fun…”
Ena laughed weakly. “It’s fine, I get it…I guess things are just different, now that we’re adults.” Her smile was somber, and her eyes uncertain. Bailey lent her head against her friend’s shoulder, despite the two remaining in motion.
“Things could be different,” She murmured wistfully. It was difficult for Ena to imagine either of them in that scene, though. Even as seniors, they partied little. They had each other; that was enough for Ena.
“Maybe, maybe not.” Was Ena’s only reply. She reached for the younger girl’s hand. “But things aren’t so-”
“Hey, if it ain’t Bonnie and Clyde! Why jetting so soon, ladies?” A voice called. Ena froze, pulling Bailey closer. Oh Dog, not him, not now…
“What do you want, Ronald? Leave us alone.” Ena called back, not bothering to look over her shoulder at the boy. She heard him laugh, and walked faster. Buildings and trash cans surrounded them on either side, barely visible in the darkness of 10:00 PM. She set her gaze for the street beyond the alley.
“Aw, come on, I just wanna have a chat! You don’t have to be so rude, y’know.” He called back, growing closer. Ena turned, ready to call out something rude, however froze as her eyes caught the glimmer of a blade in the low light. She shoved Bailey forward and followed hastily, but a tall figure appeared and stared down at them. They were trapped.
“This isn’t funny Ronald, take your buddy and get back to the party. I’ll call the police!” Bailey yelled, stepping forward. He didn’t seem very intimidated, and simply narrowed his eyes at the two, a subtle smirk in his features.
“Yea right, you’re too afraid. Your phone’s probably dead.” He spat, pushing her back with one hand.
Ena, who had pulled out her phone, pushed him back, eyes flaming.
“Hey, don’t touch her!” She screamed, tightening her grip on her phone . With her thumb she guessed the location of the final ‘1’, but it was then Ronald’s gaze shifted and Ena’s heart began to race.
He slammed the phone straight out of her hand, sending it flying across the narrow alley, and threw her against the brick wall, pinning her with one arm. She suppressed a cry of alarm as she glared at her captor. Her vision blurred as she saw Bailey’s fists fly down onto his back, trying to pull him off Ena.
She fell to the ground near her phone and reached desperately for the device. Ena tapped the screen blindly, aiming for the green of the call button, and tried to stand up. But Tyler, Ronald’s buddy, simply shoved Ena to the side. Her arm and thigh stung, but still she kicked out at him full force. He cursed and staggered backwards, holding his shin.
It felt like time had frozen, for that moment, as she watched Ronald strike out at Bailey with his jagged knife, and Ena fell to the ground.
Her heart pounded and her head throbbed. Her lip stung and her body felt numb, but she was unable to shut her eyes, stuck staring blankly as the blaring of a siren rocked her pounding skull and the sound of footsteps thundered away. Bailey’s limp form was all that was visible to Ena and she scrambled to her knees.

“Are you serious? Let me go!” Ena howled, pushing against the large arm with all her might. She felt like a child.
The ambulance had already abducted Bailey, and now Ena could only stare after the vehicle as it hurried away. All around her were police officers, along with a few curious bystanders.
“She...my car is down the street! What’s wrong with you?” Ena pressed, her voice wavering. Her legs were shaking slightly and she felt faint.  Her heart raced, but time seemed to slow, and she wiped blood from her nose.
The large cop just muttered something under his breath. Was this just a chore to him?
“Listen, you’re not one of her relatives, and we need to ask you some questions about your, uh, attacker.” He sounded exasperated. She glared at him, but sighed.
“Good. Now, what exactly happened?” He asked, pulling out a small notepad and a worn pen.
“Oh, well, let’s see-Bailey and I were strolling about and Ronald Bruno jumped us with a knife. It was pretty fun, thanks for your concern.” She snapped, invoking a sigh from the officer.
“Listen, you’re just making thi-”
“Penn! Over here!” A voice called, and another cop waved him over. He grumbled and shoved the paper and pen into some void of a pocket, hobbling over to his accomplice. Ena took this opportunity to bolt for her car, and by the time her absence was acknowledged, her engine drowned out the sound of any voices.

“I don’t see your name anywhere here…are ya sure you’re meant to be here?” The receptionist gave a fake smile, glancing to the side briefly. She sounded rather impatient.
Ena dug her nails into her arm, her own lips pursing into a faux grin as she attempted to calm herself. She’d driven after the ambulance as fast as the law allowed- okay, maybe a bit faster- and still faced restriction.
“Yes, my best friend was just attacked with a knife, and I had to watch it, why can’t I see her?” There was a growing line behind her, and she mentally questioned how many people one emergency room garnered. The receptionist, looking slightly irritated, opened her mouth to speak, but Ena had already turned to the sound of the door flying open.
“Ena! Are you okay? Where’s Bailey?” A frantic voice called from across the room. Amanda, Bailey’s older sister, appeared at Ena’s side, and she noticed the receptionist freeze.
“I’m fine, but they won’t let me see her,” Ena murmured, her voice muffled as she was captured in a hug. Amanda turned to the receptionist, frowning.
“What? Why? Ma’am, we need to see Bailey Pricefield.” She said, tone anxious as she tapped the desk with her short nails. The receptionist cast another glance at her computer monitor.
“Name?”
“Amanda Pricefield. I’m her older sister, this is her friend.”
There was a pause as the woman stared at the screen. Ena’s breath hitched, and she saw Amanda stiffen.
“I’m sorry, neither of you are on her emergency contact list.” She said with mock pity. Amanda’s eyes widened.
“What? What is this bullcrap? Just let us in!” Amanda exclaimed. Ena just thought about how much she had always hated this hospital. Her feeling of hopelessness only grew as she watched Amanda attempt to argue her way in.
They were kicked out of line and forced to wait among the half dead. Suiting, it seemed.
Ena’s thoughts whirled and she was unaware of her surroundings. She had an unceasing pain in her head that felt as though she was being punched in the temple. Her vision was blurry, and she saw only a blurry image of the world before her. She could almost hear her shallow breath and racing heart.
She almost didn’t notice when Amanda stood up.
“Ms. Pricefield?” A woman, likely a doctor, called. Amanda hurried over to her, and the woman murmured something in her ear. Amanda immediately darted down the hall, and Ena sat up, staring after her.
The next thing she knew, she was being ushered out of the room with all of the strangers.
And as the doors were shut in her face, all she could conjure in her mind was the image of a glistening name-tag.
Dr. O’Donohue.

Even fluffy Renegade failed to console the broken girl and she lay on her ratty sofa most of the day. The rest of her time was spent pacing around at the hospital. She became mindless, waking at noon only to run off to mope elsewhere, and eventually return to her dark apartment to feed Renegade and ignore reality in her room. She felt little, but the loneliness was vivid, even when Rene tried to lick it away. She was a shell of fear, alone to think about every mistake, and assume the worst of her absent companion. Her thoughts attacked her, overtaking her in her weak state. The days bled together into one seamless nightmare that left her tired.
So when a knock sounded on her door, there was no hope, only fear, in Ena’s chest.
Then green eyes locked with her own and she observed the worn but healed face of her best friend. And the energy from those eyes seemed to rebuild the sullen girl in their hold.
Ena practically leapt at Bailey, squeezing her gently as she buried her face in the shorter girl’s shoulder, her own shoulders convulsing as she sobbed. Bailey smiled weakly and held Ena’s chin up with her finger.
“Shh, it's okay, I'm alive,” she chuckled softly, tears in her own eyes. A week had seemed a lifetime, after spending almost every moment together for a year.
Renegade was unimpressed with the theatrics, however, and barked impatiently, tongue lolling out as she nudged the girls. They giggled, holding each other close as they followed the dog down the stairs.
And as they passed the peeling wallpaper, swung the doors open, and took in the golden leaves falling in the breeze, they decided with mirthful laughter to leave the parties to the kids.