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if on cue, Mr. Hayes returned. “Sorry. I talked to our attending physician, Dr. Mays. You have quite a few abrasions. These things tend to get infected, so we’d like to nip it in the bud with some IV antibiotics. And it wouldn’t hurt to give you a little fluid. We’ll send you home on oral antibiotics.” He turned to her dad. “I think it’d be a good idea for her to see a dermatologist. I can refer you to a good one in Dallas.”
    “Okay. Think we can get a fast pass to be seen?”
    “I’ll do my best. I’m a little worried about the skin around her mouth.”
    Ryan’s heart sped up despite the pain pill that was making her woozy. “Will I scar?”
    “We’re going to try to avoid it.” Mr. Hayes patted her shoulder. “I don’t know who did this to you, but think seriously about whether you want them to get away with it.”
    Cayla opened a tub of gauze sponges and poured sterile water over the top. With gloved hands, she wrung out a gauze square and handed it to Ryan. “See how this feels on your skin.”
    Ryan placed the square on her mouth and sighed. She would have told her it was like heaven, but the pills were making her groggy. She lay back on the bed and tried to keep her eyes open. “Where are Kelsey and Kenzie?”
    Kelsey stuck her head in the room. “We’re just outside.”
    Cayla put on a fresh pair of gloves. “As soon as I get this IV started, they can come in.”
    Ryan nodded and closed her eyes. She felt the nurse clean her arm and then pain as she introduced the IV. But before she could register enough to open her eyes, the nurse said, “All done.”
    Instantly the room was filled with her parents, sisters, Austin, and Justin. She forced her eyes open and focused on Justin. The bottoms of his suit pants were still rolled to mid-calf and he was sockless in his loafers. His dress shirt was untucked and the sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms. He had deep circles under his eyes. But he still looked dang hot. She stretched her un-IV’d arm to him. He took her hand and moved close to her. She crooked her finger and he leaned in. “You look goofy.”
    He laughed. “Goofy? Hey, I’m a trendsetter.”
    She squeezed his hand. “Thanks for saving me. I’m gonna call you Sir Goofy cuz you’re my knight in shining armor.”
    Kelsey leaned over her. “What did you say?”
    Ryan looked at her sister and shrugged.
    Justin held tight to her hand. “I think she’s a little high.”
    Nervous laughter filtered through the room, soothing Ryan. She was safe, surrounded by her protectors. She let herself drift in and out of sleep until she heard the curtain scrape along the track. The room got eerily quiet and she opened her eyes.
    Mr. Hayes entered with a large pale woman with a salt-and-pepper braid trailing down her back. “This is Regina.”
    “Hi. I’m sorry it took so long to get here. There was a train.” She looked at everybody in the room before focusing her smile on Ryan. “How are you feeling? I understand you’ve had something for pain.”
    Ryan nodded. “Better.”
    Regina looked her over. “Good. Are these the clothes you had on?”
    “No. I was in a Homecoming gown.”
    Regina turned to her mom. “Don’t wash them. Put them a large zip-top bag and seal it.” To Ryan she said, “Have you showered?”
    “No.”
    “Good.”
    Mr. Hayes said, “While Regina gets her part ready, I’ve asked Dr. Cooper to consult. He’s a plastic surgeon who is here on another case.” He looked at Ryan’s parents. “I’d just feel better if he took a look at her mouth.”
    Her dad said, “Whatever we need to do.”
    “Okay. It’s going to take me a few minutes to get ready.” Regina looked around the room. “I’ll ask everybody to leave during the exam. As soon as we finish, you can all come back in.”
    Ryan’s throat closed. “Can my mom stay?”
    “I’ll need to ask some questions first. Then she can come in.”
    Do they think my parents did this? Or that I was