Chapter 3
Everyone quickly sprang into action.
I took the card to pay at the front desk, debating whether to tell everyone the truth.
But Jackson’s mom had always been fragile.
Back in middle school, our teacher assigned us study partners, intending for students with different strengths to help each other.
It wasn’t long before Jackson’s mom confronted the teacher.
“My Jackson and Ava are already good friends. Why would you pair him with some other girl?”
No matter how the teacher explained that the pairings were based on academic strengths, Jackson’s mom stubbornly demanded a
reassignment.
After that, she explained my mom: “I don’t trust anyone else.”
“When his grandmother was watching him, she once spilled boiling water on his foot. I can’t risk other people having bad intentions.”
With all these memories swirling in my head, I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth.
What would happen if Jackson’s mom found out he stood everyone up and turned off his phone for Morgan?
While I was still wrestling with this dilemma, we all got into the car.
Building management called back-Jackson wasn’t home, and security cameras showed he’d left about two hours ago.
My dad hung up with emergency services and told us:
a
“Traffic police said there were six accidents this afternoon, but they were all minor fender benders, and none involved anyone named Jackson.”
”
other with
I kept reaching for my phone in my pocket, pulling it halfway out, then pushing it back in.
S
Suddenly, Jackson’s dad driving ahead of us yelled “SHIT!” and swerved right, throwing Jackson’s mom and me against my mom.
Right after that came a tremendous, dull thud.
When my hearing returned, I opened my eyes to find the street and crowd upside down.
A woman I didn’t know was shouting through the window:
“Don’t worry, sweetie! We’re going to get you out!”
The scene unfolding before me was like something from movies I’d seen.
People rushed from every direction, shouting instructions as they tried to flip the car back over.
But human strength wasn’t enough against the car’s weight.
Someone took charge: “Break all the windows! We need to get them out first-that’s a Model X over there, it might catch fire!”
As the ringing in my ears subsided, I finally regained my senses and struggled to unbuckle my seatbelt.
Both mothers were unconscious. I managed to push Jackson’s mom toward the hands reaching in from outside.
Turning to my mom, I found her seatbelt had retracted extremely tight.
The more I panicked, the harder it was to release.
The stranger outside shouted instructions:
“Take a breath! Slow down! Loosen the shoulder part first, then the lap part, then pull it over her head and behind her back.”
I finally calmed my racing heart and followed her directions step by step.
After freeing my mom from the seatbelt, we were both pulled out by the helpful bystanders.
People dragged and carried us to the sidewalk, when someone shouted in alarm.
A man stumbled out of the Model X that had crashed into us, and thick smoke began billowing from his vehicle.
Someone with a booming voice yelled:
“Everyone back up! Get away from the cars-that battery could blow any second!”
Sure enough, within minutes, the fire spread from the electric car to Jackson’s dad’s vehicle.
Then came two massive explosions with waves of heat.
The kind stranger ran over with water for me.
“You’re okay now. Everyone made it out. Ambulance should be here any minute.”
