Chapter 18

                                    

                                          
Since it was pretty late when Clay's parents were notified of their son being found and brought to the hospital, it wasn't until the next day when the rest of Clay's friends were notified of the situation. 
                          
Even though it wasn't even 8:15 in the morning yet, Skye Miller was the first of Clay's friends to show up to the hospital. "Skye? What are you doing here so early?" Lainie asked after sharing a short greeting with the kind girl. "I came as soon as I heard. How is he doing?" Skye asked, her voice laced with concern for her best friend. Lainie gave a sympathetic smile. "He hasn't woken up yet. But I wouldn't get my hopes too high, though." Lainie advised. "Why? Is there something else?" Skye asked. Lainie gave off a small sigh as she sat down in a nearby chair. The older woman then gestured for Skye to take a seat before she began explaining everything the police told her and what the doctor informed them about the possibility of Clay having some memory loss when he wakes up. 
                          
Throughout the day, Clay's friends showed up to the hospital, all being extremely worried for their friend. Much like Skye, Lainie explained everything to her son's friends, starting with what the police had told her and ending with the possibility of Clay losing his memory. Everyone had reacted differently to hearing the explanation. Skye had hid her emotions pretty well, and just appeared to be shocked from hearing the news. Tony's eyes filled with tears when he heard about what happened to the person he considered his brother. Alex and Jessica were shocked at the news, but they also looked ashamed or guilty, almost like it was their fault that all of this had happened to the person they liked to consider a close friend.
                          
Being that the town was small, news of Clay being found traveled around pretty fast, and it was soon being talked about on the news as well. 
                          
As the day slowly went on, a few kids from school even came by to see how Clay was doing. Hannah was just about to enter the small hospital room again, but stopped as she noticed a few figures walking in her direction from down the long hallway. Feeling a presence beside her, Hannah glanced over to see Lainie standing next to her, curiously watching the far away figures slowly walk down the hall as well. "Who are they?" Lainie asked curiously. Hannah glanced over at the older woman before looking ahead again. "They are some kids that Clay knows from school." Hannah explained. Hannah then went on to tell Lainie the names of each person in the small group - Ryan Shaver, Courtney Crimson, Sheri Holland, Zach Dempsey, Justin Foley, and a girl who Hannah recognized as being Jeff's girlfriend before his tragic death.
                          
After getting over her confusion of seeing Ryan, Courtney, Sheri, Zach, and Justin show up at the hospital, Hannah gave them a fake smile when their small group came to a stop in front of her. "We heard about what happened to Clay. We just wanted to stop by and see how he's doing." Courtney explained, giving off her usual clearly fake, kind, cheery smile that no one can resist. Lainie smiled back. "That's really nice of you guys to want to see how he's doing." The older woman replied. "As for how he's doing, he's still out of it since he hasn't woken up yet." The mother of the still-yet-to-wake-up boy added. "You can go in and see him if you'd like, though." Lainie said after a short silence came over them. Clay's classmates gave small smiles and nods of their heads before slowly making their way into the small hospital room to see Clay. 
                          
A while later, Clay's friends had all said their goodbyes and left to go home for the day. All except one, that is. Being as the two were so close to each other, Skye Miller had stayed behind to be with her best friend as often as she could. She was currently down at the hospital cafeteria getting some food, along with Matt, Andy, Olivia, and Hannah. Lainie was left alone with her son in the hospital room, because she couldn't bare to leave him alone in the state that he's currently in for even a few minutes. Lainie was sitting in a chair by her son's bedside when she heard a quiet knock on the wooden door. "Come in." She called out, not looking away from her sleeping son as she did so. "Mrs. Jensen?" A quiet voice asked, briefly pulling Lainie's attention away from Clay. Glancing towards the sound of the voice, Lainie saw none other than one of her son's classmates, Justin Foley, standing in the doorway. "Can I talk to you about something for a second? It's important." He said hopefully. "Of course. Justin, right?" Lainie said, saying his name as a question. "Yes, ma'am." Justin said kindly with a small nod of his head as he stepped further into the room and closed the door behind him. Justin briefly looked at Clay in the hospital bed, appearing to have a sorrowful look on his face, before walking over and taking a seat in a chair next to Lainie. "So, what is it you want to talk to me about, Justin?" Lainie asked softly, giving the teen a caring smile. Justin sighed, glancing at Clay once more before moving his gaze to his lap. "It's about what happened to Clay." Justin started, instantly getting the older woman's full attention. "I know who did this to him." Justin added. "You do? How?" Lainie asked curiously. Justin sighed again before deciding to come clean to the victim's mother. "I was the anonymous tipper." Justin confessed. Hearing the boy's confession, Lainie became speechless. "You were? Both times?" Lainie asked after finding her words. Justin simply nodded. "Yes. I guess I was just scared to give my name, because Bryce and I used to be best friends before he got arrested." Justin explained. "Wait, this has something to do with Bryce Walker?" Lainie asked. Justin sighed. "Yes. His dad is the one that paid the hitman to kidnap Clay. He did this to Clay as an act of revenge for Bryce being in jail, because he strongly believes that his son would and could never rape someone, and that he was falsely accused of rape by Clay when he got that recording of his confession on tape." Justin explained, telling Lainie everything he knew about what happened to Clay.