See You Again

XXXVI

When I got to the hospital, I found Peter pacing back and forth in the hall, waiting for me.

"What the fuck happened?" I asked as soon as I reached him.

It all felt like a dream. I knew my girlfriend and friend were heavily injured, yet I felt like it was just a bad dream and I would wake up at any moment. My mind couldn't quite wrap around what had happened and thought my brain dictated orders, my heart did not feel as it should. I was numb.

"They were going to the party. Some drunk driver hit the cab by the side, Leah's side. Vanessa is already out of the O.R. and is waking up. My parents are with her right now"

I was listening to every word through white noise. I couldn't believe it, it was all a sick joke.

"Is she alright?"

Peter's eyes were red from all the crying but he had dried the tears before I arrived "They say she is out of danger but I'm scared"

I sighed in relief "What about Leah?"

He shrugged nervously "I don't know. She's still being operated on, she had shards everywhere apparently. Her mothers are in the waiting room"

My head was a mess. My parents were departing right now to Germany and I was supposed to be with them but I ended up in a hospital instead. I can't believe this is happening!

"Can I...Can I see her?" I asked.

He nodded and led me into the hospital until we reached the post-op and we found Etsy and Mr Edwards talking to a doctor outside.

"Dad?" Peter looked at them "Is she okay?"

Their cheeks were wet. It seems more real to see them hurting like that than to know my friends were injured. I know it sounds wrong but I cannot help it.

"We'll see how the next twenty-four hours go" the doctor answered.

They let me in the room and I found Vanessa laying in a small hospital bed with a large bandage over her head and an IV on the hand, the tube going all the way to a bag with something transparent.

And just like that, the bubble burst. I was out of breath seeing her like this, my throat closing and making it hard to swallow.

"Will?" she called, almost with no voice, turning her head slowly. I swallowed hard.

I sat beside her on a chair and grabbed the hand without the tube "How are you feeling?"

She moaned in pain as she touched her head lightly "My head hurts. They say I have a concussion"

I kissed the back of her hand lightly, one tear sliding down my face "You could've died. What were you doing, you idiot?"

"It wasn't my fault" she complained "Ouch! My hand, Will"

"Sorry" I loosen the grip, voice shaky.

She looked around "Is Leah out already?"

I shook my head. I didn't care about Leah right now.

"Did Mackie come?"

The argument I had with her came back floating to my head. The way she avoided my question and left my house, plainly assuming she was playing with me the whole time.

"I don't think she is here yet" I admitted "Ezra and Walter are on their way, though"

"Mm, can we call her?" she urged in her now raspy voice.

"No need" a voice startled us.

We looked at the dark-haired girl in the doorway with a frown on her face and a few flowers in hand. Only when she stepped off the light could I see Emily clearly, though I had already recognized her voice.