Stained

Chapter 156

I hurry to answer it and practically slap the phone against my cheek. The area stings but panic and fear dull out the sensation. "How is she?"

No one speaks. All I get is the sound of shuffling bags and distant voices.

My nerves sour higher. If my mum doesn't respond right this minute I'm going to puke. Today has been a series of unfortunate events and my mind can't grasp anyone of it. In the midst of the chaos, I need at least one assurance.

My mum says something to whom I presume is my sister. Although, I can't be sure because I don't understand a single character of her words.

"Mum?" Could she have called me by mistake or something? Sometimes when I have my phone unlocked in my hand, my fingers will subconsciously call or text someone just from being pressed against the screen.

No one's ever done it to me but I would like to believe it happens to most people.

"Yeah, one second," she says, banishing my prediction and hope.

Only me then. Great.

"What's wrong?" Hannah asks, her face constricted with worry.

"I don't know yet. Somethings got her dis—."

"Your sister is fine," my mum interjects almost breathlessly. "The x rays came out clear. She's just bumped her knee. Exactly like you used to as a kid. Only you did it all the time. Made us come to the hospital every other week."

I choke out a relieved laugh somewhere between a cry and joy, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "It wasn't every other week."

Hannah lets out a huge breath and Sarah slumps so far back in her seat I wouldn't be surprised if she fell off.

My sister didn't suffer the brunt of my cowardice. She's going to be okay.

'But she's hurt because of you. She's in pain because of your cowardice.'

My smile falls off my face. They're right. Regardless, I caused another person I love pain. Like I always do. Forever the burden.

My attention is brought back to the phone when my mum tsks almost disapprovingly but there's a hint of laughter in her voice when she speaks. "You passed on your clumsiness to your sister. What am I going to do now? I'm doomed. I might have to move into a house near the hospital."

A beeping from my mum's side of the phone interrupts my response. "I'll call you back Hazel your dads ringing to let us know where he's going to pick us up," my mum hurries out and cuts the call.

Just in time too because the waiter arrives with our food. He places Hannahs chicken Parmesan in front of her which is giving off an amazing aroma. It causes my mouth to begin watering. My gaze is diverted off Hannahs food at the sight of Sarah's vegetable stir fry.

I regret my order a split second before my creamy Caribbean pasta is placed in front of me. It looks amazing. More amazing than theirs. The aroma too.

I send a silent prayer it tastes as good as it looks and smells.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" The waiter asks.

I barely pay him any attention, too busy eagerly digging my fork into the pasta.

Hannah swats my hand away from the fork, causing it to almost falls out of the plate. With a glare, I grab my hand.

"Wait until I've taken a picture."

A cheeky smile curls my lips. Hannah senses what I'm about to do before I do it but she's not fast enough and I take a bite of the pasta, ruining the beautifully decorated arrangement.

Yes! I imagine myself punching the air. It tastes as good as it looks and smells. Maybe even more so.

"You bitch," Hannah snaps.

Pleased, I chew dramatically. The epitome of my existence is ruining Hannah's food snaps. I've been doing it for years now and it never gets old. It's literally the most entertaining thing ever.

Sarah clears her throat but fails to contain ridicule as she does so. "You guys..." she presses out. "The waiter is waiting."

I tuck my lips in to suppress a giggle. I don't know why but her saying the waiter is waiting sounds really funny.

"Sorry. Yes. I mean no. Nothing for me." Hannah turns to me and because the back of her head is to the waiter she narrows her eyes at me. "Hazel? Would you like anything else?" Her sweet voice betrays her annoyed expression.

I can't help it, a small giggle bursts out of me. I shake my head at Hannah and then up at the waiter who's smiling. "No thank you."

Sarah kicks my leg and I lose it completely. I look away, clamping a hand over my mouth to suppress my hysteria.

I think I hear the waiter chuckle but I'm barely able to distinguish it past my own.

"If you need anything let me know."

He must have left already because Hannah's voice loses its fake pleasant tone. "If you weren't you, I would assume you're drunk."

"Is she okay?" Sarah drawls, concerned.

"Is she ever?" Hannah retorts.

Tears form in my eyes and my stomach begins to hurt from the force of my laughter.

Hannah takes out her phone to take a picture of her and Sarah's food. "Lowkey wish I was Edward Cullen so I could read her strange mind."

"Actually," Sarah begins, twirling her fork in the stir fry, a finger pointing my way. "I think she's laughing out of relief for her sister."

My laughter immediately dies at that. I didn't see it like that but now that she's said it...

I shake my head, digging into my pasta. "No, it was funny. I laughed because it was funny."

Sometimes I hate how well they know me. Clearly, as it shows, more than me.

I'm saved from their knowing glances when Sarah jumps in her seat. She grabs a tissue and spits out her stir fry into it.

I manage to contain a cringe but Hannah doesn't. She doesn't even try. Cant because she has no filter. "Ew. The fuck."

I guess Sarah's food betrayed its exterior.

She sticks out her tongue and frantically fans it with her hand. "Shit that burned my tongue."

Indeed it's letting off a lot of steam. Whereas mine and Hannah's have the safe minimum amount.

It suddenly hits me that I could have been Sarah. My food could have burned my tongue in my rush to ruin Hannah's snap. It could happen to me in the future. I'm surprised it hasn't already.

"Blondes," Hannah rolls her eyes.

"Slag," Sarah refutes.