Shooting Star and Swallow's Song

Feeling Lucky

It was a long trip to the hospital, but Steph made it feel pretty short. Alex asked her to just keep talking, so she did, recounting tales of past band tours, and the adventures that resulted. It all just made her crush even harder on this girl. Part of her kept hoping to come across something to disillusion her growing obsession, but the feelings only grew stronger.

Once there, they were separated for some time as the doctors did their examinations and attended to her injuries. Steph promised to wait for her and that made it all a lot more bearable, but Alex really hated hospitals. She kept thinking of her mother and her last agonizing days, bringing herself to a dark place. She tried to focus on the present as best she could.

When all was said and done, the list of injuries included multiple cuts and abrasions, fractured ribs and a hairline fracture in her leg. She must have been told she was lucky a million times by the time they were done, she guessed. They still wanted to keep her overnight for observation. Alex just wanted to go home, but agreed since everything that they said could happen scared her into staying. This meant Steph could only be with her until eight o'clock when visiting hours ended. It would have to do.

Alex lay in bed, waiting for her to come, trying to be comfortable. The television was on, but she was only half watching the cooking competition show and was more focused on the door. Every time the nurse checked on her was a disappointment, until finally the door opened and Steph walked through it.

Her face lit up at the sight, but was instantly tempered by Steph's reaction to seeing her. The older girl seemed more than a little concerned at first glance, but quickly masked her worry and smiled in greeting. Alex already knew how she felt though. She tried to reassure Steph as she came close.

"I feel worse than I look. Fuck, I mean, I look worse than I feel."

"How are you feeling?" Steph asked and stood by her, a hand coming over, but stopping on the railing of the bed. Alex internally frowned.

"I'm...okay. Full of pain meds. Just trying not to think too much. Obviously got that down."

Steph gave a forced grin at her joke, but glanced at her uncertainly. She said, "So looks like you don't need a cast at least?"

They both glanced down her body and Alex said, "But I did get this awesome boot I get to wear for weeks."

"That sucks. You're rocking it though."

"Thanks, but yeah, it definitely sucks. I wasn't the fastest person in the world before, but now I get to be the slowest. I have to take it easy anyways cause of the ribs. Them being broken and all that."

Steph's worry shown through again. She must not have known. Then her hand was on Alex's.

"They wrap you up under there?" she asked.

The unexpected touch threw her off for a moment.

"Um...yeah, I mean no, that's what I thought too, but I guess they don't do that anymore."

"Guess you can't trust what you see on TV. Who would've guessed? Hey, this is 'Chopped' right?"

"Yeah. I can't cook, but I can judge other people who can."

Steph smiled. "Same."

After a few seconds of watching frantic dish preparing, Steph asked, "So...when you get back, I guess you'll need to rest a lot and take it easy?"

Alex sighed. "Yeah, they say it'll take weeks for my ribs to heal and my leg too. So extra rest...ice on my ribs, and I guess I need to cough or take a deep breath every hour. Something about stopping pneumonia or my lung partially collapsing, so no biggie." She gave a mock face of fear that was an obvious cover for her own real concern.