What Matters Most (H.S Fan Fiction)

Chapter 27: It Hurts

I got up at the crack of dawn, dismissing the thought of going to school. My mother was still asleep, so I quietly got ready and decided that leaving my phone off and at the house was acceptable. Talking to people right now was not a priority. I ran out the door swiftly, grabbing my bag, a children's book and a small package of Oreos.

They are Carter's favorite.

It took around eight minutes to get to the hospital and once I had arrived, I slowly made my way to the front desk, told them I was a visitor and again made my trip down the seemingly never ending maze of hallways.

I heard giggling coming from inside the room, and I assumed that she was watching another episode of spongebob. I stopped outside of her door and looked through the glass. The tv was off, my eyes traveled to her bed, I could see the smile etched on her face, and Harry with a guitar and hand, singing a song that I did not know of.

I could tell she loved it.

I didn't want to intrude so before they could see me I moved away from the door and started walking down the hall again, planning on going to the food court and maybe getting some milk for these cookies.

Carter would like that.

As I reached the cafeteria I got in a rather short line with a bag of chips and milk in my hands. Once I had paid for my few items, I took a seat at one of the empty tables and opened my Doritos.

"You know you could've came into the room." I hear a familiar accent from behind me.

"No it's ok." I say without turning around. Harry walks over and takes the empty seat in front of me. There is an awkward silence, I don't know what to say. Obviously he doesn't either, we just sit while our eyes wonder around the room.

"I care about Carter too you know."

"Yeah."

"But I understand you want to be alone."

"How would you understand?" I say a bit too harshly.

"I watched my dad die of cancer." His words surprise me and I instantly regret what I had said.

"Oh." I pause,"I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so harsh."

"Why don't you go see Carter, she's mad about you, says she hasn't seen you in ages."

I slightly laugh," I saw her yesterday."

It hurts to laugh.

"Well she's about as mad as a hatter up in that small room."

"Mad as a hatter huh?" I smile

It hurts to smile.

"Shut up." Harry groans.

"Ok I'm going I'm going."

It hurts to even talk.

I get out of my chair and throw my finished bag of chips into the garbage can, holding the milk in my hand and waiting for Harry to walk with me to her room. He gets up from the table and together we walk back to the door where inside my sister is held captive. I am about to reach for the metal knob when Harry speaks up,"I'll just wait out here."

"You sure?" I question him and he nods while I shuffle into the room. I find Carter staring up at the ceiling blankly and when she sees me come in a smile breaks across her face and I smile back.

It hurts to smile.

"I brought you milk and cookies." I say, and she grins widely.

"Oreos?"

"Oreos." I confirm with a slight giggle.

It hurts to laugh.

I dig through my purse and pull out the small package of cookies, opening the carton of milk and package, putting them on her bedside table. I pull one cookie out of the cellophane wrappings and pop it into my mouth with a sly smile.

"Heyyy." Carter giggles, and I pull out another cookie and hand it to her,"You know Harry was here." she says in between chews,"he sang to me." I nod, telling her that I knew he was here and that he had sung to her.

"What did he sing to you?"

"He said he wrote it himself." She points,"There's his guitar." I follow her finger and see the guitar sitting against the wall, my fingers urge to pick the steal stringed instrument,"You should play for me." she orders me and I get up, taking the guitar it my grasps. I'm sure Harry won't mind me using it.

Quickly I sit down,"What do you want me to play."

"The one that you sing and it goes safe and sounddddd." She attempts to sing the song that I had written a while back, she isn't much of a singer but I laugh because she is so beautiful.

"That's sad song Carter." I tell her, but she dismisses it begging for me to play this specific song. I eventually give in and start to strum the guitar,"I remember tears streaming down your face when i said, I'll never let you go..."

Carter cuts me off,"Skip to the other part."

"Sassy." I remark and she giggled,"Ok." I begin to skip to the chorus. Her favorite part,"Just close your eyes the sun is going down, you'll be alright. No one can hurt you now, come morning light. You and I'll be safe and sound."

"Next one!" She practically yells, and I can see the struggle that she has to even let out those loud words.

"Ok ok chill out man I'm going." I joke and she smiles again. I begin to strum the guitar again,"Can't you see that it's just raining, ain't no need to go outside."

Jack Johnson is amazing, in my opinion and if you haven't listened to this song, Banana pancakes you need a life. As I continue to sing, I watch the smile that never leaves Carter's face. In a span of thirty minutes I had sung a bunch of songs, and I was worn out. The nurse soon comes in.

"Hi you must be Carter's sister, Carter has to have her mid day nap right now, doctors orders." I nod quickly and get up, planting a quick kiss on Carter's forehead and making my way out of the room. Once I reach the hallway I spot Harry sitting against the wall, looking terribly bored.

"What are you still doing here? Don't you have school?"

Harry looks up at me and smiles,"It's not like I haven't skipped before, and besides this was more important."

"Oh." I say and I start to walk away, but I turn around once I see that he isn't getting up and following me,"Aren't you coming?" He nods and stands up quickly.

"Where are we going?" He questions me.

"Anywhere but this damned hospital." I say with a smile.

It hurts to smile.

"Do you need a hug?" He says childishly holding out his arms.

I laugh,"I'm good."

It hurts to laugh.

"I think you want a hug." Before I can protest Harry has me in his grasps, his chin resting on the top of my head,"See isn't that nice?" He says stroking my hair as if I am a dog.

"I guess."

It hurts to talk.