Small Town Sweethearts

STS - Chapter 5: Pretty Voices

Chapter 5-

Amelia’s POV

              I really shouldn’t be surprised Lacey had a concussion. I mean, as much as the poor girl falls, she was bound to get really hurt one of these days. Yes, even despite the way she had ‘perfected’ her landing to minimize damage. This was one of our many inside jokes, but I didn’t feel like laughing at it now. Watching her hobble off, giggling at Kai, had been scary.  

              So after PE, I went to the bathroom and called her a total of 12 times, figuring if I bugged her enough she’d answer. She didn’t.

              Then it hit me, Lacey didn’t have her purse, containing her phone. She had left it in the locker rooms, which was why I took it upon myself to take it to her. I was a little relived at this conclusion, though I was still stressing out about her.

              The rest of my classes seemed to take forever, but when I was finally free, I texted Lacey’s mom, asking how she was.

              “She’s fine now. All hyped up on caffeine ‘cause she’s not allowed to sleep,” Mrs. Somerfield answers my worried questions with a little humor. “Honey, what happened exactly?”

              “It’s Lacey we’re talking about here. She tried to dodge, lost her balance, and fell headfirst onto the hardwoods,” I answer her, rolling my eyes at my best friend’s clumsiness.

              I hear Mrs. Somerfield let out a snort of laughter, “Why am I not surprised?” she says. “You can come see her if you want. I’m sure she’s dying to talk to you anyway.”

              “Okay. Are y’all at the hospital?”

              “Yes. She has to stay until later tonight.”

              “Alright. I’ll be there in half an hour,” I said, clicking the End Call button before heading to my car, a lime green jeep I had wanted since middle school. Throwing my stuff in the backseat, I drove well over the speed limit toward the local hospital, stopping at a gas station to get her a surprise.

              Once there, it didn’t take me long to get to the reception desk and find out Lacey’s room number. I immediately headed to it, a little worried at what I’d find.

              I reached the room, unsurprised that the door was closed. Lacey was OCD about few things, one being that if she was in a room with a door it had to be closed. Even with a concussion, I knew she would be the same.

              I knocked quickly before slipping inside. “Heeyy!”

              Lacey squints at me, the beginnings of a black eye forming on her left eye, “Amelia?”

              “It’s me. I had to make sure you hadn’t died yet,” I inform her, walking to the bed and looking over her body, clad in a hospital gown I knew must be killing her from all the germs. I reached into my purse, pulling out 3 Hershey bars and a 2 liter of Coke. “Here’s the plan; as long as you have to stay awake, so will I. And I have more in the car.”

              Lacey laughed at me, scooting over on her bed to make room, “Have I ever mentioned I love you? Soooooooooo much!”

              Perching on her bed, I grin, “Nope. But you can start thanking me now.”

              Lacey rolls her eyes and rips one of the candy bars open, taking a big bite. “I get to go home in a few hours, but no sleeping until tomorrow night.”