Sweetest Pain || Hawk Moskowitz

109 Mistakes Get Made

KT knew it sounded strange, but she felt bad for Robby Keene.

She kept that thought to herself, as it seemed that everywhere she turned, it wasn't the right way of thinking. Her parents were upset that Robby had not been found sooner, Yasmine kept saying that he got what he deserved and Demetri hummed with uncertainty, and most of the school agreed with her. Sam didn't want to talk about it. KT thought he was lucky the cops had found him first, as opposed to any other options. Like Hawk, who kept saying that he wanted to find him and "make him pay" for what happened.

While she was able to talk her parents out of pressing charges against Robby, KT found that it wasn't as easy to calm Hawk's qualms with the boy. When she'd seen it on the news, she felt relieved that he was safe. When Hawk saw it, he was upset that he hadn't gotten to him first. It upset KT when he told her how much he wanted to beat Robby up, "teach him a lesson."

That was the side of Eli she didn't like so much. He rarely showed her Hawk, but sometimes he peeked through when they were alone together. When he got fired up, he squawked and talked a big game.

When he told her he went out looking for Robby, she didn't know whether to believe him or not. Something deep inside her told her that he did go driving around town, looking down dark alleys and known squatter settlements. She just didn't want to believe it, so she turned her cheek and hummed along to what he was saying. Once he got it off his chest, he cooled off and they carried on with their days.

Meanwhile, Robby was holed up in a juvenile detention center doing whatever it is they make kids do in places like that. KT had no idea what went on in a juvie hall, but if it was more like prison than she hoped it was, she didn't like that he was there. It didn't make her feel any better. She had sympathy for Robby Keene, thinking that he didn't belong in juvie.

So what the Hell am I doing here? she asked as she stood at the end Miguel's hospital bed.

Herself, Moon, Yasmine, and Demetri had come to see him almost as soon as they'd been made aware that he could have visitors. Demetri was so excited, he'd gathered up some new comics to bring up to him, and amidst all the elation, Yasmine had made cookies. They got a typical Get Well Soon card and all signed it with their own little messages. Of course they had already taken some stuff up for him, but his mother had taken it to him. Now they'd been given the chance to see him and they were more than happy about it.

KT was less thrilled, her heart caught between Miguel and Robby. Both of them were suffering, stuck in cold places with little to do but eat, sleep, and get back up again. Miguel wasn't able to even "get up," per say, stuck in the bed. It was an awful feeling she sadly related to, knowing he was likely experiencing the same itch to jump out of that bed and move around like she had. The only problem being that he was physically unable to do it.

The fall had caused him a lot more damage than it had done her. He needed corrective surgery done to his back, but even then the doctors weren't sure he'd be able to walk again. It was so sad, a consequence of a fight that never should have happened.

Demetri was talking Miguel's ear off while KT mindlessly picked at the hospital blanket. The fuzzy pills came off easily and she let them go just as fast as they'd come off the blanket, letting them fall to the floor. A small collection of them had begun, not that anyone else noticed, and she just kept adding to it while Yasmine and Moon giggled at Demetri's nerdy behavior.

Eventually, he started coughing, mouth dry from talking so much and so excitedly.

Miguel took up a cup from the side table, a small smile on his lips. Being surrounded by a great group of friends was great and he was happy they'd come by. "Have some water, man."