Double Take [Sequel to Bound]

20. Hospital Visits

Chapter 20-Hospital Visits

Leah's POV:

"...And basically that's it for this week," Ariel, mine and Klara's publicist, finished as she shut her thin binder, her green eyes looking at my sister and I. "Not that busy of a week, really, except for the Children's Hospital visit."

I nodded, listening attentively. Klara and I had been called in for a meeting with her and our manager Jen to go over our schedule for this week. We really didn't have much to do, thankfully, save for a photo shoot and interview for Rolling Stone Magazine, and a visit to the local Children's Hospital. It was a good thing we didn't have many events planned, since I had yet another book report to do and I hadn't even begin reading the book.

As Klara and I left our team's building and got in the car that was parked in the parking garage, my sister sighed as she pulled out her phone from her pocket. "I hate visits to children's hospitals," she mumbled, unlocking the device. "It's so depressing."

I shoot her a look as our driver started the car and began driving. "But it's worth it, isn't it? When you see how happy the kids get?"

I watched as a small, barely-there smile quirked at the corners of her lips. "Yeah," Klara agreed with a soft sigh. "It just sucks, y'know? None of those kids deserve to be in there. They deserve to fucking live."

She slumped in her seat, eyes on her phone as she did God knows what. Klara, who was known as the 'bad-ass' twin with a party girl, drinking persona, was a sucker for kids. She loved watching little kids and playing with them, so it was especially hard for her when we went to Children's Hospital to visit the sick kids. Of course, it's never easy to watch all these innocent children be so ill, but it took all of Klara's restraint not to break down completely in front of them.

I wished that everyone-the media, I mean-saw that side of Klara. The side that's always been so closed off because she hated showing any emotion towards anyone other than me or our parents. No matter how much of an asshole-like persona and reputation she had built for herself, Klara really was the ultimate sweetheart, even if she kept it hidden deep underneath her being.

The rest of the car ride is silent, and I was fully aware of the fact that Klara was silently mulling over the trip to the hospital. We reached our house soon after, and as soon as we stepped inside, Klara made her way straight up the stairs, where I figured she was just going to her room. But as she did, she passed by Mum, who stared at her quizzically before looking at me with raised eyebrows.

"What's up with her?" she questioned, entering the living room in just her sweatpants and one of Dad's old Rolling Stones shirts.

I sighed, kicking off my shoes and following her before taking a seat on the couch next to her. "Ariel just told us that we have a visit to the Children's Hospital coming up," I explained. "You know how Klara is with those."

A knowing, sympathetic look crossed over my mother's features as she nodded once. "And Klara doesn't want to see the sick children, yeah," she finished off, pursing her lips. Mum ran a hand through her blonde hair, biting her lower lip. "She's a tough girl," she murmured, her eyes meeting mine once more. "At least, that's the front she's put on for the world to see. I think everyone-including Klara-seems to forget that she's just a girl who does, y'know, feel. She's not as emotionless as she makes herself out to be."

I nod along slowly, understanding completely what my mother was talking about. "She's really closed off," I added, furrowing my eyebrows slightly as I shifted my legs so they were folded underneath me. "Why do you think that is?"

Mum stayed silent momentarily, her lips thinning before she exhaled softly and leaned back on the armrest of the couch, facing me. "I'm guessing it's because of your life style, you know?" she began, her eyes unfocused on her hands in front of her. "You both grew up in the limelight of your dad's career, then went on and had careers of your own," she continued, a smile on her face as her gaze met mine. "I think Klara just learned on her own how to close off herself from the world-she doesn't want everyone to see the sweet, caring girl we both know she is. I just don't seem to understand why."