PERFECT || Ollie Bearman

5.

"Sadie, please pay attention!" 

I cursed silently and dropped my pen on the table, as the Art teacher, Ms. Thomas folded her arms across her chest. "What did I just say? You've got to stop drawing cars during my lessons even if it's art. One more time and I'll send you to the headteacher's office." 

"Fine," I looked over the sketch I had just done of Carlos Sainz's Ferrari. It looked great. Without another word I dropped the piece of paper into my art piece folder, storing it inside my bag as I looked at my partner. Louisa, she was bratty. The leader of the brats girl group. 

I planned to sit with Ollie. But obviously he wouldn't be here until next week. I wasn't even sure if we could go to prom together. The bell rang as I swiftly grasped my bags and ran out of the room. I went to the locker section, taking out my books. 

"Hey, introvert," Ava and her friends came over. I already had enough with Louisa. "Someone got told off during Art, didn't they?" I got angry and pushed her away. "Aw, is someone angry?" 

"If Ollie was here, you'd say nothing and pretend we were the best of friends," I kicked my locker shut and locked it up. "Get your shit together. He just isn't going to ask you to prom or be his girlfriend." 

"You jealous?" One of her friends smirked. 

"Actually, no," I smiled, unamused at them. "I'm going to prom with him. We're together, taking the steps slowly, by the way. So you can either leave him alone, or I'll be the last thing you see before the white walls of the hospital room." 

Her jaw dropped as I shook my head and marched off. Proudly. It was the last lesson of the day as I started to walk out of the school building. I walked past the football pitch; a few boys played their way through defenders, as I watched, completely bewildered. My phone rang. 

"Hello?" I twiddled with my fingers. "Wait what?" It couldn't be. Car accident? Mum was a brilliant driver. It couldn't be. "You're not kidding are you?" She was driving Dad to the hospital for his checkup. Maddy. Ruby. They were in that car. "I'll come straightaway." 

I could feel tears coming to my eyes as I ran across the streets and blocks. I knew the hospital well enough, as I always ran there to visit my Mum who was having Maddy at that time. I was seven or eight, running through the streets of Chelmsford after Primary school every single day without support. Ruby would already be there in her fancy car (I thought it was, it was only a Fiat) and treating Mum. 

Dad would be out again, with Ferrari, training again. I arrived at the white building, which was covered with patients and doctors and nurses. I ran to the reception. "Hey, um, I think it was you calling me about five minutes before? Under the name of Sadie?" 

"Yes," Her bright smile faded from her face. "You'll get to say your last words when you get there and please do cherish your time. Family members are always welcomed to stay in the room as long as they can." 

"No..." I looked down. 

"Your Mum and Dad..." She looked down. She was very young, and I could tell she went through this kind of pain almost every week. "Are dead, Sadie. I'm very sorry. Your younger sister is still alive though weak, and your older sister, I assume... is still alive." 

She would have to sacrifice her football career to take care of us. The dream career she had since she was five years old and first saw Manchester City play live on television. The tears burned in my eyes. "Floor 8, room 808. All the same room." 

I ran without a word. I pressed the number eight like a maniac, and reached the floor completely sweating. I rushed into the room, and Ruby was strapped to very few machines around her. Mum and Dad had white blankets over their faces and bodies. "Sadie!" Maddy was laying in bed with one of her favourite books tucked under her arm. "Why's Mum and Dad not responding to me?" 

"I- they'll reply to you very soon, Maddy," I whispered gently and stroked her hair gently. She nodded and within a few minutes, she fell asleep. I took the chance and knelt down next to Dad's bed. "Dad...hey, for the last time, I guess. I'll do my best to take care of the family with Ruby, Dad. I promise. You and Mum can rest in peace in heaven. We'll get everything sorted. I also have something to tell... Ollie, we're taking things slow." 

'Mum, you were the best Mum I'd ever had in my whole life, I won't ever replace you," I whispered and held her hand very gently. "I'll take care of Maddy. I'll pay for their treatment so don't worry." 

The door opened ajar, and I turned around. A nice woman stood by the door, smiling. "Sorry lovely, I've just come to take the beds away so we can get the bodies frozen up. Are you done talking?" 

"Yes," I stood aside as Maddy woke up, yawning. "Maddy, you want some food?" 

"Can I have an energy bar?" She sat up, exclaiming. I chuckled nodded.

~~

"-warn Ollie-" 

"Warn me what, Mum?" I was ready to go out for a walk before tomorrow, in which I would catch my flight to get to Budapest in time for the training and racing. It got cancelled after a few rearrangements with the company, and told me straight on time. 

"We believe, or saw-" Mum breathed hard as smoothed out my shorts. "-that when we were returning from the supermarket, Slyvia's car was hit by one of those gigantic lorries and was flicked miles away." No. 

My heart was beating fast. Faster than any time I could have had. Sadie? What happened to her then? Mum saw the panicked expression on my face and sat me down. "Sadie was at school before she got the call. She called me immediately afterwards and told me everything. Her parents are dead and... Maddy is weak while Ruby's in a fatal condition." 

"I'm going to the hospital right now," I shoved my phone in my pocket. "Do we have some space in our house tonight for a spare guest? She won't be able to take care of herself at this rate." 

"We do, and get there as quick as you can," Mum ushered me out of the doors. "You'll need to comfort her, her parents just died. Go on, Ollie."