PLASTIC

11

"Regina wait!" Cady shouts. I quickly follow them outside, as does everyone else.

"No! Get away from me!" Regina shouts back.

"Let me talk! I didn't mean it!" Cady argues.

Regina stops in the middle of the road and turns around to face Cady. "You want to know what everyone says about you? They say you're a homeschooled jungle freak who's a less hot version of me! Yeah."

Regina takes a step toward Cady and points her finger in her chest. "Don't act so innocent. You can take that fake apology and shove it right back-"

a bus.

I'm the first to scream as everyone else around me gasps loudly. Cady stands there in complete shock at what just happened.

"Regina!" I hear myself yell as I run to where she's laying on the ground. I stay knelt down beside her unconscious body until an ambulance arrives.

It started raining shortly after they took her away. We're all in the gym as we wait for our parents to come pick us up. Everyone is whispering that Cady pushed Regina in front of the bus, others try to defend Cady, others try asking me what happened.

In all honesty, I didn't see anything.. I wish I did. I wish I could help Regina.

I'm stood in a corner with Janis and Damien as they try to comfort me. I keep looking at my phone to see a text or a call from Regina to tell me she's okay but I know that's not going to happen. She got hit by a bus.

Others are comforting Cady but I just glare at her. If it wasn't for Cady's comment, Regina and I would probably be in my room right now cuddling on my bed. Or we'd be at the little diner, eating some dinner.

But she's in the hospital and I'm stuck here.

"She didn't push her.." I try to convince myself that my sister wouldn't go that far and push Regina in front of that bus out of anger.

"She could have." Janis says with a shrug as she leans against the wall. "I don't trust her. I'm sorry, I know she's your sister, but I don't."

"Cady and Elle?" Miss Norbury calls. I lift my head at the sound of my name, "Your mom is here."

As I walk out, Miss Norbury smiles sweetly at me but I can tell she's trying to hold herself together. I'd imagine witnessing your student get hit by a bus must be difficult.

"Hey mom." Cady says with a dreadful tone.

"Don't talk to me, young lady. I don't want to hear from you." My mom says as we load into the car. Cady takes the front seat and listens to my mother's lecture, I sit in the back with my headphones blasting music into my ears so I don't have to hear it.

"Eleanor!" My mom shouts and slams her hand against the steering wheel, looking back at me through her mirror.

I take off my headphones, "Sorry."

"June George called me." Regina's Mom? "She said that Regina is awake and keeps asking for you. She doesn't want anyone else but you, so do you want me to drop you off at the hospital?"

I hesitate. Does Regina's mom know about-

"If you're uncomfortable then I'll go straight home."

"No, I'll go."

"Of course you will." Cady grumbles.

"I told you not to talk." My mom scolds my sister.

Ten minutes later I'm walking into the hospital with a small bouquet of flowers, tulips to be exact. Pink ones, Regina's favorite.

"Hi.. I'm here to visit Regina George." I say to the lady at the front desk.

"Name?" She says without looking up from her computer.

"Elle Heron."

The woman prints me out a name tag and points me in the direction of Regina's room, warning me that she may seem drowsy since she just woke up from surgery.

I go up on the elevator and walk down the very long hallway until I reach her room. I knock softly, June opens the door.

"Elle?" She asks and I nod. "She's been asking for you nonstop but she just fell asleep-"

"Elle..?" I hear a small, tired voice say from behind her.

I peak around June and frown when I see Regina. "I'll give you two some privacy." June squeezes my shoulder reassuringly before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

I take a seat in the chair beside Regina's bed and gently take her hand. "You look.."

"Disgusting?" She tries to laugh. "I'm okay, don't worry."

"Did she push you..?" I hesitantly ask.

"Cady? No.. no, she didn't." Regina quickly says, closing her eyes. She's probably exhausted after everything that happened to her. "I shouldn't have been in the street, it was my fault."

"They arrested the bus driver.. he was asleep while driving the bus. He is the one who paid for your surgery." I say quietly and give her hand a squeeze to make sure she's still awake, she gives my hand a squeeze back.

"I'm glad you're here, Elle." She mumbles. "I can't see you.." She complains about her headgear. I sit on the edge of her bed and pet her face gently. Her hand squeezes mine and she grins, "There's my pretty girl.."

I blush and lean in to gently kiss her forehead. "I'm so happy you're okay, Regina."

Her eyes close again, "I'm happy too."