Saint Ambrose Academy: Unlikelies

20

ANGEL

I exit Enzo's hospital room, and feel an anxiety attack coming on. I'm so stressed out right now, I just seem to keep failing those around me. I want to know what Enzo's deal with Nova is. I feel terrible knowing I just promised to keep no secrets between us, but then didn't tell him all that happened after he left her.

That reminds me of a whole seperate problem, I need to get the security footage from the school, its very damning to Matteo, and if father ever found out... well he can't. I can't have anyone tip him off about all this drama. I send a text to my hacker and I'm outside the hospital room rubbing between my eyes when Cassia comes up to me.

"What's wrong babe?" She rests her head on my shoulder.

"It's just a big mess, everything is a big mess. I got to go deal with Matteo, is it alright if you head back with Lia and the teacher?" I don't mention Nova to her either as its a sensitive subject for her. She really hates her, and I don't know why.

"Of course, just make sure to get some rest after, you look exhausted." She kisses me on the cheek, and leaves to go back with Lia.

As I exit the hospital I see Enzo's parents rushing in and I feel bad that I didn't call them, but grateful that the prefect was here to do that for me.

~

I arrive back to the private practice and see Matteo sitting outside of her room on the floor. The nurses got him to clean up so he doesn't look a bloody mess, but he still seems to be in a fragile state of mind. I know that Doctor Luke sat down with him, to discuss him getting some help already, but I still don't think he should be anywhere near Nova.

I sit down on the floor next to him, "Hey Matty, are you doing okay? I know the doc spoke to you, what do you think?" I speak to him as if he was a child, a vast juxtaposition from the tone I had with him earlier when he first called me.

"She can't see, Ang. She can't see  properly and she can't talk, and I did that," I'm a little thrown by this statement as I had spoke to her before I left. It was minimal conversation, but she most definitely could talk.

"Are you sure she can't talk? I talked to her before I left..." He waves his hand to dismiss me.

"The doc says its a trauma response, that when they first woke her she was able to respond to some verbal cues but she was still out of it so its plausible she just subconsciously replied, that physically she should be able to talk, but as of right now she doesn't remember much, it could be a result of the concussion or it could be her brains way of protecting itself, but chances are she will start talking again when she's either able to process the trauma or feel safer..." He puts his knees to his chest and lays his head in his arms, I've never seen my older brother look so..small.

"The eyesight too? Is that also trauma response?" He just shakes his head and mumbles something about them doing more tests. I feel awkward asking but I need to know how long this has been going on, the doc mentioned there being many years worth of improperly healed injuries and scars.
"Matty, when did this start? When did it get so bad you became so violent, why didn't you talk to me?" I keep letting everyone down, first my best friend and Nova, now even Matteo, I've made everyone feel like they can't come to me.

"Because I knew it scared you...I didn't like seeing you look at me like you look at Dad...I wanted to keep it from you. I'm sorry I keep making messes." Tears are silently running down his cheeks.

"How long have you been hurting Nova?" He tenses when he hears this question, and I almost think he's not going to respond when he whispers his response.

"It started after that party last year, I had genuinely liked her, and she hurt me, but she never deserved all this. It's likely that I have permanently changed her life, Ang, what if she doesn't get her vision back...?"