Once I'm whole

Chapter 6

Jordie came barreling at me with the team not far behind. She held a bouquet of lilies and gave me a big hug.

"Jordie, I cant breathe. Please let go" I wheezed out as my heart rate monitor sped up in the background.

As soon as the monitor sped up, she let go and smacked me at the back of my head.

"YOU WORRIED THE HELL OUT OF ME. GOSH DANG IT, I ALMOST CRIED SEEING YOU YESTERDAY AND ALL YOU CAN SAY TODAY IS YOU CAN'T BREATHE. OLIVIA FOR PETE'S SAKE" she exclaimed as Sam pulled her away from me.

The rest of the team came up and hugged me one by one. Careful to avoid my injured leg and shoulder. They had a game coming in the next week and were going to play on behalf of me and Jer. Marco was going to play with them since his legs could function perfectly. Speaking of Marco.

"Hey Sam, have you gotten any updates from Marco?" I ask, trying to seem disinterested. I bit my lip. He hadn't come to visit me yet. Would he?

"No. But, coach said that he was going to attend training tomorrow so I'll update you. I thought he was in the accident with you though?" He locked eyes with me, carefully picking his words for a reaction. He slung his arm around Sam, settling into the visitor chair as the rest of the team gave us some privacy.

"Yea, but mom said he was discharged last night and he hasn't visited." I looked away from his calculating gaze.

"I'm sure he'll visit soon" Sam sighed.

"that's not what I –" I started.

"Can we visit Jer?" Zach questioned uncomfortably"

"Yeah, we have flowers for him" Ryan mumbled shyly

"Sorry guys. The doctor said he wasn't stable yet and that there are too many machines on him right now. even I haven't gone to see him. He's in the ICU right now but when he's released I'll update you" I said weakly. Even I hadn't gone and seen him. Mom and dad were being sketchy about this.

"He's strong Liv." Sam assured

-

After an hour of chatting, the nurse kicked them all out. But, not without them leaving a crap ton of gift baskets and sweets from them and their families. My bland room became colourful from all the balloons and snacks they had left. I carefully sat up from my bed and went to grab the glass of water on my right when I noticed a vase of peonies on the table. Huh, they were beautifully arranged. I really needed to go to a flower arranging class, maybe it would help me bolster my creativity.

My parents and Mason entered my room, they brought dinner with them which was much better than hospital food. Some not actually authentic Chinese food, but nonetheless better than the stale stuff the hospital had been serving me. Mason started animatedly talking about his conversation with Marco when I was unconscious and he said that Marco reassured him that everything would be alright, he'd even given Mason a little superman figuring. "He said if I put it beside Jer's bed, it would give him the strength and protection he needed" So he had been around, just not around here.

"And you believe him?" I questioned as I took a bite out of an orange chicken, the sweet and tangy flavors melted on my tounge. It was a slight relief to be able to eat normally. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, and I know it's literal.

"No, but I think it brought him some comfort, thinking I believed him," Mason said thoughtfully.

"You're a funny kid dude," I tossed a piece of rice at him. I turned to my parents who had been oddly silent the entire time. "I'd like to visit Jer. I'm sure they'd let me see him"

"I don't think that's a good idea right now." Dad stiffened.

"Yes, you need to focus on your own health." Mom bit her lip. "it wouldn't do you any good to see him in this state."

I quirked a brow. "what aren't you telling me" my appetite gone. "something's not right." I set the plate down on the table across my lap. "I want to see him now." I shifted around, and put a foot on the floor and mom rushed over immediately, she put a hand on my arm, keeping me from moving.

"Honey please."

I cast an annoyed glance at her. "If you won't take me, I can do it myself." I shrugged her arm off and put on a random varsity jacket from the foot of my bed. Jordie must have left it here. I'll have to bring it to school when I come back, though it was feeling a little big on me. I'd probably lost weight from the accident.

I got up with as much force and put all my weight on my left leg. I spotted the wheelchair in the corner of the room and looked away from my parents and started hopping towards it. I could totally do this. My legs are strong, they have to be right now. I have to see Jer. Mercifully, Marco felt the tension and pushed the wheelchair towards me. Even at 14 he knew to have my back. I plopped down onto the chair and silently let Marco wheel me out of the room.

"they're only not telling you so that you don't hurt yourself more" Marco whispered as we closed the door behind us.

I looked up at him, "when did you get so wise?" I grumbled. "stay your age kid."

Marco huffed, "I've always been wise, it's just all they've been doing is crying."

A pit of guilt formed in my stomach. "yea well they're gonna have to deal with this. I deserve to know what's going on"

"now you're the one acting immature"

I huffed at the criticism. He was right, but I didn't make it a habit to let him know that. Jer had protected me, I should have been in the worse position. If he hadn't shielded my body, we'd be in the right places. I'd be the one in the coma, and he'd be here. Awake.

We passed the hallways silently and went up a floor to the ICU ward, the nurses smiled at us as we passed their station and finally arrived in front of the ICU ward. The walls were bare of anything colourful, there were only written prayers and religious symbols plastered on their ICU board. The air felt cooler, and the halls were Pindrop silent. We entered the ward, and arrived at the waiting room first, and saw a figure hunched over in the corner of the waiting room.

"Mason?" I softly whispered.

He stiffened and turned to me. His eyes scanned me from head to toe, I could feel his assessing gaze.

"I'm okay Mason."

He let out a breath of relief. "I couldn't come and see you." I nodded, but this was an issue to discuss without curious ears.

"I'm gonna go see Jer," I paused, taking a breath. "anything I need to be warned about?" trying to lighten the conversation.

"He doesn't look good. Just prepare yourself." He said solemnly. "Marco, why don't you wait with me, and give Liv some privacy."

Marco nodded silently and took a seat beside Mason.

I took a breath and rolled myself into the ICU ward.