Straight 'A' Student

Chapter 33

Eleanor walked up from the cafeteria to see Angelica standing outside of Joshua's room. She looked through the glass into the room, too focused to notice Eleanor. Joshua laid on his back with his head towards the mirror outside. She could tell he was awake though.

"What are you doing here?" Eleanor asked as she stood beside her.

"Just seeing how he is, I hear he goes home today".

"Yea, we do. You don't need to check on my husband. I've got it" she said and Angelica laughed "what the hell is that for?"

"It was you wasn't it? The reason he was here?"

"Shut up".

"I've seen you around him for years. Your anxious nagging, your jealous stares, the way you cling to him at events when I'm around".

"Oh please don't act like you're that significant in our lives".

"You sent your husband into work to complain because you were scared he might take me up on my offer".

"Or maybe because I didn't think some disrespectful whore needed to be validated any longer".

"Whatever makes you feel better about yourself. On one of the scariest days of his life, you nagged and you didn't trust him. But me, I was giving him life saving CPR. I highly doubt I'll be the one that he blames for being shot".

"You need to leave or I will call security".

"Don't bother, Eleanor" Angelica scoffed before walking away. Eleanor stood at the window for a few more minutes as she collected herself. Mostly because she couldn't stop sobbing. It wasn't so much that the words came from Angelica, but that everyone was thinking the same thing. The stares and comments from some of his family had confirmed that over the last two weeks. Joshua had mostly stopped talking and eating. When he slept, he often woke up with nightmares and sweats. He was fidgety and anxious, tensing up every time the door opened. He was getting worse mentally at least, but other than mild malnutrition, there was no reason for him to be in the hospital anymore. When she was able to calm down she went in the room.

"Here, I brought some fruit" she said as she sat in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Joshua asked, her mildly red nose concerned him. It was a clear sign she was crying.

"Ye-" she started but cleared her throat when her voice cracked "yea, I'm good. You go home today, I'm happy about that" she grabbed his hand and changed the subject.

"Mhm".

"Um, Brandon's gonna come get us. He's on his way".

"Okay".

"Please try to eat this".

"I'm not hungry, El. I'm sorry".

"Don't be" she smiled a bit before tucking her hair behind her ear and standing back up. She started to pack their things up while they mostly waited in silence. About fifteen minutes later, Brandon knocked on the door and waited for Eleanor to let him in. She had just finished helping him get ready. Now he sat with his legs hanging off of the side of the bed in shorts and a jacket. It was the easiest thing to get on with the cast around his leg.

"Hey, we ready to go?"

"I just have to go sign the discharge papers. I guess your mother really didn't come".

"El, it's not about you".

"Please, I know how head over heels she is for her children. She wouldn't just miss going home with him".

"Can you get the papers, babe, so we can go?" Joshua pleaded.

"Yea of course. I'm sorry".

"We'll meet you out there" Brandon told her before she left the room "how you feeling?"