The Dandelion In The Hospital Gown

Chapter 27

AN: Sorry for super duper late updates>< Life's been busy these past few weeks, so I don't really have the time to update and all...Sorry:< I'll try though, and also, the chapters won't exactly be that long:/ I apologize for that:P Anyhow, here's Chapter 27 for you~

Enjoy!

-Denise

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Dandelion-

So Crystal and I were just sitting awkwardly in my room.

Hospital room to be exact.

"Um... It's been a long time, huh?" Crystal said awkwardly.

"Yeah... memories seem foggy to me now." I muttered.

"So, uh... how have you been?" Crystal asked.

"Cut with the small talk and get to the point." I said monotonously.

Crystal flinched and sighed.

"I'm here to apologize for what I did in the past. It was wrong of me to judge you, or to side Apple, or to accuse you like I did." Crystal said.

"And if possible, I would like us to...be friends again."

I glanced up at that.

"I-I'm not expecting us to be all chummy and fine after this, but can we at least try to be friends? I missed you, Dandy. And I've also been so worried about you. I really, really am sorry." Crystal said, her voice cracking at the end.

I gazed deep into her eyes to see sincerity and guilt. But I learnt that your eyes can sometimes play cruel pranks on you. People can be decieving with their eyes and words.

"You see, Crystal, I've learnt the hard way that promises can be broken this easily-"

I snapped my fingers.

"-and the thing is; I don't know who and what to trust now." I said solemnly.

Crystal's eyes dimmed with disappointment.

"But... I would like to trust you again." I finished.

Crystal's lips lifted at the corners as she muttered a sincere "Thank you".

I felt my own lips tugging up into a smile for the first time in a really long time.

Lucas-

I had told Crystal that I would be seeing Nate while she went to see Dandelion, so... here I am, but Nate was nowhere to be found in his ward.

I shrugged and decided to go to the hospital cafeteria to wait instead.

But once at the cafeteria, my eyes widened in surprise;

River and Nate were sitting at a table, playing UNO while chewing on sandwiches.

I spotted Dandelion's parents observing them a few tables away with amused smiles on their faces as River beamed in victory as he won.

Nate on the other hand, was chuckling good heartedly.

"Luke!" River yelled as he spotted me.

Nate waved at me lazily, beckoning me to sit with them.

I threw them a lopsided grin as I walked towards them.

"Hey, how's your leg man?" I asked Nate.

Nate made a face.

"Itches like hell, and I can't even scratch it." he sulked. I smiled at him cheekily.

"That's what you get for breaking a leg" I joked.

He rolled his eyes at the pun and crossed his arms.

"Hey, wanna hang out somewhere?" I asked. Nate looked over to River for permission and grinned gratefully at him when River nodded.

"So... you were looking for me for..?" Nate asked. Guess it was time to tell him.

"Nate, my man, I have a... girlfriend. A serious one." I said shyly.

Nate's mouth went slack.

"Luke! What hapened to your player card?" he protested.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I wasn't as much of a player as you are" I argued back.

Nate sulked like a kid and started grumbling.

"Who is she anyway?" he asked sharply.

"Well uh... she calls you sore-throat guy for some reason..." I muttered.

Nate froze in his tracks causing me to almost crash into him.

Then he started slowly turning around to face me.

"Say what now?" he said.

"Her name's Crystal. I think you've heard of her... she's Dandelion's best friend." I said, not knowing why he seemed so pissed off.

Wait... did he and Crystal have a past together? Hope not... Nate and I never dated each other's girl for a reason. We didn't want each other's secondhand-fling.

I have to ask Crystal.

Dandelion-

Crystal brought me to the cafeteria shortly after to get ourselves some food.

Then I saw my parents.

They didn't notice me at first, but River did.

Damn, I missed my baby brother so much! Seeing him happy again made me smile too.

"Dandylion!" he yelled, running towards me. He remembered to be gentle, though, since I was too weak to recieve too much impact now. It broke my heart to see my own baby brother handling me with such tenderness and care.

"Dandy..." my mother said, coming towards me. My smile dropped.

"Crystal, I'm not hungry anymore. Let's get going." I said coldly, not even looking at my mother.

Even in my peripheral view, I could see her flinch back at my words and tone. Then an image of grams popped up in my head.

'Let go of all your grudges, my little flower...' she whispered before vanishing again.

Was I hearing things that weren't there?

"Dandy- I mean Dandelion... What do I have to do for you to forgive me?" she whimpered; like a hurt puppy.

I held back a snort when I realized that I was practically calling her a bitch.

"Please... I know I'm in the wrong, and I'm willing to change! Just please, give me one more chan-"

"Alright." I cut her off, looking dead into her eyes.

"One chance is all you get, and you'd better not make me regret this." I said emotionlessly.

My dad and Crystal were looking at me with pride. Even River was staring up at me with adoration.

"Yay! Dandylion isn't mad at mommy anymore!" he cheered.

Was I mad? Yes, I still was.

But for the sake of my family, I have to at least try, and not be selfish.

For Dad.

And more importantly, or River. He hadn't been smiling as much lately due to the tension between my mother and I. I remember that one time I overheard River and dad talking...

*Flashback:

"Daddy, why aren't mommy and Dandy talking to each other? I don't like it when you guys fight" River mumbled sleepily.

"River... there are just some things you don't understand. Your mother did something which... made Dandy angry. Don't worry about it, okay Riv?" dad said as gently as he could.

"But I'm not happy. I'm sad these few days." River said sadly.

"I know, River... I know."

And that was when I decided not to think only for myself, but for dad and River too.

Flashback end*

I promise you, baby brother. You'll be happy again.