Running

Chapter 16

* Ryleah's POV *

Ever since Ryder's CT scan, Brandon has been picking me up. It kind of leaves me worried about him.

It's August 3rd now. It's been a week since the appointment. His pre - op is in 15 minutes. And I haven't seen him for a week.

Brandon dropped me off at my dorm around 30 minutes ago for free time. And I've spent these 30 minutes, and the past 7 days if we're counting altogether, worrying.

I hear 3 soft raps on the door, and I jump up off the couch walking over to the door. I open it and peer around the corner.

Ryder stands there, his eyes red. I gasp softly, and walk over to him, enveloping him in a hug. His arms wrap tightly around my back, and he buries his head in my shoulder.

Lifting his head after a few seconds, he then places his forehead on top of my head. "Ryleah," he whispers, his voice hoarse. "I'm scared."

I squeeze him tighter. "What can I do?"

"Come with me. Stay with me."

I nod against him. "Always."

Pulling back, he grabs my hand. I lace my fingers through his, and he squeezes my hand lightly.

"To the pre - op?"

I nod. "To the pre - op."

His feet guide us to the hospital wing, a small distance from the medic. Walking through the doors, he finds the Registration Desk.

"Ryder Hart. Here for pre - op blood work."

The man behind the desk nods. "Take the elevator up to floor 3, and then take a left. It should be the only door on the right."

We nod, and walk over to the elevators. Ryder presses the up arrow, and an elevator to the left dings. Stepping inside, I press the 3, watching the background of the button glow softly. We follow the directions given to us, and walk into the room on the right.

"Ryder Hart." He says to the lady behind the desk. She nods, clicking a few things on her computer.

"Photo I.D. And medical insurance card." Her voice is monotone, expression bored as Ryder reaches into his back pocket, pulling his wallet out. Fishing out the things she asks for, she hands us a clip board.

"Fill this out, and a Nurse will be with you shortly." She smacks her gum that I didn't know she had, and motions to the plethora of chairs in the room.

We sit down, and Ryder looks at the sheet in front of him. He breezed through it, preparing to stand.

"Ryder," I whisper. "There's more."

Flipping the first page up, he groans. Eight pages later, he looks at me, a disgusted look on his face. "The heck with these questions! Do you have a Sexually Transmitted Disease? When was the last time you had your Menstrual Period?" He mocks the paper.

I laugh. "If it helps, the Menstrual Period question was just for girls."

He whacks the back of my head lightly. "Thanks for the information."

I salute him. "No problem, sir."

Finishing that page, he stands and walks it over to the computer lady. She points out a door, and Ryder walks over to it, motioning for me to follow him.

"Hello! My name is Grace, and I'll be taking care of your blood work. If you could take a seat in this chair, I'll take your paper work and we'll get started."

Ryder hands Grace the clipboard, and takes a seat in the chair. She accepts the information, and starts prepping the needle. Walking back over to us, she lifts his right arm up onto a table. Sitting in her chair, she inspects his arm, muttering softly to herself. She opens a small package, holding an alcohol wipe, and wipes is across the inside of his elbow.