Hear Me

Chapter Nine

The doctor said she had ulcers due to stress and sent her home with pills as soon as she stopped throwing up blood. Pain killers…lovely. Sophie slid underneath her sheets after a hot shower, quite happy to be home after spending a week in the hospital.

“Exams this week.” Patrick said as he sat on the edge of her bed.

Sophie gave him a pleading look to let her go to sleep.

“I’ll buy you the last season of Scrubs to complete your collection.”

(Are you seriously trying to bribe me?)

“I just want you to have good grades, be a good little academic.”

(Bite me.)

“Kinky but no thanks, I’ve got Sam. It would be awkward if I banged you because-” Patrick didn’t even get the chance to finish what he was saying because she picked up her pillow and began to hit him with it. He laughed and tried to dodge the assault. He jumped off of the bed.

“You’ll never catch me alive, coppa!”

He ran out of the room, shouting ‘ole’ in the process. Sophie smiled. Sam gave Patrick sugar, no doubt about that, but it was nice for a change. Everything seemed so serious lately so a little ‘ole’ every now and then wasn’t a bad idea. Sam walked into the room and sat down.

(You gave him sugar)

“He put six packets in his coffee, half dead this morning. What else was I supposed to do? Stop him?”

(Exactly. That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do, you know how Patrick is…he’s like our lovechild.)

Sam couldn’t help but smile.

“If Patrick is our lovechild then I’ve got issues because that means I’ve fucked both my sister and my child.” Sam said

(Well, you know, we aren’t normal anyways.)

“What is normal? Is it something you put on pizza?” He asked

She smiled at that and pulled him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him.

“You feeling any better?”

She gave a nod, knowing he felt it as she closed her eyes. She pulled away, scribbling on the paper.

(I have to study for tests but all I want to do is sleep…)

“Sleep first, study later. I’ll leave you alone…” Sam smiled as he stood.

(Love you, Sam.)

“Love you too, Sophie.”

And then he left her to disappear into the land of dreams.

~ ~ ~

Luke ran his fingers through his hair as he sat on his bed, bottle in hand. His mother passed away last night and to top it off, he had to sort through her things. Her thing smelled like her, the scent of cinnamon still filling his senses. He wanted to make that go away, to get the scent of Tulips around but then those would remind him of Sophie and was he any better thinking of her? The doorbell rang throughout the house, making him practically jump out of his skin. He stood, leaving the beer bottle on the nightstand and going to get the door.

“I came as soon as I heard…”

His sister, Florence. She had tears in her eyes and looked exhausted, pulling her brother into a hug despite that fact.

“It’s okay…we’re okay…right, Flo?” Luke asked as he held her close.

She nodded.

“We’re going to be okay…”

Then, her warmth pulled away from his soul. She smiled at him.

“I’ll go make some coffee. Do you still have the same coffee pot? It smells nice in here, you must have cleaned recently.” Florence babbled her way into the kitchen.

She always ranted when things weren’t okay but he let it go…she was just trying to cheer him up. At least the next day was a bit of a surprise as Sophie walked in and handed him a container. He thought she was still in the hospital.

“Um, thank you? Feeling better?” He asked

She smiled and gave a nod before writing. He loved how she had to write, none of her thoughts pre-written for others to guess if they were really what she was saying or not.

(I’m sorry about your mom…your sister called me last night and told me everything. She was surprised to hear I was mute since you apparently have taken quite the liking to me ;) But yes…I brought you these. They’re cinnamon rolls. I made them last night…they’ve got an orange zest, hope you like that. By the way, I was wondering if we could do something tonight. Not a date….I just need to talk to you where nobody else is around and that might seem ridiculous because I’m mute but trust me…I need to be heard…)

He gave a nod.

“It’s not ridiculous…I’d like that.” He smiled before the bell rang.

She returned the smile before going to sit next to Patrick. Luke began to start the lesson despite the fact his mind was elsewhere.

What needed to be heard?