Faults, Scars, and Guitar Strings

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

*Kayla*

I showed up back at the hospital with Maria. The nurse tried to bring me back to my room, but I refused. I refused so much that they put us both in a bigger room so we could share, that is, after Maria was out of surgery. They had to go in and remove the bullet, but they said she was going to be okay. I cried when I heard the news. Her parents showed up immediately begging to know what was going on. After they heard the full story they agreed to wait in my room with me to keep me updated.

The doctors and nurses kept telling me not to worry about her because I needed my rest, but I couldn't stop worrying. She took a bullet for me I have to worry. I will not be okay until I know she will be okay. Dylan stayed at my side, as expected, and kept a good hold on my hand while we waited. When Maria came out of surgery, and after she was out of recovery, they brought her back in our room and I had never been so happy. I waited and waited for her to wake up, only to make myself more nervous, and her parents waited too. I made all the nurses mad because I needed to relax to completely heal. I was so happy when Maria finally woke up, and I couldn't wait to talk to her. She woke up early in the morning before her parents returned.

"Maria!" I exclaimed.

She looked over at me and smiled, "Kayla, you're okay."

"Yeah I'm okay, are you okay?" I asked her.

"I don't know," she replied, "I feel okay now, but I haven't moved yet."

"That's probably not a good idea," I told her, "Wait for a nurse."

"Yeah good call," she smiled, "So did it work?"

I started laughing, "You just woke up from having a bullet removed from your side and that's the first thing you ask me?"

"I already know you're okay, so that was my next thought," she said.

"I'm not sure it's going to work like we thought it would, but Zane is in jail. The cops showed up after the shooting and arrested them all," I said.

"All?" she asked.

"I think so, I wasn't really paying attention," I said, "I was kind of distracted."

Our thoughts were interrupted by a visitor... Anastasia. I thought the cops had taken her away, but she was alone. They must have let her go after questioning her. That is good because she doesn't deserve to sit in jail. She stepped forward; she wants to get better.

"Mar?" she asked.

"Anastasia..." Maria said, trailing off. The look on Maria's face confused me. She looked upset somehow. They obviously know each other. I've never heard anybody else call Maria Mar before.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

"What are you doing here?" Maria asked her.

"I need to say something."

"Didn't they arrest you?" Maria asked.

"They did at first, but at the police station everyone told their story and they let me go. They actually thanked me for what I did, but I feel like I didn't do anything. You've been telling me this whole time, but I didn't listen. You were my best friend Mar and I love you," Anastasia said.

I felt awkward watching all this. It's not like I could leave the room and give them some privacy. I didn't even know they were friends. Of course there were a lot of things that I didn't know, but the last thing I ever expected was a victim of bullying to be best friends with a bully's sibling. I was so oblivious a year ago. I didn't concentrate on anything that was happening around me. Now it's all coming forward at the same time.