You've Got It Made - Tay Jardine Fanfiction

Chapter Thirteen

It was the monotonous squeaking of the park swing that woke  me up. God knows how long I had been out for, but I must’ve seriously needed that sleep. As my eyes slowly opened, squinting in the harsh San Diego light, I began to wonder why on Earth the swing was actually squeaking. It was constant, like somebody was swinging on it. The unused hospital park had an occupier - it wouldn’t last, though. The metaphor was there once again - forgotten about until the time suits the user, just like me. I sighed a quiet sigh that would’ve been inaudible to the park occupier as I slowly sat up and brushed off my shirt.

“And the princess finally awakes from her slumber.” The voice was recognisable but my head hadn’t quite woke up properly. I looked up towards where the voice came from, recognising Vic on the swing - still in his hospital clothes. I smiled widely at him.

“You’re awake!” I said, feeling relieved knowing that I wouldn’t be suffering with Jenna’s crying anymore. I stood up and brushed off my jeans.

“I’m awake? I’ve been awake for ages. You have been passed out on that floor for ages now. I was beginning to think you were dead.” He smirked and slowed down his swinging.

“What a convenient place to die.” I stated and walked over to sit on the swing next to him. I rested my head against the chain bar and looked out ahead of myself.

“Indeed.” He said, and after that, we sat in silence for a moment. It wasn’t an awkward silence. It was one of those comfortable silences that were enjoyable and bearable. “I’m Vic, by the way.” I raised my eyebrows slightly.

“I know.” I said, confused.

“You do? Oh. How?”

“Vic I’ve known you since we were seventeen.” I didn’t understand why he was acting that way.

“Seventeen? Obviously you’re getting me mixed up with someone else because I’m only sixteen.” He had to be taking the piss, right?

“You’re twenty-two. I’m twenty-two. We’ve known each other five years.” I twisted on the swing to look at him. He stood up quickly and shook his head.

“No you’re lying to me. I’m going back to my ward.” He began to walk across the path through the play area.

“Vic, wait-” I stood up and began to walk after him.

“Leave me alone, freak.” He walked off and disappeared into the hospital. He must’ve took a nasty hit to the head when he got attacked and forgotten everything. That’s the only thing it could be. How else would he forget the past five years of his life?

~

After a while of pondering about the situation in my head, the clouds began to cover the sun, making the area seem more dismal than it once did. I sighed audibly and and shoved my hands into my pockets as I headed towards the doors of the hospital. I needed to find Jenna. Maybe she could explain it to me.

I wandered through the sterile, labyrinthine corridors and bounded up an immense amount of stairs. There were that many flights that I honestly could’ve curled up and passed out then and there on one of the steps, but when a couple walked by, having walked the same amount as me, and were still not out of breath, I figured I could go on just a moment longer.  I made my way through the double doors on the top floor and began to wander, having no clue as to whether I was going the right way or not. That’s the thing with hospitals: every corridor looks the same. So I could think I’m walking towards the cardiac unit, for instance, when really, I could be walking towards intensive care or the psychology unit. There were never enough signs to point me in the right direction.

“Are you okay, pretty one? You look a bit lost.” I didn’t realise a man with a heavy southern accent was talking to me until I felt his frail fingers tap me gently on the shoulder. I turned around to see a man - seemingly in his 60s or 70s - grinning at me. You wouldn’t think he was a hospital patient with his beaming smile and his warm attitude. It was the hospital gown and the nubbins in his nose that gave it away, though.

“I’m just looking for my friend.” I said, smiling at him.

“Rough night? Those curls are standing up everywhere.”

“I guess you could say that.” I laughed lightly. It was nice to have somebody to cheer me up.

“Hey, pretty one, you been crying?” The smile on his face faded as he looked at me. “Your eyes are all sad and your cheeks are kinda flushed.”

“I was sad, but I’m alright now.” I smiled reassuringly at him and his grin returned.

“Hey, Alfie, are you causing trouble again?” A young nurse walked over to him with a smirk on her face. “I’m sorry if he’s bothering you.” She said to me.

“He’s not, don’t worry.” I smiled weakly at her as she helped the man, Alfie, with the nubbins in his nose. “I should get finding my friend. It was nice to meet you, Alfie.”

“See ya’ around, pretty one. And don’t you let anybody get you down.” He took my palm gently in his and kissed the back of my hand gently before the nurse led him away. I heard her say, “you’re such a charmer” to him as she led him in the opposite direction, and I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.

I practically ran down the corridors until I found the reception desk. I asked if they’d seen Jenna around, and they told me she left after Vic refused to let anybody see him. He was confused and forgetful and needed a little time to process the truth before anything could be done to help him. So with that, Jenna had left the hospital. She obviously had no clue where I had gone, and the battery on my phone was dead so I couldn’t get in touch. I sighed again and left the hospital myself. It’d be pointless me staying there considering Vic wanted nothing to do with me at the moment.

I reached my house later than expected because my mind was wandering and I was walking slower than usual. I charged my phone as soon as I got in and text Jenna with a simple ‘I’m sorry’ before I curled up and let my mind wander for about the millionth time that day. And I found myself wishing that everyone could be Alfie. If all the people in the world were an Alfie, there’d never be a bad day.