Trust Me

Luke

She is all I've been thinking about these last few days. Can she get out of my head already? I stumble downstairs to the kitchen in the darkness. It must be around 2 a.m. and, surprise surprise, guess who can't sleep? Jason has NOT been helping either. I know he's trying to keep me distracted but, to be honest, it backfires every time. Once he starts talking, it's only a matter of time before he says something about the hospital or 'that girl.' Then he winces and acts like he didn't just make it worse.

I run my hands under the cold water and splash some onto my face. If I can't sleep, I might as well be productive. I crash onto my couch and reach behind the pillows, pulling my laptop out from behind them. Once it's started up, I start to touch up my assignment that's due this afternoon.

I must have been busy for a few hours because the next time I look up from the blinding screen, the sun is starting to rise. I take a long, deep breath and place my laptop to the side. Just as I stand up however, I hear the soft bleep coming from the speaker that introduces a new email in my inbox.

I groan and carry on walking to get myself a glass of guava juice and an apple. 

Apparently I'm feeling extra fruity today. 

I say in my mind, my face still as deadpan as ever. I take a big swig of the juice as I open my emails. Almost instantly I choke and break out into some violent coughing. I glance over the screen again and let out and exasperated, "Come on!" 

I hear Jason's faint and groggy voice from upstairs but whatever he said, I ignore. 

I'm too busy with the sender of the new email.

Blue Springs Hospital.

I rack through the depths of my mind and try to figure out how they got my email address, when a deep voice behind me speaks up and I spill what's left of my juice all over the cushions and floor.

"Jason!" I bellow, slamming my laptop shut instinctively.

"I'm just trying to help!" he squeaks. His hands now held up to the side of his face as an act of defence.

"What did you say?" I query when my heart manages to reach its more-or-less normal beat.

"I said that they probably have your email address from when you had those blood tests done a few weeks ago."

I had forgotten about that. I was on the same floor as April is now.

"Remember? When you were sick and ordering me around like a slave... You know, I have never made so much soup in my life."

I release a small chuckle which seems to diffuse my edginess a bit.

"Well?" Jason demands.

"Well what?" I say, still absent-minded.

"What did they say, bro?" he says pointedly, "It might be-"

But he catches himself. I told you he can't help it.

He curses under his breath as I attempt to at least open the email this time.

"It's from that receptionist that was helping me find..." I mutter, "The one that was looking sorry for me."

"The girl? You mean the one behind the desk?"

"That's what 'receptionist' means, Jase." I sigh impatiently, clicking to open the message.

"Mr Taylor, I hope you are not caught off guard by my correspondence- what?" Jason starts reading over my shoulder.

"I felt the need to contact you as I feared you would be 'left in the dark' after the short outburst in the hall the other day... Who IS this girl?"

"I found your email address on our system as I recognised you from your previous visit."

"Okay, enough of the formalities. The reason I'm contacting you is because your friend in room 356, Ward C, has-"

He cuts himself off and straightens. I can feel him gaping at the screen. So am I.

"Uhh... I- I probably shouldn't be reading this?" his statement posing as a question.

"Luke?"

I'm still staring blankly at the next few words, mouth agape.

"You should go!" He insists excitedly.

"I can't." I slowly return to my senses.

"What?!"

"She won't see me."

"What are you talking about?"

"She won't want to see me, Jason! I told her she wouldn't see me again"

"You're joking... Are you MENTAL?" his hands are in his hair now as her walks around the couch to face me, "You meet this girl, absolutely love-struck, you can't stop talking about her for weeks and you said WHAT?!"

Silence.

"You've got issues, dude."

"You don't understand." I grumble.

"Not even a 'teensy' bit." he presses his index finger against his thumb and holds it in front of my face, the other hand resting on his hip.

I swat his hand away.

"It's done." I exit my inbox and slam my laptop closed, practically throwing it into the bag.

"You've got a class at- what- 10 a.m.? I need to hand in my paper. Do you want a lift?"

"You're insane, you know that, right?"

"Are you getting in my car today or not?"

He rolls his eyes and sighs very loudly.

"I'm getting in the shower." he announces as he backs out of the room with his hands raised.