Caught In The Way You Got Me (Book One)

The I.V. and Your Hospital Bed, This Was No Accident

Asteria:

"Don't worry, ma'am. We're going to get that checked out as soon as we get there," the EMT says as he gently feels my wrist. I give him a small smile, trying to contain myself. 

"That fucking idiot," Dallon angrily whispers to himself as he looks out the back window of the ambulance truck. I let out a sigh, not wanting to think about Brendon right now. I'm still trying to process what happened.

"Dallon, I don't think that's what we should be thinking about right now," Pete whispers as he gives me a quick glance. I'm so glad he came along, too. Something about him coming with us makes it a little bit easier to deal with. I debate on calling Davey but I haven't bothered him about anything like this since our argument and I don't want him here right now. I'm happy with the company I have. Dallon looks at me and his eyes water. He looks back down and sighs. 

"Dal, I'll be fine," I say quietly but I don't believe it either. He just shakes his head. The EMT sits next to me and rubs my back.

"I know this isn't the time, but once we get there and you're checked out there will be an officer waiting to interview you. Just be honest and be strong. I'm sure your boyfriend will be alright," he tells me. This makes my head ache.

"I don't know if he's my boyfriend anymore," I say with a sigh as I rest my head against the truck wall. Dallon quickly looks at me and Pete shakes his head. 

"Asteria, I think you just keep catching him with bad timing," he tells me. Pete slaps his leg.

"Dude, what part of not right now don't you understand!"

"Well it's true! It's just bad timing!"

"No! It's just bad choices!"

"Gentlemen, I don't care what band you're in I will have them drop you off in the street and you will walk to the hospital," the EMT says firmly. He looks back at me and smiles, giving me a wink. I return as big a smile as I can muster up but I don't think it really looks like one. He takes my head chain off and starts petting my hair.

He's handsome. His jaw line is strong and his lips are full. His dark hair contrasts his piercing blue eyes and his smile is crooked and he's really just charming all around. This must be the kind of ambulance women make those jokes about. Pete and Dallon are still arguing and I give up on thinking about anything else at this point. I rest my head on his chest and he continues petting my hair until I start to fall asleep.

"Asteria, let's go!" Brendon laughs as he grabs my hand and starts running. We're in the dark and I run with him, unsure of where it is we're going, but I trust him. Suddenly, lights turn on and people are screaming and music starts playing. Brendon is still grabbing my arm and he leans in to kiss me. I kiss him back, happily intoxicated by the way he moves his lips with mine and the way he gently places a hand on my waist. He pulls away and my arm starts to ache, what's going on? He looks at me and smiles and squeezes even tighter. 

"Brendon! Brendon, stop! You're hurting me!" He smiles and grabs my face with one hand, keeping the other at my wrist.

"I'm not going to hurt you, honey. I'm going to destroy you," he whispers in my ear.

I jump awake once I feel the ambulance car come to a strong stop. 

"Are you alright?" Handsome EMT asks me and I realize that I'm breathing heavily. I just give him a small nod.

"Nightmare," I say quietly. He gives me a sympathetic nod and goes to open the doors. Dallon looks at me carefully before climbing out first. Pete goes next and they both wait as I slowly try to make my way down from the truck to the floor using my left arm. Handsome EMT scoops me up and climbs out of the truck with ease before gently placing me on the floor. 

"Good luck, Asteria," he tells me with a smile. I smile back and he pulls me into his chest, hugging me tightly. "Remember, just be strong okay? And I don't think that your boyfriend meant to hurt you. At least, compared to the sides of the story that I've heard. You'll be alright."

I thank him and so does Pete. Dallon glares at him as he guides me into the hospital and we sit in the waiting room while I tell Pete what to write on the form since I can't do it myself. I try to ignore that realization, that I might not be able to draw anymore. That my dreams might be out of the window because of one stupid fight. 

After a few hours of sitting in pain and having difficulty breathing a nurse finally calls my name. I strip into a hospital gown and immediately am reminded of waking up a few months ago in a hospital bed not having showered for a week and Brendon changing me. I don't want to think about him right now...I'm too worried...

After various x-rays to my ribs and arm I'm sitting at the edge of a hospital bed and Pete peeks around the curtain. 

"You okay?" He asks with a smile. I smile and motion to let him know he's okay to come in.

"I'm not in pain anymore, they gave me a little something," I say as I indicate toward the IV drip that is now attached to my arm. Pete lets out a breath of a laugh. 

"Man, this kid sure knows how to mess up a situation," he sighs as he sits next to me. 

"Hey, Pete?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?" He looks at me and bursts into laughter. He shakes his head and rubs my back before answering. 

"Sorry, it's just funny that this state is so crappy you feel the need to ask why someone shows you kindness. I've just heard great things about you and I know you're  a good person. You don't really have any family or close friends out here, so I figured you could use one right now since Dallon is completely focused on you staying with Brendon."

"I don't know what to do about that," I sigh and Pete gives me an understanding nod.

"You know, he didn't really mean to hurt you. I don't think he knew it was you pulling him off of that guy. I didn't even think it was you, who knew someone so tiny could be so strong!" He laughs. I can't help but laugh too. 

"I'm not that tiny!" I say as I give him a light shove.

"How much gym time do you put in to be able to lift someone twice your size?" he says still laughing. We're both cracking up at this point at how humerous it must have been to see me trying to lift Brendon and actually succeeding. The doctor comes in and we try to put on straight faces. For some reason I feel like I've known Pete my whole life. He's easy to talk to and his presence is really comforting. 

"Hi, Asteria." I'm shocked when I see that it's the same doctor that treated me last time I was here.

"Hi! Wow, this is weird," I sigh. She laughs. 

"I asked to have you, it's not coincidence," she tells me. I give her a small smile. "I'm very glad you got your memories back. I'm not glad that you're back in the ER. But you definitely look better than you did the last time I saw you."

Pete looks over at me concerned and I realize he has no idea what happened a few months ago.

"I'll tell you later," I say and he nods with concern. 

"So, Asteria, here's what's going on." I brace myself. "Two of your ribs refractured, unfortunately, but it shouldn't take more than an extra two weeks to recover. As far as your wrist, it's not broken or fractured but it is severely sprained."

My eyes pool up and Pete looks from me to the doctor with panic.

"It'll take about a month to heal completely, so until then-"

"Can I still draw?!" I spit out, fighting my tears. The doctor smiles at me.

"Yes, Asteria. Until your wrist heals, just make sure you're gentle with it. Ice it. Wear a brace twenty four hours, seven days a week. If you don't do that we might have other issues, so follow that strictly, okay?" 

I nod and sigh with relief. Once we try to leave the hospital, I'm stopped by a police officer, just like Handsome EMT said I would be.

"Ma'am, we're going to have to ask you a few questions about tonight's incident."