A Summer To Remember

Chapter Ten

"Baby I've been, I've been losing sleep, dreaming 'bout the things that we could be!" Teddy sings along to the radio. "Don't you just love road trips?"
"It's almost Christmas," I say, turning up the heat. "No, I don't."
"Thats okay!" She yells happily. "I mean, you wanted this trip and now I'm taking you!"
"Why'd we even get an apartment in North Texas?" I ask myself. "I bet it's hot there, too!"
"Its currently 28 degrees there!" Teddy yells, which makes me grab the heater knob and put it on full blast. She winks at me and sings along with the radio.
I look out the window and smile to myself, I'm that much closer to Kayden.

"We're hoooome!" Teddy sings as she opens the door. "I see Mike and the movers were here."
"They set up our stuff," I point out. Our tv is mounted to the wall above the electric fireplace and the couch sits in front of it. Beside the couch is our love seat. I smile as Teddy tackles the couch. I go and find my bedroom. Mike hung my posters up, and hung my painting on the walls in the hallway and living room.
They look so professional, I think to myself. Kayden's going to love this.
"I'm calling Leslie!" I yell from my room and dial her number.
"Hey-o!" Leslie chirps.
"I got my apartment," I tell her. "I'm officially living in Texas." I pause, then talk again. "Kayden?"
"Still hasn't been home, wait, my dads on the phone with yours." She pauses, then gasps lightly. "He's in the hospital."
"Oh my God." I gasp. "I'm on my way."

I walk into the waiting room and see Dad and Jessica. Leslie is asleep in a chair, leaning on her dad. Dad looks older, mainly due to stress.
Jessica approaches me, and hugs me.
"Your poor father..." she says, pulling me away. "He's so stressed out, and with the baby-"
"You're pregnant?" I ask. She smiles slightly and nods.
"and engaged." She shows the the chocolate diamond dad had once showed me.
"She's a keeper," I tell him. "Now or never."
I smile, then get serious. "Can anyone see him?" I ask.
"Only family." Jessica says sadly.
"I should be counted as the sister then," I say, full of hope.
"Go find out," she says, stepping back. I walk over to the counter where a man is typing away.
"Yes?" He asks, looking at me.
"I would like to visit Kayden Black," I ask.
"And... what is your relation to Mr. Black?" He asks me.
"I'm his sister." I lie. Far from it, actually.
"Through those doors, room C215." He says. I glance back at Jessica and smile, then go to the elevator. Here I come.
I walk down the hall, counting the number.
200... I become nervous. 207... 208... 209... 210... I hope he's glad to see me. 215. I slowly open the door, and the sound of beeping greets me. I see a beat up Kayden asleep on the bed. His lip is busted badly, and his left arm is broken. They've got his right leg propped up, so it might be broken as well. I text Teddy to bring some stuff and I sit in the chair and take his good hand and hold it.

"I will never find another you...." I sing along with my music as I paint. My back is turned to the bed in which Kayden rests. "I still hear you in this house... I still feel you, in my bones. And like the portraits, in theses halls, I wish you were staring back at me..."
"I would if you would turn around," I hear a rough voice say. I turn and see Kayden smiling at me. I lean down and kiss him. He pulls me on the bed next to him and I lay there.
"I missed you, " he says as he kisses my forehead.
"You're all broken..." I murmur.
"I'm bruised, I'm not broken." He assures.
"What happened?" I ask.
"I wrecked wrecked my motorcycle." He shrugs. "I'm alive, though."
"When can you leave?" I ask.
"I've got no idea..." he mumbles.
"I've got an apartment with Teddy, " I announce. "When you get you, I want you to move in." He smiles at me and pulls me closer. We lay like this until we both fall asleep.