On the way there, her and Jem barely spoke. He didn't turn the radio on, he didn't know what she liked to listen to so they just sat in silence. Finally Jaela decided she was brave enough to talk.
"So..." She said. He looked over at her for second then returned his gaze back to the road.
"I'm so glad you're talking, it was getting pretty awkward. We are almost there but there's still about 10 minutes." He said updating her since he guessed she doesn't drive. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine I guess. I kind of assumed the worse who knows she could have just mislocated an ankle or something I'm sure she's fine" Jaela said more reassuring herself rather than him.
"I'm sure too." He paused. "You know what I find weird?"
Jaela thought.
"No, what?"
"You agreed to jump in the car of a junior when you barely know me."
"I know it's just... I don't know I feel like I can trust you. I am right aren't I? Or are you going to kidnap me?" She said only half jokingly.
"Yeah. I won't hurt you" he laughed. "we truly are going to the hospital so I guess you can trust me. I don't know I'm just less quick to trust someone." He said. His face turned serious and Jaela thought of something to lighten the mood.
"Well thank you. Would you like to come over after this? My mum will cook dinner if she's okay otherwise we have pizza rolls." She smirked and looked at him through the corner of her eye.
"I'm sorry I would if I could but" He paused. "I've got to hang out with Elias." She could tell he was lying but decided not to bother. Why would she force some guy to come to her house?
"Oh it's alright. Just wanted to thank you for doing this. You really didn't have to."
"Oh it's nothing. I'd do it for anyone." She looked at him. Noticing his features from the eyes which she had been looking at since she met him to his plush looking torso then back to his eyes. He was perfect.
Finally they were pulling into the hospital. The main doors were lit up so she started to unbuckle her seat belt. She sat up ready to get out, ready to see her mum.
"Bye Jem. See ya tomorrow?"
"Yeah, how are you getting home?" She had forgotten about that. If her mum was as critical as they said she couldn't expect to go home with her. Jem must have saw her facial expression. "I'll wait out here"
"Really? That seems kind of boring. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I could build my Minecraft world up anyway. Take your time." She smiled and ran into the building.
Next thing you know she was at the desk.
"Hello, what are you here for?" Said the desk keeper in a nasally voice.
"I'm here to see my mum..." She replied not sure what else to say.
"What's your mum's last name?"
"Staren. Same as mine" the girl rolled her eyes and looked at the check in page.
"Yeah, Staren, room 559" The desk keeper gave Jaela a sticker to put on that said visiting and it was blue. Jaela knew the color codes here. Sadly she had to come here often, she just never had to check in alone because she was usually with her mum. Blue meant family, but minor. So they couldn't allow her in if there were some big surgery with big mess everywhere. But she could come in on any other circumstance.
She strode down to the room murmuring 5-5-9. A nurse saw her,
"What are you looking for, sweetie?" The plump nurse asked.
"Room 559" she said her voice littler than she wanted but she was too nervous to see her mum, what if she was in critical condition still?
"Oh it's right here." She points over two doors down. Of course Jaela knew this, she could count. But she still smiled and said thank you while passing.
She paused in front of the closed door. The lights were off which meant her mum wasn't being visited by doctors. She wiped away the tear she didn't know was streaking her face.
She opened the door and saw her mum asleep.
"Mom?" Jaela said. Her mum stirred and looked up at her daughter smiling. Jaela hugged her mother and cried. Jaela always vowed to herself to be there for her mum in case her mom had one of her panic attacks. Her mum had said she would try to relax while she was at school but the littlest things could bring a panic sometimes.
"What happened mom?" Jaela said pointing at the cast holding her leg up.
"I was having a panic attack, I was just at home I was in the hallway but I turned too fast and my knee twisted. It made the attack worse. I began to overthink things and then I passed out. I don't remember getting here or how I did. But they said Mr. Mozba called from our house." Mr. Mozba was their neighbor. "They had to do surgery in my knee and it was really bad, some of the plates had to be moved and replaced. They said I probably can't walk for a few months now. I'm really sorry baby" She said and now her mom was the one crying. "I know I said I would find work, that we would get better this school year. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen." Jaela didn't understand how her mum could be thinking of this at this time. Her leg was broken yet she was the one apologizing? That's just like her mother. So selfless.
"It's okay, mom I'll call grandma. She'll help. We'll be okay." She petted her mothers hair soothing her until she stopped crying.
"Baby I'm sorry,but I can't go home today. I don't know how you got here but you can take a few dollars for the bus if you need."
"It's okay mom I got a ride from a friend at school. They're outside now. Waiting for me."
"That's really nice of them tell them I said thank you." Jaela smiled and nodded her head.
While Jaela walked out of the hospital. She began to cry the annoying desk keeper looked apologetically at her and waved but Jaela didn't wave back she walked outside and looked for Jem's car.
Where was he? She couldn't call him since she didn't have his number. She took out her phone and called the only number she had on her. Blaine's.
"Hello?" A tired, raspy voice replied.
"I'm sorry to bother you but I think Jem left and I'm at the hospital and I don't know my way home. I should probably know this but I've only been here on emergencies I'm really sorry to ask but would like come get me, please? I have no other mobile family or friends." Jada blubbered on. "I'm really sorry."
"Oh it's okay, love. What's the address? I'm coming." She smiled a little because he called her love.
"Thank you so much."
