When You Can't Sleep At Night (an Of Mice & Men Fanfiction; Austlan)

Chapter 12

I'm uploading two chapters today because I love you guys so you'd better love me back >.< Anyways, onward with the story!

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      For the next three days, I'm force fed weird food, and have had checkups every day. By the fourth day, the day I'm supposed to be leaving, I felt more than ready to get out of here.

       My dad, Ashlyn, Tino and Aaron visited me every day. Ashlyn dyed to tips of her hair purple, and Aaron even got contacts. But I haven't seen Alan since my first night... It scares me. But no one else brought it up, so I felt too embarassed to. It's not like they knew anyways.

     My doctor entered the room, disrupting my thoughts. "Are you ready to go home today?" he asked me, clipboard in hand. "Beyond ready." I reply.

       "You can in about half an hour. Your arm and leg can operate just fine on it's own now, but try not to strain it entirely too much, alright?"

      "Okay." I mumble. I'll do anything if it means I can leave. "Your dad will be here shortly to get you." At that he leaves the room.

      I get up carefully and go over to take off the hospital gown they make patients wear and put on some normal clothes. Thankfully, Tino brought me some of his clothes yesterday, because the clothes I wore then might make me relapse. And it's safe to say I don't want that to happen. Ever. So I quickly pull on the red t-shirt and dark jeans. He even brought me quite a few bracelets to put on my wrist. That was thougthful of him. They all fit me pretty well. I look into the mirror on the far wall, it's the first time I've seen my face since that night. I have a few bruises here and there, but it's not too bad. Knowing where they came from made me cringe though.

     I patiently waited for my dad to appear. Eventually he did, and checked me out of the hospital. When we walked out into fresh air, I was caught off guard. I had almost forgotten what it was like to outside.

     "Do you want to go rest?" he asks me as we go inside. "No," I say. "I've spent the past three days sleeping. I don't think I'll ever want to again." This makes him smile sadly. "I have to work a late shift tonight. I tried to take off but I apparently can't. We'll talk about what happened later, okay?" I nod, as if I had a choice. "Do you want to go to school tomorrow? You don't have to if you don't want to."

     "Yes, I want to go." I say without much hesitation. This makes him bite his lip nervously. "Are you sure?" he asks. "Yeah. Don't worry dad, I'll be fine."

      He reluctantly nods and grabs his coat. After he's out of the door, I drag my feet up the stairs to my room. Clearly deciding I'm not going to sleep, I call Tino. He answers on the first ring. "Austin?" his deep voice asks. "In the flesh." I say smiling. "Hey buddy! How are you?" he asks.

     "I'm out of the hospital. So good, I guess?" I answer. "You are? Great! Are you gonna come to school tomorrow?"

     "Yeah, I will."

     "Good. I'm really proud of you Austin. We all are. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

     I feel a smile come across my face. "Yes. I'll see you tomorrow." I hang up and toss my phone on my nightstand. I'm glad I have such a great friend.

The next day, I wake up and get ready for school. I'm honestly terrified, but I have to face this. Or else I never will. I pull my Green Day shirt over my head and glance at myself in the mirror one last time. Here goes nothing.

      I was bot relieved and worried to see that Alan wasn't walking to school with us. I asked Aaron and Tino where he was, but they didn't know either. Weird..