Musically Problematic

Chapter 24: Swings

I need closure after what I just seen and did and I'm hoping to get that from Soph.

Luke's POV:

The slow beeps from her heart monitor echo in my ears. My sight is slowly getting less clouded, there is no tears in my eyes. My mind is slowly clearing, I feel so relaxed. I almost jump when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I read the caller ID...it's Mike.
I answer his call.

"Hey Mike..."

"Where are you? I've been waiting till changeover so I could call you."

"Don't worry about me...I'm ok. I'm with Sophie."

"What? Why are you with Soph? What happened?"

"Something did happen...but I won't tell you on the phone and before class."

"Call me at 3...I'll meet you somewhere and explain what happened."

"You're scaring me Luke...tell me."

"Not now...call me at 3."

I hang up and put my phone back into my pocket. Sophie still isn't awake so I walk out, I follow the signs to the canteen to buy some food. Everything looks stale and old so I just order a coffee and take it back to Soph's room. I open the door and I see a nurse standing near the monitor.

"H...hello?"

"Oh, hi. You must be Luke. Greg told me you would be in here with her."

"Greg?"

"The paramedic..."

"Oh. He never told me his name."

"He must've assumed you'd read his badge."

"I didn't..."

"Well, anyway. Sophie should be awake soon. And for future notice I'm Spencer."

"Oh ok...thanks Spencer."

She leaves and the room falls silent except for the steady beeps of the heart monitor. I sit on the end of her bed and play with her hands.

"I'm sorry about this Soph...I hope you're ok. Please wake up. Mike loves you...I love you."

I bring her hand up to my lips and give it a light peck. A tear rolls down my cheek and lands on her hand.

"I've never been in this situation, Sophie. I need your help...I'll help you through everything if you just wake up and help me."

I stand up and wipe away my tears before walking out. I go and collect my now slightly cold coffee that I almost forgot that I ordered earlier. I take it and walk outside to a park across the road. I lay on the grass and stare at the clouds. A shadow looms over me, I look over to see who it is and see a beautiful girl with dirty-blonde hair about my age. She sits down beside me.

"Hey, you look upset."

"Yeah, it's been the worst day."

"Do you wanna talk about it? Like...I know you don't know me and I don't know you so it's basically anonymous counselling."

"I'm Luke...thanks for the offer but I'd rather think about something else right now."

"Ok Luke...I'm Maddy. What do you want to talk about?"

"Let's talk about you...you look young enough to be in my grade. But I've never met you, why?"

"It depends...I might not be in your grade at all. I'm grade 10 but I go to boarding school just out of town."

"I'm grade 10 too, but boarding school would explain why we haven't met. I go to Norwest Christian College. But it's Still school hours and it's Friday...shouldn't you be at the school still?"

"Yeah...I had a free period so I got to come home early today...anyway I could ask you the same thing though."

"I told you earlier, I've had a Sh¡t day. I ditched school after second period."

"Oh ok. We're back to that again. We need to think of a new topic again."

"How would you feel about going for a jog with me? I need to clear my head."

"Sure, let's go."

She stands up and holds out her hand to help me up.

"You know I'm meant to be the one helping you up..."

She just nods as I stand up by myself.

"I'll race you to the swing set?"

"Ready...set...GO!"

I run off, I beat her by a couple seconds. Then my phone buzzes, before answering I see that it's 3.

"Hey Mike."

"Hey bro, where are you? I'll come see you but Cal wants to come too, we're worried about you."

"I'm at the park across from the hospital, at the swings but I'm probably gonna be chased off by little kids soon."

"Ok we'll meet you there."

I hang up and see Maddy on the swing, I sit on the one next to her. After a few minutes of swinging I see Mike and Cal coming towards us. I stand up and run over to them. They both hug me and we walk to a secluded, shady place. Maddy joins us and sits next to Cal. I introduce her to the boys before explaining why my day has been so bad. Mike has an angry look on his face.

"You have to take me to see her Luke...I've known about her dad for a while and I...I just have to see her. Please Luke."

"Ok...lets go. Cal, Maddy are you going to be ok to wait here?"

Cal glances at Maddy, smirking as they both nod. We walk towards the hospital I lead him through to her room. I push the door open and see Spencer next to the bed setting up some food and Sophie sitting up drinking some water. Mike and I walk in to her room.

"Hey Spencer...hey Soph."

Mike walks to Sophie's side and sits on the edge of her bed. I talk to Spencer about letting Mike come in and see Sophie like I have been. She agrees happily so I walk out to join Cal and Maddy again.

Michael's POV:

I take Sophie's hand in mine and kiss it.

"Luke told me everything. Promise me you won't go back to him and that you'll let me protect you. I'm sorry I broke up with you, I thought it was for the best but obviously it didn't matter. Please be my girlfriend again."

"Mike...you broke my heart. I don't think I have any love left to give out...too many people have broken my heart too many times."

I nod slowly but lean in at the same time. I connect our lips, not really expecting her to kiss back but she does.