Academy Everlasting

Playing Possum

PLAYING POSSUM

I feel myself being pulled awake by the sound of loud male voices. I can feel the soft sheets of my new bed under me, telling me I am back home. I take a moment to try and remember what has happened.

It all comes rushing back to me like a tidal wave. The mall, the creepy man, the warehouse, making North and the guys angry, everything.

The thought of being in a room with nine angry men makes me want to cry. Instead, I decide my best defense is to keep very still. Maybe they will think I am still sleeping and leave. Then I could sneak out and run. I still remember my idea to live on my own. It isn't exactly the best idea, but it may be the safest.

"Fucking fuck!" I hear Gabriel whisper yell. "North, God Damn it! I didn't mean it, man. I should have been paying more attention."

"Shit, Gabe," North sighs. "I can't believe I yelled like that. What the fuck is wrong with me?! You didn't do anything wrong, Gabriel. You just got distracted, I practically fucking attacked her!"

"I shouldn't have said anything about her arm, αδελφός," Silas says, quietly. "I messed up, I knew you were already upset. You didn't need to know about that until you had calmed down a bit."

"I can't believe I dragged her away from lunch to go to that store with me," Luke mutters. "I really couldn't have been more stupid, guys I'm so sorry."

I can't believe they are blaming themselves for this situation. I read them completely wrong earlier. Maybe they weren't mad at me! Maybe they don't blame me for everything that happened! I decide to risk it and "wake up". They should not be blaming themselves for this.

I open my eyes slowly and see all of the guys in a circle to the right of my bed. I slowly sit up and groan as the blood rushes to my head, making it ache. All conversation between the guys comes to a halt.

"Pookie?" Dr. Green whispers. I look up to see him inching his way toward the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"My head," I groan. "It hurts, but I think I am okay."

"Let me get you something for the pain," Dr. Green says, not waiting for me to reply before he is rushing out of the room. Not two minutes later he comes back with two oval red, white, and blue capsule pills and a bottle of water.

"What is this?" I ask, eyeing the medicine. I don't normally take medications for anything, including pain. So I am curious what this is and what it will do. I notice it says TY 500 on it.

"It's only Tylenol, Pookie," He says looking at me curiously. "It's for pain."

"It won't make me loopy or anything?" I ask, trying to remember which one Tylenol is. I know there are a few over the counter medications that some people take for pain. I was never allowed to use them so I didn't really pay attention to which one did what.

"No, Sweetie," Kota says, slowly coming closer to the bed and sitting by my feet. "Haven't you taken Tylenol before?"

I shake my head no and pop the capsules in my mouth, swallowing them down with a drink of water. Screwing the cap back onto the bottle, I look around to see the guys exchanging looks. They are using their eyes to talk again. I wonder if I will ever learn that language.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper, remembering the reason we are all here in my room. "I shouldn't have run again. I just didn't want to get hurt. Please don't blame yourselves for anything. I was stupid and should have said something about being hungry. Victor spent so much money on me, I just couldn't bring myself to ask for food as well. Please don't be angry with yourselves... or me."