hot water » styles

Chapter 12

(A/N: There is some vulgar language included in this chapter. Please note this.)

My eyes fluttered open and my vision was blurred, only showing an outline of what was in front of me. I frowned, seeing bunches of curly hair on my right, and bright red hair on my left. Confused, I shook my head and blinked my eyes three times before my eyes seemed to reorient. I sighed in relief as I saw Harry and Kelly looming over me, like they were worried parents. I glanced up, noticing I was staring at the ceiling. Where the hell was I?

“Where am I?” I said, sitting up suddenly, making the whole room spin. I had a pounding headache. “And will someone please get me a painkiller? My head is seriously killing me.”

The school nurse told me she’d go and get it, and went to find it. I sighed out of exhaustion. The room smelled of strong detergent from being cleaned, not comforting as a school nurses’ room should be. My whole body felt so weak, like as if I had walked the whole of the Great Wall of China three times. I struggled to stand up, but when I did, my knees buckled and I nearly fell over again.

“Sit down, Jessica. You just fainted; you’re not exactly yourself right now.” Kelly said, and I didn’t even argue with her.

“What happened? I don’t exactly remember. I just remember leaving the cafeteria and the rest was a blur.” I explained. Kelly and Harry looked at each other, looking as worried as ever – and making me worried.

“Guys, just tell me! What the hell happened?” I practically yelled, making my head pound again. I winced, holding my head in my hands. If they were going to keep it from me any longer, I think my head might actually explode.

“Jess. Honey. Your Aunt Vivian… she was in a car accident. That’s why you fainted after Mr Gibbs told you about it,” Kelly said, her voice barely a whisper. Her hand was on my leg, rubbing it soothingly. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. Harry squeezed my hand and I turned to him, and he looked like he was trying not to cry as well.

“Um.. is she… is she going to be okay?” I asked both of them, my voice breaking a little. I tried to hold in my tears by pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth. My breathing became heavy and uncontrollable.

“She’ll be okay, I think. They informed me that they’ve induced a coma to reduce the swelling in her brain,” I heard a voice coming from the doorway, and turned to see Mr Gibbs standing there, hands on his hips, his face full of seriousness.

That did it. Before I could control it, the tears flowed out of my eyes, falling on my lap and into my mouth, tasting salty. I tried to ask Mr Gibbs if I was able to skip class to go and visit her in the hospital, but he beat me to it, somehow reading my mind.

“Jessica, I have cleared you from the rest of your classes. You’re excused for the rest of the day. Go to the hospital, go visit your aunt and get some rest. Kelly, I have tried to clear you as well, but I was told you have a compulsory Biology practice exam today so unfortunately you cannot accompany Miss Stabler to the hospital. Harry, I’ve cleared you as well. You may follow her. Goodbye, Miss Stabler. I really hope your aunt gets well,” Mr Gibbs explained, bidding us goodbye and walking down the corridor.

“Damn, sorry girl,” Kelly apologized. “I wish I could go along with you. I promise you I’ll be there as soon as school lets out and as soon as I buy some orchids, okay?”

“Sure, that’s no problem,” I said, telling her that Aunt Vivian appreciated orchids more than others did. Kelly gave me a hug and walked out of the nurses’ room.

“Come on, let’s get going before the hospital visiting hours are over.” Harry said, extending his hand and I slipped my fingers through it, carefully coming down from the bed, hoping the blood pressure won’t make my legs feel wobbly once again. We walked down the corridor towards the exit, both becoming silent as we didn’t know what to say to each other. I just felt worn out and exhausted and just wanted to go to sleep.