Mad Hatter |George Daniel|

08

I have to laugh to keep the shock down. It was more of a wheeze. George's sight falls to the floor like he was ashamed. This has to be a joke...seriously. Out of all the people he wanted to tell it was me? His girlfriend of only one day?

"You're joking right?" I say pulling my hand back to my side. The hospital bed suddenly felt more stiff. He doesn't answer me therefore it had to be a yes. My head sinks into the pillow in shock. George is so innocent, so pure looking, how could he be obsessed with murder? It took both of us awhile to soak the information in our brains.

"You're not mad right? Or scared?" He asks with worry.

"N-no, I'm just surprised that's all." I say with a shaky breath. What if he thinks about killing me? What if he thinks about killing one of my friends? What if he thinks about killing Macen after this? Wait...

"I don't want to hurt you Luana. I just want you to accept me like this before our relationship goes any further. Understand I have episodes sometimes." His voice quivers.

"Episodes?"

"Don't worry about them." He says. "All I'm concerned about is you right now. Out of all the things he could've done he shoots you?"

"Well I did hit him with a pot." I shyly say and his eyes widen. "He had a gun pointed at my best friend what else could I have done?"

He chuckles. "True. I'll have to teach you some self defense yeah?" I laugh too and nod my head. Some how I didn't know how I could laugh when I just found out this about my boyfriend and I have to talk to police about my stalker ex in the 10 minutes.

&&&

After a shaky hour of talking to one intimidating police officer I was finally allowed to relax in my bed and hopefully get sleep. George refused to leave until he knew I was sound asleep. There too much pain in my leg to even consider sleep so I scrolled through my Facebook. All my relatives were having a dandy time in their lives. Lucky them. There was a news article in the paper about what happened already. Macen and I were kinda half the town talk. He's been marked wanted right after the police stopped talking to me. Knowing him he has to be in another town by now.

The illumination on my phone screen started to give me a headache so I set it down for the night and tried to get in a comfy position with all these wires in my way. George watches me from the chair by the window. He has one headphone in while reading on his phone. The lights were dim so it was hard to see him. Just looking at him made me happy. I smile to myself knowing I'll be okay in this mess with him by my side. I just worried about what he told me. He's never killed anyone, I know that for a fact. Does he consider killing Macen for this? Even though we've only known each other for a short while he seems so protective.

I thought long and hard about all this until my eyes got heavy. My phone projected the time for me. 2 am and George was slumped in the chair uncomfortably. I felt bad that he stayed here instead of heading home to sleep in his own comfy bed. He worries too much really. Now two days in and it's rocky for us. If he really cares I know he will pull through this with me. Loyalty is everything right?

I run my fingers along the pillowcase in boredom. Part of me wanted him to wake up to talk to me. There's really nothing to talk about but it's nice to hear his voice. It helps. In the middle of the night my I went dry and started to beep loudly sparking George from deep sleep. I press the red button on my wire to signal a nurse to shut the damn thing up. Gee rubs his eyes sleepily and looks at me with alarm but relaxes when he see's it just the machine.

"Baby get heading home." I command right as the nurse comes in so he can't reply right away. She replaces the bag and fills me up with more pain killers. Asking me if I needed anything I decline and she leaves with a smile. Man that job has to suck, she's got bags under her eyes...

Gee stands up and stretches his way over to me. "Feelin good babe?" He lowers himself to kiss me a few times. I get those butterflies again. I nod a little even though deep down I wasn't feeling the best. Physically that is. "Try and sleep, okay?" He runs a hand through my hair then lightly taps a beat on the railing. It matched the sound of the machines beeping to my slow heart beat. He hums a little song by Ed Sheeran while I shut my eyes.

"Seriously get home and rest for work. Don't worry about me, I'm safe and sound here." I demand opening my eyes to see his brows knitted together. It looked like he really didn't want to leave. I hated that he's depriving himself of sleep when he knows he has work in the morning. "Adam said he will be in the morning to check on me anyways."

"Are you sure? I hate to leave you all alone in here." He frowns and strokes my hand right next to the IV. I nod my head and he kisses me again. Over and over because he wouldn't know when he gets too again. He wishes me goodnight and tells me his phone will be on all night if I needed anything. Part of me hurts when he leaves and I realize the only thing not making the room silent was the AC and my IV. I lie down more and shut my eyes with the thought of that gun barrel down Ross's face.

&&&

I was asleep for most of the day. Adam arrived at about 1 pm which woke me up. The pills they put me on today made me super sleepy and my lack of sleep on the first night was part of the reason too. I had no dreams for once. The stitches in my leg healed very slowly as they tell me. Doctors didn't have a date for when I could be released but did have medication prescribed for me when I do get out. Adam brought me some Starbucks and cookies his girlfriend made me once she heard what happened. We had a long conversation about what Macen's consequences should be once he's caught. He tells me he keeps an eye out when he goes downtown. Hell he could be in the slums on London shooting up himself or other people. He's always had drug issues I could never tame.

Even though me and Macen's parting was actually very peaceful he ended up hating himself. He hates himself to the point where he blamed me for self loathing then basked in sorrow to get me back. It blows my mind that one day I was moping and scared about him then fucking some guy I've only known for a week. Screaming his name like I would Macen's. I questioned myself and what the hell I was doing and why I deserved a bullet in my leg.

After Adam left I had unexpected company. It was Matty and a young boy not even 16 yet. "LUANA!" He shouted pushing the young boy aside. "How's it going?" Matty sounded all too cherry to me right now. What's got him in a good mood? I was going to answer him but he shouts again. "This is Louise. My little brother, I'm watching him but I missed seeing you so I dragged him with me."

"You saw me yesterday Matty." I chuckle. "It's nice to me you Lou." I smile at him and he shoots one back just as big. "Now what drugs could you possibly be on to be this hyper at a time like this?" I fold my arms even though it hurts my IV. I was cold.

"Like 15 cups of coffee." Louise laughs holding up in empty mug from Starbucks. "If you look hard enough there's a trail leading home."

Matty shoves him playfully and comes to sit by me, telling me about art he's about to start. I found this time very fun, Matty was becoming my friend.