The Silent Song

CHAPTER-5

I woke up the next morning to an eerily quiet house. Normally my mom would be up frying something but as I said, today was quiet. What was weirder was that today was Sunday and mom was supposed to be home.

I decided to wait for some more time. It was not long before my cellphone rang and I rushed to it expecting it to be mom.

"Hello mom," I answer after the second ring.

"No. I am afraid it is not your mother." An unfamiliar voice replies at the other end.

"Ohhh..." is all I manage to say. An uneasy feeling settles into my stomach.

"I'm Summer Hayes and I'm afraid that your mother has been in an accident." She says, with sadness clear in her voice. And I nearly drop the phone.

"What? How?" I hear my heart thump loudly inside my chest and run my fingers through my untied hair.

"Well, I don't know that. I've been asked to inform you what I already did. You are required to come to the Lakeview hospital ASAP." I am already out of the door before I disconnect the line. Without thinking I call Jake and I can say without a doubt that I woke him from his slumber.

"Hello." He says groggily.

"Hey, Jake its Callie, I am sorry to disturb you but I need to borrow your car."

The urgency in voice is palpable and he asks in a worried tone, "why? What happened?"

"My mother just met with an accident." I said picking up a jacket to throw over myself.

The line went quiet at the other end and I almost believe that he had fallen asleep when he says, "I'll drive you."

I am already locking the door behind me and reach in front of Jake's house so save time.

Five minutes later I am sitting in Jake's car and my legs are shaking. It's a nervous habit. God knows where I picked it from.

When we reach the hospital I don't even bother thanking Jake as I rush out of the car and to the front desk. A lady is sitting there with her hair wrapped up in a tight bun. I walk up to her and ask her about my mother.

"Hello, is there anyone by the name of Amelia Adams registered. She must have arrived between yesterday and today." I say without taking a pause.

She smiles and answers, "I'll just check." After tapping on the keyboard a few times she says, "yes she arrived here at 9 pm yesterday and is in room 309."

As soon as she finishes I ask her for directions and start moving towards the room. While walking down the hallways I'm acutely aware of Jake following me. Reaching the room seems to take forever.

I push open the door while Jake waits outside. I look at my mom who is sleeping. I go and sit beside her and she wakes up due to the movement.

"Hey mom," I smile.

"Hey Callie," she says and winces.

I notice that her jaw is cut and her right leg is in a cast. "What happened?" I enquire.

"I guess I took a wrong turn," she gives me a sad smile.

"Oh," I don't know what to say so I sit there with her for a while, talk to the doctor about her discharging and then she sleeps after taking a few painkillers. I go out of the room. I notice a message from Jake saying that he is in the cafeteria and I am just replying to his text when I bump into someone and drop my phone.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you coming. "It's a guy's voice and it's familiar. I try to place the voice while the guy bends down to pick up my phone. As he picks it up and hands it over there is a hint of recognition in his eyes and it starts gleaming.

"You are...."he trails off shrugging with a smile and adding, "the girl from the club."

"And you are Ashton if I am right." I smile.

I notice now that he is taller than I am by a good measure.

"As right as you could ever be," Ashton grins.

"So what are you doing here?" I ask. But Ashton seems uncomfortable at the question. "It's okay if you don't wish to answer," I quickly add. I don't wish to be nosing in on his personal matters.

"Nope. Nothing like that. I'm just here for the people. The community." He pinches his lips together.

"You seem to do a lot for other people. Charity boy." I nudge him in the elbow recalling the first time I met him, he was a really sucking concert for a friend. I smile at him.

He smiles back. A genuine smile. It lights up his whole face and crinkles form at the corner of his eyes. "So why are you here?" He asks.

"My mom met with an accident." I say.

That takes him off guard. I am sorry." Is she alright?" He asks concerned.

"A broken leg and a few bruises here and there," I reply.

"Oh...."he trails off.

"Hey, you were unsure to tell me why you are here. If you don't mind me asking, why so?" I had no idea why I asked him this.

"Well...I was embarrassed...." He said. And just like my habit was, I quoted, "hey don't be, you see, 'if you want to be unique then be good because nowadays there are too many bad people in this world.'"

That makes him smile. "Where'd you get that?"

"I collect quotations. I mean, I read a lot. So if I come across something interesting, I make it a point to note it down. Maybe I could tell you some more sometime." I offer. I was really enjoying his company.

"Or maybe you could show me your collection, only if you are comfortable of course." He quickly adds the last bit.

I nod, and before the silence can become awkward, he speaks.

"Where do you go to school?" He asks.

"Coldwater high and you?" I ask.

"I'm home schooled." He answers. He is again uncomfortable at answering so I don't ask him the reason for his homeschooling though I'm curious.

"Oh, and before I forget-" he is cut off by Alex standing down the hallway and shouting.

"Callie...Jesus...thank god I found you," she rushes towards me.

Ashton looks at me and says, "Callie, so that's your name. Last time I couldn't find out your name because of her and now she is the one telling it to me. Look how fate works." He smiles and turns to walk away. He spins at the last moment- and I am caught off guard- brings his lips close to my ear and whispers, "nice name, by the way," and walks off.

What the hell just happened?!