Back at the Dumping Ground (Rick Barber) |Book 2|

•Chapter 22: Short Paradise

•Chapter 22: Short Paradise

Sam's POV

I woke up to the sound of Rick snoring in the bed next to me and after about 10 minutes I couldn't get back to sleep so I sat up in my bed and looked around. The room was the basic white walls and white floors with hospital equipment on a little table on wheels. I look down at my arms that have red patches where I got burnt. They don't really hurt, they itch more than hurt. I cross my legs and lean my head on my hands as I watch doctors and nurses rush past the window doing their jobs. I sigh out of boredom.

Rick's POV

You know when you have a dream that you don't want to stop. Yeah I'm having one of them now. I was sitting in the dumping grounds kitchen on my phone when Sam walks in looking really pretty, like more pretty than normal when she turns round and smiles at me.
I smile back and stand up to walk up to her. I stand right in front of her with only a few inches in between of us when she wraps her arms around my shoulders. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her close. I look down at her lips and dip down to kiss her. I feel her lips move from under mine and I kiss her with all the passion I have.....
That's when I woke up.

My eyes shot open to see I'm sitting in the hospital room. I run a hand over my face and think for a second. I've had the same dream for days now and even though I enjoy it, I have Olivia and her face pops up every time I wake from that dream.

I'm messed up.

I sit up, which is a tricky task with one arm in a sling, and look to my left to see Sam sat up too with her head in her hands. She had her elbows resting on her knees and her hair was flowing down her back. She looked gorgeous. Wait, what? I shake my head and clear my throat to get her attention. She turns to face me and smiles.
"Goodmorning" she says.
"Mornin'".
"Sleep alright?" And the dream pops back in my head but I just say, "kinda, but I miss my bed". She giggles at this statement, which is a beautiful sound may I add, and says, "you've slept here two nights and you are already complaining".
"I know it's my superpower" I say stretching my one good arm. I see her looking at me out the corner of my eye which I smile at.
"What time is it?" I ask her, she points at the clock on the wall with reads 10:09am. I nod and pull my covers back. I stand up and walk over to the window. I lean my one good arm on the window sill and look out.

"I can't believe we are stuck her here for the rest of the week" I sat watching people hurry past.
"I know. I'd rather be at home" Sam says. I hear her get out of her bed and walk across the floor,
"I wanna know how bad the fire damage is".
"This bad" I say holding up my arm in a sling. She laughs at this before her face goes serious again.
"No but seriously. I wanna know if my room can be lived in and if my paintings are ruined".
"Good point. I want to know too".
Silence falls between us but not an awkward one.

Apparently my lamp had started the fire as the wire I tripped on was the lamp I turned on in the morning and didn't turn off. It had sparked and grew from there. I feel bad that it had spread to Sam's room but glad it didn't spread further or start when everyone was home.

I look down at Sam and smile. I'm glad she's safe. She looked up at me and smiled back before asking, "I have a couple of questions. How did you dislocate your arm and if you did dislocate your arm how did you carry me out the house?".

"I dislocated my arm trying to open your door as it was stuck and I was trying to get you out" she nodded at this. I turned round to lean on the window before answering the second question, "and I carried you out the house as you are as light as a feather and adrenaline was pumping through me". 'And I care about you...' I added in my brain.

"Thank you getting me" she said before moving to hug me. I hugged her back with my good arm. "And I'm not light as a feather".
"Yes you are" I looked down at her.
"No I'm not".
I sighed and gripped her tighter before lifting her off the floor. She squealed from the shock and burst out laughing which I joined in with. I put her down again and hugged her tight again.

I guess the awkwardness comes and goes.

~~~

Sam's POV

For the next few days me and Rick were confined to the hospital but we were visited by the dumping grounders a couple times. We spent the time chatting, joking and nicking wheel chairs to speed round the corridors in until we got caught. It was kinda like paradise, no careworkers, no teachers and no homework.

When Friday rolled round my burns had shrank and the doctors were certain I didn't have a concussion. Rick's arm was fine, just a bit bruised still. It was 4pm when Mike came to get us. I think the hospital staff were kinda happy to see us go home.

The last few days have made me and Rick comfortable around eachother again and friendly again. So something good came from the fire.

Mike pulled up to the dumping ground and Tee and Harry ran out the door towards me. I scooped up Harry and hugged him.
"I missed you two" I said after hugging him, putting him down and hugging Tee. Everything seemed well until I heard her voice and her heels.
"Ricky" Olivia screeched as she jumped into Ricks arms. He winced as his arms still hurt a bit.
"Hi" he said with obvious pain in his voice.

Well I guess paradise doesn't stay forever, which was also confirmed when I saw my room.