Before the Factor

Resolve

I wake up to a nurse shaking me. She tells me she has to change the sheets so I'll have to sit in the wheelchair for a little bit.

I nod and she helps me sit up and maneuver my way to it.

Harry's there in a second, helping me position my legs so I'll be comfortable.

"Thanks." I say with a smile.

It's been easier to smile and mean it in the last three days. Harry's been a big help with that.

He's basically been living here at the hospital with me. He sleeps here, eats here, and brings my homework to me after school.

It seems that everyone is nice to you after an accident. Everyone's suddenly your friend and wants to know if your alright.

I'm not complaining or anything, the flowers and notecards they send me are really nice, it just doesn't seem real. It doesn't feel genuine.

I finally position my butt to a comfortable place and turn to Harry,

"Can you take me to the cafeteria? I'm starving." I say to him

"Sure," he starts to push me out of the room, "but I bet I'm hungrier than you are." He's still wearing his school uniform, his curls bouncing when he pushes my chair.

I laugh, "I don't think so. I'm so hungry I can eat an horse."

"I'm so hungry I can eat a lion."

"I'm so hungry I can eat a hippo,"

And so the conversation goes on until we reach the cafeteria, which thankfully, there isn't any horse or lion available.

He pushes me to a table and goes to grab some food.

When he comes back he had two burgers and fries in his hands.

I smile and take my burger,

"You know me too well." I tell him with a laugh

"I've seen you eyeing these babies since we walked in here." He says

He turns and grabs our drinks and sits next to me.

The burger is heavenly, why they have these at a hospital I don't know but they sure know how to make them.

I laugh at Harry's stupid jokes, and when he puts the fries in his nose and shoots them out with a puff of air.

People turn to look at us, some smile and some give us dirty looks. But our little bubble is impenetrable, it's an armor keeping us safe from the rest of the world.

Harry stands and takes my empty tray to the trash. While he leaves I look out the huge window at the end of the cafeteria, it's raining. And there are lights flashing here and there. I watch he rain fall until he comes back with a huge smile on his face.

"What?" I say, eyebrows raised

"Oh. Nothing." He says as he pulls me away from the table.

"Harry," I say as he pushes me through the halls, "what happened?"

He laughs and leans next to my head, still pushing my chair towards my room.

"There was a man over there, and when I went to throw the trash away he told me, 'that's a beautiful girl you have there, better not lose her'."

I feel myself blush and start fiddling with my fingers, Harry laughs and pushes me through my room door.

The nurse turns around, and sees me blushing and Harry laughing, she smiles and helps me back into my bed.

"I've out some extra padding on the mattress so you'll be more comfortable." She says with a strange accent.

I smile and say, "Thank you." I bounce up and down and nod in satisfaction.

She laughs and leaves the room. Leaving Harry and I alone.

He grabs his backpack and sits on the end of the bed.

"Lots of homework?" I say

He looks up, "Yea."

"I'll help you. If you want."

His face immediately lights up, I gesture for him to move closer, so I can see what subject he needs to work on.

The pain isn't prominent anymore. After the first night I told myself I wasn't going to cry anymore.

I was just going to get better. So I take all the medicine they give me. All the food they tell me to eat.

Now instead of pain there's just a numbness. With my leg in a cast, it gets itchy from time to time, but it's easier to bear.

I help Harry with his history questions. I've already done these, so they're fairly easy.

But his eyebrows are furrowed in concentration, his eyes searching the book for each answer.

I watch him as he works. Mesmerized by how his demeanor changes when he is concentrated.

I run my hand through his curls, and pull him closer to me.

He is frozen for a second, not knowing what to do. His head rests on my right shoulder, and his hands finding my left hand.

We stay like that, for how long I don't know, but we are both happy.

Too soon we separate. And my dad walks in.

He is a tall, handsome man. With brown hair and brown eyes, a three day old beard on his chin. He looks tired. Worn. I guess having your kid in the hospital does that to you.

"Hey, Mia. Hey, Harry" He says to us in his deep voice. "How are you feeling?" He says as he kisses my forehead.

"Hey, Poppa. I'm good. What about you?"

"I'm tired." Is all he says to me. He claps Harry on the shoulder, "How about you. How are you, Harry?"

He smiles, "I'm good. A little tired too. But I'm good."

My dad turns to me.

"Have you seen your mom?" He asks me

"I think she's outside, taking a walk."

He nods. "I'm gonna go find her. I have to talk to her." He kisses my forehead again.

"I'll be back in a little bit."

"Kay."

He leaves and I look at Harry again.

"What?"

He smiles. "Nothing."

I roll my eyes, and grunt.

"I hate that word."

He laughs and kisses my cheek. "I know you do."