My Hometown

Waiting

Hunter, Caden's family, and I all wait in the lobby.  I called my mom and she said I could stay to wait to see if he was okay.  She also said she was on her way down to the hospital to see.  Luckily it was Friday so I didn't have to go to school tomorrow.  

"So..."  I said trying to start a conversation with this family.  "do you know any details about Caden's injuries?"

"They said he was shot.  But the bullet luckily didn't go in him.  It just grazed his arm.  Sadly I think this will be the end of football season for him."

"Oh really?  Does he play in college?"

"No.  He's actually only a junior.  He goes to Riverside High."

"Really?  Hunter and I go there too."

"Interesting.  Have you ever seen him around?"

"No.  But I am new to this school.  I just came this year.  Hunter might know him."  I motioned to him and he looked up from a book he was reading.

"I don't think I know any Caden's but maybe I've seen him around.  I haven't seen his face yet."

They nodded.  I looked towards the doors that we're sliding open.  My mom walks in and looks around until we lock eyes and she walks towards me.  Her bright blonde hair is pulled back in a pony tail.  She has brown eyes with flecks of gold.  Weirdly neither Kyle or I have eyes similar to hers.  We both have our eyes similar to our dads.

"Hey Cora.  Sorry your dad couldn't come.  He had to work late."  As I may have mentioned my dads a detective.  Sometimes he has to work late, especially on the weekends.  My mom works as a pediatrician.  So you might say we make a lot of money.

I looked at Caden's family.  There we're about 12 people all together.  There was a little boy who looked about five playing with some toys.  To girls who both looked around 10.  A teenage boy, about 14 looking at his phone, and adults.  There were 3 pairs of couples all together.  At least I assumed there couples.  I recognized Caden's dad sitting with, probably his mom.  And there was one elderly man, probably his grandpa.  And finally there was a lady who looked in her 20's and she was reading a book but had a worried face on.

I adjusted in my seat trying to get comfy.  I thought about Caden.  He was my age.  He attacked a mugger to save Hunter and ended up getting shot.  What if he hadn't saved Hunter.  Would he be alive?  Many thoughts ran through my head but manly how sorry I felt for him.  I wish I could've helped him.  He helped Hunter and now he wouldn't be able to play football or any other sports for a long time.  And I imagine that he'll have to go to the therapy to get his arm back to the way it was.  And it was all because of some mugger.  It made me angry.  At the mugger, of course, but mainly me.  I know it sounds stupid.  But maybe if I hadn't said yes to dating Hunter then the whole event wouldn't have happened.  Hunter wouldn't have been there and Caden wouldn't have had to save him.  All would be fine.  Well mostly anyway.

"Cora."  Said someone snapping me out of my thoughts.  I faced my mom.

"What?"

"This isn't your fault."

"What do you mean?

"I know that look Cora.  You almost always blame yourself when something goes wrong.  This is not your fault in any way.  You only helped."

"Okay Mom."  She kept her daze on me and finally let it go.

"Hey Mom, wheres Kyle?"  I asked.  He almost always helps me cheer up.

"Well his friend invited him over to his house."

"Oh okay.  By the way, can I tell you something?"

She nodded.  I leaned to whisper, feeling somewhat awkward with all of Caden's family listening to our conversation.  "I started dating Hunter a few days ago.  I would have told you but... I don't know I just kind of forgot."

She raised her eyebrows then looked at Hunter and then back at me.  "That's great.  I knew I heard Kyle say something about you and him."

I laughed.  "For some reason he was really excited about that."

We were interrupted by a lady in nurse scrubs that walked up to us.  She cleared her through and took a quick glance at her notepad.

"Caden is out of surgery.  It went well and he is awake.  So if you want to see him I'll show you the way."