Summer Love

Where Love Begins

     For some reason I hear music playing. It isn't the kind of music I listen to at all. It's like classical music with nobody singing to it. It's not one of my favorites, but at least it's something. It's also very cold and I feel like I am in bed. Although, this bed isn't as comfortable as my own. So whose bed am I in? A better question is where am I?
     I open my eyes to see the ceiling and I take a quick look around. I spot an IV in my left arm and soon realized that I was in a hospital. Being that my parents are both doctors, they should know I am already in here. I am not looking forward to explaining how I got this way. I take a look around and see that the hospital TV was on, but on mute. I was the only patient in here. That made me worried because I realized that Monroe was with me fighting Ronni. I panic because if Ronni put me in the hospital then what happened to Monroe.
     I try to rush up, but felt a sharp pain in my chest. The pain forced me to lay back down. I grunt in pain without realizing it and caught some movement on the right of me. I look in surprise and see Grace, Lisa, and Jess sleep on a couch. I didn't see them before until I saw Jess move. She woke up and then saw I was up. "Hey, Mark are you alright?" she asked quietly to me, trying not to wake the others. "Well of course you are not ok. You are in a hospital, but I still wanted to check. Sorry, I am rambling."
     I replied, "It's cool. I am ok, but I am in pain. Hey, where is Monroe? Is he ok?" "Yeah, he is fine. He is doing a lot better than you are. Whoever beat you up gave it to you worst. Your parents said that you have a broken rib and a black eye along with bruising all over your body." Ronni seriously beat me good. A broken rib is going to suck and take time to heal. However, I am glad that Monroe is in better shape then I am. "Hey," I said curiously, "you met my parents?" "Yeah, they are your doctors. When I heard what happened to you, I came to the hospital and they were hooking you up to the IV. Oh and just so you know, you have been in here for 3 days." I looked at her in surprised. I've been out for 3 days. Ronni hit me harder than I thought.
     "Why did you fight those guys?" I replied humorously, "There was no avoiding it once it happened. Ronni can be a jerk and loves to fight." "Yeah, but still you shouldn't have fought him," she said worried. "You don't know how worried you made us all, especially me. Later that night Grace got a call from Monroe. He told her that he was riding in an ambulance with you to the hospital because you was out cold. After that we asked if Karmin's parents could watch the kids so we can see what happened to you. When we got there Monroe explained everything." I can understand her worry because if I got that message I would have freaked out. Well, on the bright side I am still alive and that's something. I look down and see that she was holding my hand tightly. She was holding my hand just as she was when we went down the water slide, that day we went to the water park. Just like before, I felt like it was just me and her.
     I said apologetically, "I'm sorry for worrying everybody. It won't happen again. Thank you for caring, but don't worry. I'll be ok." She just sat on a chair next to my bed and still was holding my hand. "How do you do that?" I asked her. She looked confused on what I was asking. She replied, "How do I do what?" "How do you make me feel like everything is ok when things aren't so good? For some reason, you always seem to make me smile." She just looked at me with a small smile. "I don't know. I guess I have that affect on people," she replied.
     We just held each others gaze and I got lost in her light brown eyes. I think I am falling in love with Jess. The way I feel about her isn't like any other. She just makes me feel like everything is ok. The morning light shining through the hospital window makes her look so beautiful with her light smile. I just want to stay in this moment forever. At that moment one doctor, my mom, walked in and Jess let go of my hand. Grace and Lisa also woke up to the sound of the door opening.
     Lisa got up and moved quickly to my side and Grace followed. "I am glad that you are awake. What where you thinking fighting Ronni? Are you stupid or something?" Lisa said angrily. "It's nice to see you too," I said to Lisa. Grace said, "You look like crap." I laughed lightly to her remark and replied. "Yeah, well you should see the other guy." "I did and he looks better than you. You are such a sissy." I stared at Grace in surprise that she saw Ronni.
     "What was you doing near him?" I asked. "He is dangerous." She punched my leg lightly. "Shut up," she said aggressively. "For one he isn't going to do anything to me. Remember in school when he was messing with you and I had to save your sorry butt. He is a lot of things, but messing with girls isn't on the list. And for two I might be a girl, but I can take care of myself. I told you before to stop worrying so much. Ok idiot?" "Alright guys cut it out," my mom said. "Can you all leave for a minute. I need to talk to Mark." That was something I wasn't looking forward to hearing. Everyone slowly exited the room and waved bye for now. Mom sat on the bottom side of my bed with a worried look on her face.
     I said, "I am alright. It really is better than it looks." "Save it Mark," she said firmly. "You don't know how scared I was when I heard that you was rushed to the hospital. You wasn't breathing for a minute a suffered a small concussion. That's not good. This is your second time here over something like-" "This isn't like before," I said cutting her off. "This was just a fight between me and Ronni over something dumb. I didn't get myself into this, not like last time." Her face looked as if she was disappointed. She turned to look out the window and continued talking, changing the subject. "Mark I heard what happened between you and Jake before the fight. He left you and Monroe to get jumped, but just so you know he came here to visit you." "That's nice of him considering everything. I will deal with Jake myself. He isn't a bad guy, but just makes dumb choices. I don't blame him for leaving. If he didn't he would be in my situation. But still, leaving your friends behind isn't cool at all."
"Maybe your dad and I should take some time off of work for a bit," my mom said while looking at me.
     "No," I refused, "dad and you can still work. I will be ok. I will stay out of trouble and Grace has my back. She isn't as evil as it seems, but don't tell her I said that. She doesn't need anything to boost her ego." My mom smiled lightly and kissed me on my forehead before getting up. "Oh and Mark," she said in a soft voice, "did you get a shot in on that jerk?" I smiled in amusement and replied, "I got him right in the face." After that my mom just grinned and walked out of my room. I was just left in the hospital room alone. I just kept thinking about Jess. I might be moving too soon by thinking I fallen in love with her. I mean at least let me get to know her some more. I think I will ask her out on a date first to see how everything goes. That is what I'll do when I leave from this hospital.