In Omnia Paratus (AU) - Book 2

Living arrangements

"I'm sorry I'm so late." I said walking in to see Lily laying there on the bed. Slightly more propped up than last time but her colour had returned to her face where before she was pale now she looked better and fuller.

"You're not late." Lily smiled at me.

I smiled back at her as it went quiet and her mum left the room and we were alone.

"Look the Doctor said that I might not--"

"I know Lily." I said looking down feeling guilty straight away as I sat down next to her bed. "I'm here though, Matt's here and your mum and dad." I said slowly holding her hand.

"I don't think we should live in denial. I feel like we should admit it now that I'm never going to be able to walk again. It's so rare that people do, I don't think I should I get my hopes up." Lily explained coughing a little bit.

"If that's what you want. I can do that." I smiled at her. "When are you allowed out of this place?" I asked gently.

"Next week? I think. I'm in recovery then they'll give me a few weeks of coming back to the hospital for the drugs and stuff I need to take and to do exercising and that and of course they have to teach me how to use a wheelchair." Lily shrugged.

"Are you coming back to school?" I asked.

"University?" She asked and I nodded. "Yes. I'm not missing out." She sounded like she had it planned out in her head.

"And the end of this year?" I asked.

"I don't know. I wanna say I'll be back living in dorm with you but how can I? Our room isn't equipped for a wheelchair. I can't even get in and out of bed, I might have to live at home as much as I hate to say it." Lily grumbled.

"I can help. You're as light as a feather and Matt's around too, getting you into and out of bed is easy." I mumbled squeezing her hand. "Ollie and Jack are always around and they're super strong." I smiled.

"Nobody at our school is in a wheelchair." Lily stated as if it was a horrible statement.

"There was that one guy." I shrugged. "He was in Richards year and he was fine."

"I guess so."

"I'm going to make sure you can come back to school. Taking exams is important and you shouldn't have to travel everyday to take one." I rolled my eyes at her.

"I don't know what my mum and dad will say to that." She said closing her eyes and laying her head back. "Plus Jenna my scholarship is for dance. I can't--"

"We don't have to include them." I cocked an eyebrow at her smiling. "And don't worry about the scholarship. We'll sort it all."

"And how do you think we can do that?" She frowned at me getting a little irritable.

"I'll talk to the school, they have to be nice. If I can figure something out I'm sure I can convince your mum and then well, your dad can put up with it." I laughed a little holding her hand.

"I don't know Jen." She smiled before I realised she was really sleepy and was falling asleep as we spoke.

- - - - -

"I hate that school." Lily's dad said as they walked back to the car with Lily following behind sulking with her headphones on and not really listening.

"It's not Lily's fault. She just got a bad roommate. Next year will be fine and she's already shown improvement in her dance and her school grades." Her mum defended Lily.

"That girl is ungrateful. She had everything at home. Now she'll come home and her sisters won't even know her." Her dad yelled.

"Don't be silly. Lily was only home a few weeks ago for half term. Her sisters know who she is." Her mum rolled her eyes.

"I doubt it. She's not around long enough to even talk to them." Her dad scoffed.

"A new roommate, a new Lily." Her mum said getting in the car and glancing back at Lily who sat in the back stropping.

- - - - -

"Where are you going?" Matt caught me leaving the hospital again for like the 5th time in the last 24hrs.

"To school. Lily needs me to sort something out." I said quickly trying to get away in a rush.

"Lily needs you to be here and safe. You were in that crash too and you haven't had a chance to recover. You're sleep deprived and you need to stop running around." Matt said.

"How can I sit down and have a tea, when my best friend can't walk anymore because of me. This is how I deal with things. I sort everything out until I can rest." I shook my head scowling at Matt even though he hadn't done anything wrong.

"Jen please." Matt said holding out his hand.

"Tell Lily I'll be back in an hour." I said before leaving the hospital with literally no words for Matt.

I wasn't sure what I was doing because I couldn't convince the head to keep Lily at Ashford. Her scholarship was for dance and she can't even do that.

- - - - -

"Hey hey hey." Richard stopped me in the corridor as I was trying my best not to be noticed by him as I stormed to Mr Browns office. "Stop Jenna." He said separating from the group of people he was hanging out with and placing an arm in front of me so I couldn't walk any further.

"You're friends are leaving you." I sighed really wanting to go.

"You've got a face on. Whats the face for? Is Lily okay?" Richard asked taking my hand and pulling to the side of the corridor.

"Ashford." I mumbled in a bit of frenzy.

"Yes Ashford what about it?" He asked as I looked around impatiently wanting to get back to my main aim.

"Lily might not be able to come back if she can't dance. Her scholarship was about her dancing." I explained to him.

"Ashford is harsh but not that harsh. If she can't walk anymore I'm sure they'll let her stay at the school. Plus this isn't your business her parents should deal with this." Richard said.

"Her parents don't care! They hate this school and have wanted Lily to live with them and now they finally get the chance. But she's asked me to help and if I can, I'm going to." I ranted on at him.

There was silence for a bit because shouting at him wasn't called for and I felt bad straight away but still angry.

"What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be at uni, or on your way home or something?" I complained but I sounded a little nicer.

"Some of us were just passing through before we went out to the pub. I don't suppose you want to join." He said slowly.

"I can't. I have to get back." I told him still looking for the office I needed to complain about Lily and her scholarship.