She's still standing.

At the Hospital...Again

Chapter 42

We arrived at the hospital and sprinted to the door.
"We're here ... To see .... Summer Cooper." My mother said out of breath.

"This way." The secretary said. She showed us to the room. All of Summer's friends were sitting outside.

"What happened to Summer?!?" My mother and I asked simultaneously.

"She got stabbed..." Joanna said sniffling.

"But how? Concerts have security and metal detectors." I reminded them.

"This was an outdoor concert. No security. The bands weren't even famous. Just from High schools." Said Maggie, another one of Summer's best friends. We all looked at the floor.

"Can we go in?" I asked grabbing Noah's hand and squeezing it hard.

"Yeah. I guess so. She just said she wanted some alone time. But since you guys are here she'll be okay with it, I think." Said Taylor.

We slowly walked in. My mother went first followed by Noah and I, whose hand I was still gripping real tight.

"Summer, how ya doin?" Mom asked.

"Mom, you're here." Summer said trying to sit up, but Mom ran to her and gently laid her back down. "and Shay and Noah. I'm doing fine. The doctor said I should recover in no time. I'll be back in school in a week."

School. The word. I forgot all about it. I'd have to go back tomorrow and I didn't know what to expect. I tried to shake the thought of it away and focus on Summer, but I couldn't. I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I locked the door to the bathroom and fell to the floor. I instantly started crying, remembering all the horrible things everyone was saying about me and to me. I couldn't go back. I couldn't face them. I sat in there crying for a good ten minutes before I heard a knock at the door. "Hello? Someone in here?" I stood up and wiped my eyes. I unlocked the door and said

"Sorry. I was having an issue." I looked up and it was Monica.

"Shailey?! Hi! So good to see you again. You look amazing!" She said. She gave me a big hug and that is what I really needed. "I've missed you. You are my favorite patient, just so you know."

"Monica, it is so great to see you. I've missed you so much. Can I talk to you? You've been there for me during all my drama. I need some help." I told her.

"Sure anything." She smiled.

I told her about how i couldn't go back to school and that drama. She just told me that when I'm ready I should go back. And if I'm not ready I should wait. Because if I go too soon it could trigger those old thoughts and feelings. And that wouldn't be good. At all.

"Thank you, Monica." I said to her "well I should let you get back to your job."

"Anytime, but I was actually coming in here to--"

"I get it." I laughed.

"Actually before I go, I'm sorry about Summer, but she seems to be doing just fine." She bent her legs a little, I could tell she had to go real bad.

"How'd you know?" I asked her looking very confused.

"I'm her nurse." Monica said. "As soon as I heard the last name Cooper I instantly knew she was your sister, and she looks a lot like you."

"Eh, we don't look that much alike." I shook my head.

"Hold that thought." She said going into the stall and locking the door. "Your faces look similar. Not the hair or anything." She flushed and washed her hands.

"I guess." I said as we walked out of the bathroom and to Summer's room. When we got to Summer's room everyone was in there. All 10 of the cheerleaders and my mom and Noah.

"Monica?" Noah asked startled.

"Hey Noah." She said. "Nice seeing you again. How's the relationship going?" She gave him a little nudge and a smirk as she walked to Summer. "Need anything?" She asked her.

"Nope, I am all good." Summer said peppily.

"Okay, I'll check back in a couple hours." Monica said as she headed out the door.

"You seemed to bond nicely with her." My mother said to Noah and I.

"She was my nurse when I was here." I said to her.

"Yeah, she's super nice." Noah added.

"Oh..." My mother said looking a little guilty. I know she still feels bad for not being there for me. She went to go grab and chair and sit by Summer's bed while everyone else stood or sat on the floor.

We all just sat and talked for a couple hours. 9/10 cheerleaders left because their parents called asking them to come home. Maggie was the only one who stayed. I don't know why, but I really don't think she liked me. She kept staring at me and giving me mean looks. But, I never did anything to her. I noticed her giving Noah some flirty looks..but I didn't think it meant anything. Noah didn't seem to be paying any attention to her, though, so I wasn't too worried about it.
It's been about five hours at the hospital. Which was nothing compared to five months. It was approximately three in the afternoon and I heard my phone buzzing in my jacket pocket. Another unknown number call... "Hello?" I answered.

"I guess you don't forgive me." I heard a voice say on the other end. "And I totally understand. I don't think I can forgive me either."

Celia!! Oh God i forgot about the lunch.

"Wait don't hang up! I'm sorry. I forgot about the lunch. I was going to come actually." I decided that since God gives us unlimited Chances I can give her a second one. "There was this unexpected thing that came up and it totally slipped my mind..."

"It's okay. Don't apologize to me. I should be apologizing to you...I am sorry. We can meet after school tomorrow. Does that sound okay? I heard you were coming back to school tomorrow...is that true?"

There's that word again. The word that makes my insides turn, my stomach drop, and my palms sweat. "We'll see. But if I go to *gulp* school.... we can definitely meet after. At Alejandro's." I said slowly.

"Okay..and I'm really really sorry." She said and quickly hung up the phone.

"You were going to go to the lunch?" He asked protectively.

"Yeah... Why?"

"It's nothing. Do you want me to go with?" He asked hugging me from behind.

"I'll be fine. Thanks though babe."

"What lunch?" My clueless mother and sister asked.

Maggie didn't seem to be paying to us, she was watching some talk show that was playing on tv. She actually looked zoned out; and i don't blame her, i was pretty tired too.

xxxxx
hey.
if anyone's even reading this. lol. umm sorry i don't update enough. i totally get if you stop reading this book. my bad.

anyway thanks for those who've been reading and voting. it means so much to me, y'all. love you. :)

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stay alive.