In Omnia Paratus (AU) - Book 2

A & E

"He's been gone for a month now and she hasn't said a word about him." Lily told Matt in hushed tones as she was only in the next room.

"A month? Oh god it Maisie's birthday on Friday isn't it? That's going to be such a fun day I bet." Matt complained, he had no right to complain really but he knew it would be a bad day.

"Let's just hope he makes an appearance in the next few days. I can handle emotional about kids Jenna." Lily sighed.

"Hey want me to drive you to your appointment." I asked seeing Lily and Matt sat on the sofa together having a conversation.

"Are you going out?" She asked.

"Yeah I'm stopping by work, I haven't quit exactly but I've left for now so I've got to collect some stuff that I left there in some of the dressing rooms." I explained.

"Will you miss modelling?"

"Mm I haven't done it in a while anyway. Maybe a little bit but I always have the option to go back." I smiled. "You need a lift then? I can pick you up later as well. You're finding out if you can start a course today aren't you?" I asked.

"Yep, I'm pretty sure I'm ready." Lily smiled.

"I'm sure you're ready Lil, you've got to walk again." Matt rubbed her arm grinning away.

"We will take that lift I think." She smiled up at me.

"Cool, leave in 10 yeah?"

- - - - -

I dropped Lily off at her appointment and went to work. They had given me loads of gifts and leaving presents as well as a card signed by everyone. I saw a few new people giving me dirty looks and but I ignored them. I did enjoy modelling when I did it.

I got a phone call to say Lily was already finished so I tried to get away as quickly as possibly.

"How was the last assessment?" I asked as matt helped her into the car.

"They've put me on a programme and I'll be learning to walk all over again next week." Lily squealed from the back seat.

"That's amazing. I'm so proud." I high fived Lily and then laughed and joked around with Matt as he got in the back of the car also. We had a quick chat about the details of the programme and then suddenly I was interrupted by a phone call.

Lily and Matt thought straight away it would Richard but I knew it wouldn't me. And it wasn't.

- - - - -

"Hi is this Jenna Coleman?" A young, female voice said on the phone.

"Yeah, yeah." I said it the second time because I felt unsure to begin with.

"I'm ringing from the uh emergency department to let you know that Richard has been involved in a serious accident." The woman said and my heart literally stopped. She continued to speak but I wasn't really replying to her anymore.

I realised that this woman was not a nurse or a Doctor or anyone professional. It was someone my age, someone who was with him. A female someone.

I hung up the phone and my hands were shaking. I had to clutch my phone tight to stop but it still wasn't very effective.

"Jenna?"

"Richards hurt." I stuttered.

"What do you mean hurt?" Lily said concerned.

"I don't know. Something happened. They're airlifting him to a hospital in London." I mumbled just staring down at my phone starting to think random things in my head like what if that was honours voice? I was going crazy.

"Oh no." Lily said sitting back in her chair and clutching her forehead.

"I've got to go there. God it's going to take so long but-- what if he--"

"--No Jen get in the back, I'll drive us to the hospital." Matt said taking control.

"What?"

"Come on." He took my hand and helped me out of the car and sat me in the back and then got in and before I knew it we were half way there and I hadn't cried yet. The whole time I was right on the edge. Especially when Lily was holding my hand and telling me it was going to be alright.

- - - - -

"Hi I'm looking for Richard madden?" Matt asked holding my hand tightly as he dragged me towards reception. I was going to break down soon I could feel it.

"Room 715. Are you family?"

"I'm his girlfriend." I said quietly.

"He's just got back from a scan the Doctor may be able to speak to you soon. He's not quite ready for any visits." The receptionist said staring at the notes on the computer.

We walked over to some chairs and recognised someone from Richards flat at university.

"How is he? Is he okay?" I asked the girl as I knew her best. I didn't socialise as much with Richards male friends for some reason. She must be the one who phoned me then.

"He's not dead." She said sighing and turning away from me and to be honest I thought it was a little rude.

"The man is indestructible." One his friends said mucking around in the waiting room.

"Dives headfirst off the cliff, instantly spins out of control." The other said almost laughing. "Gets totally disoriented, barely gets his chute open."

"Bounces off every rock!" Another one joined in.

"Yet still manages to stick the landing." He continued.

"We gave him a 9.5." The first guy said.

"Had to deduct .5 for all the screaming and bleeding."

"What about his family, did you talk to them?" I dismissed them as I knew they were clearly drunk or just being really annoying in a time of crisis.

"Charlotte is on her late honeymoon in Spain, trying to get back, and his mum checked herself into some sort of spa the moment she heard." The girl told me and I was glad to have someone speaking normally to me for once, I was panicking.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get hot-rock massages." The guy joked.

"What about his dad?" I asked.

"We left word but haven't heard anything." She said shrugging her shoulders.

How were they like this? So cool about everything when I've just heard his condition is pretty serious. I was panicking like hell, okay I wasn't showing it much in front of these people but it bothered me. I went and sat beside matt and Lily and chatted to them instead.