High Heels and Lip Gloss

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Me? Why me? Why would she want to talk to me? She hates me. At least that's what she's been expressing.

But I can't exactly turn her down. Besides, we're already on the way there.

After Jake's mom went back downstairs, Jake and I loaded back up in his truck.

I play with the hem of my shirt, to keep from biting my fingernails, a bad habit if mine that has picked up recently, with all the stress. If I chewed on mine any more, I wouldn't have any nails left.

Jake places his large hand over mine, and rubs my wrists in small circles, which soothes me a bit.

He pulls into the hospital parking lot, and I can't help but shudder. He takes my hand and pulls me out of the car, never stopping the constant rubbing.

We hurry up to the front entrance, because a slight breeze has picked up, and though its only a bit cool, I'm shivering.

Jake holds the door for me and I walk in slowly.

Everything's normal. Perfect, really.

Plump pillows on cozy couches, lights hanging from the ceiling, the spotless front desk. Music plays softly from hidden speakers.

We shuffle over to the front desk, and ring the bell that sits on the counter.

A woman's head pops out from a door, and she scurries over to the chair and plops down.

"How may I help you?" she asks, looking at Jake, as if I'm invisible.

"We were asked to be here by a Miss Patricia-"

"Oh yes, of course!"she says in a high pitched voice. "Right this way," she squeaks, gesturing us to follow her down a long hall with doors I'm not supposed to enter.

Her high heels clack against the white tiles, and all I can think is, "who wears five inch heels in a hospital?"

She takes a right, then a left, then another right, and then opens a door that leads to a long hall with more doors.

"How big is this place?" I whisper.

"I don't know. It's like a maze, isn't it?" Jake whispers back.

I nod. I dig in my pocket and slip a piece of gum in my mouth.

The woman digs out a key card and swipes it across this thing that beeps and then opens the door automatically.

I expect to see Patricia lying on a bed with a bunch of tubes in her, but instead I'm rewarded a greater surprise.

Another hall, with more doors.

A sign above the door shows that apparently we are close to the cafeteria.

Good, because I'm starving. Food will have to wait for now, though.

The halls have gotten busier, but it's still quiet. Nurses push carts with trays of food in and out of rooms.

Jake seems to know the idea that's going through my head, because he leads me away from the food.

Grr.

I'm about ready to ask when will be get there, but we've arrived.

Apparently, I find out from the lady that led us here, that we had parked on the complete opposite side of the hospital.

Which means when we leave well have to go all the way back to get to the car.

Joy.

The door in front of us has the sign "23B" on it, and the word "Patricia" has been quickly scribbled out on a piece of paper and taped to the door.