This Love's Contagious, So Catch It (Josh Franceschi)

Chapter 11

Please tell me he was joking! Please tell me that this is all just a horrible nightmare that I’m going to wake up from. Just to be sure I held my phone against my ear using my shoulder and pinched myself. I gritted my teeth as it hurt.

“Laura are you still there?” Jeremy asked me and I sighed trying to calm myself down but it didn’t work.

“Yes I’m here. Okay I’m on my way. Where is he?” I asked in a rush. It would be surprising if he managed to understand that.

“Err the hospital near to the hotel we were staying at”  he replied and I knew that he had no clue himself. Both him and Hayley probably hadn’t taken notice when they rushed to the hospital after Taylor. I nodded even though Jeremy couldn’t see.

“Okay don’t worry just stay there and I will find my way to you. Any news you call me okay?” I asked and Jeremy made a noise of agreement from the other end. I nodded and the call ended from Jeremy’s end.

I pulled in a breath before going onto the internet and pulling up a map of the area on Google Maps. I love having touch phones since they are so easy to use. After finding the hotel where Taylor had been staying at I found that there was a hospital just a few blocks away from the hotel. I nodded at myself before looking up at everyone, feeling my hands start to shake as I realised what was happening.

My brother, who I loved dearly, was in hospital and here I was standing around.

“Shit. Guys can I borrow a car please?” I asked looking at each of the four boys in turn. Max nodded at me and held his car keys to me I reached out for them, and saw how badly my hand was shaking. I scrunched it up in a fist but the shaking only got worse.

“Laura?” Toni called from beside me and I jumped in the air before looking at her as though I was a deer caught in car headlights. She squeezed my shoulder, “-everything okay?” she asked and I nodded before looking at Max. He frowned at me.

“Max keys please?” I asked desperately. What the fuck, is he trying to give me a heart attack by making me wait?

“Laura what’s happened?” Toni asked, with worry lining her voice, I turned to her and heaved a breath, but had trouble breathing properly and it came out as a sob.

“My brother’s in hospital” I announced and felt everyone in the room freeze.

“What? How?” she asked me and I shuck my head at her shrugging.

“I don’t know. Look I need to go. Now. He needs me” I rushed quickly and saw Josh stand up from his place on the chair.

“Come on I’ll take you” he offered and I looked at him, before looking at Hanna who was stood behind him. Her face showed that she was hurt and I knew that I couldn’t give her another excuse to launch a lecture on me again about keeping my hands to myself.

“No it’s fine. I can drive myself but thanks” I said, trying to smile but it came out as more of a grimace. He shuck his head.

“I don’t think so. Not with the state you’re in” he said nodding at my hands which hadn’t stopped shaking since Jeremy had called the phone call. I looked at him before tearing my gaze away and nodding as I nibbled on my lip.

“Okay lets go” I said hurrying to the door where I pulled my coat off the hanger and ran down the steps to the car that was parked in the driveway. Josh followed me quickly and unlocked the blue car to my right. Any other time I would’ve gasped and demanded to know about the car, since I loved them, but knew that this wasn’t the time with my brother in the hospital. He could wake up at any time and I wanted to be there when he did.