Learning To Fall

twenty nine

Bright lights behind my eyes and the sound of beeping keep me company when I wake up. I don't try to stop the groan that leaves my mouth. A sigh comes from someone, and when a hand comes into mine I open my eyes. The amount of bright lights cause me to squint my eyes and hold my head in response. Through my squinted eyes I can see Calum, Elliot, and my dad.

"What's going on?" I ask, and I wonder when my throat became so scratchy. I really needed to find a glass of water.

"You're in the hospital, Andrea. You drank too much and decided to drive, which resulted in you getting into an accident. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt and the other person isn't suing. You got lucky this time, you only got a concussion and a sprained wrist. But that doesn't mean you're not in trouble. Calum told me you've been drinking for a while, so I'll figure out what to do when you get out of here. Don't do that again." My dad speaks, and I don't know whether to be happy or upset that this was the most he's talked to me in a long time.

"How long has it been?" I rasp out, and Calum makes eye contact with me.

"Only two days." He answers.

"You missed it, Carter found Michael and kicked him out. It was pretty hilarious," Elliot speaks, laughing at the end of his sentence. I manage a smile at the thought of an angry Carter kicking Michael out of the hall.

"Look who's finally awake," A shrill voice says, and the sound of heels against tile makes me roll my eyes. Of course Lillian was here. "You better be sorry. Your father and I had to leave our business trip early." In response, I glare at her.

"Lillian, leave her alone. She just woke up and she's hurt," My dad defends. Needless to say, I was shocked. Instead of opening her mouth, she huffs and leaves the room, to which I smile at him. He returns the gesture before standing up and stretching. "I'm gonna go get some coffee," He says, and within seconds he's out of the room.

"I'm sorry, guys. I messed up this time," I apologize to the two boys next to me. I furrow my brows when I realize Luke's missing. "Where's Luke?" The two exchange glances.

"There was a mishap." Calum explains. He then looks back over at Elliot, the two seemingly having a conversation mentally. Finally, Elliot sighs.

"Michael got violent last night, after being kicked out. Luke went to look for you, and instead found Michael. It didn't end well." Eli explains, and the monitor changes just as my heart rate increases.

"Are they- Is Luke okay?" I catch myself. I didn't care if Michael was okay or not, I remind myself. At least, I didn't want to care.

"Luke's fine. However Michael isn't. Luke hit him, and he fell back onto concrete. He fell pretty hard, Ands." Calum says, and I'm screaming at myself to, for once, not care. But if Calum was concerned, I had every right to be.

"Have you checked up with him?" I ask before I can stop myself.

"Luke? Yes. Michael? No. He's been in the hospital, and we haven't left here." Elliot answers.

"We need to check up on him," I enforce.

"No Andy. We need to make sure you're okay. You're our number one priority right now." Elliot insists, and I open my mouth to argue but realize there's no point in arguing. He was right. I wasn't going to put my health before someone I barely knew.

"Okay," I sigh.

>>

"We're here to see Michael," Calum says through the open door. The three of us just left the hospital, so we were quite the sight. I was wearing my dad's pullover hoodie, sweatpants, and an old pair of converse. The hospital bracelet was still around my wrist. Calum and Elliot were wearing whatever they packed for the hospital, which consisted of a variety of sweats and old shirts. So, of course Karen was weary of us.