The Incredible League of Goth Pizza Haters (RH)

Part 77

Author's Note: Do you guys prefer longer chapters or shorter chapters?

---Ricky---
"There was a car crash. A really bad collision between a tractor trailer and a small car earlier today." she looked nervous and shifted in her seat, "I.. I'm really sorry, sir, but your friend - the one with the white hair - they pulled her from the car. I was one of the officers who arrived on the scene to assess the damage.. From what I saw, there was a head wound and.. She wasn't moving her body too well... " she trailed off and shook her head.

A head wound. That could mean a lot of things. 'Not moving her body too well,'.. Did she mean spinal damage..?

She set a sympathetic hand on my shoulder and offered to drive me home.

***

Sitting amongst the wreckage of my own home, I received a phone call from Mena.

"Ricky! Oh my god, where the hell were you? They found her.. She was in a car crash but.. She's alive. I'm going to call her mother back and ask about visitation.. Do you want me to call you back?"

***

She told us we might be able to see her today and both Mena and I were there at 8:30 at night with the simple possibility of a might. We were sat in the uncomfortable waiting chairs in the lobby near three restless children, a man with a broken leg and a crying woman. While we waited I couldn't help but continuously wonder why the woman was crying. It was doubtful but I wondered if she somehow knew Via. If she was some part of my girlfriend's life that I was never a part of. If she were crying over Via's death or incurable injury that I didn't know about yet.

Beside me, Mena was sat cross legged, still wearing a work apron. She looked exhausted, both emotionally and physically. We made eye contact for a few moments before we both just continued staring off into our own thoughts.

I could understand, I was also exhausted in every aspect. And the more I thought about what could've happened the sicker I felt. There were a few times I contemplated taking a walk or going to the bathroom to wash my face and take a breather.

I don't know exactly how much time passed but at some point a nurse walked up and called Via's name and like we were resurrected from the dead Mena and I were both up and stumbling over. The nurse looked at us both a bit judgmentally and I wondered if I looked as shitty as I felt. Regardless, I was glad Mena's phone call had come before whatever would've come after having a mental breakdown and trashing the house. I ran a hand over my hair to smooth it out and tried to gather myself. If I was going to see her, I didn't want to be fucked up.

She led us down a few hallways and finally to an open doorway.

Mena stepped in first to see her and almost stopped for a moment when she saw her best friend. Luckily her hesitation only lasted a few seconds and she reached her in a few strides. I lingered in the doorway as Via's mother and siblings kind of stepped back when we entered. When I looked back over all I saw was Mena kissing the top of her best friend's head. She spoke to her in a quiet voice nearly inaudible through the obvious emotion that choked her words. I didn't catch any of it and I stayed in my place in the doorway, heart in my throat. I didn't want to intrude.

"I love you, too, but how dare you cry in my hospital room." her voice sounded scarily quiet, "No crying in here, do you all hear me?" she asked and when her eyes caught mine her expression softened. And I saw everything I couldn't save her from. Her lip was broken and new bruises outlined all along her right cheekbone. She'd had bruises before, but not like that.

There was a line of stitches just above her hairline on the right side of her head. The white hair around the spot had been stained a faded red. She was laying back in her hospital bed with all sorts of tubes and monitors attached to her arm and fingers.