Can't Help It

5.

Awsten

Quinn gets out today.
I get to pick Quinn up.
Which has me excited.
Why?

Because I have plans.

I haven't been at school lately.
Not Quinn's fault.
I've been hiding.
Out in the forest.
Near the school.

But now's not the time.
To talk about that.

I've been sat in my car for 15 minutes.

I'm not allowed to get Quinn yet.
It's 0653.
I'll go in at 0656.
I turn up the stereo.
And lean back.
And close my eyes
Just for a few minutes.

It's 0656.
I turn the stereo off.
I open the car door.
I get out and lock the doors.
I head towards the hospital door.
I go up to the receptionist.

"Uh, hi."

"How may I help, sir?"

"I'm here to collect Quinn Walters."

"And your name?"

"Awsten Blues."

"Okay doke. You know where you're going?"

"Yeah. Thank."

I smile at the receptionist.
I head towards Quinn's room.
I get outside and hear something smash.
I rush in.

"What happened?!"

Quinn looks at me.
I look at the floor.
The vase.
Thank god that was all.

"Sit down on the bed. I'll be back in a sec."

I head back down the corridor.
I look for a nurse.
A doctor.
A janitor.
It doesn't particularly matter.

After a bit of wandering, I find a janitor.

"Hi."

"Ello, what can I do for ya?"

"Would I be able to get a few things?"

"What ya needing?"

"Paper towels, a dust pan and brush."

The janitor starts going through the trolley.
He looks quite young.
Can't of been working here long.
Soon enough he pulls out what I need.

"Here ya go."

"Thank you."

I smile and go back to Quinn's room.
I open the door.
I see Quinn sat cross-legged on the bed.
A cute sight to see.

I go over to the broken vase.
I start cleaning up.

"Awsten?"

"Quinn."

"Did you bring me clothes?"

Shit.
I knew there was something I forgot.

"Uh no. But I have some of my clothes in my car."

"Okay dokey, could you go grab some? Because it's cold in here. And I can finish cleaning up."

"Will do."

I stand up and go to the door.
I head back out to my car.
I unlock it and open the boot.
Backpack.
Where is it?
There's so much stuff in my boot.
I rake around.

Aha.
Got it.
I open it.
Black sweatpants.
Long sleeved burgundy t-shirt.
Brown jacket.
Burgundy beanie.
Black trainers.
Cool.

I close the bag and head back inside.
I smile at the receptionist as I go passed.
And into Quinn's room.

There's blood on the bed.
And no Quinn.
I begin to panic.