Same Old Love

// twenty-seven //

I wake up from the cot a nurse brought in, my phone violently vibrating on the table beside me. Oliver is on the couch that is beside the hospital bed. Seeing he is still sound asleep, I slide open my phone and answer the call.

"Hello?" My voice is groggy and I don't even know what time it is.

'Annalise! Oh, thank God. My mom said that there were police at your house- ugh just tell me what is going on.' I recognize the voice as Lauren.

Taking the time to get up and go to the bathroom, I close the door behind me before answering.

"A lot is going on, Laur." I sigh.

'Can you help a girl out and tell me?'

"I'm at the hospital. Do you think you can come?" I lean my head against the door.

'It's 3, so I'll be there in the morning. I don't think they will let me in if it's not visiting hours. Is Oliver hurt?'

"No. It's my mom. I'll fill you in later, okay? Let's just both go to sleep for now." I shake my head even though she can't see me.

'Yeah. I love you, alright?'

"Love you too." I hang up and take a deep breath before clicking on Reed's contact. I hope he picks up because I really need to talk to him.

'Um hello?' He answers and let's out a cough.

"Hey, it's me." I bite my lip.

'lise? Are you alright?' I hear his voice pick up.

"Yeah, it's just my mom that's hurt. She-" I stop talking when I hear other voices on the line.

' Who are you talking to? Go back to bed.' That's definitely not his mother's voice.

"Reed?" My mouth goes dry.

'Okay, I can explain.'

Knowing damn well that he's guilty, I hang up. Maybe I shouldn't have called him. I'd rather be left with him keeping hidden the fact that he slept with someone else already. I just thought we were actually getting somewhere last night. He had been so sweet and now, he ruined it all.

I slide down the wall and sit on the dirty bathroom floor, tears dropping onto the tiles around me. I don't understand why this stuff is happening to me. My hand starts to vibrate from my phone and I soon see Mason's contact on the screen. I wonder if Lauren told him about what is going on.

"Hey Mason." You can definitely tell from my voice that I have been crying.

'Annalise, can you fill me in on what's happening?' He sounds worried.

"My dad was arrested for domestic violence against my mom. I don't know what happened. I do know that my mom is extremely hurt and still unconscious." I sigh.

'Anna, I'll be there first thing in the morning. Whatever you need; I'll be there with it.'

"Thanks Mason, it means a lot."

'Did something else happen? You sound really sad.'

"Yeah." I hesitate before deciding to tell him what has happened with Reed. "I called Reed, but it sounded like another girl was with him. He sounded guilty and recalling his past; I don't doubt that he was with someone else."

'You deserve better, angel. I'll be there in the morning.'

"Okay. Bye Mason."

'Bye Annalise.'

I walk back to the bed and sit down, just staring at my mother lying in the bed. Everything is so hectic lately. I hadn't imagined my junior year of high school to be like this. I thought it was going to be boring, but a good kind of boring. I can't imagine how hard this is for Oliver. He's a senior and has to decide all that college stuff.

"Anna? Why aren't you sleeping?" Oliver sits up and rubs his eyes.

"I couldn't. I just have been thinking about things."

"Like what? Have you talked to anyone?"

I sigh and nod. "Just everything and yeah. I called Lauren, Reed, and Mason."

"Ah. How are your boy toys doing?" Oliver's face darkens.

I swallow back tears. "Olive, let's not do this here and now."

"Why not? You were out with one of them when all this happened. If you were home, maybe this wouldn't have happened." He shoots back.

I open my mouth then close it, trying to find a way to answer that. I come back dry. "You're right. I just need to go for a walk."

I turn around and walk out the room, making my way through the empty and quiet halls. Some doors are open, some are closed. I can see the few loved ones awake and sitting by the beds, tear stains on their cheeks radiating from the lights of the monitors. Once I turn the corner, I slide down the wall and shove my face in my hands. I let the tears and sobs come out. I'm in the lobby part, so the only person here is the receptionist. I'm sure she's used to it.

I let the sobs out, staying there for god knows how long. Soon, enough I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. I plow my body into them, not caring to see who it is.

"lise."

I flinch away at his voice, not expecting Reed to be the first one here after last night.

"Shhh, let me explain to you." He reaches out to me.

"No." I sob, my body convulsing still.

"That was my grandmother last night. She is staying with me for awhile because my mom is going away to Aruba for work. I didn't want to stay with my dad because he's too far and I need to stay here for school." Reed bites his lip.

"Are you sure?" I hiccup and wipe my eyes.

He chuckles a bit before wrapping me up in his embrace. "You mean the world to me, Annalise. And I just got you back."

I nod and close my eyes, taking him in. I suppose I could've overreacted with everything happening.

"Hey, Annalise." Another voice accompanies us and I turn to see Mason staring at me, not even glancing in Reed's direction.

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Author's Note:

sorry it's been awhile :( my parents are getting a divorce so i've been pretty depressed - What will happen with Reed and Mason? Why is Oliver suddenly acting how he is? What will happen to their parents?

Find out in the next chapter of Same Old Love!

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xoxo

hailey