Secrets |Toby Cavanaugh|

Chapter 13

"Second hospital visit within two months. People are gonna talk, Grace." I glared up at my mother from my position on the hospital bed, playing the the IV tube,

"I'm sorry mother that I got into a car crash that could have ended with my death." I replied,

"I'm sorry, sweetie." My mom sat down and stroked my hair, "I was just expecting your father to be here."

There was a knock on the door and a nurse opened it, a large pile of food on a tray. The nurse left it on the table before leaving.

"That's a lot of food." I said, staring at the tray.

"Well, you're very underweight. We're trying to get some fat on those bones." Mom replied,

I nodded before grabbing the smashed ham sandwich. Taking a few bites, mom nodded before leaving the room.

Standing up, I went into the bathroom that was connected to my room and I threw the sandwich inside. I flushed the toilet and sat on my bed, opening the bag of potato chips and taking a bite as my mother walked back in with a coffee.

We sat there in silence for a while until my mom left to make dinner for my dad, who probably never showed up.

The girls visited, except Hanna because of her own accident, and caught me up on the whole A ordeal. They were in my room for a few hours until visiting times were over.

"He doesn't wanna see you." I turned and saw Jenna in the doorway, "And even if he did, I wouldn't let him. He's been hurt, Grace. You should be able to understand that."

"I didn't tell the police where he was." I replied,

"But look what you've done. You've made him run away. The police came to our house because of you. They found that sweater because of you." Jenna growled, 

"She's right, Gracie. For once." Ali said, glaring at Jenna.

"Let me talk to him, please." I begged,

"No. I'm not gonna let anyone come between us again." Jenna said before turning around, ready to leave,

"Somebody should have come between you two a long time ago." I called out from the bed, "Maybe a social worker with a bucket of ice water."

"I can't imagine why everyone thinks you're the sweet one." She said before leaving.

I was given some pain meds and sent on my way the next morning. I spent the rest of my time trying to see if I could see Toby.

No such luck.

Three weeks later, Hanna was let out of the hospital and we were trying to move her back into her house,

"Why are you taking that off?" Spencer asked, referring to the sticker on Hanna's cast that blocked A's message,

"I'm not. I'm trying to keep it on. I don't wanna see the autograph under it." Hanna replied,

"We can get you another sticker." I commented, hopping on the counter,

"This time, why don't you try something mellower, like save the planet?" Aria asked, 

"There were not a lot of choices, okay? It was either Humpty Dumpty or 'Jesus is coming, look busy'."  Spencer responded,

"Oh, God, it's still there." Hanna murmured, looking at the message underneath,

"Hanna. Hanna, don't, okay?" Spencer covered the sharpied cast, "Don't look at that. Just look around you. Because you're safe, you're home and you're alive."