Unexpected

Secrets and a phone call

I woke up the next morning, crisp sheets and a deep breath of hospital cleanness. Mm, tasty. A nurse was checking my machine, and she smiled at me, asking how I was.

“I feel great,” I smiled. I meant it. There was a ray of sunshine directly over my head, replaying last night. I turned over and stretched to grab my phone from a chair next to my bed. 

You’re cute when you sleep 11:05 pm *OPEN PICTURE ATTACHMENT* 

I was faced with a picture of a young girl, lying with her head to the side on a pillow. She had her eyes closed and she was smiling into her sleep, her dark hair fanned out behind her like a halo. She looked peaceful, like she had no worries in the world. Her skin was soft, clear, clean. She didn’t wear makeup, nor did she need it. 

I couldn’t believe that I’d fallen asleep on him.

I’d be going home today. I’d had all of the relative checks done, I had to go back in 6 weeks to hopefully get my cast off. 

“Allison!!! I’ve missed you!” A girly voice sounded from the door and I looked up with a raised eyebrow. A girl with long straight dark hair, black skin tight jeans and a white blouse stood in the doorway, the top two buttons undone to show that yes she had developed, and she had developed well. She smiled at me, her mouth wide and glossed up. I’d been texting her yesterday, apparently she’d only just heard about my accident. She walked up to my bed, and held my hand. 

“Hi babes! Are you okay?” I shrugged, I couldn’t really lie to Ashleigh. 

“I’ve been better I guess.” She put her arm around me and I leant into her, I’d missed her. I could smell her sweet perfume, even that was girly.

“I still can’t believe you’re suspended!” I nodded slowly.

“Yeah but it was worth it. You heard what Grace said to me about Peyton and I wasn’t accepting that!” 

“You were so brave, noone else would dare do that to Grace. Everyone’s so happy you did that, and barely anyone will talk to Grace. How could she say that about Peyton?” Her dark eyes shined and I nodded. She signed my cast in swirly writing with a million kisses, wishing me a quick recovery. I felt like something had been unsaid. 

“Anything else you have to tell me?” She shook her head and bit her lip. I’d found out some way or another anyway.

“So when do you come home? Loads of people at school are worried about you,” I raised an eyebrow and she giggled, “Okay some people are.”

“Barely anyone talks to me! I only have friends because of you!” Ashleigh and I had been friends since we started primary school, she had always been the cuter one, the one who got invited to birthday parties. I’d never minded as long as Ashleigh was there, but when we got to secondary school and things changed. She developed first, got boobs, had her first boyfriend, her first kiss, all before me. I had a few friends other than Ashleigh, but she mostly stuck with the popular people. We were still best friends, but we just didn’t see each other a lot. 

“That’s not true! You’re really pretty, slim, and smart. If people don’t talk to you then it’s their loss not yours!” I smiled sadly. 

“Maybe..” She picked up on my doubtful tone and put her arm around me. I leant into her, sighing. Honestly, she had no idea.

“So anyway how’re things with Jackson?” Jackson was Ashleigh’s boyfriend. They’d been together about eight months, which was pretty good considering we were sixteen. They got together because she had sent him a cute love letter, they’d been all cute and romantic ever since. I liked Jackson, he was cute and sweet but I thought he was a bit self-centred, he was one of those boys who was hot but boy did they know it. Ashleigh went pink and looked down.