Forbidden

Think the Worst is Over?

Blacking out wasn't as bad as it always seemed. I didn't die, thank god. According to the doctor, I had hit the ground just right. If I had landed any differently, I would've snapped my neck. Well, here I am in the hospital with a bunch of crap connected to me. Wires and whatnot.

As soon as I woke up, the nurse allowed me visitors. My dad was the first to come in, followed by...Liam? And oh, god no. LeAnn. They rushed to the bedside. My dad was frantic, LeAnn looked worried; not like she had any right to. And Liam was pacing around while my dad was quietly yelling curses.

But I wasn't listening.

My dad stopped yelling and cupped my face in his hands. "What were you thinking? That was the most stupid thing you could've done just now and I will make sure that you start getting responsible. I can't afford to lose you, Morgan. Do you not realize that?"

LeAnn rested her hand on my dad's shoulder. "Calm down. I'm sure her head hurts already without you yelling at her. She knows better now. Let's just be thankful that nothing worse happened."

"Where's Mom?" I asked, making LeAnn wince. I didn't care.

Dad narrowed his eyes.

"Where's Mom?" I repeated.

Dad cleared his throat. "She doesn't know," he said, then added quickly, "She doesn't NEED to know. The last thing she needs right now is more to worry about."

And who caused that worrying? I wanted to ask. I nodded in understanding instead. She left. And Dad could care less.

LeAnn looked like she wanted to squeeze me like a five-year-old's doll, but she restrained herself. God have mercy if she had treated me like a daughter just now.

Dad shook his head. "I have to go outside. I'll come back, Morgan."

LeAnn followed him out the hospital doors and I was left with Liam. Of course.

He immediately knelt down beside my hospital bed and squeezed my hand. His was so warm.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, OK?" he said seriously.

I stared him in the eyes for a brief moment before being sucked into his rhythmic voice, every word persuading me to do exactly as he says. Whatever he needed, I'd give him. And right now, I honestly believed that all he needed was my safety. I smiled.

He sighed in relief. "Good."

He kissed the top of my head in what I thought was an affectionate gesture. Wrong.

"You have to be more careful, sis."

I pulled away from him after he said that. How can he call me his sister after everything? What nerve he had marching in here and making me think that there was ever something between us, and snatching it away like a greedy raccoon.

"What?" he asked in astonishment.

I took my hand out of his and turned around so that I was facing a blank wall. I didn't want to look at his face. Ever. Again.

"Morgan-"

He was cut off by the door opening. It was the nurse.

"Visiting hours are over, sir. You can come back tomorrow after nine," she said in a sweet voice.

I felt the weight on the bed change as Liam got up and walked to the door, saying, "See you tomorrow, Morgan."

Yes, I lifted my head to look at him, which made it hurt like aching fire. But it was worth it. Because I got to see the nurse give him a flirty look as she said, "She's so lucky to have a brother like you."

My head fell on the pillow. I had no right to feel jealousy. And yet, I did.

I didn't see Liam's reaction and I didn't hear him respond. I just heard the door shut as the nurse gave me some medication and left for the night as well.

***

The next morning I woke up to see the same three people in my room. As soon as I realized that they had probably been staring at me in my sleep, I wanted to hide my face under the covers. But LeAnn wouldn't let me.

"Good morning, dear. How did you sleep?"

I might've looked like I would've ripped her head off right there. Good thing I didn't.

"Do you really want to know?" I responded grumpily.

Liam gazed at me with sympathy and my dad didn't show anything but shock.

LeAnn sideways smiled. "Ah, I'm sorry honey. You must've had a bad night sleeping in this strange place-"

"I'm fine," I interrupted, leaving awkward silence.

"Why isn't Felisha here?" I asked.

My dad spoke up. "Only family visitors allowed right now."

"But they aren't-" I looked to Liam and LeAnn, stopping myself from saying what I was about to say. I knew that if I didn't accept it, then I was never going to get into the habit of calling them my family.

Everyone was quiet.

Until...

"Do you want anything?" Liam asked in a real quiet voice. "Like another blanket? You look cold."

I shook my head. "Like I said, I'm fine."

Sighing, noticing how rude I was being, I muttered, "Thanks."

Right on time as always, the door opened to reveal that pretty nurse from last night. She stole a quick glance at Liam before turning to what she calls 'my parents'.

"She should be released tonight. The doctor says she's just fine to go home."

Then she left, sashaying her behind. Stupid girls and their flirty ways. But Liam wasn't paying attention to her. He had been staring at me the whole time with concern. I could tell that he had a lot on his mind. He just won't say it aloud.

LeAnn shifted uncomfortably.

I narrowed my eyes. Where was home now?

"Are you taking me to their house?" I addressed my dad.

He nodded hesitantly.

Again, out of frustration, I lied back down and turned around. This was the move I pulled on Liam last night. It seems to work, because they left soon after, saying they'd come back later to take me 'home'.

***

Later that night, around five or six, I was released from the hospital. I got in my dad's car while LeAnn and Liam took their own. It was just as if I was going to my real home. The same street, same familiar houses. Except we took an unusual turn into Liam's driveway.

My head rested on the hot glass of the car window and I looked at that house gloomily. What would my friends think if they saw this? That was most-likely the least of Felisha's concerns but my other friends...

Would tell the whole school, I answered myself with disappointment.

I hadn't realized how good of friends my 'friends' were until now. I guess it took a great experience to come to know who you and your peers really are. Definitely not what I remember.

Liam hopped out of their car right away and helped me out of my seat. I tried to refuse his help, but I almost fell with the incapability of walking myself to the door with my now retarded foot. I resisted my urge to lean on him and rest my head by his neck as we used to do. Why did HE have to be my brother? I would've rather had a serial killer for a brother than the boy I fell in love with.