The Secret Ingredient to Falling in Love

Chapter 38. Twice The Fun.

A soft beeping noise jars me awake, my mind still fuzzy as to what happened. I open my eyes with a groan and I move to cover them, only to be halted by a cord attached to my arm. What the . . . ?

"Sarah! You're awake, oh thank god." Gina's voice draws my attention towards the other side of the room, the sight of my disheveled best friend like a shock to my heart. My eyes widen and I try to sit up quickly, wincing slightly at the sharp pain shooting through my head. What the heck happened? I think for a moment, then choke back a gasp when it all rushes back to me. The party, Keagen, Samantha, the blood, then passing out.

Gina rushes to my side and gently stops me from moving anymore, a slight scowl on her face. "Quit tryin' to move, you hit your head pretty bad. The doctor needs to come check on you now," She looks around and sighs in relief when she spots the help button. I groan again, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.

"Where's Zander?"

I open my eyes again to watch her closely. She turns back to me and bites her lip nervously, obviously reluctant to tell me what she knows. I squint at her suspiciously, watching as she fidgets under my hard stare.

"He called and told me you were here, but when I arrived he was no where to be found." She whispers timidly, her fingers fiddling with the bed sheets I'm currently laying on, her eyes downcast and not meeting mine. I frown even more, my heart lurching in worry.

"What aren't you telling me, Gina?"

She looks up at me with wide eyes, "How'd you -"

I send her a flat look, "I know you, dude," I smile slightly when she looks away with a blush. I shake my head slightly, dropping back into my serious mode, "Now what aren't you telling me?"

She sighs in defeat, her shoulders slumping forward as she takes a seat beside me. She keeps her eyes down while she speaks, "I had asked one of the nurses if they had seen him, and the nurse said she saw someone matching his description storming out of here with bloodied knuckles. She watched him tear out of the parking lot in a red jeep, then that was the last of him."

I look down at the blankets as I absorb what she said, my mind struggling to wrap around it. Why would he leave? I look back up and meet her worried stare, giving a small smile of reassurance.

"Where're my parents?"

"I tried calling them but they never answered. I went over to your house earlier to see why and found," She reaches over to her bag and digs around inside, then pulls out a small post-it note, "This on the fridge." I gently take the note from her outstretched hand, my heart dropping sadly when I read it.

Left for another business trip, sorry for such the short notice. Will be back soon. Lots of love - Mom and Dad.

The doctor chooses now to burst into a room, a gigantic smile plastered across his face. "Glad to see you awake, Sarah! Now, let's check those bandages."

~•~

"Thanks for bringing me home, G."

She smiles softly and nods, "Of course, are you sure you don't need me inside with you?" She looks over at me worriedly, her hand hovering over the ignition key in her car.

I smile back and pat her shoulder reassuringly before jumping out of the car and shutting the door, leaning down to talk to her through the open window, "Nah, I'll be alright. You heard the Doc, as long as I don't do anything strenuous or too loud, I'll be better soon enough. Besides, you gotta get back to your mom."

"Okay, if you say so," She places her hand back on the wheel, only to turn towards me quickly and point an accusing finger at me. "Don't you dare do anything to hurt yourself, and call me as soon as you need something, you hear?!"