Unexpected

Midnight Dates and Baking Days

I knew better than to follow him, even though I wished more than anything that I could. I sat on the end of my hospital bed, nibbling my lip and worrying for Peter, his phone in my hand, until my parents walked in.

“Allison?” I found Peyton sat next to me, looking worried. I blinked and hugged her tightly, she leant against me. 

“Are you okay Allison?” There was mum, stood there looking concerned. I couldn’t hate her for working so hard, she did it for this family. I nodded wearily and stood up, so did Peyton. Dad  ruffled my hair fondly, making me giggle, and he picked up my bag which contained my belongings effortlessly. I still had Peter’s phone in my hand. Should I leave it at the hospital in case he came back? Or look through it and try to find a contact number? I didn’t know what to do. I decided to keep it as Peter would doubtfully come back here, I had told him that I’d be going back at 3 anyway. I found that it was quite a struggle, using crutches through the hospital corridors, and then waiting for mother and father to discharge us, and then down the ramp and to the car park. My arms could really feel the burn. 

When I got home I just wanted to sleep forever. Whilst I was on crutches I wasn’t even in my own room either, I had to stay in the spare room downstairs. I sat on my bed, not baring the silence since it just made me think of Peter, of the phone call. It gave me dark thoughts and so I put on some music and sang along to it. I wasn’t much of a singer, but I enjoyed it anyway. There was a knock on the door and Peyton walked in, and sat on my bed next to me. I put my arm around her, and she leaned into my chest.

“What’s happened Allison?” I sighed.

“I don’t really know. I mean Peter got this phone call and then he had to rush straight off, and he looked so upset and panicked, and then he dropped his phone so that I couldn’t even contact him,” I got out his phone and set it on the bed in front of us. We both stared at it, waiting and willing for it to do something. Of course, it didn’t. I picked it up, and searched through his contact list. No house phone number or anyone I’d be able to call about this. Wait...this said he had a number of someone called Stacey.

His sister’s name is Stacey. 

I fumbled with the buttons and managed to call her. One ring, two rings, three rings.

“Hello this is Stacey’s brother talking?” His voice was thick, hoarse, like he’d been crying. I think my heart just died a little.

“Peter. It’s me, Allison. You dropped your phone at the hospital so I’ve got it...”

“Oh thank you for keeping a hold of it. I’m sorry, I rushed off. Can I come over later to get it?” 

“Sure. I live at 44 Beechcroft road,” I ripped off a hangnail on my finger and it was now bleeding. I barely noticed.

“Okay I’ll be over there later, if I can. It’s kind of chaos here..look I’ll talk to you later Allison okay?” 

“Okay.” The line went dead. He sounded so scared, so weary. Something had happened. I needed to know what and it was going to kill me until I found out. I sat on the bed, cradling the phone and wondering how on earth I got into this mess. My eyes were welling up and the phone blurred.There was no denying that I was falling for Peter Anderson and his elephant facts, and I was falling hard.

“Allison?” Peyton had her arm around me, a panicked expression on her face. I wiped my eyes and looked up at Peyton.

“Are you okay?” I put on my best fake smile and nodded. She bit her lip and kissed my forehead, before leaving me by myself.