Invisible

He Deserved it

I open my eyes, and find myself laying on the bed in what I quickly realize is the hospital. I try and lift my head to look around but I'm stopped by a searing pain behind my eyes. The bright fluorescent lights don't exactly help. I'm dazed for a few seconds, when all the memories of today come flooding back to me. I groan. My dad is standing at the entrance of the open curtain. When he sees I'm awake, he rushes over.

"Connor, care to explain what happened?"

I don't know what to say. I can't exactly tell him I got into a fist fight with my best friend of six years over a guy I met yesterday.

"I just got really dizzy all of the sudden and I guess I passed out," I mumble. He just looks at me, knowing I'm not telling him everything.

When he sees I'm not going to tell him more,he sighs and chances the subject. "I'm surprised Aiden hasn't come to see you yet," he says. "But the kid we saw at dinner last night, Evan or something, he visited for a few minutes. Nice kid. His dad directs commercials."

"Ethan came?" Fuck I missed him. "Is he still here?"

"No, his dad came and got him ten minutes ago."

I sigh.

"He said to give you this," Dad hands me a folded up piece of paper. Carefully, I unfold it. It's a handwritten note. Words fill the entire page.

"I'm sorry. I know the fight was my fault. I'm really really sorry. Thank you though. For not ignoring me like everyone else. Also, I got your homework for the day, your dad has it. I would be glad to pick it up every day until you're back at school. Again I'm really sorry. If you don't hate me, text me when you wake up. So I know you're okay and I didn't just kill my only friend. Thanks. Sorry. -Ethan"

My heart is pounding. Immediately, I feel where my pockets would be to try and grab my phone. I look down and don't see my jeans and red short sleeved shirt, but a hospital gown. I look around for my clothes.

"Dad, do you have my phone?"

He pulls it out of his back pocket and hands it to me. I immediately unlock it and click on Ethan's contact.

"Hey, don't be sorry. This wasn't your fault. Really," I text. It's read instantly, like he was watching his phone, waiting for my text. That thought makes me smile.

"Why else would you punch your best friend?" he asks.

"He's a jackass. It was only a matter of time before someone did. Anyway, Im not exactly welcome at my current lunch table anymore, so f you're cool with it, I was hoping I could sit with you."

"Yeah, of course you can. When do you think you'll be back at school?"

Just then, the doctor walks in.

"Oh, you're awake. Good." He says in a loud, deep voice.

"Not sure. I'll ask the doctor right now and let you know. Brb" I respond, then turn off my phone and turn my attention to the tall, well built man wearing a white doctors coat.

"Im Dr. Regalhalpt. So, how do you feel?" The doctor asks as he walks closer and points a pen light into each of my eyes, examining them.

"Fine except for a major headache," I make it sound more painful than it really is, hoping I can score some pain meds and try to forget about all the shit that happened today.

"Okay, we'll give you some pain medication for that." He continues checking over me, and when he finishes he stands up tall and puts his hands in his pockets. "Do you know what happened?"

I look at my dad, then back at him pleadingly.

"We can't discharge you until we know what caused you to pass out," he crosses his arms and continues staring at me.

I sigh. "Yesterday I was hit in the face with a door, accidentally, then today I got into a fight and was punched in the face. Then I went to the bathroom and just felt really dizzy and I guess I passed out." I don't look at either of them in the eyes. I stare down at my lap and fidget with my phone, flipping it back and forth in my hands.

"Connor, who did you fight?" Dad asks.

"Aiden." I mumble.

"Did you hit him back?"

"Yeah."

"Good. That kid is an ass. He's had that coming for years."

I look up at my dad, utterly shocked.

"Was he the one who hit you with the door too?" The doctor steps in.

"No, that was Ethan. But it was an accident. He didn't know I was there."

"Okay. So I don't think it's anything major, just a concussion. You can go home, but stay home from school for at least three days, and get lots of rest." He scribbles something on the chart, hands some papers to my dad, and walks out.

"I'll leave your clothes here and start filling out the paperwork while you change," he says as he puts my clothes on the edge of my bed, walks out, and closes the curtain behind him. As soon as he leaves, I pick up my phone and text Ethan again.

"I'll be out of school for three days."

Again, he responds immediately. "Oh so not that long. That's good. I guess."

"Not really. Only three days. Then I have to face the whole school who now knows I punched my best friend who is actually an asshole. And my whole friend group is going to hate me."

"Who cares what they think of you? I mean, it's really hypocritical of me to say that, but you shouldn't care."

"It's just annoying. I won't have anywhere to sit during homeroom or lunch, and I won't have a lab partner, everything is fucked."

"You have like the most friends in the entire school. I'm sure you could find somewhere to sit in homeroom. And you could always sit with me at lunch, if you wanted to. "

"Of course I want to, Ethan. I would have sat with you even if I hadn't ruined my relationship with all my friends. I want to spend every minute with you. You're my favorite person right now." Right before I pressed send, I deleted all of it, and sent: "Thanks, I just might take you up on that offer."

Sorry this chapter was boring. It was mostly a filler chapter. The next one will be better :) Thanks for reading I really appreciate it.