Maybe Something More

05 | the solution is flowers

AYDEN
____________________

STUPID. I WAS SO STUPID. It was so damn stupid and idiotic of me to kiss her. Hell, I don't even know what I was thinking, or whatever the heck I was expecting. I didn't even think.

But Juliette just had this wishy-washy effect on me and we had finally gotten back to laughing and talking, and I couldn't help it. And I know that that part of me isn't just a horny teenage boy talking.

Besides, thanks to me, I'd caused this girl to run away crying. Great. It didn't only knock down my ego a few notches, but I started feeling really empty inside like there was no purpose in life.

It sounded awfully deep, I know, and it was awfully cheesy and clichéd of me to say, but it was one of the few ways I knew that I love Juliette. And the fact that she kissed me back... Let's just say that I wouldn't be catching my plane to Cambridge any time soon with that still going around in my head.

I was so distracted by my own thoughts that I didn't realize Juliette's parents walking towards me with anxious looks on her faces.

"Ayden," Mrs. A started, "something happened to Juliette."

Panic wracked my chest, and I felt the blood drain out of my face. "Where is she?" I asked worriedly. "What happened to her? Please tell me she's okay."

Mr. and Mrs. Ashton exchanged a concerned look before filling me in on what had just happened.

We all rushed to the hospital right away.

* * *

"IT WAS A PRETTY bad accident, from the looks of it," the doctor told us. "She will be fine, of course, but I'm afraid she'll have to wear a cast for at least four weeks and even shorter of a time if she's extremely lucky."

Lucky my ass, I thought. Of course Jules is gonna be lucky. I hope she is. I know she is.

"But she's fine, right?" I asked anxiously anyways. "Tell me she'll be okay."

The doctor—Doctor Markham, apparently—examined me with curiosity. "Ms. Ashton will be just fine," he said coolly. "But, young man, I'm afraid you'll have to get in line with the others." He pointed over to the rather long line of guys with flowers and balloons with 'Get Better Soon' written on them in some kinda printed lettering.

Of course, there was no stopping the flow of thoughts rushing into my head. They were all worried for Juliette's safety, I'm sure, but I know for a fact that she barely knows any of them. Don't tell me she has her own little fan club, too, because that's just a whole lot more jealousy that I have to deal with.

Doctor Markham turned back to Mr. and Mrs. Ashton. "It appears that your daughter is quite popular," he said. "I'd keep my eye on these gentlemen, if I were you, especially this bloke." He patted me on the shoulder, chuckling while I scowled.

Exchanging a couple laughs with Mr. And Mrs. Ashton, he left with a nurse who was filling him in on the medical status of a patient in the ER, mentioning something about a cactus and dehydration.

"Waiting in line, my ass," I muttered under my breath as I turned to Mrs. A. "You don't mind me going to see her first, right? Because I feel like this whole situation is my entire fault."

Mrs. A patted me on the back. "Don't blame yourself, Ayden," she said in a motherly tone of voice. "It was the other driver's fault. Apparently, the man had drunk himself stupid and swerved into the wrong lane." She then gave me a pointed look. "And don't tell yourself your gonna kill the guy, all right? He's already facing charges for drunk driving, and hurting someone."