Zoey 101: You Must Of Had A Broken Heart ☑

Chapter 45

Eventually, the hands of the team eased me back onto the forgiving cushion of the bed, supported on my side to provide some reprieve from the torment that had overtaken my body. Exhausted, I closed my eyes.

“We’re waiting on the results of her x-rays before we know if there’s any damage,” Dr. Nate explained to someone. “You’re welcome to stay with her, and I’ll be back when I have the results.”

“Lola?” I whispered through the grogginess. I opened my eyes when we rolled to a stop. A curtain was pulled around me, concealing the people on the other side.

“Hey honey,” the soothing voice of the nurse greeted me. “Your aunt and uncle are here.” I averted my eyes, not finding the comfort she hoped that news would provide me.

“Lola? Did you find her?” My tone was anxious, and her concerned expression recognized it.

“She’s right outside,” she promised. “I’ll go get her.”

“You can’t keep me from seeing her,” an irate voice yelled. “She’s my daughter.”

My heartbeat accelerated, picked up by the quick beeps on the machine above my head.

“Relax, Lucy,” George instructed firmly.

“What’s wrong with her?” she demanded heavily. I recognized her slur. My jaw tightened. What was she doing here? How did she even know?

“I don’t think this is the right time to be talking to you,” George responded.

“You can’t keep me from her. She’s my daughter,” my mother declared. Then she went on to berate George and Abby about how they didn’t love me, with expletives only my drunken mother could come up with.

“M’am, I need to ask you to come with us,” a deep masculine voice demanded.

“Get your hands off me. You can’t touch me. I need to stay here with my daughter. Get off me.” The angered voice trailed away, until it was cut off completely when a pair of doors closed further down the hall.

“Zoey?” Lola whispered, peering in through the curtains. My flittering eyes found Lola’s pale face and her red rimmed eyes.

“Lola!” I wept, lifting my head. The movement forced me to moan in pain, causing Lola to wince.

“Ow. Try not to move,” she whispered, pulling up a chair to sit beside me. She pressed her lips together and the line between her eyes deepened as she searched my agonized face. “I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes filled and she quickly swiped away the tears with the hand that wasn’t holding mine.

“I’m glad they finally let me see you. It felt like I was waiting forever.” Her voice quivered. “You scared me.” The tears welled in her eyes again, and she looked away to conceal them.

“I’ll be okay,” I assured her, but I knew seeing me on a hospital bed wasn’t very convincing.

“You didn’t look okay when you were lying lifeless on the floor of the basketball court. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my entire life.”

“I slipped on ice and fell down the stairs at my house,” I told her quietly.

“What?” Her forehead crumpled, not understanding.

“How I hurt myself,” I explained. “I fell down the stairs on some ice.”

“But Zo, everyone saw you fall during the basketball game - I mean everyone,” she explained, still confused.

“Look at my back,” I encouraged.

Lola walked around to the other side of my bed and gently lifted my basketball jersey.