Silverlake

Chapter 10

*Here is the updated chapter!*

My dad sat down on the edge of the hospital bed.
"How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but more ready to get out than anything."

He laughed a loud booming laugh that filled the room. When he quieted down to a slight chuckle he patted my knee.

"We need to talk."

"Is this about the car?"

"It's about your friend. Sterling is it?" That wasn't what I expected.

"He's not my friend," I quickly retorted.

"I don't want you to associate yourself with him any longer," he leaned forward in his seat. 

"Like I said, we aren't friends. Now when can I get out of here?" It was the truth, we weren't friends, but there was something about him... I started picking at the I.V. in my arm. I just wanted to get out.

Looking uncomfortable he shifted in his seat and folded his hands in front of him. 

"I'm sure you'll be released tonight. That's besides the point. You are to have no association with the Morgons, " he paused and softened his voice, "I'm just trying to do what's best for you..."

"What's best for me? What would've been best for me is you telling me what is really going on from the beginning!" My voice was rising and some was my annoyance level. I yanked the I.V. out of my arm and shot a daring look over at my dad. He smiled and placed his hand on my arm to stop me. 

I shook him off and crawled out of bed. 

"Get back in bed, Reese," his voice was stern enough that I almost listened. 

I could feel the spark in my fingertips and that familiar feeling creeping through my mind. 

"Stay back," my hands flexed and I closed my eyes, bringing my magic to the front of my thoughts. It was already stronger than it had been. 

He put his hands up and let me step past him to the door. I swear there was a hint of pride mixed with bemusement in his eyes. 

The hospital was busier than I expected it to be with groups of people milling about here and there mixed with important people in white coats and smiling nurses. The waiting room at the end of the hallway was small and cold despite its attempt at being welcoming. 

Two families sat on opposites sides of the room, skimming through magazines and staring at the walls, each lost in their own thoughts. Quickly I glanced over the rest of the faces in the room mostly out of curiosity. Was that? 

I stopped walking and backed up to look into the window of the waiting room once more. 

"Looking for someone?" He laughed when I jumped at the sound of his voice. 

"Sterling, hello." This was the first time I could get a good look at him since the first day in class. His ever-present black beanie still rested on his head. He leaned against the back wall and stuck his hand into his pocket. His dark attire and messy tattoos created quite a contrast to the white pristine wall behind him. 

"We never got to finish our chat," his eyes gleamed as he stepped off the wall and started walking. 

I followed, having to take an extra step to match his. "The chat where you never told me anything?" He laughed and continued walking to the elevators. The ride down was silent and we quickly stepped out into the daylight. I walked off to his side letting him lead the way to a set of steps that opened into the hospital garden. I sat down first and he took the stair above me. 

"Okay, then let's chat. I think we were right around the part where you were going to tell me what you were."

"Magic, yes," he lowered his voice, "dark magic, yes. We prefer the term Watchers." His eyes avoided mine. I couldn't help but love his sudden vulnerability. 

"My parents say you're bad news, well, actually, my dad told me I was never allowed to talk to you or see you again."

"Oh, did they?" He sounded amused. 

I lost track of the time between our small talk and the shared comfortably silence that fell in between the questions and the answers until he suddenly brushed his fingers through my hair. It sent a shiver done my spine and I glanced up at him lazily. He was looking right at me with a soft smile on his lips. 

"You should probably head back inside, I'm sure you wouldn't want your parents to find us together." 

Brushing off my pants, I stood up. 

Sterling walked me back to the elevators. I pushed the button to go up. Something inside me told me that he didn't leave until the doors closed and he knew that I was safely back to my floor. 

I floated back to my room, trying to erase the dumb grin that I knew plastered my face. There was something about the dark magic that intrigued me, but it was more than that, there was something about him that intrigued me. 

Sighing I pushed back open the door to my hospital room. Katherine was sprawled out on her back on top of the bed flipping through a magazine. My mother paced the length of the room while my dad was snoring in a seat across the room. My mom noticed me first. 

"Oh honey! Where were you? Where did you go? Never walk out on your father again, okay?" I playfully rolled my eyes. 

"I just needed some fresh air." She smiled and went over to my dad to wake him up. Sleepily he got up and patted his pockets for his keys. 

"Okay, Katherine, put the magazine down. It's time to go." Katherine sighed loudly but jumped up off the bed. 

My mom went back to the front desk to finish the paperwork and Katherine and I followed my dad out to the car. 

I don't remember the car ride home. My mind was occupied with thoughts of Sterling, dark magic, and the feeling that something really was coming, and I wasn't sure which side I was on.