3 am; joji miller

1.7

     The car ride was definitely not joyful. I was crammed between two men, and Scar wouldn't shut up from the front seat. Eventually we got to the hospital.

     The man to my right opened the door and scooted out, me following behind him. He got back in the car and shut the door. Scar rolled down his window and whistled to get my attention.

     "You got everything you need? You understand the task at hand here?" He asked, looking at me with his cold, ice blue eyes.

     "I got it. I'm going now. Thanks for everything," I said sarcastically. I turned on my heel and strode to the door. I tried to play it off cool, but I was still freaking out internally. But can you blame me? I have to turn in a guy that I really care about in order to keep my dad from being killed.

     This isn't how I expected my first trip to Japan to go.

     I pulled open the hospital door and was immediately greeted by Dr. S. He was standing at the receptionist desk. He turned around and ran to me.

     "Where'd you go!? I thought you weren't gonna leave? Who was that man that you were with!?" His frantic questions were giving me a headache.

     "I'll explain everything later. I just want to see George. Is he awake?" I asked him, trying to keep him quiet.

     "I think he's awake. Come on," he said. He took my wrist, a lot more gentle than the other man, and led me to the bed that George was in. He was awake. Thank god.

     I went in and took his hand, standing by his side. He looked up at me. But he didn't smile like I did. He had more of a glare.

     "Where were you?" He said, not taking his eyes away from mine.

     "I, uh, I had to step out. I remembered that I was supposed to call my dads hospice nurse. I went back to the hotel. Our stuff is here," I said, lying through my teeth. I felt awful lying to him. But I held up my phone, to show him that our stuff came.

     He still seemed a little skeptical, but his glare eased a little bit. He squeezed my hand lightly.

     "I was careful, I promise," I said to him and smiled softly. He nodded and gave me a weak smile back. Dr. S came up behind me with a chair.

     "Here, sot down," he said and scoot it closer to me. I gratefully took a seat. I was pretty level with George's bed. I thanked Dr. S and turned my attention back to George.

     "So, how are you feeling?" I asked him, trying to change the entire subject from before.

     "My side hurts. It hurts like hell," he said back.

     "I know. I wish there was something I could do."

     "Have you talked to Ian or Max? To let them know what was going on."

"Yeah. I was actually on the phone with Ian before they called me in here when your novocaine wore off."
  
     "What'd he have to say?"
  
     "Of course he asked what happened and asked how you were. Then he asked how I was and helped calm me down."
  
     "Do you think we should call or FaceTime him, to let him know I'm awake and okay for now."
  
     I nodded and pulled my phone out again. On the lock screen I had received a text from 'Sarah.'
  
     "Who's Sarah? And how does she know you're at the hospital?" George asked. I looked at him and quickly thought of another lie to tell him.
   
     "Oh, it's my dads hospice nurse. When I was talking to her, I told her that I had to go because one of my friends was in the hospital," I said. I don't know why, but that came so easily to me. I hate lying. Like, I hate it a lot.
  
     He shrugged as I unlocked my phone and found Ian's contact. I hit the FaceTime button and realized that he might not answer because of the time zones. But sure enough, he did.
  
     "Hey, the survivors awake," I said and held the phone over George.
  
     "Hey, Joji. You feeling okay?" Ian asked and gave him a soft smile.
  
     "Define okay," George said and huffed a small laugh.
  
     I smiled and gave the phone to George. He held it with his other hand, still holding onto mine with the other. The boys talked about what they should do. How we were going to get out of this whole situation.
   
     "Rose, you're pretty quiet. Do you have any ideas?" I heard Ian ask. I sighed.
  
     "Not at all. This is the first time I've ever been in a situation like this. You two should be the experts, shouldn't you?" I asked and leaned into frame to see Ian.
  
     "I wish we weren't, but I guess we kind of are," George said and sighed as well. I squeezed his hand and he smiled at me.
    
     "Well, Max and I are going to do everything that we can to help. Chad too. We told him what was going on and he offered to help. I hope you don't mind that we let him in on this whole thing," Ian said. 
   
     "He's been a part of it as much as you have. Tell him I said thanks for offering to help. But I don't know how much you guys are gonna be able to do," George said.
   
     "Well, we'll try and figure something out. Even if that just means sending memes to the group chat to lighten the mood a little bit."
  
     The three of us laughed. I smiled at George smiling. He deserved to be happy and didn't deserve any of this.
   
      The moment passed, and the three of us went back to talking about how we were going to get out of this. Eventually the conversation got bore some. "Alright guys, I'm super tired. I'll call you guys tomorrow. Joji get some rest. You too Rose. You both need it," Ian said. I nodded.
  
     "Thanks for everything," George said to him. I smiled at Ian and they hung up. George handed me my phone and I pocketed it.
   
     "Now come here," George said. He scoot over in his bed and made room for me. I stood up and sat down on his bed. "You gonna lay down?" He asked and smiled at me.
  
     I rolled my eyes and laid down next to him. "Am I even allowed to go this?" I asked him and cuddled up close to him.
  
     "Probably not but honestly I don't give a shit."
  
     "Well, then I guess I'll stay with you tonight."
  
     I felt him kiss the top of my head. I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.
  
     "Goodnight Joji," I said and chuckled a little bit.
  
     "Hmph. Goodnight Rose," he said.
  
     I guess he fell asleep, but I didn't. I couldn't get my mind off of my 'task.' I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do.