a wilting sun

chapter four: end is neigh

Everything froze in that moment.

India's heart starts racing, and she feels her palms sweat as she grips the arms on the wheelchair. India knows that voice, that voice, she knows anywhere.

She turns her head to him.

Oh, and cue the record screeching to a big, fat, stop.

Here he stands, in all his wonderful glory of his dark red, long curly hair and his red nose like Rudolph; the too shortness and over-emotional eyeballs of Edward.

Edward Kwardesque.

India feels herself become both extremely agitated and slightly relieved to see the only friend of hers at the hospital. She turns her head away and sighs, feeling her hope to see Adonis diminish rather quickly.

"I'm flattered, Pink Nose." India looks back towards the rainbow to see the clouds have covered the colors, making it all gray and rainy once again in Utah. She doesn't turn her head back to Edward.

"I think I should have you begging for my kisses, Indie Bindie," He smirks and pushes up his big rimmed glasses.

"Nope."

He chuckles, knowing that he has gotten India annoyed. He walks over to her and sits down beside her, looking out of the large window in the hallway, just like India.

They stand in a familiar silence exactly like this for a second. India stares back out into the never-ending clouded skies and the rain hitting the green ferns below. She sees a couple under a large black umbrella. The boy has his jacket off for her to wear, and the girl is holding her hand out for the heavy rain to soak her fingers. She suddenly imagines her as the girl, free and jumping in puddles, not caring about a cold, or giving cold kisses to the boy who has his arms wrapped around her. The comforting warmth of another body holding her so close they could just almost merge together into one soul. She watches them turn the corner when Edward speaks out. "So, uh, what should we be staring at? All I see is a deep, sad, dark, very... er... dark darkness..."

Edward, Edward Kwardesque (pronounced WoaRed-ek), A.K.A. Pink nose, because of his constant pink nose when he blushes, is the ultimate geek of the century. He's read all the hospital books, studies the older, famous geeks, and even befriended fellow geeks outside of the hospital to do this secret, yet not so secret geek club. So, all things considered, he's a bit of a geek. Also, Edward is India's only real friend. He doesn't live at the hospital like India does, but more uptown in a humongous house with his older brother and his little sister. He's only fifteen and drives around without his permit and a fake ID. He comes to the hospital often to see India, who is also his only friend that doesn't think of him as a freak, because she's a pretty big freak around the town too.

"Really, Indie, what are you thinking about?" India groans, losing her train of thought of the couple with the black umbrella and glares at him. He puts his hands up to surrender for his impulsive act of interrupting constantly. "Alright alright, sorry. Um, h-how are you on this wonderful, sunny, light summer day?"

India shrugs, still staring out the window.

Another long silence. India wants to hide up in the room where she can fall asleep for months on end, like the rain. To never wake up.

"You, uh, haven't been to the E.I.N. group l-lately."

India's attention was caught at the words "E.I.N". She looks at him and sees him staring at the ground with a blush scattered on his nose and cheeks. She sees him staring at his ratty old white converse shoes, and the rather loose hoodie and black pants on his petite body. She realizes that he is wearing his brother's old clothes. She feels a sudden burst of empathy for her only friend, and with the little energy, she has gathered resting, she scoots off of her wheelchair to sit on the floor next to him. She uses his shoulder for support and sits down hard. She pushes away the wheelchair where it wheels to the wall and hits it with a muffled slap.