The Bad Boy's A Softie

IX

          I opened the doors of the hospital, the coldness of the sterile place instantly hitting me as I entered. I walked into the lobby and looked around at the oh-so-familiar waiting room that I sat in at least once a week.

          I walked up to the front desk and stared at the also-familiar receptionist, Sarah, as she was writing something down in a planner she had. I cleared my throat, hoping to grab her attention, but also not be too annoying about it in the process.

          She looked up and blinked before her eyes instantly widened at the sight of me. 

          "Oh, Willow, I knew you were coming!" She said as a smile spread across her face. I gave her a half-smile and nodded. "Can I go see Noelle?" I asked, impatiently tapping my fingers on the desk.  

          "I would totally let you back there if I could, but I can't. At least, not quite yet. The doctors are still trying to figure out what is going on with her at the moment. Your parents told me to tell you that they just went out to grab some coffee. Who knows how long they'll be here for," Sarah said, pushing her glasses up further on her nose and turning her attention back to the computer.

          I nodded at her before turning away and walking over to a love seat in the waiting room. Sitting down, Matthew's presence became known as he sat down beside me. I heard him clear his throat, trying to get my attention. I looked up at him, my eyes searching his to try to find something in them that would show that we were okay.

          He looked back down at me and gave me a slight smile, making my stomach feel like it traveled up into my throat. 

          "Willow, Matthew," I looked up at the sound of a woman's voice saying my name. "Oh, Mom," I said, realizing that it was my mother. She stood beside my dad with a cup of Starbucks coffee in her hands. She looked absolutely exhausted. 

          "Willow, the doctor said that we won't be able to hear any news for a couple more hours. I'm sorry for getting you all worked up and bringing you here. You should probably go back home," my mom said as she looked from me to Matthew. 

          "Matthew, I called your mom while you two were heading here. If you don't mind, can you stay with Willow tonight?" 

          I froze in place after hearing the words leave my mother's mouth. Matthew and I hadn't stayed together overnight since we were 13. 

          After waiting a few seconds, Matthew finally opened the door, welcoming me into his home. I squeezed my cow Pillow Pet closer to my body as I walked inside, blushing as my best friend grinned at me. 

          "Hey there, Shorty." He said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me along with him down into the basement. Over the summer, Matthew and I had taken the basement and turned it into our own secret hideout. We were finally going to have a sleepover together after months of planning this.

          "Are you ready to experience your first ever real horror movie?" He said after we got settled onto the couch we'd moved down there. I shivered a little, dreading this part of the night. 

          I'd promised Matthew that I would watch a horror movie with him during our first sleepover because I had never actually seen a one before. I wasn't ever a fan of scary movies, I thought that they were dumb and it was stupid that people would willingly get scared for their own entertainment. 

          Matthew, being a horror movie fanatic, decided that he would get me to watch one. "We're watching a classic," I heard Matthew say from behind me. I turned around and saw him holding a pizza box in one hand and two bottles of soda in the other.