chapter 2
As soon as I walk into my house I know something is wrong. Its too quiet, the eerie kind. I walk into the dining room and turn the lights on. Our house is close to a mansion, its really big. Never has it seemed this empty.I hear crying coming from the living room so I run in there. I freeze as soon as I see Dimitri's parents and mine, all with worry on their face. As soon as my mom sees me she gets up and runs over to me. I step back a little as she throws her arms around me. For the next ten minutes my mom tried to explain about the accident. On the way to the dance Dimitrie was hit by a drunk driver and is now in ICU.
I quickly jump up and grab my bag.
“Where are you going?” I turn around as my mom stands back up.
“To see Dimka,” I reply as I walk out the door.
When I get to the hospital a nurse shows me to Dimka’s room. I grab a chair and pull it up to his bed. As I look around the stale white room it finally hits me. Dimitri- My Dimka, is lying in ICU when we should be out having fun. Its like im in some type of cliche soap opera. As I feel the tears start to slide down my face a hand comes up and wipes them away.
“Dimka!”
“Hey Sunshine”
Remember when I mentioned one of the meanings of Zelia was radiance of the sun? Well, ever since I found that little fact out Dimka has called me his ‘Sunshine’ ever since.
“Hey,Lia what's wrong?”
“Asked the guy in ICU,” I say sarcastically.
“Zelia tell me what’s wrong.”
Uh Oh, he used my full name. The last time he used my full name was when I used his toothbrush on the neighbors pet dog Fifi. Slowly I tell the whole story, because truly as soon as I begin talking, I can’t stop.
“Lili” When he whispers my childhood nickname I finally look at him. As soon as I see the tears in his eyes I start bawling like a three year old.
“Come here,” He says as he pats the space he made for me on his bed. He wraps his arms around me and sings,”You are my sunshine,”Until I finally calm down.
“Lili?”
Yes?”
“You know I’ll never leave right? I’ll always be there for you, and even when we’re apart for any reason, I’ll be right by your side. Remember our pinkie promise we made the night before kindergarten? It still stands.
Before I could reply a nurse walks in and says visiting hours are over.
“Night love you,” Dimitri says as he kisses my forehead.
“Night love you too,” I say as I jump out of his bed.
As I make my way to my car I start to feel like my life is looking up.
*
I wake up in the morning to the phone blaring in a robotic voice“Your father is attempting to reach you on your cellular device”, over and over again.
“Hello?”
“Really Zelia?Is that the proper way to answer a phone call?”
“Hello Father how could I assist you at this moment?”
“Better but you don’t have to be so cross about it,”Theres what I’m guessing is a dramatic pause,” What with the good news and all.”
“What good news?” Now he has my full attention.
“Oh didn’t anyone tell you? Dimitri is being released tonight at nine.” And with that he hung up.
Even though such a simple conversation with my dad frustrated me to no ends, I had more important things to do. Dimka was coming home!!! I put on some basketball shorts with a hoodie Dimka left here last week. As I’m putting my hair into a bun I decide to put on some mascara and eyeliner, just to cover up the sleep. As I slip on some grey flats I’m already planning a welcome home party in my head.
Before I head to the hospital I make a quick stop at starbucks. Two mochas for me and one caramel later I am pulling out of starbucks and making my way to Dimka. If he is being released at nine then I can chill with him all day and leave around six. The best part is that he’ll never expect the huge party he’ll walk into. Wait What if he’s not up to it yet? Oh! Duh, I‘ll just slyly question him while we hang out.
*
Twenty minutes and one mocha later I'm asking the reception desk for Dimka’s room number. As I’m waiting for her to look it up I notice two people step of the elevator. The two people that I never wanted to see again. Before they can spot me the nurse tells me his room number and I bolt.
As I’m looking for room 334 I get a little lost in thought. Why are they hear? Did Dimka forgive them?What if he really knew all along? When that question pops into my head I freeze mid step. I don’t realize I’m crying until I hear a voice call out at me.
“Hey!” I look up to see a group of teens around my age. Being me I look around and behind me to make sure I’m the one they’re talking to. When I see the deserted hallway I turn back around to see what they want.
There are four guys and one girl sitting in a little alcove waiting ...thing. Only about ten seconds max have passed since one of them yelled out hey , but it feels like an eternity. Finally, or at least thats how I felt, the girl spoke up.
“Are you ok?”
“Yes.” I reply trying to keep it simple so I don’t get asked more questions...especially by strangers. Of course that one little word gives me away when it decides to crack. I clear my throat and look around. Noticing the only room around is Dimka’s I look more closely at the teenagers.
“Uh, are y’all here to visit Dimk- Dimitri?”
“Yes,” the girl replies. “My name is Aibhlinn by the way.” Her name is pronounced like Ave-leen. She is short and petite. The kind where she still has a curve to her hips and such. Her hair was a dark auburn cut into a bob. It actually made the green in her hazel eyes pop. Next is her brother who’s name is Brian. He has medium dark brown hair and honey eyes. Like the other guys he was definitely well built. Then came Ruari who could probably beat the Rock in a wrestling match. His name is pronounced Ro-ree. He has dirty blonde hair and dimples. His eyes are a light green. It was the last one that caught my breath. His name was Aedan, pronounced like the english name Aiden. He had a mix between dark chocolate and black hair. His eyes were the most memorizing shade of a darkish teal, and in short- he was hot. Did I mention he also has dimples when he smiles?
After they introduced themselves I did the same.If it wasn’t for the fact that they were all drop dead gorgeous and made me look like a lumpy potato, we might of been friends. I still didn’t know how they knew Dimka, but that reminded me I was here to see him. After excusing myself I rush in without knocking. Looking around the plain white room I see a passed out Dimka in the corner with a book still in his hands. I go to set our drinks on the nightstand type thing when a hand reaches out. Letting out a squeak while nearly spilling coffee everywhere I turn around and glare at Dimka.
“It’s not nice to scare your friends, you know that right?”
“Well who says you're my friend, I just want the coffee.” Normally I would’ve laughed while giving him a smack on the head, but what he said brought back the questions from earlier. Also just like earlier, my tears escape without permission.
