Crayons

Chapter 27

I'm woken in the morning by the lights being turned back to their highest brightness, flashing my eyes behind my eyelids. I crack an eye open and spot a nurse coming in, checking my IV and data. When she's finished she finally looks over to me, finding me watching her. She smiles at me, such a fake smile, "Would you like some breakfast Miss Gray?" When I nod she fetches the menu, bringing it over to me. "Those are lovely flowers, are they from your boyfriend perhaps?"

"I don't know who they're from," I reply, sitting myself up as I do. The nurse hands me the menu and my stomach growls in anticipation. I quickly skim the menu, searching for anything that interests me. After a moment I select pancakes and add on some toast. While the nurse calls the cafeteria for me a head pops into my room. "Mrs. Turner?"

Mrs. Turner walks into the room, a folder in her hand and smile on her face, "Willow, it's good to finally see you. I was worried about my star pupil." She plops herself into the chair next to my bed, setting the folder down on the table of roses. "I figured you might be bored here in the hospital, so I brought you your make up work from school."

"Thank you," I tell her, smiling. "I appreciate you coming by, but you don't need to be here. I would understand if you didn't come."

She shakes her head, "No, I wanted to come, Willow. I was worried about you." I smile as she pats my arm. "By the way, as long as the hospital lets you go by the end of the weekend you can come back to school on Monday."

"How many days left until the big history project is due?" I question. I wave at the nurse as she leaves the room, but my main attention doesn't leave my teacher.

"Well, today is Saturday, and it's due on Monday," she reminds me.

"So I have the weekend to complete five pages of fake history?"

She grins, "It doesn't have to be fake Willow, just unknown to the world." I smile at her. "And it won't be an assignment we present. Especially because your final is this week as well."

I growl under my breath, "I completely forgot about exams coming up."

"But after exams you'll have the entire summer vacation to relax and recover completely from your experiences this past week." She smooths down a bit of my hair, smiling at me encouragingly. "I believe in you, Willow, I wish you did as well." I smile at her, thanking her for her compliment with my eyes when she changes the topic, "So where did these beautiful flowers come from?" She tilts her head, lightly touching one of the soft petals. "Zach or Eric?"

"How did you-," I start, but she interrupts me.

"I'm not blind or a fool, Willow." She turns away from the flowers, back to me, "I can see the way you look at both of them, and the way they look at you." I don't say anything, completely in shock. After a minute she speaks up again, "I can't decide who I think it's from."

I lean forward and snatch up the note that came with the flowers, handing it over to my teacher. "The flowers came with this, no signature though." Mrs. Turner reads over the note, nodding her head as if she understands. "What?" I ask.

"I'm going to take a guess and say these are from Eric," she hands the note back over to me.

"What makes you think that?"

"The note, it sounds like something he would say. Something romantic, sweet, and flattering." She smiles at me, "Plus I recognize his handwriting."

I let out a small chuckle, but quickly become more serious, "Until the last flower dies, huh?" I pick the plastic rose, twirling it between my fingers for a moment.

She lets out a sigh and I look up, only to find her readying her things. "I'm sorry to cut this short, but I do have to go do some things today. A husband and kids are a hassle."