Basketcase

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty Three

A miraculous yawn took over her face, stretching widely and lingering on in the moments to come. "Should we do something?"

I glanced to Niall, observing as Marissa collapsed into herself. Should we?

"Should we?" Another echoed aloud.

"I dunno," Liam returned, "I mean, maybe not Marissa, but Ryan seems to be in a potentially risky position."

"I guess... but what do we do?" Lou asked.

"Get her out?" I suggested.

Their eyes gathered on me, Liam nodding, "Right."

Lou and Zayn ducked beside the bed on each side. Lou went on to tug at the bed curtain, the fabric hitching 6 inches up.

"Uh... we might have a problem," informed Lou, his voice muffled with his face pressed under the bed.

"What's that?" Harry inquired, approaching Lou's crouched body.

"Well, my head can't," he went on, kicking his leg under, his leg hitching at the upper thigh, "nor my body."

"Zayn?"

"Nah, he's hanging down here with me," Lou relayed.

"Right." Liam walked round the side to Zayn, "so you're saying none of you can reach Ryan."

"Yup," Lou sighed.

"Any new ideas?"

"Uhh... maybe some rope?" Harry inquired hold himself up with one hand on the mattress.

"Rope?" Lou slid his head from the beneath the bed, giving Harry a mocking expression. "What are we gonna do with rope Harry."

"Tie her to it and pull her out?" Harry explained.

"But we can't reach her!" Zayn called.

Lou glared up at Harry, "Right."

"Uh huh," Lou shook his head.

"Flip it."

My head shifted to the bed. Did Marissa say that?

"Flip it?" Harry echoed.

"Mmm... it's not a bad idea..." Liam ponders staring at the bedside. "What's it look like under there Zayn?"

"Uhh... it's a bed Liam..." he replied plainly, "what am I looking for..."

"I mean is it bolted down or to the wall!" He defended, beginning to pout, "of course I know its bed!"

Shuffling scratches racked against the carpet fur. "Nah, no bolts here," he returned.

"Nor here," Harry added letting go of the backboard.

"Wait, should we be trusting an overly tired person, whose excuse was watching a mystery telly show?"

"Crime show," she injected.

"Sorry, crime show," I relayed, going over the group.

Harry shrugged, "I mean, she might not be completely sane but she's gotten things right this far."

The lads all nodded also mirroring a shrug of agreement.

"Okay," cheered Harry, wandering over Marissa, carrying her under her arms and lifting her from the bed. Her legs dragged against the carpet, holding a collapsed position even as he laid her cradled on the chair. "You all get ready," he said.

Lou jumped up and began to knee the mattress. Zayn, pulled at the knittin's and threw them to the side. "Oh!" Harry exclaimed, "Heh! See I was just thinking of tipping the thing but I see this makes more sense."

"Guys... I dunno, I'm sure there is a better way."

Liam joined Lou, stepping on the wood frame, pushing the mattress up on an angle.

"Zayn, get out of there" Harry called, stepping behind Lou and Liam as the base of the bed frame.

The frame began raising, the light cleansing the shadowed area. A body planted stiffly to the carpet, lay still as socks and shoes hovered and crossed over. A sigh left my lips.

My eyes widened, prancing over to the bottom end of the bed, I clasped the wood and frantically guiding the bed frame as it inched quickly to a 90 degree angle. "There's a body under this thing! More careful! Please!" Pushing the inward from both sides as the bed landed on 90 degrees, waddling at its final destination and steading with what seemed to be an extreme effort.

"Alright, think we're good," Liam finalized. Looking up, he and others had removed their hands.

"Oh no!" I snapped, bracing myself for the weight, "get your hand back on!" I pressed a darting glare, widening my feet stance. "Not until one of you, gets Ryan out from under there, then we all let go."

Lou and Zayn stared a moment before shrugging and returning their arms on the frame. Liam and Harry stood there. "Well?" I pressed.

"Uhh... Kay?" Liam responded, placing his hand on the bed. Harry kneed down beside Ryan and scooped him up.

Gees. I sighed resting my hands. The bed casually leaning to a 100 degree angle, then 115. My head snapped to Liam, his single supportive arm still raised to where the bed was a few seconds ago. Zayn and Lou held their hands tucked into their chest watching the frame tower over the mattress and flatten it in a single bound. 

I starred lamely at Liam, shaking my head,

"Nice," Harry nodded to the clash of bed.

"Yup," I returned flatly, "Alright, is there another place where we can put these two?"

"Guest rooms down the hall," Marissa answered, her head standing straightly aligned on her neck and suddenly falling to one side.

"Right..." I replied skeptically.

Harry wandered up the hall, Ryan's Head bobbling out the side. He really can sleep...