In This Moment

Chapter 7: Of Glass Cups and Comic Books

I had always hated hospitals, but walking in knowing that I was seeing my sick brother made it all worse. I had no idea how he even bared sitting in a room with pale walls and those LED lights. I think I would go mentally insane before I even got the chance to die. Hospitals always had this certain scent to them. When I was younger, I thought it was the scent of death, but Daddy Nick shot that idea down when he started over cleaning my room. Now my entire room smells of hospital, the sharp smell of disinfectant.

I walked into the ER waiting room and saw my dads. Daddy Nick  was passed out on the couch, and Daddy Will was reading the newspaper. I laid the blanket over Daddy Nick and sat down next to Daddy Will.

            “How’s he holding up?” I asked glancing over at my dad.

            “He’s alright. He fell and couldn’t get back up again,” he answered without even looking up, “he’s awake if you want to go talk to him.”

            With that, I got up and walked down the hallway to see my brother. Dad and I had never been that close at all. Most of our conversations revolved around Sawyer, Daddy Nick and his OCD, grades, or his business.

When I walked into my brother’s room, I saw him struggling to sit up from his reclined position. I ran over to him and said, “Here, kid let me help you with that.”

“Jeez Q! Calm down I’m not going to die from bearing my own weight,” Sawyer muttered in annoyance.

“How are you feeling?” I asked feeling a little guilty.

“Oh I’m fabulous! Nothing like being rushed to the ER is there, Q?” he retorted in sarcasm.

“How long did they say they were going to keep you out of school?”

“A week or so. I didn’t even need to come to the hospital today. The dads just overreacted, like they always do.”

“They are just scarred. We all are.”

“Yeah, yeah I’ve heard that million times.”

“Hey, I see you have a new battle wound,” I said and pointed out the cut on his face.

“You like it? Its pretty bad ass if you ask me, but seriously whoever decided to make cups out of glass was deranged. I was trying to get some water, but my dumbass leg started to get weak so I fell, and bam the cup came crashing down on me, and I earned myself this beauty,” he laughed remembering the events of the morning.

“Wow!” is all I said as I raised my eyebrows.

“I know right!” he replied, “and it doesn’t even need stitches. I think it will heal quite nicely then leave a badass scar, and all the chicks will dig me.”

“Oh yeah for sure. They will totally dig your badass scar, but what will you do when you bring them home and they see your entire comic book collection?” I question while taking out the comic books I brought for him.

“Oh. My. God.” He screeched like a white girl who tried a pumpkin spice latte for the first time. “These are amazing! How did you even manage to get these? They are like extinct!”

“I have my ways,” I replied mysteriously, remembering my little encounter with the mathletes.

“You’re the best Q!” He said as he leaned over to hug me.

“I try.”

“So how was you’re day? I bet it was a lot better than mine.”

“No not really. I met his really annoying boy. I mean, he’s obsessed with me,” I said sarcastically.

“Haha! Who wouldn’t be obsessed with my gorgeous sister. She’s hot, funny, and has a great hair style,” he said with a quick wink.

“He thinks my hair is pretty cool okay?,” I said somewhat offended.

“You are the only person I know who would chop all of their hair off just because of stress,” he retorted.

“Hey, in my defense it was right after you had your leg amputated and we found out the cancer had spread to your other leg,” I said and slapped his shoulder.

“Precious cargo here, Q,” he winced.

“Sorry, I forgot.”

“So what’s this guys name?”

“Elliot James Peterson.”

“Ooo that’s a fancy name. I think I like him already.”

“Don’t get too used to hearing his name. He’ll end up leaving me just like all of my other friends. He invited me out to get coffee, but I think I’m just going to stay here with my best bud.”

“Quinn Annabeth Dailey! You are not going to sit with my lifeless ass when there is a boy who wants to get with you. Plus, I want to read my comic books in peace.”

“I don’t want you to feel alone though and-”

“I won’t be alone. The dads are here. Go have fun. Don’t be afraid to take risks with this guy.”

As I stood up from the chair I was sitting in, I asked, “Who said I was afraid?”

“No one,” he said and shrugged. “I could just tell ‘cause I could see it in your eyes. Now leave me in all my sickliness. Hey, Q! Make good choices!”

I waved goodbye to Sawyer and walked out of the hospital feeling guilty yet grateful for my wise brother.

I called Elliot up to tell him that I could make it to our little meeting at the coffee shop. He had said that he was already there. I had to admit, in that moment, I was overjoyed to see the boy with the fancy name.

Hey guys! I hope you liked this chapter as much as enjoyed writing it and editing it! I don’t know, I think its something about Sawyer’s personality that I love so much! Keep reading to see what happens with Elliot and Quinn!

Make good choices ;)

Crissy G.