Thanks To You

Hospital

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FIRST CHAPTER, SO HERE'S A SUMMARY SO YOU AREN'T COMPLETELY LOST.

21 year old Maria Davidson moves to New York from her home in California because her parents think she will achieve her dreams there- to find love.

(YEAH YEAH, I GET IT, IT'S LAME JUST HANG IN THERE OK IT GETS GOOD.)

She meets a man under unfortunate circumstances- him getting hit by a taxi car.

She takes him to a hospital.

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"So uh- what's your name?" He asks.

"Maria."

He chuckled and looked down at his feet.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing- I'm Alex Gaskarth."

"Alex Gaskarth. Kinda rings a bell." I say.

"I'd be surprised if you didn't know me.. Not to sound cocky or anything.."

"Ha. Too late."

"Well, what's your last name."

"Davidson. Hella Scottish."

"Did you just say hella."

"Problem?"

"No.. Just sounds funny."

"Psh, whatever. That's common dialogue where I'm from."

"Where are you from?"

"California. You?"

"Baltimore. Go Ravens." He pumps his fist up but pulls it back down quickly after realizing how much it hurts.

We arrive at the hospital and with some attitude the taxi driver motions for his money. I shove it to him and quickly get out of the cab. Me and Alex end up in the waiting room for a while, of course. I'm finally fed up with waiting and go up to the front desk and talk to the nurse.

"Hey uh, we've been here for a while."

"He doesn't look like he's in too bad shape."

"He got hit by a frigging car."

"It really doesn't look like that."

"Look at him! He's doubled-over and wincing. Plus, don't you think we'd have better things to do than sit in an ER waiting room for hours on end?"

"Miss, sit back down. Or I'll have to call security."

"My- friend- needs medical attention. So listen, I realize you're tired and grumpy from working, believe me, I get it! But don't take that shit out on us. Can we please get a fucking room for him?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes as she motioned Alex over.

"Full name." She snapped at Alex.

"Alexander William Gaskarth."

Huh. That's kind of a posh name.

"Date of birth."

"December 14, 1987."

Jesus he's 27

She waited for the printer to spit out a hospital tag and quckly put it tightly around Alex's wrist.

"A nurse will be with you shortly." She said and continued click-clacking on that keyboard of hers.

Soon enough we were out of there. I'll pay for the hospital bill with my parents credit card. I'm sure they'll never ask why I needed an MRI...

"So, where to now?" he said

"What do you mean 'where to now?' bud, you just got hit by a car. I think you should go home."

"Ugh- don't ever say that word again."

"Home? Sorry. But I understand. What's going on at home?"

"I don't really have a home. I like- Ah.."

"Spit it out bruh."

"Sorry, I basically live in a tour bus. I mean I've got an apartment that I rent but I'm almost never there. And really, 'Bruh'?"

My eyes narrowed.

"Tour bus..? So you tour. For what."

"A band."

We quickly exchanged dialogue without wasting any time.

"What band?"

"All Time Low."

"Sounds familiar.. Gotta song on ya?"

"I can do you one better."

He walks up to a street performer and asks for his guitar. He nods and hands Alex his acoustic.

Alex puts the strap around his neck and smiles down at it.

He begins singing and playing.

"I've got your picture, I'm coming with you

Dear Maria, count me in

There's a story at the bottom of this

bottle and I'm the pen"

"OH I HAVE HEARD THAT-"

"You have?" He begins to speak but I talk over him each time.

"YOU- you're the singer from THAT band."

"All Time L-"

"fucking- oh my God. Sorry, didn't mean to freak out on you."

"It's fine-" He half-smiles and quickly looks away and back at me.

"It's just, I've been listening to you guys forever, I just never knew the band name because they were all burned CD's-"

"Oh-" He chuckled.

"I mean- oops I-"

"Calm down Maria." He hands the guitar back to the performer and walks back to me.

"Well, I love your music."

"Thanks. That means a lot. Look, I don't wanna go home right now."

"Why not?"

"I don't wanna say goodnight."