behind the camera [a.i]

Chapter 10

“What hospital?” He asked as he sniffled a little bit. “Children’s Hospital.” I spoke then the line went dead and I went to call the lads and let them know where I was and what happened to Bells. I called Luke and he put me on speaker and I let them all know what happened and that I would at the hospital and that they could reach me on my phone. I hung up after them and walked up to the receptionist desk.

“Can I help you sir?” The young blonde asked from the desk, I took a deep breath running my hand through my hair for the 100th time since I’d arrived. “Yes, can you tell what room Bella Reeves is in?” I asked her and she seemed skeptical. “Are you family?” She questioned, I opened my mouth to answer but someone called my name. I turned around and saw Mr. Reeves running through the door and straight to me. 

“Where is she?” He asked me,I turned my head back to the nurse and she looked down at the clipboard in her hand. “Floor 4 room 476.” I thanked her and guided Mr. Reeved to the elevator, pressing the button for the 4th floor the elevator lurch upward as an awkward silence began to develop. “What happened?” Mr. Reeves asked breaking the silence that had formed, I swallowed the lump in my throat and suddenly needed water.

“We were leaving Starbucks when someone pulled her to the ground and she hit her head on the cement.” I said looking at the floor guiltily as the silence formed once again. The doors opened and Mr.Reeves stepped out and began frantically looking for his daughters room number. I followed behind him but not to close and not to far behind that I would loose him. He stopped in front of a door and I saw a single tear run down his cheek as he pushed the door open. 

He stepped in and I followed his actions, seeing Bella hooked up to so many machines broke my heart and knowing that I put her here made my heart break even more. How could I ever forgive myself for doing this to the person that I…that I love. I watched as Mr. Reeves collapsed into a chair beside Bella’s bed grabbing her hand and leaning against her pale figure. I stood back wanting to give him as much space as possible, I leaned against the door frame and before I knew it I began to doze off.

I felt a hand being place on my shoulder, as I jolted awake I saw Mr. Reeves standing next to me. “Don’t beat yourself up about what happened we all have our mistakes.” He simply stated before patting my shoulder and walking out the room and down the corridor. I took this opportunity and cautiously walked toward Bella’s limp body, placing my hand on top of hers being careful of the IV that was sticking out of her hand.

I laid my head on her arm and began to cry for the second time tonight, letting all my anger just wash away in the salty droplets that ran down my cheeks. The last thing I remember before falling asleep was whispering ‘I love you’ into Bella’s ear. My body was soon taken over with sleep and my mind filled with horrible dreams of what happened, just the site of Bella laying still on the cement haunted me mind.

Watching her body being placed on the stretcher killed my insides and I couldn't believe that someone that I called a ‘fan’ had done this to someone that I loved. I was soon awakened by someone’s hand shaking me. I jolted up and came face to face with the lads. They all gave me sympathetic smiles, Calum held up a gym bag and I gave him a smile grabbing the bag and going to the toilet to change.

I looked at myself in the mirror and man did I look like a ray of sunshine, I splashed some water on my face and began undressing and pulling on the gym shorts and All Time Low shirt Calum had brought. 

I packed all my dirty clothes into the duffle and exited the toilet placing the bag besides the door, resuming my previous position; in the chair next to Bella’s hospital bed. “Dude you seriously need to go home and get some proper sleep.” Mikey stated once he saw my baggy eyes and how pale my skin had become. “No! I’m not leaving her side.” I huffed intertwining my fingers with Bella’s.

“Ash.” I heard Bells faint voice say at first I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me but then I heard it again and felt her hand squeeze mine. “Bells! I’m here!” I smiled, turning my head toward the lads and Calum was already out the door and going to the closet nurse station.

“Hey baby girl! How are you feeling?” I asked scooting closer to the bed if that was even possible. She licked her chapped lips, pushing up on her hands so she could sit up. Her hand darted up to her head and she grimaced at the pain that was probably going through her head.