One day at a time..

Chapter 7: Missing you

[Charles]

Two days after leaving those hate comments about Alli, a whole group of us decided to go out to lunch on our day off. Lindsey, Danny's girlfriend just flew back from Florida. Jenny, Travis' girlfriend and Caitlin, Hunter's girlfriend, flew out for our two days off.

After choosing some place none of us have ever heard of, we all pile out of the bus and walk towards the restaurant. Before walking in, Jenny pulls Allie aside.

"Charles, can I talk to you?" Lindsey asks me suddenly.

I shrug, "Yeah, sure."

She pulls me a step to the left but the rest of the group can still hear. The only ones that aren't close enough to hear us are Jenny and Allie.

"Sooo... I went out to dinner the other night with my sister..." she begins.

I laugh, "No offense Lindsey but why are you telling me this."

She playfully hits me. "Shut up, will you?"

I hear Danny laugh as she hits me again.

"Man, just listen. You're gonna wanna hear this." Danny says quietly.

I give him a look, "You already know?"

He nods and looks guilty. "Just listen to her."

My heart drops. What could this be about?

"Anyway, when I went out, I saw Alli..." she says.

"Allie? But she's on tour with us?" I say even though I know who she's actually talking about. I feel a sudden warmth inside me. I feel hope.

Lindsey hits me again, this time she means it. "Shut up, dumbass," she snaps. "You know who I'm talking about."

"Look, as much as I'd love to hear all about Alli Speed, I really don't care." I say trying to sound annoyed. But I feel anything but annoyed. I wanna know more. But I'll never let Lindsey know that.

"Oh, you don't?" she says accusingly. Suddenly, she grabs my arm and yanks me away from everyone else. Dropping her voice to a whisper, she adds, "Well then I guess you don't care that she misses you?"

"What? She said that?" I say suddenly.

Lindsey begins to look upset, "No. But she didn't need to."

"What do you mean?" I say, sighing.

"Look, she's lost weight. She tried to look happy but we all know Alli, she'll do anything to appear strong. Her eyes were pained and she just wasn't the same." Lindsey says, glancing over at Jenny and Allie. "She asked about you and told me to tell you she said hi."

"She did?" I hear my voice crack.

My vision goes dark and I feel wobbly on my feet. Suddenly it looks like everything else around me is moving fast but I am moving in slow motion. I feel myself start to fall while I get tunnel vision.

"DANNY!!" I hear Lindsey screech.

Next thing I know, I wake up laying on the ground in Lindsey's lap. I'm vaguely aware that she slides out from under me as Allie slides under me, resting my head in her lap. I feel her run her hands through my hair just before I drift off again.

Next time I wake up, there are medics all around me. They are taking my vitals as I look around and see the concern chiseled on all of my friend's faces.

"Damnit!" I croak.

"Shhh, baby, it's okay." I hear Allie say softly.

Another fucking seizure. I've been doing so well lately.

"Guys, I'm sorry about this." I say and barely recognize my own voice.

"Dude, don't sweat it." Travis says.

"Charles, man, I'll play for you tomorrow." I hear NerdRock say.

"Just focus on getting better, dude." Hunter says.

I sit up as I say, "No, man, I'm good. I appreciate it but I'll be okay to play." Then I turn towards one of the paramedics, "Right?" I ask them.

My speech is slow just like it has been after every seizure since the second brain surgery. But I can tell that everyone can understand me so I don't pay any attention to my speech.

"Yes, Mr. Trippy. This is something you are experienced with so if you feel that you can handle it, you are free to do what you can." she says smiling at me.

After thanking the medics, everybody walks me back to the bus. I notice that Danny has been keeping his distance and I make a mental note to apologize to him personally, this isn't the first time I have ruined his afternoon with a seizure. Everybody makes sure I'm okay before leaving to get food. Allie takes my shirt off and lays me in my bunk. I feel her kiss my forehead before she covers me with a blanket. Damn, I'm not a little kid. But it does feel nice to be cared for. I hear her say in a shaky voice, "I love you, Charles." But my eyes are already shut so I just pretend I am sleeping.

The last thing that creeps in my mind before I am gone is the fact that I publicly bashed Alli. And she said hi? She is such a fucking sweet girl. She has an amazing heart. But then it occurs to me, what if she hasn't seen it yet? I may have fucked things up way worse than I could've imagined...