What About Us?

Chapter 19

Teddy

I finally left Maria's room in the infirmary at 4:30 in the morning.

The infirmary is more like a mini hospital. We always have at least two qualified doctors present. We had a total of 7 after the shooting.

All the students who want to be doctors are taught by them during real crisis.

I walked passed Jacob's room and saw Melisa sleeping with her head on his bed. Charlie was checking his vitals.

For once, his bright smile was gone. His blond hair was a mess and he looked dragged down with fatigue. I'm sure I looked no better.

I was just about to head back to Maria's room when someone caught me.

"You need to get some sleep." Charlie said pulling me into a hug

"I can't, if she wakes up when I'm not there she'll freak out." I mumbled into his shoulder

"We can set up the folding beds and sleep in there with her."

"We?"

"Yeah, I'm her doctor."

I was half listening by this point. I had closed my eyes and was welcoming sleep.

"Don't fall asleep on me, I want to get to bed too."

I hummed lightly as he pushed me down the hall to the room behind the front desk. Jackson and Angela had set up folding beds earlier and were sound asleep.

Charlie carefully pushed me down and covered me with a blanket. He said something quietly and I feel into a blissful asleep.

<*>

It was the night of my mom left.

"I'm not signing that!" My dad yelled

"You will if you don't want the cops involved!" My mom argued

My younger self was hiding in the closet with my sister. Both of us were terrified. It was never good when our parents fought. This time my mother wanted a divorce.

They continued going back and forth until my mom had enough. She opened the closet doors and took mine and my sister's hand. We were almost out the door when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder

"I get one." My father said

"Not in your wildest dreams." My mom argued back. "I will get custody of both kids, just you wait!"

My father's laughter was brutal and harsh. "Where you gonna get the money for a lawyer sweet heart?"

My mom gripped my hand tighter before dropping to her knees and hugging me tightly.

"I'll see you again soon. Be a good boy and listen to your father." She said with tears in her eyes

My mom picked up my sister and with a final teary smile left.

I yelled after her to come back, but nobody came and the hand on my shoulder only tightened.

<*>

I sat bolt upright on the fold up cot. I could still feel someone gripping my shoulder.

"Teddy? Are you ok?" Someone asked. I looked over and saw Jackson kneeling next to me. His hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine." I lied. I looked around the room and noticed Angela was gone. "Where's Angela?"

"She went to go calm down Maria. She started having a panic attack a little bit ago."

"Is she ok?"

"She's fine. Asleep now." Angela said reentering the room. She looked a little pale

"What about Charlie?" I asked

"Right there." Jackson pointed. I looked over and saw Charlie fast asleep on the cot beside me. His arm was hanging off and he was drooling slightly. The sunlight streaming in caught his hair and turned it gold.

"We're going to head down to the dining hall for some coffee. Want anything?" Jackson asked

"Just coffee."

"Ok, we'll be right back." Angela said then sneezed

They left a few minutes later. I decided it would be best to get up and check on everyone.

<*>

Melisa was still sound asleep next to Jacob, and Maria was fine. One of the on-call doctors was checking her out.

When I returned Charlie seemed to still be asleep.

"Teddy." I heard Charlie say

"Morning." I greeted

"Why's it so bright?"

"Because the sun's out."

"Can you tell it to go back to bed?" He asked

"I'm afraid not."

"Do you have orange juice?"

"No, but Jackson and Angela went to go get coffee."

"I love you." He mumbled. I didn't respond.

Charlie rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head, uncovering his feet. I was still caught up in what he said though.

He loves me?

That can't be right. We've only been going out for a few months.

<*>

A little while later Charlie sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Mornin." He said sleepily.

"Yeah." I replied. I wished Jackson and Angela would hurry up with the coffees, I really need something to clear my mind. "Wait, weren't you awake earlier?"

"I don't think so why?"

"You were talking. You said something about telling the sun to go back to sleep and how you wanted orange juice." I decided to leave out the part about how he told me he loved me.

"OH, I guess I forgot to tell you I talk in my sleep."

"Forgot? We've been friends for years!" I exclaimed

"It's just not something you or anyone else ever noticed, so I saw no reason to bring it up."

I sighed loudly. I was a bit disappointed he didn't remember what he said.

Charlie leaned over to my cot and kissed me.

"I love you though." He said. There it is.

"I love you too." I blushed deeply and he kissed me again.