Everything You Are

7 || Visits

I couldn't force myself to open my eyes even though I heard the sound of a monitor beeping. The heavy weight of sleep was too overpowering.
No.
I opened my eyes slowly, giving them time to adjust to the bright lights above me.
What the hell?!
I was in a hospital. Why? I tried to recall the events that occurred earlier today, but my head was fuzzy. I just realized it hurts too. I rubbed the back of my head, only to discover a wad of gauze was taped to it. Suddenly it all came back to me. Tyler.
He did this.
My thoughts were interrupted as a nurse approached me. She looked me straight in the eyes before turning her head to the doorway where another nurse was standing.
"She's awake."
The male nurse turned on his heal and practically sprinted down the hall.
Damn how long was I out?
The blonde, female nurse beside me began to mess with some of the machines I was apparently attached to somehow and turned a few off. She smiled lightly at me before leaving the room. I sat in pure and utter boredom for a few minutes before the male nurse returned. He smiled and began to walk towards me. He crouched beside my bed and spoke,
"Aria, the Sheriff is gonna be here soon okay? He's just gonna ask you some questions I guess."
I nodded my head as the nurse smiled again, stood, and left. I was by my lonesome once again. Honestly, I was so bored that I attempted to make a trap beat in my head to the beat of the heart monitor. I had no clue how much time passed, but eventually there was a quiet knock on my door. I adverted my gaze to the man standing in the doorway. The sheriff.
"Good afternoon Aria." He said, waltzing into the room.
He grabbed a chair from the corner and pulled it over to my bedside. I suddenly felt uncomfortable. He sat down and pulled out a notebook and pen.
"Ma'am would you mind telling me what happened between you and Mr. Tyler Williams yesterday?"
Okay so I was only out for like, five hours. Good.
I nodded my head and spilled everything. I told him how I was out late with Ava and how Tyler was drunk and how he...yeah. And lastly, I told the sheriff about the mystery man who tackled Tyler before I blacked out.
"Okay," the sheriff said, finishing his notes, "Well that'll be all Miss Strider. Thank you for your time." He stood up, about to leave the room when I grabbed his arm suddenly.
"Sir," I gulped, "Is Tyler in jail?" I asked nervously, hoping the answer was yes.
"Yes ma'am." The sheriff replied.
I let go of his arm, but he stayed put.
"For how long?" I asked.
Please be a life sentence.
The sheriff sighed, defeated. It seemed as if he didn't want to tell me. I looked him in the eyes pleadingly,
"Since all witnesses are ineligible for standing trial, Mr. Williams will only be incarcerated for about six months." He furrowed his brow and pressed his lips together in a straight line, anticipating my reaction.
"Oh." I whispered.
I felt a weight on my chest. I felt as if the world was pushing on me, suffocating me. I couldn't deal with the pain.
The sheriff left the room, leaving me alone with the weight of failure pressing against my heart. I felt a tear fall down my cheek. After a minute, I sat up, taking a deep breath to clear my head. I wiped my eyes with the palm of my hand and tried to ignore the pain in the back of my head. The nurse walked in and began to unplug the monitors around me. She yanked the needle out of my forearm and I winced in pain.
"As soon as the doctor is done with your paperwork, you're free to go, sweetheart." She said to me.
She handed me a slightly heavy, rectangular object and left the room.
How did she get my phone?
I held the power button for a few seconds before the screen flashed white. I waited patiently for my phone to fully turn on, and when it did I immediately got about a thousand text message notifications from the one and only Ava.

Ava: OMFG ARIA THE HOSPITAL JUST CALLED ME AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING - 1:23pm

Ava: I'M LEAVING THE AIRPORT AS FAST AS I CAN, NEW YORK CAN WAIT. - 1:23pm

Only about four minutes ago.

Aria: Hey Ava don't leave the airport okay? I'm alright I promise. I'll call you as soon as I can, 'preciate the concern. Love you babe <3 - 1:27pm

Ava: Okay. We really need to talk later...seriously. Love you <3

I shut off my phone just as the nurse popped her head in the room. I glanced up at her.
"You have a visitor, Aria...want me to send him in?"

A visitor? I literally know two people: Ava and...Tyler. And it can't be either of them...

"Uh....yeah thanks." I muttered.
I smoothed my hair down with my hands. I don't really know why I bothered; I know I look like a complete mess.
A tall boy appeared in the doorway, his hands shoved in the pockets of his hoodie.
"Hey." He said, obviously nervous.
I couldn't help but remember the familiarity of his frame.
Oh my God. That's him.
"Hey." I said back, giving him a small wave.
I pulled down the covers and slung my legs over the side of the hospital bed. The boy walked into the room and sat in the chair the sheriff had pulled up.
"Uh," the boy shoved his hands deeper in his pockets nervously. "You okay?" He asked, his blue eyes shimmering.
Wow he's gorgeous.
"Uh," I scratched the back of my head gently, "Yeah I guess I'm alright." I replied.
"Okay...uh...I'm not really sure what I'm doing here." He said, standing up and shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. He was about to take a step, but without thinking I shot up and grabbed his shoulder. He froze and turned around slowly.
"Thank you." I whispered, "For saving me."
He nodded, and held out his hand for me.
"I'm Lucas by the way." He smiled slightly.
"Aria." I said, shaking his hand.
He shoved his hand back in his jacket pocket to accompany the other. He didn't move. Neither did I.
He suddenly looked down at the floor.
"I should go." He said.
I was about to protest, but he gave me no time to respond before walking out the door.

I'm so lonely that I cry reading fanfiction. I really need a boyfriend.