Surviving Paradise (Full Draft Version)

CHAPTER 16

"Come on Will let's just go dude."

"Ashton, take the girls in--the leeches and I need to discuss manners."

CHAPTER 16

Every tile around the basin visually seemed to pop out in detail.  Hundreds of tiny squares with drops of water hear and there.  “What?! Why?! How is she?!” 

          Another girl closed in soaping her hands, and Allisa took the vacated stall shutting herself in and leaning against the tiny door.

         “Car wreck.  She gave them a scare in the OR but she is fine now.”  Sayer crisply gave the important facts then filled in the details.  “She was brought into ER with several cuts, one to the upper left thorax.  The bleeding was bad, but her lung was missed by a centimeter.  Seventy two stitches total; the ones in her face are right around the hairline.  A fracture--her wrist.  Her ankle is broken, but it was a clean break.  She is still in recovery, sedated but they want to rouse her soon, because of the concussion.”

         “I’m on my way.”  Allisa spoke jerking the stall open, carelessly shouldering the girl in waiting as she beelined for the exit.

         “Do you want me to wait?”  Sayer inquired considerately, but his voice sounded tired, and she realized that if he were still at the hospital at this hour, it had been yet another one of his sixteen hour days.

         “No, it’s okay, unless you want me to port you home when I get there?”  The hospital was ten minutes away, Sayers home was twice that for him to drive.  But he declined respectfully, knowing she would want to get to Jane right away and she thanked him for the call.  Holding the bathroom door for a girl entering as she herself exited, Allisa stared at the stage, dreading the news she had to deliver to Ashton and Will.  At the same time she was thankful that Jane’s condition was recoverable.

         Coincidentally, the song Ashton was singing and playing was one of Jane’s favorites.  Allisa advanced on the table, but watched for a unobstructed view of the stage.  Her stature and the low stage were factors that made it impossible to get a clear sight of Ashton until she was right at the front and only steps from Will.  Ashton saw her, perhaps had sensed her all along, and slowing her stride, she locked eyes deliberately with his.  His vampire senses did not fail him, she felt the physical tingle, and a slight drain on her own senses before he broke eye contact and left the stage, leaving his two band mates stunned.  Will also was staring confused at the spot Ashton had vacated in the blink of an eye, until Allisa arrived at the table and pulled at his hand.  Will’s best friend and boyfriend senses did not fail HIM as he cleared a path to the door for the two of them. 

         Ashton was already outside under the glow of the moonlight, he paled even more than was normal for him if that were possible when Allisa began to explain, as they ran to the car.  Ashton of course beat them and was in the driver’s seat with the car idling when Allisa and Will climbed in, and Allisa finished the details, assuring Ashton that Jane would be fine. 

         The drive was a blur of streetlights, and a flagrant disregard for stoplights depending on the intersection traffic.  Only once before had Allisa ridden with Ashton while he drove peddle to the metal.  At top speed, his senses allowed him to drive as easily as normal speed.

         The hospital parking garage slowed him down enough to grab a parking receipt, but once the car was no longer in motion, Ashton was gone, leaving the keys dangling from the ignition.  Knowing that he would have a much easier time getting into the area where Jane was, had he waited for her, she quickly grabbed the keys and hopped out of the car after Will.