More or Less

Chapter 20 • Judas Kiss

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Alisha's POV

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The waiting room is nearly empty and the lights are too bright, instantly blinding me. I squint my eyes and head straight towards the nurse working at the reception desk. The air conditioner is on full blast and I instantly regret not wearing a sweater.

My nerves are bundled up in the pit of my stomach and the goosebumps layered across my flesh causes me to feel every shift in the damn air. I should've drunk a lot more wine.

What will he say?

"How may I help you?" the nurse asks me without averting her attention from a folder of paperwork, a pen in her hand.

"I'm here to visit Brandon -- "

"Visiting hours are over at eight, honey," the nurse cuts in, looking up at me briefly before checking the watch on her wrist. "It's been over for an hour and a half."

"If you don't mind me asking, has anyone came to visit him?"

The nurse looks at me curiously, an eyebrow raised. I think that she may turn me away, but she doesn't. Instead, she closes the folder she was working on and turns to the computer beside her. I can't help the smile on my face.

I know Michelle all too well. That woman, his foster mom, isn't the most loving or supportive woman there is, and for some reason, she dislikes Brandon. I doubt she ever came to visit. He's probably here all alone and God knows what she'll do if she finds his music booth in her basement.

"What did you say his name was?"

"Brandon Carpenter." Saying the name instantly rises my anxiety and I clutch my purse to keep the nurse from noticing my shaky fingers. It's cold in here, that's why I'm shaking. That's totally it. Right?

"His foster mother came by and said that only family is allowed to visit him, since he couldn't fill out the paperwork for himself."

Of course she did.

"He doesn't have any family," I snap, a little louder than necessary. I can't help it. He doesn't have anyone but me and an evil foster mother.

Michelle's such an evil woman, she really is, and she never did like me. She always preferred his ex Monica and made that very clear whenever we were alone. She new I would come if he was hurt, I'll always will. It's not because we were once together, but because he really doesn't have anyone else.

Just me. It's always been just me.

The nurse raises her hands. "Don't get upset with me, that's what it says on the screen."

"He's emancipated." My mother drove him to get emancipated when he was a Sophomore in high school. They were always close, always. She knew how Michelle is and when she saw him working at McDonald's, red streaks across his cheek, she couldn't bear the thought of him having the deal with that anymore.

"Well, until he can fill out the paper for himself, I could only go by what's permitted by his legal guardian."

"Look -- " I begin to argue, stepping forward, but there's a strong grip on my shoulder. I know who it is before they even speak.

"I'm glad to see you, Alisha," Dr. Helen greets me, smiling, and crinkles by her eyes show. Then, she turns towards the nurse. "Is there a problem?"

The nurse's face grows red and I'm slightly amused by the way she quickly shakes her head. "Of course not."

"Well, give her the visitor sticker, then," the blonde doctor demands and I refrain from laughing as the nurse scrambles to her feet.