Cities and Sewers

4

I blink my eyes and try to get used to the unfamiliar bright light above me. I feel something weighing on my face and reach up to feel a breathing mask over my mouth and nose. I begin to freak out, but soon feel a pair of rough hands moving mine away from my face. When my eyes adjust, I realize the hands are my dad's.

"Nurse! Nurse! She's awake!" my brother calls out the door.

"What's going on?" I ask my dad.

"Everything's gonna be fine, sweets. The nurse is on her way," he assures me. I feel myself lull back to sleep.

...

After waking back up and having the scenario broken down for me, I find out a lot has happened since Saturday detention.

It's Thursday and I've been asleep for four days now. My heartbeat was always steady, but everything else had made everyone think I was on my last stretch of life. Everyone else has already woken up in the last couple days excluding Gray.

Mae woke up first, only about twenty-four hours after being brought to the hospital. Nico was the day after and Liem the day after that. Gray, though, since he was struck directly, was having a worse time than any of us; he still hadn't woken up.

Before I knew it, I was up and out of my bed. Walking was slow and hard, but I got the hang of it quick enough. Maci and Ryan visited me after school on Thursday.

Levi was super protective and stayed at the hospital with me every night even when Dad had to go back to work. My brother's always been a crazy person, but this made him crazier than ever. He's such a little weirdo. Love him, though.

By Saturday, I was outta there. Before leaving, though, the nurse directed me to Gray's hospital room. Liem had his face in his hands when I knocked on the side of the doorframe.

"Oh, hey," he smiles.

"What's up?" I say, trying to sound normal.

He breathes out and I can practically hear the anxiety spilling out of him.

"My friends always tell me I'm on two different ends of the spectrum because I'm really sassy, but I also give awesome hugs," I tell him.

He promptly opens his arms for a hug and I gladly go for it. He's pretty good at hugging too. At one point, though, I can feel warm tears hit my back.

"Call me if you need anything, okay. I live right across the street and I can get here whenever; just say the word."

He nods into my back. 

A/N: What do you think? This chapter is VERY short, but I'd rather it be short and something I'm proud of than long and annoying. One thing I do like, though, is the development of Tavi and Lee's relationship. She hasn't quite started calling him Lee yet, but I love his nickname so much that I don't call him anything other than Lee. Love and appreciation to you and everything you do <3