Peripheral Vision | ✓ [NOW PUBLISHED AS HUNTINGTON AVENUE]

Chapter 21

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - O N E

Zach's P.O.V.

"Zach, did you sleep through your alarm again?" Hayleigh asked while practically shaking me out of bed.

I love sleep. I can't help it.

"I guess I did," I replied, sitting up straight with a deep yawn. "Or, maybe I turned it off right before bed last night?"

"You got enough sleep on the plane," Hayleigh countered playfully, and she was right. I got plenty of sleep on the way here.

"I couldn't sleep the night before that, Hayleigh," I replied, which was true. I spent the entire night before the trip tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep at all.

"I think you got enough for the both of us."

"Hayleigh, stop it," I retorted jokingly.

"Kidding!"

"Okay, you two, it's almost time to go to the hospital," Mom intervened. "Zach's surgery is in about two hours."

The operation.

I almost forgot. How the frick did I almost forget about the most important part of this entire trip?

I was so worried about the plane that I almost forgot the whole reason we came here.

I cracked my knuckles as I got to my feet, running my fingers through my hair. I didn't even care to put a brush through it since I wasn't really going anywhere other than the hospital.

Since you can't really eat before operations, I was extremely grateful that mine was scheduled for the morning and not in the afternoon.

I'd be practically starving.

I decided not to wear a hoodie since the climate in Florida isn't nearly as cold as it is back home. I do love how hoodies feel though and they're extremely comfortable. I reluctantly decided against it, and I was pleased with my decision when we all left the hotel.

It didn't seem like there was a single cloud in the sky, since I felt the midmorning sun's rays from every direction. The weather was near perfect, and I loved it. I wish I could stay in this state forever, but we're leaving tomorrow evening.

"I know this might sound weird, but could we walk there?" I asked suddenly. "The hospital's only about a ten minute walk from here, right?"

Honestly, I wanted to walk because I wanted to see how this place actually was, and how it felt to really be here. It seemed much nicer here than back home, but home had something that this place didn't:

Friends.

Kelsey.

I sighed a little bit as I realized that I missed her, and already. It hasn't even been a full day and I miss her already. Is that a bit too much?

"Yay!" squealed Hayleigh from directly beside me. "I like walking."

"Sure, Zach," my mom replied cheerfully.

Hayleigh squeezed my hand as hard as she could as she led me down the sidewalk. I breathed in the fresh morning air as a soft breeze ebbed by. I could tell there were several restaurants and shops in the street corners since the scent of several different types of food was strong.

"Could we go to lunch there afterwards?" Hayleigh asked as we passed a certain restaurant. I assumed she was pointing to it.

"Sure," responded Mom as we made our way down the street.