Upside Down

Twenty

Author's Note: Back to Avery's point of view now! Thank you all for understanding!!

I sit on the edge of my hospital bed and stare at the vacant room around me. With my father filling out important paperwork and no one else being allowed inside yet, it is quite peaceful in here. Its the first time I've been all alone since I moved here.

I know that this silence is not going to last, unfortunately.

I wish it would stay this quiet forever. It is nice being able to hear what I am thinking again. It is also nice not being attacked by children at all hours of the day.

It feels like it did before my mom died.

It feels familiar.

Though, as much as I am enjoying the silence, I can't stand that the only reason I've got it is because I'm stuck in the hospital over a stupid little nut.

One stupid little peanut and I go into full Anaphylactic shock. It only takes one.

I should have read the box before diving in. I know better than to just eat something that could possibly contain enough peanut dust to kill me in a few minutes. Yet, I didn't.

Before I have time to take another breath, a concerned Hillary rushes in the room with five little ducklings behind her.

"AVERY!" She shouts as if I am a mile away from her.

None of Hillary's kids or her were home when it happened. They were out at the store picking some things up. My dad says that by the time the ambulance was pulling out of the driveway with us in it, they still haven't gotten home yet.

He didn't have time to call them until an hour later when everything had called down.

And now they are all here to see me after my brush with death. Lucky me.

Part of me wishes I had died. Things would be so much easier. For me at least. Not so much for everyone else. I wouldn't have to deal with anything anymore. All of my problems would be solved.

I could be back with my mom again.

Hillary grabs on to me as if squeezing the life out of me is going to make the situation any better. I hate the feeling of her arms around me.

"I'm so glad you are okay dear! I was worried sick about you!" She squeals in my ear.

Yeah, death would have been a lot easier than this.

I squirm around in her arms until she loosens her grip and then releases me. "I'm fine." I shrug the event off. It's over now.

Tilly climbs into the hospital bed with me and lays down on my feet, clinging to them with all her strength. Kara, Summer, And Mason stand on the other side of the bed, staring at me like I am some sort of animal they are viewing at the local zoo. Peter stares too but from a respectable distance away from me.

I appreciate that.

"You almost died! Your father said that was your worst attack in a while!" Hillary gasps.

"That's because I haven't had one in years. It's nothing new Hillary. I'm used to it." Dealing with an allergy isn't something I enjoy. But it's a part of my life. And I'm over it. It's not a big deal anymore. It used to be. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I would tell everyone.

Now? I just don't see a point in sharing my allergy with others. It doesn't affect anyone other than me. So, why bother?

Yeah, I made a mistake. A deadly mistake. Yes I am glad someone was there to call an ambulance. Yes I am glad that my dad knew what to do in that situation. If he hadn't, I would be dead.

Yeah it was a big deal but it's over. It happened and it's over with. I just want to move on with it and go home. There's no point in continuing to talk about it. It's over. I'm fine now.

"Where's Logan?" I ask. He is the only person not here.

"He couldn't come in the ambulance so he said he was going to wait until Hillary game to pick him up so he could come." My dad explains.

"Okay, so where is he then? She's here. Why isn't he?" I am a little bit upset that he is not here. He is the only person I actually want here. But he apparently didn't feel the need to come and see me. For whatever reason.

"He's, um, he's still in the car." Hillary says quietly.

"Why?" I ask, mad that he would come all the way here but not come in to see me. "Why didn't he come up? Does he not want to see that I am okay?"

Hillary sighs and places her hand on my bed. "He's upset with himself dear." I wish she wouldn't call me that. 

"Because he gave me the chocolates? He didn't know. I am not mad at him. I can't be. This was all my fault."

"Well, he doesn't know that dear. He is mad at himself even if you aren't mad at him." Hillary shrugs acting as if her twenty-something-year-old son throwing a tantrum in the car is perfectly normal.

"Can you please ask him to come in?" I ask politely. "I want to talk to him. He needs to know that this wasn't his fault."

"I will try dear." Hillary begins exiting the room.

"Stop calming me dear!" I shout, fed up with her pet names. She stares back at me for a moment, stunned.

"Okay. I will be right back Avery." She leaves.

Author's note: (its a long one today!)

What are your thoughts on Avery's thought processes in this chapter? In your opinion, how is she doing with this huge change and the events going on in her life?

Also, what are your thoughts on Logan's decision to not come in and see Avery in the hospital? Do you agree or disagree with it?

I am soooo sorry it took me forever to update! Life, ya know? It's been pretty busy recently!

Anyways! Of Hillary's biological children, who is your favorite and why?

Logan

Peter

Kara

Summer

Mason

Tilly

Thank you again for continuing to read this story!!