Delirium: Crash & Burn

Part XI

Harrison

I slammed my body into Poppy's closet and closed the double doors. I automatically held my breath cautious of the loud echos of my lungs filling and releasing. Within a few seconds of my hide and seek game Poppy unlocked the door to let the two in. I never had to hid for very long when me and Poppy would mess around, in all fairness I was never caught, I was good at lying and so was she.

I made no movements. I couldn't see anything, but I heard everything. I heard Evie giggle as Cole introduced her as his girlfriend? I shook my head in denial, this couldn't be true.

I was annoyed as it had just been a matter of weeks since senior year began and I felt like the biggest loser. My stomach dropped every time I would see them together, I was humiliated and the feeling caused me to act differently.

The embarrassment made me rage and act out. It was more than the bet, it was the fact that I knew Cole and he was not who he portrayed himself to be. He was not innocent, he was tainted like I was. It frustrated me because I knew I was better for Evie than Cole. He was apish and she was a princess. I was unbelievably outraged that he got to her before me.

I was snapped out of my train of thoughts when I heard Cole speak through the muffled closet doors.

"Annnnnd Pops, this is my girl, Evie."

I could feel Poppy's delayed response. I knew she would ask me about all this later. I couldn't fathom the fact they were together, I couldn't believe that Cole could pretend for this long. I doubt their personalities work well together. I deserved the second chance, Evie was that second chance.

I heard Poppy clear her throat and I could feel her judging me when she spoke, "Oh you're Evie, I've heard so much about you."

Evie laughed uncomfortably "all good things I hope." I could feel her anxiously twisting the hair tie that she wore on her wrist.

"Always babe."

I heard Cole coo to her. I knew it was bullshit because Cole hadn't mentioned Evie to his family yet alone to Poppy. He was a cave man who treated women way worse than I ever did. We banded together and became so alike it was hard to see where Cole started and I began.

I am ashamed to say I latched onto Cole when Jade died. We did everything together, we got the same tattoos, we drove the same types of cars, we went out with the same girls. However, I was always in the dark, I was always the inferior one and this whole Evie thing proved exactly that.

After what felt like forever, Poppy eventually suggested that they all go out for a drink at Denny's and they all left. Poppy announced that she was turning the lights off and locking the door as a signal to me. I waited a couple more minutes until I heard the door slam. I opened the closet door and I peaked my head out of the closet ensuring there was no one in Poppy's room. I didn't turn on the light; rather I looked outside of her window to see if her parents were home. Nope. No one was here. I took the spare key Poppy had left for me on the dresser and let myself out.

As I walked back to my car my mind was a blaze with thoughts. How was this my life, how was this me? I was a liar and a cheat as well as that I wanted a girl that my best friend was seeing. I felt like I had been cheated by life I felt wronged. But I was the one doing wrong.

I started to think, had I not been so infatuated with Poppy I might have had a better chance at getting Evie. Though this whole bet this was a ploy, another chance for Cole to show me up. I had a quick thought, a cynical one, and a bad one.

I wondered if Evie knew about mine and Cole's bet. I felt a sudden urge, I had to fight them temptation to tell her. To reach into my pocket, get my phone and message her. It was crazy how I was willing to compromise my friendship all for a girl. Well it is not like I hadn't already done so by sleeping with Cole' sister. But it was different with Evie, sort of.

I finally got to my car and got in. I instantly turned the heating on, I was freezing. I glanced at the time, noticing that I was going to be late. Hastily I began to drive to the Maddison Hospital, just outside of town. I had taken the plunge I was going to do this regardless of what my dad says or thinks. I was now volunteering at the Maddison Hospital, doing night shifts. The hospital was quiet and low key. It was a state hospital and not a private one. I couldn't risk my dad seeing me or anyone else he knew seeing me.

It was late. I walked up to the receptionist giving her my best smile. She looked at me hopefully and spoke gently. "Back again?"

I couldn't help but laugh at her awkward humour, she knew me, I had been coming here for the past week.

"I couldn't get enough of you, Joyce." I grinned at her as she handed me my pass and scrubs over the desk.

"Now you behave Sir."

She chuckled, shaking her head at me. I walked past to get to the changing rooms, quickly looking into each room I walked past. I walked past one room where two girls were talking. I had a moment of questioning, I thought I was losing my mind. Surly it wasn't? I thought to myself, but I had to be sure, I waked back and looked in the room again certain I heard a familiar voice. I stood behind a pillar so they couldn't see me lurking.

I noticed a girl, in the bed; she was a young girl, blond and fair. She reminded me so much of Jade my heart jumped at the false hope. I looked at the timetable for the girls name, she was called Kat Sykes.

Apparently she had been in this unit since last week and I was yet to meet her. All the other nurses spoke about how sweet she was, how sick she was. She was hooked up to all of the machines and she was being monitored. The older girl in front of her had her back to me I couldn't recognize her, she wore an oversized hoody and leggings but her voice was familiar.

I leaned in closer to hear their conversation. "But kit Kat, you can't tell mum that I let you have my ice-cream too, shell kill us both!" They both burst out in contagious laughter, I had to stop myself from smiling. But I knew the laugh of the other girl, I knew her voice. A strange feeling of unease came over me. I knew who she was. My speculations were confirmed when the hooded figure turned her head slightly. Her face illuminated by the white hospital light.

It was Evie.

I was surprised and a little taken back. I wondered what she was doing here, why she was with this girl and what exactly was going on here. I intended to find out. After I had gotten changed, I walked back to Kat's room, hoping that Evie was still there. When I got there Evie was no where in sight. Kat lay in bed watching Tv. She smiled at the cartoon figures on the screen.

I walked in confidently, but regretted it suddenly worrying about what I would say to her. I tried to turn quickly to leave before Kat saw me but it was too late.

"Hey." Her voice was weak and quite. I couldn't ignore her.

I turned around to face her. She was sweet looking. Her hair was fair and so was her skin. She looked about 12 years old.

"Hi?" Her face looked puzzled, she questioned me mentally. I eventually spoke.

"I was wondering-" My voice trailed off. I sounded pleading and desperate.

She looked at me and smirked as if she knew what I would say.

"I know what you're gonna say!" Her voice was excitable and high pitch. Her eyes twinkled. She turned to me as best as she could without tangling her wires.

"You're gonna ask me about my sister, Evie."

I couldn't comprehend what she had just said, her sister? I sat by her bed. I needed to know everything.