Priceless

Chapter 33: the surgery

Chapter 33: the surgery

We had finally moved to the waiting room after I received a few painful stitches. Liv and I were slumped on a bench, her head resting in my lap. Yeah I wasn't kidding when I said she should take a nap. I was almost counting down the hours to when we would find out anything about Conrad. There was something inside me that was screaming at me he's going to die, he's going to die. But I tried my best to ignore those thoughts.

I still felt fucking guilty about Decker... I mean Conrad. As much of an asshole he was, I didn't even expect him to stand up for me. Let alone get stabbed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the glimpse of a white coat come from the double doors of the corridor. I moved my hand from Liv's hair to her shoulder, shaking her gently. She lifted her head and looked around slowly sitting up.

"Look." I touched her hand and nodded toward the doctor that was now approaching us. I grabbed Liv's arm and stood up, at the ready.

It was Doctor Altmen. He stopped in front of us and just stood there for a moment before holding out his hand to me. I took it and he shook firmly, tears lining his eyes.

"Thank you."

I nodded and he continued, readjusting him self into a business like manner.

"I got some news on Decker. He'll be alright. He's stable now, but I think you can go see him. Room 254."

I felt my eyes light up and I moved my hand to the small of Liv's back, motioning her forward. We were on a different floor than what we had been used to. This one was a little bigger, but less busy. We only passed a few doctors as we made it to room 254. The door was open all the way, and I instantly saw Decker lying on the hospital bed unconscious. Damn he looked like hell. There were a few bruises on his face that I failed to notice before and his head was a little tilted to the side. But there was someone else with him. I didn't recognize her at first but she turned her head to the side enough so I could get a glimpse.

It was Lexi.

Her hands were tightly holding Conrad's and she was knelt on the ground, leaning against the bed. I didn't expect to see her here, considering she ended things with him. And Liv wasn't exactly on good terms with her.

I reluctantly knocked in the door lightly, and Lexi turned.

Well shit.

Mascara was smudged under her eyes and her face was covered in tears. Yikes.

"Oh Lexi." Liv pushed past me and enclosed Lexi in a hug. I tried to ignore Liv completely disregarding me as I made my way over to them awkwardly. As they hugged, I shoved my hands in my pockets, rocking on my heels.

"I'm so sorry Liv." Lexi sobbed into her shoulder, her voice muffled by Liv's now wet shirt from her ongoing tears. "I can't believe I didn't trust you, like, what kind of a best friend am I?"

Lexi parted from her best friend and turned, barely bumping into me. Hey turns out I'm not invisible after all. But I soon regretted it when she grabbed me into a hug. Oh shit.

My arms flailed stupidly to the side in my surprise before resting on her back. I expected her to say something, anything. But she only hugged me and nodded. I take that as a thank you?

"Did the doctor say anything about Connor?"

Lexi glanced toward Conrad on the bed. I cut in front of her, checking the monitors.

"Yeah, he's in stable condition. You have nothing to worry about Lexi."

She sighed with relief. I was so glad I was able to kick in my doctor talk. It was like I turned into this other person. Calm, collective, and overall just reassuring.

I felt Liv's presence behind me and she rested her chin on my shoulder. Her hands slithered around my torso, and I tried not to shudder from the contact.

"Whoah guys.." Lexi crossed to the other side of the bed, "don't get too comfortable." Then she squinted her eyes and directed the harsh look toward me.

"I'm still watching you."

Oh damn.

I held up my hands in defense but instantly kept one hand rested around Liv's waist. This was one of the times I felt like everything would be okay. But like everything else, I didn't want to have false hope.

"Damn, for the shape he's in, he still looks hot." Lexi blurted and Liv and I both turned. I'm guessing she was going to forgive him for whatever the hell he did to piss her off.
Liv quirked a brow at Lexi's words and I tried not to laugh from the settling tension between them.

"What?" Lexi laughed playfully shrugging her shoulders. At least she and Liv had made up.

I stepped closer to the bed, Conrad's beaten up face on full display. He looked paler than his usually red toned face, like all the blood had drained from there instead of the deep wound that had been given to him. I placed the back of my hand on his forehead. A mild fever.

But as my hand still lingered on his forehead, I felt the slightest twitch in his face. The slightest.

I glanced back at the girls. "I think he's waking up."

"How can you tell?" Lexi bent down, trying to see what I had.

"He moved his face a little." I crossed my arms, keeping my eyes fixed on Decker. I looked at Liv and Lexi, and sure enough, they were focused completely on him too. I found the situation quite hilarious.
"That means we should get ready for him to ask hella questions."

Lexi laughed through her nose before sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, hope filling in her eyes.

As we sat there, watching Conrad, I felt Liv settle next to me, our shoulders touching. She was relaxed. And since she was, so was I. We had been through hell and back. She had been through hell and back. Still, I wasn't looking forward to having to face Hal again.

But surprisingly, that wasn't the only thing I was thinking about constantly.

I knew deep down that the surgery could help Liv. But it was risky. The feeling of her not waking up scared the hell out of me, and I didn't want to feel like that ever again.

Conrad's condition gave me a small glimpse of how it could be. Though I knew one thing for sure.

I wouldn't stop her if she wanted to go through with it.

Liv suddenly touched my hand, getting my attention, which snapped me out of my excruciating daze. I peered over at Decker and noticed his eyes were fluttering. They continued until finally, his eyes opened fully, his pupils dilating in a split second. His eyes darted around until they landed on me, and I noticed a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Did the plan work, Stan?"