Dreamer ~ A Daniel Seavey Fanfiction

Chapter 8

DANIEL'S POV

I get back to Corbyn's waiting room, which is just the same as it was when I left it - Zach and Jack asleep, and Jonah still reading Harry Potter.

"Dude, where have you been?" He hisses, snapping the book shut. "I thought you were just going to be gone for a few minutes. It's been half an hour!"

I sigh. "I'm sorry."

Jonah raises an eyebrow. "That's it? No explanation as to where you were?"

"It's a long story," I say, sighing again. "I'll tell you later." I switch gears. "How's Bean? Did anyone tell us anything?"

This time, it's Jonah's turn to sigh. "Nothing. His parents went to eat something, and no one has come out since Corbyn went in. I'm getting worried Daniel. This surgery is taking longer than it should have."

My breath catches in my throat. "You don't think-?"

Jonah cuts me off. "No. God, no, Daniel. I don't even want to think about it."

I shake my head. I can't picture life without Corbyn. He's one of my best friends, and our friend group wouldn't be the same without him.

My thoughts wander back to Harper. I wonder if she's woken up yet. I wonder what she'll do when she finds out her parents have been arrested for endangering her life. I wonder where she'll live. I wonder if she'll live.

"I'm trying, Daniel. I'm fighting."

"I know you are."

☆☆☆

A little while later, a doctor comes toward us, peeling off blue gloves. The boys and I - including Zach and Jack, who are finally awake - and Corbyn's parents all stand, all of us equally anxious to hear the news.

The doctor smiles. "Well," she says, "he put up a good fight against the anesthesia and it took us a while to get him sedated before we could actually start the procedure, but other than that he did wonderfully. The surgery went perfectly, and he is expected to make a full recovery within the next few weeks."

Corbyn's mom lets out a breath she was holding in, and the boys and I exchange relieved grins. "When can we see him?" Corbyn's father asks.

"Right now, " the doctor says. "I can take you back."

"I'll stay here," Corbyn's mom whispers. "I want to call Ashley and Jordan and let them know that their brother is okay."

Corbyn's dad nods and turns to Jonah, Jack, Zach, and me. "You boys go ahead. We'll be right back."

We follow a doctor back the maze of hallways until she stops outside a corner room. In the hospital bed is a blonde boy looking out the windows, a hand on his throat.

"Corbyn!" We all yell, launching ourselves at him, trapping him in the middle of a group hug.

He smiles, but doesn't speak. "Are you okay?" Jack asks him.

Corbyn takes out his phone and types a note on it.

i'm okay. can't talk for 7 days tho. healing & all that fun stuff.

"A week?" Zach says, and Corbyn nods. "Oh, well that's not that long. Just sleep a lot and it'll fly right past."

Corbyn's shoulders shake like he's laughing, but no sound comes out.

"Pfft, yeah right," I retort. "You and Jack are champion sleepers."

"Hey, the point is that we're champions," Jack says, grinning.

Jonah looks pointedly at me, a smirk in place. "It's better than getting lost in a hospital. There's literally signs everywhere!"

I punch him in the arm, laughing. "I didn't get lost!" When my laughter fades though, I can feel everyone's eyes on me. "What?"

Corbyn types away. something's bothering u D. what's wrong?

I sigh. These guys know me too well. "All right, all right," I say. I start spilling everything. How I found Harper, what her situation is, and what happened to her family. I tell them every last detail, and they sit in silence until I'm finished.

"Oh my God, Dani," Zach says. "I'm so sorry."

I shake my head. "No, no, don't be sorry. We barely knew each other."

"Yeah but it kinda sounds like you fell for her, man," Jonah points out. "And not knowing if she's going to be okay..." He sighs. "That's rough."

I meet Corbyn's eyes, and immediately feel horrible. "Oh, God, I'm sorry," I say. "I don't even know why I brought it up. Corbyn just made it out of surgery and I'm talking about my problems."

Corbyn shakes his head and types again. it's okay. she'll be okay.

God, I hope he's right.

~