Life's Gravy

Chapter 4

"Don't run away Hannah!" Gregson shouts. I ignore him and carry on running, I stop for a brief second to scoop up snow into my gloves. I turn and toss it aimlessly at him. Gregson laughs and I feel him rap his arms around my waist- he pulls me close to him and spins me around. It’s over!

"Now say you're sorry!"  he shouts as he tickles me.

"Never!" I try to push my way out of him.

"Say you are sorry!" he holds the ball of snow in his hand to my face! I shake my head and the ball collapses in my hair. He rubs it in releases me. “You’re still going to pay Han-han!"

"Don't call me that!" I throw snow at him. " Greyjoy! You're Theon Greyjoy!!" he runs after me. I scream, "Get away from me Reek!"

 

Two hours later we are sitting in the hospital waiting room. Gregson's parents where in a car crash. They are both critical right now. Two hours ago we were playing in the snow and now my best friend’s life is spinning off its axis and I don’t know how to keep it stable.

"They are going to wake up right?" Gregson's eyes plead with me.

I take his hand in mine and just hold it. I don't know what to say. My brother woke up from his car crash but the people in the other car all died, some on the spot and others in a hospital just like this one. I don't know what to say to Gregson so I just keep holding his hand. Even when the doctor comes to tell us that his mother is gone. I don't let go. Even when the doctor returns to tell the same fate about his dad. I just keep his hand in mine as I feel his body become limp next to me. Two hours ago we were having the time of our lives and now Gregson is an orphan.

******

There is a soft tap on my car window. It’s Marco. “Car trouble?"

I shake my head.

"You've been parked out here for about half an hour Hannah, the shop is closing it’s not safe to just stay here" he says softly.

I look around me at the parking lot. It really is getting empty. Have I really been sitting here for half an hour? Then again what is the point of going home? Matt isn’t there and mom is out on a date.

"Did Marco offer you the lift?" Kita pipes up next to him- when did she get there?

"I have a car." I pat my steering wheel, “and it does work.”

“Oh sorry, its just when I saw you didn’t pull off I asked Marco to come check on you.” Kita explains.

“Thank you for the concern but I am fine.”

"Oh good then. See you Hannah." she waves off and goes to two motorcycles parked next to each other.  She takes a helmet from the one, gets on and  rides off.

My mouth is literally hanging, "Your sister isn't she like...14?" I ask Marco who is still looking at me like he is trying to figure something out.

" 15 actually."

"So she's allowed to ride that?" I ask as I watch her ride off on that death trap.

He shrugs. I look at him. I’m expecting that he’ll drive off too now but instead he leans in further through my open window.

"So I saw you made new friends when you left." he raises an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah those girls, they wanted to know what you had said to me." I shrug and turn the car key. The car roars to life as a hint for him to back off but he stays leaning in.