The Hooded Figure

FORTY THREE

My eyes fluttered open and I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the light. As my eyes gained focus, I spotted my parents sitting on the chairs in the corner of the room.

"Hello?" I croaked, my throat feeling dry. "Water?"

My mom and dad looked up at once, both wearing a relieved smile. They rushed over to me and my dad grabbed me a glass of water. I took a swig and smiled.

I didn't know what to say so I just said, "what's up?" My mom laughed lightly, but my dad spoke.

"You really want to know?" I frowned, wondering what he meant. I nodded. "You almost broke your neck and severed your spinal cord - thankfully you didn't, but the ligaments in your neck are quite strained. You broke your nose, but they realigned it while you were unconscious. Other than that, just a few cuts and bruises. They said you were very lucky. We were so scared Amy, what were you doing?"

"Thinking," I admitted sheepishly. When none of us said anything for a while, it started to get awkward.

"Your friends are here and there are three boys waiting outside," my mom told me, smiling deviously at me. I gaped at her.

"What?" I asked. She didn't answer, she just smiled.

"We'll let you see them, we're so glad your alright," my mom said with a big smile. They both leaned down to give me a delicate hug before leaving. Soon after, Alex, Jamie, Asher, Layla, and Jade walked in. Layla kept giving the boys strange looks and Jade maintained a solid glare the entire way in, as if she could make them disappear with her eyes. While Jamie and Alex looked ecstatic to see me alive, Asher looked troubled. I tried not to show my disappointment at his reaction. Almost immediately, Jamie and Alex tried to rush to my bedside but Layla and Jade pulled them back by their shoulders. Jamie and Alex stumbled back and Layla and Jade quickly sat on the edge of my bed. I was excited to see them but I also noticed that Asher's appearance was disheveled and he seemed tired.

"We're so glad you're alright," Layla cried, throwing her arms around me but quickly pulling back when she felt me wince underneath her. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Want us to get rid of these twins from hell?" Jade whispered loudly enough for them to hear behind her. I snickered when their faces contorted into disbelief but I shook my head.

"No, I actually need to talk to them. Do you guys mind?" I asked, looking at Jade, Layla, and Asher. Layla and Jade nodded in understanding, quickly standing up to leave but not before giving my hand a tight squeeze. Asher looked stricken, his eyebrows creased and his lips pressed into a firm line. I felt my heart constrict as my stomach dropped but I needed to talk to the twins.

"How'd you guys know I was here?" I questioned, asking the wrong questions. Why does it even matter?

"Your mom came and got me," Jamie replied, smirking at me. I rolled my eyes, assuming that Jamie called Alex. My mom probably watched me go over to his house and figured that he lived there. I'll talk to her about that later.

"What happened?" Alex asked concernedly.

"I saw your video," I said with a small smile, feeling generally proud of him. "You didn't have to do that, I just wanted you to be happy."

"It's been the best two weeks of my life," he replied, smiling at me.

"Two weeks?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

"Your parents didn't tell you?" Jamie asked, frowning. I shook my head.

"I missed my midterms!" I cried, bolting upright, my neck throbbing.

"Woah, woah," Alex helped me back down slowly. I grimaced as I massaged my neck a bit. 

"I'm sure the school will let you do them when you get back," Jamie assured me, laughing a little. I let out a stressed sigh, trying to relieve the pressure in my chest. After the stressful few months I've just had, the last thing I needed is to fail every single one of my exams.