Memory Lane

Chapter 6: On Hospital Time

(Mentioned songs: Take Me Home Country Roads, Don't Stop Believing by Journey, Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars, Lollipop by Mika.)

Jared and Violet remained awake the rest of the night, with Violet humming random songs under her breath and Jared simply just nodding along to the beat.

"Don't you have school?" Jared asked, simply.

"Fuck school," Violet mumbled. "Fuck my parents."

"You still have school," Jared chided.

"No."

"What?"

"I don't want to go. They're still in the unknown. I want to see Falcon. I want to see Rachel. I want to talk more to Rex," Violet muttered.

Jared sighed and shifted her closer to him. Both of them did not mind the physical closeness. They needed it, after the scares of the day.

"Falcon's fine," Jared sighed, resting his head on top of hers'. "Just keep holding on for Rex and Rachel."

Violet choked back a dry sob.

"Are you the immediate family of Rex Indigo Pendragon?" A nurse spoke, getting closer.

"We are not his immediate family, his immediate family is not present," Jared said, taking charge.

"Oh I'm sorry, only immediate family is allowed..."

"But if no one sees him? What about Rachel Amber Cypress?" Jared was desperate, talking faster and faster.

"I'm sorry, immediate family on-"

"Why?" Violet spoke up, surprising all of them. "Why immediate family only?"

"Because-"

Jared's patience ran out, instead pulling up Violet with him as he stood, frowning at the nurse.

"None of their parents can come," Jared said curtly. "We are only two teenagers. We do not wish any harm, we cannot contact their parents in any way. So please, let us see them."

The nurse looked at them, and her resolve cracked. "Is there a legal adult?"

"I'm 18, technically a legal adult," Violet's voice cracked.

"Parents of you both-"

"I am his mother and I know her," Jared's mom had joined them. Jared's dad had gone home to fetch his things. Jared had no intention of going to school, and like Violet, was inclined to just ditch it for the day.

The nurse sighed, tapping her clipboard. "We'll let you through."

Violet's grip on his hand tightened. Her face lifted, and relief was dancing on the edge of her eyes.

"Really? Thank you!"

"We must, however, inform you of the patient's condition. Rex has stabilised, however he has broken his left wrist. He has fractured his ribs and his neck is in a brace. I advise you to take it easy with him," the nurse advised, bringing the three of them towards the door.

All of their shoes squeaked on the tiles as Violet spoke up, this time a little bit more timidly.

"Rachel...?"

"Rachel has been taken in for emergency surgery. I do not know the extensive details of her injuries. I'm sorry, but..."

"It's okay, miss. You did your best, and these friends of theirs' appreciate it a lot," Jared's mom smiled, but Jared could see the way the nurse apologized, knowing she was genuine about her ignorance and just so used to apologizing to people that the real effect of those words hold little to no meaning to her anymore.