Catch Me

Chapter 11

Isabella is in the hospital for nearly three weeks now and we have found our new routine. When we finished eating dinner at home, I take over basic tasks normaly Mom and Dad would do. I clean up, do the laundry, sort the mail and make sure both of my parents don't forget to eat and go to bed. They are having a pretty hard time and just like I do, they try to busy themselves with work.

It's Friday and Dad just came to the hospital from work. It's about four in the afternoon and we decide to go to the caffeteria while Isabella has another big examination where we weren't allowed to stay. So right now, I'm sitting on the other side of the table, watching my parents pushing their food around on the table. The noodles really don't look that great but I know that they possibly haven't eaten anything yet besides breakfast and in the morning, I forgot to prepare something of our own.

"Mom, Dad. You should eat. I promise you the food isn't about to get any better by pushing it around." I force myself to say that playfully and laugh a little. They both fake a smile and begin to eat. My thoughts drift off and when I suddenly see blue and black hair in front of the caffeteria, I thing I might have becomme crazy. I blink and pinch my own arm. But the girl keeps standing there, talking to one of the nurses. And again, I can't keep my eyes off of her. The way she leans against the wall, her arms crossed infront of her chest only half covering the red LEVIS print on the loose, white shirt. I'm facinated by the way her hair moves around her face and shoulders when she shakes her head laughing.

"Olivia?"

"What?" Mom looks at me concerned.
"We were taklking about the...You know, when she doesn't wake up. What we are gonna do then...", her voice breaks and I look at her in confusion.
"She is going to wake up. I know she will, don't worry. She just needs some time." My eyes never leave the girl on the corridor. She is laughing about something the other young woman said and something in my stomach twists when they hug each other . They seem to be very close.
"Didn't the doctors say that too? That she needs time?", I ask my parents not really caring what they will say. I already know the answer. All of them say that her body needs time to recover. But nobody knows how long it will take.
"Yeah, sure. But we have to prepare for the worst. You are her sister, Olivia. Do you know what she would have wanted?", Dad tries to sound strong. I see the girl and the other one waving at each other and when she turns around to go into the opposite direction of her friend, she stares directly at me, her face looking surprised. She continues looking at me and then disappears around the corner. I get up.
"Olivia?" Mom has tears in her eyes but I can't concentrate on her right now.
"I... Ehhm... Bathroom", is the only thing I can bring out while I'm already on my way to the doors. On the corridor I run around the corner and run into someone. I immediately know, that it's her.
"Sorry." Her hands are on my arms to hold me up. It's becoming a pattern running into her. Like she read my mind she smirks.
"Is this becoming our thing now? Me catching you?" She still holds onto my arms.
"Or do you do that with everyone you meet?"

"Only with the pretty and hot ones", I joke and blush.
Where did that come from?
Her eyebrow rises in surprise and befor she can say anything I add
"So good for you, that you are both of it." I look down in embaressment. I just can't controll myself in front of her. This thought makes me blush harder. Suddenly I feel her hand on my left cheek, making me look up to her. I try to avoid her eyes but they simply captivate me and once again I'm compleatly lost in them. She stares right back into my eyes and we stay like this for our own small eternaty.

"Yeah, good for me", she whispers and I can't hold back anymore. I throw my arms around her and hug her. It should feel weird to be so close to a stranger but it simply feels good. She is a little taken back but closes her arms tightly around me after a only a second of hesitation and rests her head on mine.