AKA

9.

   A bolt of electricity shot through my body causing me to awake from the deepest slumber I had ever experienced. Did I die. It was like I took my first breath of air. "We got her! Now clear an OR we've got a brain bleed! Looks like the temporal lobe has been punctured. Move!" A man yelled as I felt the surface I was on being rolled quickly, smashing through a set of doors. "Is she gonna be okay!" It was Mars. "Sir you can't come back here but you will be the first to be notified ..." The small womanly voice faded out as I got farther and farther away. I'm so tired. "Hey sweetie, I know it's going to be hard but I need you to stay with us okay..?" A woman said as she wiggled my face slightly. After what felt like ages later, I was in a room with a bright light shining on me. A mask was put over my face and I slowly began to drift off.

~flashback~

   "These are bad for you. You could get cancer..in your throat, or lungs. Or you'll need one of those holes in your neck."  It was at least 3 in the morning. I could hear the waves crashing onto the shore as Mars and I layed on the cool sand. "Is that so?" Is all he said before he propped himself up onto his elbow. I didn't answer, just continued to stare up into the dark, star filled sky. After a long pause I sat up, shaking the sand out of my hair. "Come on." I said as I stood to my feet. He looked up at me confused. Sticking my hand out, he took it. He towered over me as I turned away from him. Taking off my shirt and shorts, I sat them next to my shoes that I had already previously stripped myself of. "Luci...trust me I.." cutting him off, I turned back towards him, "Let's go for a swim!" His eyes turned from dark to amused and he took a step back. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a gust of air. "Oh..I thought.."  I smiled slightly. "thought what?" He shook his head and began to undress. "Nothing." he said once he was out of his clothes. Raising my eyebrows, I took off towards the ocean. Once my stomach touched the water I let out a slight yelp at the temperature. "Shit!" I said as I tensed up a bit. He was not too far behind and I could feel him approaching. In a delicate motion, I lowered myself so that only my eyes and up were visible. I watched him until a wave came, completely submerging me. I was now completely under. "Luci!" He said as he searched the area for me semi-frantically. I was now behind him, so I came back up and wrapped my arms around him, laying my head on his back. I felt him relax to my touch. we stood like that for a moment until he spoke. "You know something...just that fast I thought I lost you. 30 seconds. That's all it takes. You could get swept away...did you know it takes less than 1/2 a cup of water in you lungs to drown?" How did even know that? Squeezing his hands slighty I opened my mouth, "Water won't kill me..you will." With that he turned around to face me. Looking straight into my eyes. "I could never hurt you." I closed my eyes as his hands cupped my face. "Not intentionally." I stated as my eyes fluttered open. After a long pause, I could see a sadness in his eyes. Propping myself up on my toes was enough for him to lean into me. Our lips connected for the first time. This was long overdue and by the way his hands pulled me closer, I could tell he wanted this as badly as I did.

~end of flashback~

I woke up to a rhythmic beep and small chatter between familiar voices. Leaving my eyes closed, I listened in on the conversation. "This is your fault, It's all your fucking fault!" Someone whispered in a condescending tone. "I know...and I'm sorry I just-" I knew that voice anywhere. However it sounded deeper. "No..no, you don't get to blame your issues. we all have fucking issues. That's what brought us together. But this...this is something different. You know what you do to her, because she does the same to you. I vouched for you...why is it so fucking hard for you to be a good person!" It was Skinny. She was crying, and just like that she stormed out of the room. He was the only one left. Just Mars. I can't 'wake up' now. Suddenly I felt a hand on mine. "Why'd you come? Why?" I can't answer that question. "How ironic..." He said with a slight chuckle. What's ironic? I should open my eyes now. Just do it. Open them. The door opened. "Hello! I'm doctor Shultz... So, Mrs.." He was cut off. "Luci...call her Luci." Mars has now stood up and left my hand cold.
"Yes...Mrs. Luci here seems to have some damage to the Temporal Lobe. Specifically the Amygdala."
"So what does that mean?"
"It means that her emotions are unpredictable and uncontrollable. Now it says here that she already has..IED, Depression and an Anxiety disorder."
"Yeah..."
"So, now her anger or sadness..aren't the only things that we have to watch out for. Her sense of fear..love, it's up in the air."
"How can I help?"
"Her parents..."
"No, she's on her own..she has us, the five of us. So what can we do?"
"I'll get all her prescriptions written out, fresh bandages and..I think it's best if you all stay with her." The doctor paused and let out a deep breath. "No drugs..no drinking...okay?"
"Y-yeah, of course.." The door opened and closed loudly. "Shit.." He sounded stressed.

After a while I began to stir because even I couldn't fathom what I had heard. "Luci!" He jumped to my side. "Mars." I said flatly. "I'll be back okay?" He rushed out of the room and about 30 seconds later he returned with everyone in tow. "Lu, babygirl..how you feelin?" Adonis said stepping cautiously towards my bed. "Gotta mean headache..." I said in a playful tone, gaining a few suttle laughs. My smile suddenly dropped once I felt a cold breeze on the side of my head. Sitting up, I reached for the wound. "My hair.." I said quietly to myself. It had been shaved in a specific spot. "They had to...to operate." Vee said with a shaky voice. Leaning back I began to cry uncontrollably. How'd I end up in this situation. I was crying for so many reasons that I couldn't even begin to explain. "It's okay, everything's gonna be okay." Mars said as he grabbed my hand. Snatching it away I spoke viciously, "You don't touch me!". His face went from confused, to shocked, to sad all in a matter of seconds. Teeth clenched, he shook his head and began to walk to the corner of the room. I couldn't control the anger I had towards him as flashes of the scene replayed over and over in my mind. I couldn't even look at him. "When can I leave?" I said in a small voice. "Well, It's been a few days.." Cutting shank off, I spoke again, "Excuse me?". He continued , "Yeah, 3 to be exact...so they think tomorrow." I nodded my head in satisfaction.

After a while of small talk with everyone, Mars was still standing in the corner. He seemed to be occupied by his thoughts as he continuously rubbed his eyes dry. I felt bad. Technically this all wasn't his fault. I shouldn't have gone. However if we date it all the way back to that night in my room...no, I still couldn't put the blame on him. We're damaged in so many ways but one and obviously no one thought this would be the outcome. "I'm kinda...starving." I said in an attempt to get everyone out. "I take it you don't want hospital food? " Shank said with a laugh. I scrunched up my nose as to confirm the question. He and Adonis got up to leave while Vee and Skinny stayed behind. I want you all to leave. I gave them a look and they automatically knew what I wanted. Getting up hesitantly, they walked out of the room shutting the door behind them. He didn't even look my way. Not one acknowledgement of the empty space between him and I. It stayed quiet for about 5 minutes. I didn't know what to say.

You have to say something. Anything. "Come here." I croaked out. He still didn't move. Okay or don't. Now I was a little concerned. "Mars, seriously come here. Please..." His eyes finally flickered. Not towards me but just enough that I knew he heard me. He took a step and stopped. "I'm sorry..." He quickly covered his face. "Come to me." I said holding out my arms. He walked over to me, laying his head in my lap. Comforting him, I ran my hands through his hair. "I ruined you." He said while looking away from me. Warm tears escaped my eyes. "I need you." I let out quietly. He turned over meeting my eyes. "Not just because the doctor said so." He looked at me sadly in realization that I had heard. He smiled slightly and stared foward out of the window. "I've been here the whole time." I looked him up and down and noticed he was in the same clothes that he had put on that day. No matter how gross it seemed, I was just happy I wasn't alone.

•••

This was soooo hard to write! Didn't think I would do a hospital scene so early in BUT it was in the cards. Sooo I hope you enjoy! I'm trying my best to make longer chapters so bare with me. <3

-SUSU