Down But Not Out

Chapter 45

I bounced my leg up and down as I stared at the traffic light which was still on red, and the second one we'd stopped at in a row. I was trying my hardest to contain my frustration but I knew any second now I was going to blow and randomly start yelling at whatever and whoever walked passed me. I took in a deep breath but that didn't help either so I chose to rub circles on my temple.

"Kay how far to the hospital?" I asked her and she sighed. I looked at her reflection to see that her face looked strained in her need for the traffic light to change so she could get us to hospital, but I saw her thinking about my question.

"Not far, a few blocks over I should think" she replied and I nodded before sliding in my seat and throwing open my door before shutting it behind me, muffling the sounds of Summer and Kayleigh's screams to get me back inside. All I could focus on was my desperate need to get to Josh and do everything I could to save him.

I glanced at the oncoming traffic and made a mad dash away from Chris' car, narrowly missing getting hit by a car which turned onto the road. I heard the horn honk but I raced across to the other side before blindly running in the direction of where the hospital should be.

A few times I nearly ended up running into to people but I somehow avoided that by twisting my body at the last second to miss them. Thank God for my dance training, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to twist my body in that way and with such a quick reaction. I carried on running, ignoring the cursing I received from a few women at how I'd nearly knocked them over, as well as the few gasps as I'm sure some people recognised me.

I swiped at my face to remove the sweat collecting there and cried in relief when I saw the white hospital looming up, never had I ever thought I would be so pleased to see that place, but here I was smiling in relief. I dashed through the car park and accidentally ran into a group of three who were walking towards the hospital. The woman in the group exclaimed at how rude I was.

"Sorry" I yelled and heard her gasp.

"Liz" my mum called back and I halted to a stop to look at her. It was my mum! I nodded and she saw the expressions flitting across my face.

"What's happened?" she asked and I shook my head just managing to gasp "Josh" over my shoulder before I raced to the entrance to the hospital, not bothering to see if my parents and Alan were following me.

I bounded through the doors, scaring the receptionists who sent me a sympathetic smile. Of course some of the staff here would know what was happening I suppose.

I raced down the corridors to Josh's room, getting there much quicker as I knew the way without having to stop to check that I was heading in the right direction. I would be able to find his room blindfolded with absolutely no light in the whole hospital, that's how well I knew the route to Josh's room and after skidding to a halt I saw that only Richard, Kate and the Doctor were in Josh's room. One glance told me that Elissa had been kicked out and she was sobbing into Max, not wanting to see what was happening while Max and the three other guys cried quietly as well. Told you they would never admit how much they meant to each other.

Balling my hands into fists I stormed into Josh's room, making Richard and Kate jump and the Doctor sigh. To hell with the three of them! I no longer gave a shit what Josh's parents though of me, but right now all I could think about was how much they disgusted me giving up on him like this.

"How can you do this?" I asked as I walked in and the Doctor held out an arm but I brushed passed him and stood facing the two people who could potentially be responsible for Josh's death.

"This isn't your choice Lizzie, nor is it Elissa's. We're Josh's parents and we have to do what's right" Richard sighed, looking terribly upset and as though he was arguing with himself, while Kate gripped his hand with her face in his shoulder. My mouth dropped a little as I fixed my gaze on them.