Absent

Chapter 20: Not-so-received messages

Heather's POV.
"There's no way you can be serious. How can your mother simply send you away for six months and expect you to work with the idea?"

I nod, agreeing with his point. How can Mary expect me to do everything she orders, when it's so irrational? Jimmy returns to his dinner, but I have sincerely lost my appetite. Chester raises his head towards me, and notices my food untouched. "Did you call us for a dinner so that you could anything but dine?"

"I said that you could organize the details for me. I just wanted us together so I didn't have to say goodbye to each of you individually. Too much pressure." I explain and stare at my steak.

"Right, because you can't stress yourself. How's that going?" Galileo asks, finishing his wine.

"As long as I don't have an anxiety attack, nervous attack, or a frustration attack anytime soon, I'm good to travel. And I'm flying tomorrow, so..." I answer, definitively wanting nothing to do with food or any other sort of activity that requires energy. "Plus, there are programs in New York to treat me if it got serious. But it's just the leftovers of my coma episode, sincerely. It hasn't affected me since."

"Okay." Vicky says, eyeing me with worry, but deciding not to insist in my health issues. "What do you want us to tell Alex when he wakes up?"

Good question. "Right. First of all, I want Galileo to do it."

"What? Why me?" He replies, looking at Vicky, Jimmy, and Chester helplessly.

"Because you're Alex's best friend. Because you're Lindsey's boyfriend. Because I'm asking you." I answer strictly, and he looks convinced. "I want you to tell him everything that happened. From the news about Harrison, all the way to my flight to New York. You'll say it clearly and as it is, and Alex will have to deal with it on his own. I've tried everything I could to stay one more day, but Mary won't give to my childish complaints. While I'm gone, I need Vicky and Jimmy checking on Alex constantly. If he misses a day, call him. If he looks depressive, talk to him. Any negative sign is enough for you two to trespass his personal space. And any drastic change shall be informed to me."

Vicky looks at Jimmy, and they nod in unison. "We can do that."

"Chester, I'm going to ask you to do something odd."

"Go on."

"Do you know who Tyler Shields is?"

"..."

"He works at the Millennium Cafeteria."

"Okay."

"Just... tell him goodbye for me. Explain to him that I'll be gone for 6 months, and that I consider him a friend of mine." I say, correcting the words in my mind. I do consider Tyler a friend, and I hope he returns the compliment. Chester narrows his eyes at me. I sigh and roll my eyes. "He helped me out with something, and I'm grateful. Can you or can you not do it?"

"I can."

"Perfect. Now that we're done with that..." I begin, and drink from my glass of water, suddenly dehydrated. I earn their full attention to my words. "Before the accident, I was a girl who didn't actually know herself. I also hated myself, and my life. I had no one. One day, every thing changed. Jimmy and Ashton discovered that side of me, and I had friends for the first time in my life. Next thing I know, I'm attracted to Chester, and jumping into cars. Then the accident. And now... I just want to thank you all, for caring about me. I want to thank you for teaching me about friendships. Vicky, I know I was just your boyfriend's friend, but now you're one of my best friends. Chester, I know that at first I was being unfair to you, but I'll never be like that again. And Galileo, I'm aware of what you're going through, and that there's no reasons for you to be my friend. I'm just your girlfriend's sister. But you're still here, with me."

I offer each of them a different but honest smile, and they return it. Vicky sighs and stands up, walking towards me. She holds me in her arms and cries. "I have never had best friends girls before. Please, take care of yourself."

"You too."
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I grab my luggage and so does Lindsey. She and Galileo hug for the 11th time today, and whisper things to each other. Then Lindsey goes without even facing Mary. I hug Galileo as well. "Just be strong for her, okay? And don't worry. I'll be right next to Alex after the transplant." He says, and holds me tighter.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Take care of my Lindsey."

"Of course."

I avoid Mary's presence and pursue Lindsey, with Alex's name pounding on my heart.
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Alex's POV.

"What do you mean, she's gone?" I practically shout at Galileo.

"Dude, I'm here to explain everything to you. But only if you let me." He replies, taking a seat and looking serious. I restrain myself from interrupting, fearing the worst. "It started with your father, Harrison."

"What happened to him?"

"You're not making this easy."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I'll do it, but calm down."

"It sounds like a long story and all I want to know is-"

"-Heather is in New York and Harrison is dead, alright?" I stare at him, not daring to blink, pleading him to say that it's a f*cking joke. But he only sighs. "Your first donor wasn't compatible with you. You were left in coma for a week. Heather convinced Harrison to donate a heart, after he was punished with a death sentence. Because, as it seems, he and his gang are responsible for a great number of murders, including Heather's brother, Ashton. But two days ago, Heather's mother decided to send her and Lindsey to New York; Heather as nothing more than a companion and guardian, but Lindsey will be attending some sort of... support group, you could call it. They'll be gone for 6 months, if everything works as planned. They left today, October 21st."

I remind myself that I have to breathe. I have to blink. I have to keep sending blood through my veins. My brain stopped for a moment, and I can't force the dizziness to vanish. I gulp and take deep breathes. Finally, I feel able to speak. "Is everything you said true?"

"Absolutely."

"So my father's dead."

"Yes."

"And my girlfriend's in New York, for six damn months."

"Correct."

"And the second transplant was a success?"

"Ultimately, yeah."

"And there's nothing we can do to bring the girls back."

"Her mother sorta likes me, but I didn't have a shot to talk her out of it. Nor did the girls. I doubt you'll have better luck than me."

"Right, because she hates me."

"She hates every living thing."

"And it's too late, anyway."

"The girls must be arriving to the apartment, so... yeah."

I sit up and scratch my arm. I feel wires connected to it, and I yank my arm free. Moments later, another nurse runs to check on me, but I shrug her off. I decide I want to head back home, and Galileo helps me with the hospital papers.

He drives me home, explaining that Richard went one day to take my motorcycle, so I shouldn't worry.
"Alex, you're alright, right?" Galileo asks as I exit the car. I keep walking, letting the silence of the night be my final answer...