Summer Love: Before the Spark

Chapter 12

"W-What's the bad news?" Jesse stammered as she began to fidget.

"Well for starters it isn't as bad as you think. We just  have to transfer him to a university hospital," The nurse explained, her light brown clipboard close to her chest.

"A university hospital," Reuben muttered quietly.

Jesse bit her soft bottom lip, was his condition that bad?

"Yes, a university hospital," The nurse, Binta said firmly.

"But what does he have?" Reuben asked quickly, "And is it life threatening?"

Binta swiftly glanced at Reuben, "I'm sorry, but I am not allowed to give out that information right now," She said nonchalantly.

---

Lukas was in a loose hospital gown, gazing out the clear window.

His gaze darted to the hospital bed and he slowly leaned back, sighing quietly.

He quickly perked up though as he heard the wide room door open.

"Hey Lukas," Reuben said softly as he walked in.

"Hey," Lukas said gently.

Jesse hastily entered the room as well and so did Petra and James.

"How you holding up buddy?" James asked swiftly, as he walked over to Lukas.

"Oh I'm fine really," Lukas chuckled faintly and ran his cool fingers through his golden locks, "I've probably just been pushing myself too hard lately."

Lukas glanced up at James, "Y'know practicing the violin for hours and," His glistening azure eyes quickly darted to Jesse, "Chasing Mrs. Escape artist all week when we've could've just been practicing."

Everyone's firm gaze immediately turned to Jesse and she laughed nervously.

"Have you ever collapsed like that before?" Petra asked as she leasuirely adjusted her bandana.

Lukas shook his head slowly and said softly, "No."

Jesse leaned back against a wall, fiddling with her cold fingers and pondering.

"I'm sure I'll be out of here soon," Lukas said optimistically, a hopeful grin spreading across his face.

"Yeah hopefully," Reuben said quietly.

"I heard they're moving you to a university hospital Lukas," James said, crashing his hopeful mood for a few moments.

Lukas' face fell slightly, but a large grin hastily found its place on his face again.

"I'm sure its just to run some tests or whatever," He tapped his chin thoughtfully, "Anyways I haven't seen you two in an awfully long time."

His gaze darted between Petra and James.

"Yeah," James said while nodding, "It sure has been awhile."

"Hey remember when I pushed Jesse off that bridge," Petra stifled a snort, "That was hilarious."

Lukas laughed a bit, "Yeah and you even wanted to go again Jesse," Lukas said, his caribbean colored eyes darting to Jesse.

"Wait a minute," Reuben fiddled with his hot-pink sleeves, "You two knew each other before all this."

Lukas nodded and grinned warmly, "Yeah we go way back actually. But uh you reunited us again so now here we are," Lukas said faintly, his smile growing larger.

"Wow," Reuben clapped his hands and leaped eagerly, "That's awesome, old friend's reunited!"

"All thanks to you Reuben," Lukas said wholeheartedly.

Reuben couldn't help, but smile more and feel overjoyed about the whole thing.

"Wait... Didn't Jesse sprain her ankle or something like that one time?" Petra inquired, her head tilting to the side a bit.

7 year old Lukas carried Jesse on her back.

"Oh boy your mom is go-going to kill me," Lukas said quietly.

Jesse whimpered in pain, her ankle bruised and swollen.

"I'm just lucky it wa-wasn't your hands," Lukas said meekly.

Jesse wrapped her small arms around Lukas' neck and the agony only grew.

The cold wind passed them and their soft hair swayed slowly in the wind.

A short silence was between them and Lukas felt rather tense.

Jesse's mother scared him sometimes, but that was only when she was angry.

Whimpers of anguish escaped Jesse's quivering lips and she burst into tears.

"No no no," Lukas quickly said, "P-please s-stop crying," But as he finished, his face scrunched up and he burst into tears as well.

Tears cascaded down both of their faces and their glimmering eyes sparkled with tears.

Jesse glanced down as she recalled the faint memory.

"Hehe, it was pretty rough that day," Lukas said, sheepishly running a hand through his radiant curls.

About an hour had passed and they were still talking well everyone except for Jesse who was as silent as a mouse.

"Well I guess we should get going," James said, as he entwined his hand with Petra's, "It's getting late."

"It is," Reuben said, heading towards the door, "Well see you later Lukas."

Jesse walked towards the door quietly.

"Jesse."

She turned to him, her eyes refusing to make eye contact and her head already beginning to bow.

"Jess please stop looking down," He pleaded softly, "I promise you it won't hurt to hold your head up a bit more and it also wouldn't kill you to smile more."

Jesse glanced up and met Lukas' glistening eyes.

Silence fell between them like a barrier for a few moments, but it was a rather short silence.

"Are you still going to play the piano?" Lukas asked.

Jesse shrugged and glanced away from him again.

"I don't know it... It just kinda feels like that's all I'm good for," Jesse admitted faintly.

"Maybe its enough and besides if you let it go do you think you can just forget it?"

---

Jesse walked outside of the hospital and stood next to Reuben.

He was looking up at the azure sky.

"So what'd Lukas want?" Reuben asked, glancing at her from out of the corner of his doe eye.

"It was nothing important," Jesse said, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

"Wow not even going to tell me fine be that way Jesse," Reuben said, a bit of playfulness in his tone.

Reuben glanced back up at the sky, peacefulness somehow settling in his yearning gaze.

"Reuben, do you think playing the piano is all I'm good for?" Jesse asked him.

Reuben glanced at her, "What why would you say that! I'm sure theirs loads of thing's your good at like," Reuben thought for a moment, but was having trouble finding something to say, "Oh um... Would you look at that a thunderstorm might be coming soon!" Reuben said quickly.

Jesse looked up at the sky and sure enough dark gloomy clouds were rolling in the sky.

Jesse found herself glancing back down at the floor again and Lukas' words repeated like a soft whisper in her head.

"Do you think you can just forget it?"