Twisted

Chapter Sixteen | Hospital

Josh's POV
Hospital
*edited*

In story's you often hear about the rivals that the main love interest has to fight off and whatnot, but with callum... he's a different cause. He's dense and he's never truly had a girlfriend he cared about.

After the carnival... or fair or something. Callum kinda went off the radar. He didn't text me much, I didn't see him everyday like before and he kept skipping school.

Obviously I was worried, not only worried, I was heartbroken that he'd read my texts but not answer them. We've always answered, always.

Some rumors went around about Callum got a girl pregnant, but he's not like that. He's a careful guy, not to mention he's still a virgin.

Finally I had sent him a text:

-Josh.
You haven't been texting me back. Everything good?

I waited a few minutes, I was disappointed when he read it. I put my phone back but immediately lifted it up (smacking my face in the process) when it buzzed.

-Callum
I may... or may not be in the hospital 🤷‍♂️

Did you hear that? It was the sound of my jaw dropping. You can't comprehend how fast I typed the next sentence.

-Josh.
Wth. Are you ok?!? What happenrs?

And only a few seconds later.

-Callum.
Nothing big. Just got into a fight with my dad.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the smile that came onto my mouth. Classic Callum, acting so nonchalant about this. This boy I swear.

-Josh.
Which hospital? I'll come see you.

He sent me the name of the hospital and I practically raced over there. And by raced I mean: I drove the speed limit and followed the laws but I did it very anxiously.

When I got there I practically burst through the doors of his room. It was visiting hours (thank god or this would've been a hell of a lot less dramatic) so a few other people were roaming the halls.

"Oh. Hi josh."

I walked over him, kicked off my shoe and smacked him atop his head. "I MaY oR MaY nOt Be IN ThE HoSpITaL." I said in a mocking voice. "What kind of idiot are you?" I asked, raising the shoe again threateningly.

He put his hands over his head defensively. "The kind that's injured, also the kind who you're beating while injured." He stated, matter of fact.

I placed the shoe down. "So? What happened? Are you ok? Is your ego still too big for the room? Is your mind still out of place or was it knocked back straight?"

He cracked a lopsided grin, you know the one. The one that could make everybody's heart practically forget that it's a heart for a second. He gave me two big thumbs up.

"Nothing broken. Just some bruises and a concussion. They've kept me here a few days for child protective services and whatnot. You know the usual stuff." He shrugged.

Oh yeah... the 'usual stuff'. The stuff these people try so hard to keep Callum from but still end up failing anyway. Callum's been in the hospital multiple times, broken elbow, twisted ankle, snapped pinky. But Callum's also an athletic and fit guy, it's so easy to blame that stuff on sports, and that's what they do.

I never understood why Callum never told those people the truth, he hates his parents and he hates being beat. It makes me wonder what Callum is thinking... the worst thoughts that ever mentioned my mind is: is Callum sad? Is he tired of the violence?