Hidden In Plain Sight

Confusion

"This part of me that wants a simple 'right or wrong' feels that everything I choose will always be false." 

Stewart sat across from me in the hospital wing. Beside me, trying her best to clean her glasses, which I'm pretty sure was clean enough, was Natalie. Her gaze never left Ryan's motionless face. James stood by the door, glaring at the scene playing before him. I sighed and buried my head in my hands.

'You're fine, Stewart.' I mumbled. I didn't dare look him in the eye. Stewart gave out a small, quiet whimper. It was currently two in the afternoon and I was tired. No, exhausted is the better word for it.

'I panicked.' he sounded as if he was telling himself that more than me.

I nodded. 'I know.'

'I could have done something.'

I lifted my head from my hands and glared at his stomach. I knew where this was going. 'Stewart...'

'My brain didn't register it.'

'Stewart.'

'And now he's going to d-'

Natalie jumped out of her daze, quickly realizing what Stewart was trying to say. I clapped my hands together. 'Dean "Stewart" Cantrell, I swear to God.'

Stewart stopped complaining. I grabbed onto Natalie's hand and tried to give a reassuring squeeze. I looked towards the sleeping boy. He looked familiar, yet if anyone asked me about him, I probably wouldn't have been able to point him out among a crowd. Natalie gave squeezed back and sighed.

'He's not going to die, right?' she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She hand trembled in mine.

'No, a wound like that shouldn't be able to kill him.' James replied from the door. I would've forgotten about him if it weren't for the feeling of his eyes glaring at the back of my head.

Natalie smiled and nodded, obviously relieved that her friend was going to survive. I swallowed my pride and snuck a quick look at Stewart. He looked tired and pathetic, but still the handsome boy I had grown up with. His brown hair was matted down by sweat and his pale blue orbs seemed to be caught in a daze. I bit down on my bottom lip. He looked just like her when he did that. I could feel a headache coming on, but one look at Natalie's hopeless face, I ignored my own pain and selfishly stayed.

'The Winter Dance is soon.' I announced, gripping Stewart out of his daze. James scoffed from the doorway. 'Are you going with anyone?'

Natalie tensed. 'No, I'm not.'

I nodded. 'Maybe Ryan will take you. You did save his life after all.'

Natalie's face became red faster than I could blink, erupting a laugh out of Stewart. My stomach warmed at the sound. Stewart was laughing, people were smiling and no one was dying. This was going better than I thought it would.

'Are you going to the dance with anyone?' Natalie asked.

I tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a wheeze. James cocked an eyebrow. 'Dances aren't my thing.'

'Helena isn't a people person.' Stewart but in.

I tried to glare as well as James currently was, but Stewart must've somehow thought I was thankful for him. He gave me a gentle smile, one that he used to save for me and me only, and looked out the window behind him. I internally groaned. I looked at the clock. I had been here for over half an hour now and a part of me felt that I was starting to overstay my welcome. I didn't know this boy. I had no right to stay with him. I stood.

'I should probably head home now.' I declared, pushing my chair back by the table in the far back corner where it belonged.

'You need a ride?' Stewart asked swiftly. I hadn't even finished my sentence.

I waved him off. 'I'll walk.'

As I left, James grabbed onto my wrist and leaned into my ear. Natalie hadn't noticed, still absorbed into Ryan's well being. Stewart on the other hand looked like he was about to stab somebody with the pen he kept in his pants pocket.

'Do you know who did it?' He whispered.

'Who stabbed Ryan?' I asked hesitantly. James nodded. 'No. Miss Zoe is working on that right now. We don't want to alarm the other students.'

James hummed in agreement. 'Y'know, you confuse me.'

'I do that sometimes.'