The Boy Next Door

Chapter 22

I blinked my eyes a couple times before making sense of my surroundings. I was staring up into the hospital lights. Several nurses were standing above me smiling. I wasn't sure if that meant that they screwed up or they actually did something right for once.

'Hey sweetie, how are you doing?"

I just had my freaking head split open. What the hell did they expect? "Pretty good. I have a brutal headache though," I said forcing a smile.

"Well the good news is the surgery went perfectly and you have no brain trauma. We still need to run a speech test and memory test though," the nurse on my right said.

My heart soared. Finally! Finally something was going my way!

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"Well the surgery ended two hours ago and the medicine wore off a while ago but you just immediately fell asleep."

"So it's approximately 5:00," another nurse pitched in.

"Good. Then I can eat right?"

"Yup. The cafeteria is open on the main floor."

Pff. Like I was planning on eating there, but I said thank you anyway. As the group of nurses and surgeons left my room chattering to themselves, my parents, Alex, Liz, and Nick came bursting through the doors - but there was no sign of Carter.

My mom rushed to my side instantly and wrapped me in a hug. And as her warmth washed over me I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank God you're alright. It was quite a stressful afternoon."

"Well for once the doctors succeeded at doing something right," I said.

My dad came to my side as well and gave me a hug. He had bags under his eyes and his hair was a mess. I guess me dying put a big stress on everyone

Then Nick came to my side and I was shocked. He had droplets of tears trickling down his tan cheek. And he never cries. It made my heart swell to see all of these people that I had made an impact in there life.

"Don't cry, Nick. It'll make me cry too," I said holding back tears.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't imagine a world without my patronizing, loving, sister."

I laughed. "So the ruff and tuff football player has a big heart?" I teased.

"I thought you were gonna die Keels. In fact, at the game I missed on Thursday, my team got all of the players to pray for you. Even the other team."

"Aww. Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me. But it really wasn't that major of a surgery."

"Keels, there is a thin line between life and death. And you were flirting with it. Anytime you perform any kind of brain surgery you flirt between life and death."

I laughed before my family stepped away giving me some time with my besties.

"Hey girl," Alex said around to stand by my side.

"Hey. Don't ask how I'm doing though. Cause you'll get an interesting answer like the other 2 million people who have asked that."

"Mentally challenged and still bitchy I see," Liz joked before giving me a hug. I gave her a glare. "Uh .... feisty. I meant feisty."

"That's better," I chuckled.

"It was good seeing you and I'm glad your alive and stuff but I need to go pick up my little sister from dance or something," Alex said giving me one last hug.