I Love You, Best Friend.

Chapter Twenty Five: Cat's point of view

"Katrina," a voice asked and I pulled myself to focus, "Katrina are you awake?" 

"Yes," I said in a hoarse voice that would say other wise, "I'm awake." 

"Hello," my nurse rounded the corner, "if you're feeling up to it, you can be released today. Your concussion is considerably better, your heart rate and breathing is stable, you're going to be more than okay." 

"Really?" I asked, "That's great." It was great. I had a lot to catch up on, and a lot to do before I felt better. I sat still and she looked me over, making sure the things she said were true. I smiled and she smiled back. 

"I'll bring the release forms to you, you're of age to sign for yourself." 

"Thank you," I said and she nodded and left the door frame. I contemplated pulling the IV out of my arm myself but let that idea pass with the wave of nerves that came with the idea of blood. The nurse returned with a small packet of forms and a pen. She began unplugging things, and shutting things off as I signed and initialed where it was necessary. She was sanitizing things I might have touched when I finished. She took the clip board and set it aside. She took out a couple of tools and smiled at me. 

"I'm going to remove your IV," she said, "I hate this part, you might want to look away." I looked sideways at the wall and after a slight tug she was done. She threw the needle in a hazzard bucket and the pouch in the trash next to the door. 

"Am I set?" I asked, sliding from bed. My legs felt wobbly and sore. 

"Not quite," she said, "you'll have to call someone for a ride, you've banned Mr. Gavin from returning."

"Right," I said and I smiled at her, "no problem." She set a pile of clothes on my bed. 

"These were brought in for you, before he was prohibited from visiting for release day." 

"Thank you," I said and she smiled. 

"I'll give you a moment." She walked out of my room and I thought about calling Cadence for a ride home. We'd have a chance to talk, and I could say I'm sorry. She left saying she'd give me time to think, and I wasn't through thinking yet. I took my phone out and sat down on the bed. I looked through the contacts three times before deciding I had to call Jake. I called his cellphone and he didn't answer. I called it again, with no luck. It was twelve so he had to be up. Work, I thought. He's probably at work. I dialed the number to the pizza place. 

"Jake speaking, how may I help you?" He asked. 

"Jake," I said, "it's me- Cat." His breathing shifted. 

"If you're with Cadence, I can't deliever." He said. "There was this incident, and-"

"No," I cut him off, "listen to me. I need help. I'm at the hospital."

"Cat! Are you okay?" He asked. 

"I need you to pick me up." I said, and his breathing changed again. 

"I'll be right there." 

-

"So, tell me why Gavin didn't come get you?"

"I called the engagement off," I said looking him over. He wasn't surprised and that offended me, "he's the reason I was in the hospital. I banned him from coming back." 

"Oh, I missed a lot." He said, "Please, do tell?" 

"It was a motorcyle accident," I said, "it's not to bad. I'm just sore, and stitched." 

"Why didn't you call Cadence?" He asked. He spit her name out bitterly and I wondered to myself why he would have reasons to dislike her.

"We're not talking at the moment," I said and he looked shocked. It was disappointing that the shock of me and Gavin didn't settle nearly as hard as me and Cadence. 

"Why?" He asked.

"She's in love with me," I said, "or was. I don't know. I went about it the wrong way." 

"Where am I taking you?" He asked. 

"Home," she said, "I need to get cleaned." 

"Ten four," he said and drove in silence until we reached my house. He turned to face me. "If you need anything call." 

"Thanks Jake." I said, squeezing his forearm. I jogged into the house and felt the ache in my legs and chest. I unlocked the door and walked in. It felt good to be home.