Nineteen

Chapter Twenty-Nine

We drive for what feels like forever, when in reality it was only ten minutes.

The ER sign is bright. I didn't realize it was night until now. 

"I'll drop you off at the door," Collin says.

"No," I say quick. I don't want to wait for him alone.

"Why?"

"I--I don't want to be alone yet, especially now." I say, looking at the bright sign.

He doesn't say anything as he pulls the truck into a no parking zone.

I would love to make a comment on the illegal parking, but I decide against it for now.

 I hold my arm as we walk. My whole body is sore.

We get into the waiting room where there are a few people already seated. I wait behind Collin as he speaks to the man at the desk.

"Her arm is broken, she needs to see someone now," He demands.

"Unless it's life or death, she'll have to wait," he responds as he hands me paperwork to fill out.

He huffs as he turns and walks to a seat. Like a lost puppy, I follow him.

It's hard to sit down, I'm assuming from the kicks I took to my back and side.

"Did he hit you in the face?" Collin asks.

"What? No, I don't believe."

Did he? I can't remember.

"Your eye is black," he says.

I take my good hand and reach to my face. It is a little sore, so maybe I did get hit at some point.

After 45 minutes a lady comes to the door and says, "Miss Shay?"

I stand and walk over to her, and Collin follows.

She takes me to a room and asks me to change into a hospital gown. 

"Can I leave my pants on?" I ask.

She gives me a straight line as a smile and shakes her head yes.

After I change she takes us to a room where my X-Rays are taken, and then leads us to a room where I'm instructed to wait.

"I've never seen a hospital take so damn long," he slumps in his chair.

I just lay on the bed, pondering how I ended up in this situation. Maybe I should have went to Duke, I would've been much happier and probably much safer.

My eyes fill with tears as I remember being kicked and grabbed by the man. I am grateful for Collin, but what would have happened if he didn't?

At the point Collin is standing in the door way as if that is going to bring someone to the room faster.

A week ago I didn't even know this boy, and today he is here in a hospital with me after maybe saving my life. I still barely know him.

He walks back to the bed with, what I can assume, is a doctor behind him.

"Hello Miss Shay, my name is Doctor Robert," he reaches a hand to shake, and then reaches it to Collin.

I just smile as he pulls out some papers.

"Looking at your x-rays I see that you have a broken wrist and several fractured ribs. The ribs will have to heal on their own but we can wrap you for support for a few days and we're going have to cast your hand. Now, the earliest we can get you in for a cast is two days form now, but we can put a temporary one on until then."

I just nod, "sounds good."

"I'll set the appointment up for two days from now at 2 o'clock. Does that sound okay?" 

I nod in agreement as a nurse comes into the room. She wraps my body with a wrap to support my sore ribs and she puts a temporary cast on me.

We walk out the door and I couldn't be happier to have a day ending. It's dark and the sound of the city is louder than before. I reach to grab my phone to check the time when I realize I don't have it.

"Oh my god," I say.

"What?" Collin says flatly.

"I must of lost my phone in the alley earlier."

He doesn't say anything as we both get into the truck. He only starts it and begins to drive.

After a few minutes of silence I say, "Why are you doing stuff for me? Like, why are you putting in so much effort?"

He doesn't shift his eyes from the road.

"And why did you kiss me and then act like you hate me?" I say.

"I don't hate you," is all he says.

"Yeah, okay."

He doesn't respond, of course.