Hospital Gowns

Hospital Gowns Ch. 2

And so I ventured on, finding nothing, or no one, to start a conversation with.  Martin was gone.  And everyone who I had seen weren't around.  I thought about the girl who I had ran into.  Was Tyler talking about her?  What was her name?  I might as well forget about her.  The odds of me running into her are very slim at this point.

I found my room, and slid into my bed.  It wasn't the nicest room.  It was very... boring.  The only source of entertainment I had was a TV and a Wii system.  Everything I had was left at home; my piano, my guitar, my computer, even my iPod.  I was forced to use the computers that the hospital had, and they were old.  I wish I had my Windows 7 laptop with me.  That would make my stay here a lot more fun.

"Excuse me?"

I looked up, finding the curly bronze haired girl standing in the door way.  I paused.  "What's up?"

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

I pointed to the other end of my bed.  "Please."

She sat down, giving me a smile.  "I was looking for you.  Apparently you ran into my cousin, Tyler."

"Oh, yes I did.  He gave me quite an introduction.  Then again, it was my fault.  I ran into him by accident.  I was running away from Dr. Keystone."  I broke out into a small sweat.  "Then everything went smoothly.  He asked me if  I 'met the girl yet.'"

"He was talking about me.  He's been asking the others that, too."

"The others?  Who might they be?"

"Do you remember the blond boy with greasy hair?"

I blinked.   "How did you know about him?"

"It's my special power.  I see the past, present, and future.  Well that boy is one of us... the 'un-normal,' as Dr. Keystone calls us."

"Yeah, I remember that nick name."

"Listen, he's only trying to help us."

"By testing on us?  No offense, but I think I know myself pretty well.  I can fly.  That's all I need to know.  And I'm turning into a bird.  Yay for me!"  I knew that I had snapped at her.  And she was making me angry, too.  I could see that she was a positive character.  "And I don't even know your name."

"My name..." her voice cracked.  I probably really hurt her feelings.  "My name is Hermine."

"Hermine?  That's an itneresting name."

"My mother gave me that name.  She liked the sound of it.  I'm not even sure if that's a real name."

"Hey, is there a reason why you came in here?  I have some plans to get done today."

"What on earth would you have to do in a hospital?"

"E-mail my teachers, and get homework.  Try to contact my parents.  Make sure that our pet sitter isn't killing our dog.  I don't know!  But my time is being wasted!" I yelled.

Hermine snarled her upper lip at me.  "You aren't the easiest person to talk to.  And you have a quick temper.  I was going to ask if you were okay after talking to my cousin, since he has a huge anger problem, and if you were okay after seeing Dr. Keystone.  I also came to tell you that the boy with the greasy hair is coming in to see you.  He wants to play twenty questions with you."

"Well thanks for the warning and concern.  I'm fine, thanks, and I'll be looking forward to the greasy boy."

Hermine got up and left.  And I'm glad she did.  I was surpised that I didn't smack her in the face.  Her beautiful looks blinded me.  I realized that she's the royal pain.  I didn't want to deal with her.  However, I was thinking about the plans I had mentioned.  It was time to e-mail my history teacher.  I went down to the computer lab to see what type of homework I had.  And to my surprise, the greasy blond boy was there.  This time, he had showered.

"Hey, new kid."

"Hi."

"Let's play a little game," he smirked.

"I don't want to.  I want to see what type of homework I have."

"That's a shocker.  It looks like you have been doing drugs.  After all, you look really pale and washed out."  He laughed.  "What's your name?"

"Question one?" I asked.

He blinked, but nodded.  "Question one; what is your name?"

"Dexter Lee.  What's yours?"

"I'll answer your question.  My name is Gabe Harris.  Question two; what are you being tested on?"

"I'm turning into a bird.  What about you?"

He ignored me.  "I'll continue to ask questions, later.  I'll see you later."

And he was off.  I rolled my eyes, and went to a computer.  My fingers danced along the keyboard, and hit the enter button once I logged into my e-mail.  All I said was, "E-mail check up.  What's there for me to do?"

Send.

Dinner time.  I was hungry.  I had ordered a pizza slice an hour ago, and waited for it to be done.  I was waiting to see if Gabe would come back, and I was getting anxious.  But Tyler came to me, instead.

"My cousin doesn't like you so much, anymore."

I shrugged.  "Yeah, well she kinda got on my nerves.  I snapped at her.  I didn't mean to."

"It's okay.  I know she gets on everyone's nerves.  And I see you met Gabe.  He doesn't like you, either.  He's eighteen and has been here for five years.  He's jealous of kids like you."

"Like me?" I asked.  "What did I do?"

"You haven't been here for very long, have you?" Tylre asked.

I shook my head.  "Three weeks."

"Hermine knows that you aren't going to be here for long.  It's like every new kid here.  They come here when they are thirteen or fourteen, stay for at least six months, and leave.  You are leaving sometime in eight months from now.  Hermine tells him how long the new people are staying," Tyler explained.  Then he shrugged his shoulders.  "Hermine and I have been here for two years.  It look a year and a half for Gabe to get used to us."

"Gabe," I started, "is the least of my worries.  I'm trying to think of a way to get out of here."

"It's almost impossible.  I've tried it.  See, I turn into a-"

"Bear.  I knew that when I ran into you."

Tyler looked at his feet.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you.  But even with my strength, I can't get out.  I came close, but didn't make it.  I left Hermine behind.  She didn't want to leave.  She thinks that these people are good.  They aren't.  We're going to be a show case, soon. Well, you aren't.  Hermine said that the doctors have seen a lot of kids turning into birds, it's useless now."

"Then why are they keeping me for eight months?"

"I don't know, Dexter.  If I knew, I would tell you.  I'm only repeating what Hermine said about you. She knew where to find you earlier, because she saw you walking to your room."

I sighed.  "And she must have followed me.  It didn't atke her long to find me."

My pizza slice arrived.

"I'll get out of your hair.  See you tomorrow, Dex."

I hate that nick name.