In The Blood

Insistence

(Avi)

"Cute," I murmured, studying first the model in the magazine and then my girlfriend's face, trying to picture her with the haircut she'd mentioned maybe getting. Personally, I loved the way it was. Long, sexy, soft, and flowing. The haircut was kind of attractive, but was it her? I won't sure. "I think you're beautiful as is. But if you like it and want to try it, go for it. It's a cute 'do."

Jessica grinned but blushed. "Maybe." She tore the page out. "For further consideration."

"Good idea," I said, watching as she tucked into her purse. "Can't wait to see what you decide."

She grinned again and leaned into me, content to wait patiently for Chance to come out of the ER. Surely he would soon. I didn't think it was bad enough to warrant admission; course, what do I know? I'd been the one to be put in observation for an afternoon when my stitches burst open. And I'd wound with a transfusion. Wonder if Chance would need one as well. Another Home Free hospital admission possibly? Maybe we just needed to look into getting Adam and Austin admitted preventively. They were bound to be injured soon at the rate they (and we) were going. Chris and Matt too for good measure.

Jessica pointed an article out to me about getting one's identity stolen over social media and we both read it carefully. These days you can't really be too careful, and, as a celebrity, I'd be a target. We glanced up when we heard Chance's voice talking nearby to Rupert. Oh good, he was out, now with a well-bandaged hand. Maybe he needed bubble wrap next. I watched him worriedly when he mentioned something about being followed. Oh God... please, not again. I bit my lip worriedly, though was reassured when Rupert strode off to take care of the matter. OK, if he's taking care of Chance's issue, who is watching over me and Jessica? Don't just go off to resolve one problem at the expense of allowing another! My mouth opened slightly as I glanced around worriedly only to close it a few seconds later, seeing Gen just a few feet away, fingers tapping on a soda can though her eyes were still watching the vicinity around us. Gen was on us. Good.

"Wow," Jessica murmured, a finger pointing to a checkbox on how to prevent accounts from being compromised.

"Yep," I agreed, making a face and finding myself guilty of not having changed my password in, ahh... a year? Yeah, I should probably do the soon. When I could connect with a device of some sort. I sat back and glanced around to see where Chance was and if he was ready to head upstairs to see Tim and Rob only to see him make like a roadrunner and zip off behind Chris. OK, now what's that about? I frowned as next Jav went running after him. OK, so why are we running I the hall here? Should I grab Jessica and run into the hall? I glanced around. No one else seemed alarmed or inclined to run off down he hall, so I guess not...

"What?" Jessica asked, peering into my face.

"Nothing, I guess," I mumbled, now catching Gen's eye.

"What is it, Avi?" she asked.

"Nothing," I repeated, trying to sound more sure of myself as some guy stumbled into the ER with his friend, both running to the triage desk, near shouting at the poor nurse, one holding his elbow.

"Think I broke—"

"Gonna break a hell of a lot more!"

"—my elbow. Was playing basketball—"

"It's, it's—it's—"

"Landed flat on my elbow, hard. Heard shit snap in there—"

"You guys got to do something—"

"—whole arm feels like there's a hot rod jabbing into it—"
"—people gonna get hurt—"

"—think it's gonna fall off—"