Breaking Rules

27.

"Okay, Harper... Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."

I felt like I was underwater, the female voice brought me out of my slumber but she sounded clouded. I was still tired, too tired to open my eyes despite a sudden bright light I saw through my fluttering eyelids that made my head throb.

"Can you feel my hand?" Her voice sounded soft, yet unfamiliar. I had the feeling that I was dreaming but I went along with the orders from the feminine voice. My focus went to the touch sensors on my fingertips to see what I could feel. Something warm seemed to have a grip on my palm so I strained myself to wrap my fingers around it.

"Well done." She seemed happy with my attempt. Still in my dream state, I was completely ready to let rest take over me before I was addressed again.

"I'm going to count down from three then take you're oxygen mask off of you. I want you to take a big deep breath when I do please Harper. Squeeze my hand if you understand." My brain took a second to comprehend and I squeezed the hand in response.

"Okay, three, two, one." I took a deep breath that started off easy but my throat felt as if it closed up half way through. The feeling of running out of breath made me panic and flew up from my lying position to grasp more air.

"It's okay, you're okay." I was pushed back gently onto the bed and began taking slower deep breaths until I caught my breath as much as I could, but my throat was dry. "Can you open your eyes?"

My eyelids fluttered open but closed again quickly because of the brightness of the room, making me open and close my eyes again a few times. After rubbing my eyes, I finally opened them.

"Oh my god, Harper!" I head a gasp before a few 'Shh's' My tired eyes scanned the room and over some recognisable faces. I was in a white room with little on the walls. The sound of beeping was more noticeable now I was awake. I was still confused though.

"Harper." The voice from my dream pulled my attention to the right side of the uncomfortable bed I was in and I saw a blonde woman to the side of me. She looked young and have a kind face. My eyes focused more and more as I looked at her. "Do you know where you are?"

My head shook slightly from left to right.

My eyebrows furrowed when she explained. "You're in the hospital Harper. There was an incident with the police where you were shot."

"You scared us Harp." My brothers voice came from the other side of the bed and he was holding my hand and looking at me with a relieved yet still upset, face.

"Who are you?" My voice croaked out, it didn't sound like my own but it didn't stop my from having a bit of fun.

"W-What?"

"Kidding." He let go of my hand and rolled his eyes, I heard the 2 other people in the room chuckle. When I looked over Amie and Jason were standing further away and looked uncomfortable. Jason more than Amie. I smiled at them before I was spoken to by the doctor again.

"Seems your sense of humour hasn't been affected. I'm going to take some tests, blood work and such. Then get back to you with the results and more information of your stay here. You will be here at least a week meaning we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other." The doctor finished with a wink and began looking at the beeping machine and writing down stuff on some papers. Isaac said he was going to get something from the vending machines and make a call and he left the room.

"Why do you look so scared?" I asked Amie and Jason. My voice was still weak and my throat hurt.

"I'm so sorry Harper. I can't believe I let you jump in front of me like that. I never should have gotten so worked up! This is all my fault. I mean... I should never have even taken you on a stupid shortcut in the first place! I'm so sorry Harper, please forgive me!" By the end of Jason's heart warming rant I was tearing up at seeing him sitting where Isaac was with his head in his hands.