Welcome to My World

Chapter 11 Callum's POV {Blue And Red Lights And Robot Pajamas}

I'm brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed when I hear screams, shouts, and sirens from across the street. My blood freezes, because I know the address across the street by heart. 63B Daisy Drive, Lunarsons. I immediately spit out the toothpaste and run to the window.

Outside, an ambulance is sending blue and red light washing over my window. There's a white-haired figure shouting something at the hospital workers. I strain to see who it is.

Runaan looks like he could be Rayla's biological father, but he's really not. They have the same naturally white hair, the same facial features, and even the same Justice-Has-Come expressions.

I crane my neck to see who's being carried out of the house. Wait a second. The one who was talking is now carrying the unconscious person. My heart momentarily stops. Oh. Oh no. That must mean Runaan is...

I dash downstairs, still in my navy blue pajamas with robots on them. My dad, Harrow, steps in front of the door. He was watching out the window with my mom, Sarai. "Callum-"

I zip past him and out the door. Runaan is holding Rayla, arguing with the hospital workers as they try to take her. Her face is twisted in pain. I read somewhere that symptoms of concussions are extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

"I don't think she likes you arguing." I tell Runaan quietly. He immediately looks down to check on her, brushing her hair away from her face. Honestly, I don't think Rayla ever needed two parents. Runaan loves her enough for ten.

Runaan looks towards me. "Come along?" He asks. I glance towards my house. Mom and Dad are clutching each other. Can I go? I mouth. They glance at each other and nod.

I follow Runaan, climbing in. It's so white, and feel glad that I didn't bring grape juice. The hospital workers shout, moving things around, getting in the ambulance. Then we're off, rushing to the city. I realize I've never been in an ambulance before, but I've seen plenty.

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Everything is loud and white and busy at the hospital, but I'm numb to it. Runaan went with them, but I wasn't allowed to go with them. So I sit outside in the visitors area, when I see my friend Ravi from school. We look at each other, and he comes to sit with me.

"Hey." He says. I nod to him, not in the mood for talking. He studies me critically. "You don't look sick." He comments. She

"I'm not sick." I reply quietly. "I'm here with... With a friend."

He raises an eyebrow. "Really? Who?"

Just then, Runaan comes out, and Ravi's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Ohohoho! Would you happen to be here with the dad of that chick who slipped in the canteen?"

"Shut up!" I hiss quickly, and his eyebrows manage another centimeter. Runaan walks over to us, his face tired and his eyes worried. "Who's your friend, Callum?" He asks.

"This is Ravi. He's from school." Then I quickly add, "Can I go see Rayla now?"

Runaan nods and immediately gets into a fight with the nurse. A few minutes later, the nurse walks away looking frazzled, and Runaan nods for me to follow him. I don't look back at Ravi, but I can feel his stare burning my back.

Following Runaan seems to take forever, even if my watch says it's only been about 30 seconds. When we get there, I slip into the room while Runaan stands guard outside. Rayla's concussion from P.E., I remember.

I cross the room to her side, sitting on the chair by the bedside. I brush her hair away from her face. She doesn't look like Rayla now. She looks too small, too frail. She isn't running, jumping, fighting, or even arguing with me. I realize now, that I took her for granted.

Just then, she moves slightly, and I lean forward hopefully. Her eyes open, and she looks around before her gaze settles on me. Her eyes harden into a glare. "Just stay away from me." She growls. Then her eyes close again, and I numbly walk out, back to Ravi. She hates me now.

Rayla hates me.