Welcome to Serenity

I'm Pepper, You're Salt

Annie's POV:
I can hear Mum and Aunt Helen talking beside my bed. "-they said she will have to rest up, so that her body can heal." Mum explains as I smell their coffee and perfume mixing into an aroma, that reminds me of the women I look up to.

"Depending on how well she feels, she might only have to stay home from school a couple of weeks, they said a month maximum. They also said she would need to have weekly checkups with Howie." Mum tells Aunt Helen.

"She'll be alright. Annie is strong. And so are you." Aunt Helen reassures Mum.

"Mum... are you okay?" I ask as I slowly open my eyes.

"Oh, my sweet girl! I'm okay. Are you?" Mum asks frantically as she kisses my forehead.

"I'm okay. My leg is a little sore. How's Kyle?" I ask, a pit in my stomach engulfing me in worry and anxiety.

"Kyle's okay, sweetie. He has a broken rib and whiplash." Aunt Helen says.

"What's whiplash?" I ask confused.

"Whiplash is an injury to your neck. Kyle is very luckly, his is quite minor  so it should be better with weeks." Aunt Helen tells me.

"What happened after the car crashed? I'm having trouble remembering what happened." I admit, still not completely sure what's going on.

"Ty said he found you guys then called for an ambulance, one of the paramedics had to calm Tyler down while another called us. Then you and Kyle got transported to the hospital." Aunt Helen explains.

"You had surgury. Kyle just needs lots of rest. Ty sat and waited outside the door through the whole surgery. You got him pretty scared." Aunt Helen continues as she puts a hand on my cheek.

"Can you go get him? I'd like to say thanks." I ask, hesitantly.

"Of course!" Aunt Helen laughs.

"Dana Sue, let's go check on Maddie." Aunt Helen says as she kisses my cheek.

"Okay. I'll be back in a bit sweetheart." Mum whispers as she squeezes my hand.

"Thanks Mum." I smile as she walks out the door with Aunt Helen,uttering something about high school crushes.

My fake smile turns into a frown as they leave. I doubt Ty knows this, but I heard every word he said earlier. And now I have to figure out whether or not to tell him I know.

"Hey Annie. How are you feeling?" Ty asks as he strolls into my room.

"I'm okay. How are you?" I ask as he sits down beside me. I sit up instantly. He moves over slightly. I move the leg that isn't in a cast. It's like our bodies are having their own conversation.

"I've been better. But I feel so much better knowing Kyle and you are ok." He says, looking down at my hand, silently asking if he can hold it.

My fingers interlock with his. His hand is warm and strong.

I feel safe.

"Guess my prom dress is ruined." I laugh as Ty smiles down at me sincerely.

"Sorry about your dress and your leg." He says, glancing at the cast.

"I heard Dr Howie saying I'd use a wheelchair around the hospital but once I get to go home I'll be using crutches. I read somewhere it takes around six to eight weeks for a broken leg to heal." I say bitterly.

He rubs his thumb against mine, causing chills to shoot up my arm as comfortable silence swallows up the room.

"How's Kyle?" I ask, the first one to break the silence.

"He's okay. I talked to him a little earlier. He's pretty tired. He was worried I'd be angry about him crashing the car." Ty scoffs.

"I'm sorry. I'm getting a little tired, can we watch a movie?" I ask, glancing at the small TV mounted on the wall opposite my bed.

"Why not?" Ty says as he helps me move over on the bed. I pat a spot beside me for him to sit. He climbs on the bed next to me, still holding my hand.

We turn on the TV to some stupid reality show. My eye lids feel like boulders, and soon enough I give in and close my eyes and rest my head on Ty's shoulder. I have a feeling he will fall asleep soon after me.

I decide not to tell him I heard what he said earlier. I don't want to ruin this.

* * *

I'm in a dream. I'm in the car again. Kyle is beside me in the driver's seat, then he morphs into Ty.

"God Annie, you really think I would like you!? You're so ugly and stupid! Why would I choose you over Cece?" Ty asks as I start sobbing.

Then Kyle/Ty turns into Cece. "Hey Annie. Ty's right, why would he like you when he could have me? It's like the debate we did in mock trial. I'm pepper, you're salt. I'm interesting, you're plain and boring. I'm gorgeous, you're ugly. And most importantly Ty likes me, not you!" Cece laughs. Then all of a sudden we're in a field of white roses, my favourite flower.

Then I see Ty running over to me. "Ty!" I yell smiling. But he runs straight past me, to Cece. Instantly all the roses are dead.

I watch as Ty picks Cece up and spins her around and kisses her. With all the passion and love our drunken kiss didn't have.

Then Cece and Ty turn to me. Mum, Aunt Helen, Kyle and Simon appear. They all start yeling at me. About how ugly I am, how stupid, how bad a friend and how bad a daughter I am.

"Annie! Wake up." I hear a familiar voice whisper in my ear, though I'm not awake enough to figure out who it is. I feel tears streaming down my face.

"Annie are you okay?" Dad asks hugging me to his chest.

"I'm okay. Just a weird nightmare." I say wiping my eyes. I analyse the dream for a moment, knowing it was mostly about my jealousy towards Cece and my hopeless crush on Ty.

"Where's Ty?" I ask suddenly realising he's gone.

"He went home last night, darlin'." Dad smiles as he pushes my hair away from my sweaty face.

I hear him continue talking, without really paying attention.

I'm trying to see what my Dad did wrong. I know he cheated, but Mum never gave him a chance to explain. She never gave him a second chance.

Yet, here he is.

Hugging me. Telling me how much he loves me. Wiping my tears. Doing what a father should do.

"I love you Dad. I've missed you." I whisper, as my Dad kisses my forehead and holds me in his arms.

I push the strange nightmare to the back of my mind and enjoy this moment.