1983 c.h. (au)

21: hemmings helper

Once again, Charlie woke up in a hospital bed with a new cast. She felt a larger hand squeeze her thigh gently. Charlie opened her eyes and took in a crying Luke. "Luke. Where is everyone?" Charlie tried sitting up but failed miserably.

"They don't know you're here. No one
except Cal and I." Luke shook his head and wiped his face with the backs of his hands. "Charlie I'm so sorry what happened."

"It's not your fault. I was being stupid."

"Charlie I don't think you get it."

"Get what?"

"There is something psychologically wrong with your mom. And I think it's best if we get you help."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"A few days. She gave you a concussion. And more broken bones."

"Give me the stats Hemmings Helper." Charlie waited for the severity of the damage done to her. It was amazing because she couldn't remember a thing.

"4 broken ribs. A sprained ankle. A cracked collarbone and you needed a blood transfusion. I told you about the concussion. And as you can see, you're all black and blue." Luke started crying again.

"Luke please don't cry." Charlie tried to put her hand on his face to comfort him but Luke wouldn't accept it.

"I can't help it. Charlie I'm really sorry. I have to go now kid. The doctors don't want me here." He squeezed her hand gently before turning away slowly. He looked like he had something very serious to talk about but he didn't dare speak his mind. He thought it would be best if he didn't speak to a girl with a mild concussion.

"Wait Luke." He turned around with more tears streaming down his face. He couldn't control his emotions sometimes which made him have his meltdown.

"What's wrong Charlie?"

"Where's Calum?" If she was here for days why didn't Calum come visit her. Maybe he was mad because she had resisted his plea to protect her. That was the only logical explanation as to why her favourite man wasn't around when she was hospitalized. For all she knew, her mom could've told Calum that Charlie had tried killing herself again after the beating.

"He's not here. I don't know where he is Char." Luke left without another word.

Calum stood on the rooftop of the hospital. He took long continuous drags of his cigarette. He needed to smoke to calm him down. Ever since Charlie, he hadn't dared touch one. But Calum couldn't stand to be alone in a room with an unconscious Charlie. It wasn't fair that she was such a good person, and was almost always hospitalized. Calum should be the one to be punished for his sins. Charlie was so innocent. It was a twisted world.

Luke wasn't crying anymore when he clapped Calum on the back. "Shes awake. And she wants to see you."

"And I want to see her mom behind bars for her criminal acts." Calum gripped the rail and looked over the city. It was lit up in the most beautiful way. "I can't look at her right now Luke."

"I know."

"I love her." Calum confessed and threw his cigarette over the edge.

"I know." Luke leaned on the rail in the rooftop looking out into the night.

"Luke I'm not sure what to do anymore. About Charlie and about life."

"That's when you do what you do best." Luke shrugged then looked back at his friend. He could see that Calum was hopelessly lost in the world. "You go back to 1983."

Hemmings could be a helper.