A Performance for Ages

Waking Up

 When Jake awoke, it was dark, and he couldn't see anything. He tried to sit up, but he couldn't. He looked around through his blurred vision and realized it was a hospital. The walls were a depressing gray, and everything seemed to match. He saw Hailey by his bed, accompanied by Zander. 

"Hailey?" Jake tried to say, but it sounded more like a whisper. Zander looked up from his book. It was called, "The Boy with Bad Luck". Zander was pleasantly surprised that Jake was awake.

"She's asleep. So, you got bit by a diamondback rattlesnake." Zander started. Jake furrowed his eyebrows. Did he? He slowly began to remember. Jake reached out of his hand and shook Hailey. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled when she realized that Jake was awake. She jumped and hugged him.

"If you ever do that again, we will all kill you," Zander smirked at the jester. 'I love Daisy, right?' Jake thought. He started to blush, and Zander was wagging his finger behind Hailey jokingly. Jake rubbed his eyes. He looked at the clock. The time was 3:24 A.M. Zander followed his gaze.

"Yeah, it's been that long. You're lucky you have such good friends. Everyone but me and Hailey left at 11:30. You woke up quickly." Zander proclaimed. Jake tried to smile.

"Well is that a surprise?" Jake boasted. Hailey smacked him slightly on the arm. Zander rolled his eyes, that was just like Jake to say. "So, did we win?" Jake asked. Hailey looked confused.

"Oh, that? You aren't seriously worried about that, are you? But yes, we won! It was really close though." Hailey was surprised that Jake had even thought about that.

"When do I get discharged?" Jake asked. Hailey bit her lip, and Zander squeezed his fists tightly.

"Well, normally it would only be about 24-36 hours. But since you were a dummy and didn't tell us, you are going to need more doses of anti-venom. They-they weren't even sure you would survive the night. But since you seem pretty normal, I'm sure you'll be fine." Zander explained. Jake paled.

"What about my parents?" Jake asked. Hailey felt sympathetic. Jake's parents hadn't come at all. He remembered how Milly started to fume when they called.

"What do you mean, they can't come?!" She had said, "This is their son! Call 'em back, let me talk to them." It was a miracle Sean had calmed her down, or Milly probably would have stolen Hailey's phone.

"Your-uh- parents didn't come. They were busy with work. They gave me, Hailey, and everyone else the rights to your health information though." Zander cringed as the words began to set into Jake. 'My parents didn't come. The people that I met this year came! Am I surprised? Zander's right, I do have good friends' Jake thought. Jake suddenly realized he was in a hospital gown. He wrapped the blanket on the bed around himself tightly, looking like a human burrito.

"I'm hungry, is there any food near?" Zander thought about it and smiled. He brought out a few dollars and coins from his pocket.

"I don't know if this is allowed, but there is a vending machine that has a bunch of cool stuff by the bathrooms super close from here. We have your regular clothes, so if you want to change..." Zander drifted off. Jake smiled and got up with his burrito blanket still on. He walked to the door with Zander and looked at Hailey that was still standing by the bed.

"Are you coming, or not?" Jake asked. They walked out and Hailey scurried behind them. She folded and unfolded her hands. There were a bunch of cheesy signs in the hallway like, "Wishing on a star is only half the work," or, "Don't give up!" She guessed that they were motivational to the little kids that came here.

"We probably shouldn't be doing this, guys. If we get in trouble, we could get kicked out, couldn't we?" Hailey asked nervously. Jake smirked.

"Come on Hailey, don't be a chicken," Jake said as he spotted the vending machine. He smiled. It was filled with all sorts of junk that his mom would never let him eat. There were two other machines by it, but he couldn't tell what they were. "Could I have my clothes back, Zander?"

"Catch," Zander said as he threw the clothes to him. Jake stumbled and almost fell, but he did catch the clothes. "Sorry!" Zander said. Jake shrugged, then went into the boy's bathroom to change. He came out a few minutes later sporting his regular look. Zander gave him some money, and he got some Doritos and a kit kat bar. He looked to the right to find a sub maker. 'Man, I have never seen a sub maker, especially in hospitals!' He thought.

"It's 3 dollars per sub... Zander! How much money do you have left?!" Zander looked in his pockets, regretting that he didn't bring his wallet. He found 15 dollars and 73 cents.

"Oh, I got enough money. I have more than enough, we can go for another round at the vending machines after the subs. We're going to have a feast." Jake was a little astonished that 1, Zander was being so nice, and 2, that he had this much pocket money. In the end, they had bottles of Gatorade, snacks, and surprisingly good subs. A nurse had almost spotted them when they were walking back. They ran down the hallway to the room. They got in and heard footsteps coming to their door. Jake quickly remade the bed and tucked himself in so his new clothes weren't shown. They put the things under his bed, and Hailey went back to her sleeping position on the chair. Zander opened his book just in time for the nurse to come in.

"Were you guys just outside, because I swear I just heard somebody in the hallway running?" The nurse exclaimed. Jake was trying not to laugh as Hailey pretended to be disturbed from her sleep.

"Hey, no offense, but could you be a bit quieter, my sister's had a long night. We have been in here, but I think I saw a blur go past here. Could that have been it?" Zander assured her. She looked embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so loud, it's just we can't have patients running around the hospital. Thanks for the info. Have a nice night, or-er-morning!" She whispered. She went out and shut the door behind her. They waited until they could no longer hear her walking down the hallway. They started to crack up.

"I can't believe we got away with that! That was awesome!" Hailey remarked. They opened the food and had a feast at 4 in the morning. They finished licking their fingers. They cleaned up their things and tried to make everything look like its original state.

"I'm sorry Jake, but our parents told us we had to be home hours ago. I'll see you later dude. Bye!" Jake's face fell. As much as he didn't want them to go, he knew that would be selfish. He told them goodbye, and the painkillers began to wear off. He had trouble but eventually, he went back to sleep. He woke up with a shot.

"OW!" The doctor looked at him apologetically as he shouted. He got up from his position and raised an eyebrow as he smiled.

"I don't know how you managed to change and get a chocolate bar, but I'm impressed! Your friends are waiting for you outside, so I'll let them in." He chuckled. Jake spotted the Kit Kat bar wrapper on the ground. The doctor left as he opened the door to let in a wave of people.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks to foodlover24_7 for such nice comments. It motivated me to write this next part. These characters belong to RosyClozy. Only the plot belongs to me. Comments and follows always help! Thanks for reading!