Before you go

3: THE ESCAPE PLAN

“So we sneak out of my room after Katlyn gives me my medications, pretend that I'm going to the cafeteria to get something to eat then we sneak out..again using the stairs so no one can see us?
I repeat Zoey's plan for the fifth time after she tells it to me
She groans and smacks her forehead.
Can you stop panicking Hayley?
It's starting to get really annoying.
Well I can't. Why can't we just tell Katyln we're going out like we always do?
Oh yeah, you're right Hayley.
We'll tell her we're going to this really cool club I found out about two days ago to get high like the crappy teens she talks about these days
I bet she'll love to tag along
“Correction, you're getting high and wasted not me”
Whatever.
She sighs and walks up to the mirror to adjust her curls.
Sometimes I get jealous of her curly hair. I'd always wanted my hair to be like that
But then when I think about waking up in the morning to de-tangle the knots, I fall in love with my hair even more.
You ready? She turns round to face me with a wide grin on her face
I guess so

°°°

One hour later after Katyln had come to my room to give me my medicine, we told her we were going down to the cafeteria to get food.
She didn't believe us at first.
Well cause actually, I hate the cafeteria food
Second, well I just really hate the cafeteria food.
She let us go afterwards though
And like we planned we take the stairs to draw less attention.
When we're finally out of the hospital, I let out a deep breath I didn't realize I was holding in.
We were half way across the parking lot when Zoey screams.
That was Epic!
N

o, this is stupid” I reply placing my arms on my hips
We're gonna get in trouble.
Relax, it's not like we don't go out together all the time.
Well yeah
Cause we tell Katlyn where we're going and we're never late when she gives us a curfew.
Ughhh she groans and pouts at me
Where's your sense of adventure?
You've got to be kidding me Zoey.
If Katlyn finds out, you'd be banned from the hospital for life.
Your face is gonna be plastered on all the walls just so you won't get in.
Which means you're gonna have to climb the windows to get to my room.
“Okay yeah, Hayley you're just over exaggerating”
I warned you, I reply patting her shoulder.
We had to walk to the club cause Zoey knows hoy scared I get whenever we take a cab.
Everything it feels like something bad is gonna happen.
I escaped death once and was got THI as a fair warning. I wasn't going to risk getting into another accident.
Zoey keeps reassuring me that nothing's going to happen but I'm just staying safe.
For now at least.

Club Edge? I read the name out loud
It sounds stupid and boring.
“We've not even gone in yet” Zoey rolls her eyes at me
But the name doesn't even make sense, I say again.
We spend one minute arguing about the club name outside when we suddenly hear the sound of glass shattering.
People start running outside in ten seconds causing a huge commotion out.
What's going on?
Zoey just shrugs her shoulders and turns to the side to ask the girl standing beside her the same question.
I stand on my toes to get a better view of what's going on at the front.
Two guys walk out of the club.
One has his head hung on the other's shoulder.
He looks really high.
“Get him out of here! An angry huge bald headed man walks out of the club as well looking really angry.
I turn my gaze back to the two boys walking away from the club.
The one who looked really high lifts his head up and for a second I could see his eyes.
They held pain, regret and anger. His sea green eyes bore into mine and I had to turn my head away to break the eye contact.
I felt confused.
Wondering what made him look so hurt and why he'd gotten himself so wasted he couldn't even walk straight.
Hayley? Zoey's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
What you thinking about?
Uhm, nothing. I lie
Let's leave. I'm really not in the mood to dance anyway.
She looks at me for a minute before giving in.
Okay then. Wanna get burger?
Definitely
When we get to the diner, Zoey orders two large burgers, fries and chocolate milkshake. Vanilla for me.
Two minutes later we're digging into our burgers.
Sitting in the diner reminds me of the times Mom, Dad, Charlee and I would go out together every Sunday.
It had become a family tradition. We'd go out to eat or buy ice cream.
There was this time I fell sick with the flu so we couldn't go out that day
I felt really bad cause everyone had to stay home cause of me.
Later that evening when I woke up, Dad surprised me with a bucket of vanilla ice cream.
Turns out he'd gone out with Mom to get it.
I felt so happy although I didn't really enjoy the ice cream due to the runny nose.
We all stayed in the living room that night watching Lion King.
Charlee had begged me to let us change it to Mulan.
After complaining and whining I finally agreed to it
Only cause she promised to buy me chocolates the next day.