Prologue
On the run!
It's not as fun as you might think, running from everything you made, is hard.
But if you are with someone you know you can trust, it might not be as bad. But it's when you think you know the person...
...but you really don't!
Chapter 1
Lovely
I can easily tell you when I first fell in love.
I woke up to my annoying alarm clock. 8:30 it read. I sighed and slumped back down onto my soft bed and put my head under my soft duvet. My clock rang again. I knew when I set it that I wouldn't want to get up, so I set it to ring another time at 8:31. I sat up in bed and just glared at the clock. Then I remembered why it was set to 8:30 in the first place.
“Karate!” I cried, I jumped out of bed and pulled off my tank top and pulled on a sports bra, and then jumped into some leggings. I padded bare foot over to my closet and grabbed my white Gee. I grabbed my brown belt and sparring bag. I slipped into my favourite running shoes. I looked at the clock one more time 8:37, I groaned, then ran out the door. I ran right to the sidewalk, then remembered to lock the door. I ran back inside and grabbed my keys from the table by the door. I quickly locked the door and ran full speed to the bus stop. I caught the bus right before the doors closed. I rummaged in my sparring bag until I found my wallet, I pulled out a ticket and shoved it in the box.
“In a hurry little lady?” the bus driver said. I knew that voice.
“Hey James, yeah, I am really late for Karate!” I told him, while I pulled my hair into a head scarf. I have really long perfect caramel hair. I don't like it but mom always did. So I keep it up all the time.
“Ah, I see. Well sorry, but I can't hurry up the bus for you!” he said, I smiled at him and nodded.
“I know,” I sighed, I looked at my watch, 8:50, great I have ten minutes to be there. Sensai K will kill me if I am late again.
I bit at my lip, it seemed like the bus ride was taking longer then usual. Finally the bus reached a stop, I smiled at James and jumped out. This wasn't my stop but I knew that if I ran I would make it there faster. So I ran, I ran like the wind. I rushed by bakeries and flower shops. I ran past Millay, my best friend. I didn't even say hi, I would pay for that. I finally reached the Dojo with one minute to go. I stumbled in to the change room and jumped into my Gee. I took off my shoes and replaced them with Tabi. I ran to the door to the Dojo and took a deep breath. I bowed into the Dojo. Sensai looked at me, and smiled. Whoa, that wasn't something you get often.
I walked onto the mat and knelled at the head of the class. We bowed in and I looked around the class. There were a bunch of people I didn't recognize. They were all about one or two belts below me.
“Tessa,” Sensai Ugawa called me over.
“Sensai,” I bowed to her. She smiled at me and looked over at the new people that were standing around her.
“Tessa, this is Robyn,” she gestured to a girl with strait blond hair that was pulled up into a ponytail at the back of her head, “this is Matt,” she gestured to a guy with buzzed black hair, “Kim,” a girl with bad skin and green died hair, “Hugh,” a young boy with brown hair, “and this is Erik,” the last guy was tall, with a good build, long black hair. He nodded to me but looked away right after.
“Hello,” I smiled.
“Hey,” Robyn smiled back at me, I knew we would get along.
“Hi,” Matt said.
“Heyyy,” Kim smirked.
“Back at ya!” Hugh said.
“Nice to meet you,” Erik said, but he didn't look at me.
“Okay, y'all, let's get started!” Sensai K yelled. “Ugo, you are with Robyn, Kim, you are with Jared, Clyde you go with Matt, and Tessa, could you please go with Erik!”
Everyone walked over to their partners and started to warm up. Erik looked at me, raised one brow, and started to walk over to the far left corner, my training corner. I followed him, he grabbed a wood sword and a pair of bow (long wooden staffs). His movements were swift. I smiled. I was still smiling when he turned around and threw me a bow. I caught it, he was looking at me from under his long lashes. I couldn't stop smiling.
“Okay,” I said, “what do you know?” it was a simple question.
“Everything you do!” he said.
“Okay, then shall we start with throws?” I asked. Erik rolled his eyes.
“Fine,” he stepped forward and put his hand on my shoulder. I could feel the heat from him right through my Gee, “you start!”
“'Kay!” I smiled. I saw a smiled play at the edges of his mouth, but he didn't show it.
I grabbed his elbow, threw my weight to the side, slipped my foot between his, and then did a bunch of stuff I can't explain, then I threw his over my shoulder. Sadly at the end I noticed his eyes. They were the brightest green in the world. Like a moss green but really bright, it was amazing, and they seemed to sparkled it was so, so magical.
I messed up and my knee ended up in his gut. His eyes bugged and he let out a quick breath. I jumped back, and yelped.
“Ohmygoodness, I am so sorry Erik!” I put my hands on his chest like I would to any other person, then withdrew.
“Damn it,” his voice was no more then a whisper. His eyes were filling with tears, but he held them back.
“Erik?” I whispered. He looked at me. His eyes shining.
“Tessa, I need...” he closed his eyes. “... I need you to help me up, and I need to get to the hospital, but... but don't let anyone know I am hurt, tell... tell Sensai K, that we need to talk about something, and we have to leave right now! Please... Tess, don't take no for an answer.”
“Okay... I am so sorry Erik...” I whispered as I helped him up. I helped him to the door, thankfully no one noticed. I then ran over to Sensai K.
“Sensai K,” I said bowing, “I can't train today, I have to talk to Erik about an important matter,” I was babbling.
“Boy issues?” Sensai K smiled.
“Yeah, yeah that's it!” I ran from him, Erik was sitting on a bench, his arms hugging his abdomen.
“Tessa?” his voice was full of pain.
“Yeah it's me,” I said.
“God are you always so clumsy?” he asked me, his voice was almost angry too.
“Yes, no... I am so sorry!” I helped him up, I took him into the girls change room and I grabbed my cell phone, I put my shoes on and called the hospital emergency.
“Hello, what is your emergency?” the female voice asked.
“Uh...” I looked at Erik for help.
“I don't know,” he said.
“My friend got a knee in the gut and he is in a lot pf pain, we need a ambulance!” I said.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“456 RiverBlock Road, Sensai Karen's Dojo!” I said calmly.
“All right, there will be an ambulance in about ten minutes!” she said, then there was the dial tone.
“Okay Erik, there is an ambulance on it's way!” I said. Erik was leaning against the wall.
“Tessa, my wallet is in my jeans pocket in the boys change room, mine is the only one folded!” he smiled through his pain.
“'Kay,” I ran off to get his wallet. I found it without any trouble. He was right, it was the only pair of jeans that was folded. I grabbed it and ran out back to Erik, he was looking pretty bad. His face was pale and covered in a cold sweat. I bit my lip, I drew blood but I didn't care.
“You got it?” he asked.
“Yeah, here!” I handed him his wallet, he opened it and took out his health card, he handed it to me, I read it.
Wilson, Erik U.
“What does the U stand for?” I asked.
“Ugo,” Erik whispered.
“Ugo, really, that's cool,” I said.
“No offence Tessa, but I'm not in the chatty type of mood!” he rasped.
“Right sorry, um I should get you out of here and to the street,” I said, “we can wait for the ambulance there!”
“Okay,” he said, I pulled his arm over my shoulder, and he leaned on me. We hobbled out of the building. Erik and I collapsed onto a bench outside. I think I might have pulled something in my shoulder. Erik still leaned on me even though we were sitting. Sitting there I looked up at the sky. It was a perfect cloudless blue. I watched a plane fly across the sky, leaving a trail of white behind it.
“You okay?” I whispered.
“I am managing. You know it's funny, we just met like twenty minutes ago, and yet here we are sitting together on a bench waiting for an ambulance, because you killed my gut!” he smiled at me. His eyes shined.
There, right at that moment is when I fell in love with Erik Ugo Wilson. Love at first sight!
“Yeah, I guess it is... I am really sorry...” I asked.
“Sure,” he said, his voice was getting more forced, I could tell the pain was getting worse.
“Should I call your parents?” I asked, what a dumb question.
Erik snorted, “my parents are dead, and the rest of my family ether wants nothing to do with me, or lives across the world in like Japan, or some crazy place,” I raised my eye brows.
“You live on your own?” I asked.
“I'm seventeen, I am old enough, what about you. Wheres your family?” he asked. I blushed.
“Same they died about a year ago in a really bad car crash,” I whispered.
“Really, that's the same with my parents,” he looked interested now.
“What?” I gasped, “where?”
“Yeah, about a year ago, down on Front street and Wellington!”
I blinked in disbelief, “my parents died there too!”
“Whoa, scary!” Erik said. My eyes filled with tears, I had never met anyone who had been in the crash. I lived with my Aunt for half a year then moved out, to live on my own. My Aunt wanted me to go to a Therapist. I didn't though.
Tears rolled down my face, all of the pain I had held in for the past year fell out with those tears. Erik had his own tears gleaming on his cheeks. I brushed mine away.
“Sorry, I didn't know that knowing would affect me this way!” I mumbled.
“S'okay, look I'm a guy and look at me crying!” he laughed, but he quickly stopped, pain flashing across his face. My hand went to his shoulder, but I again withdrew. Then I heard the sirens. I helped Erik up, while waving at the ambulance. It pulled into a spot a few cars down from us. Two guys jumped out and pulled out a stretcher from the back. Erik tried to get away without the stretcher, not happening though. I climbed into the back, after he was safely in. I was handed a bowl of cold water and a small towel. I frowned at them.
“Whip his face. He has a fever,” one of the guys said, “the names Joe. What about you?”
“Tessa!” I smiled.
“Nice to meet you, what about him?” he asked.
“Erik!” I told Joe. Then I started to dab at his forehead and cheeks. Erik's eyes were closed, his face seemed dull without his eyes.
“What happened?” Joe asked.
“We were training and my knee went into his gut, I mean his stomach...” I mumbled.
“Okay, do you have any allergies?” Joe asked Erik, he didn't answer, but he opened his eyes and looked at me pleadingly, “oh, okay, take his hand Tessa!” I did, it was slightly awkward but I did it anyway, “one squeeze is yes, two is no, you get it Erik?”
One squeeze.
“Yes,” I said.
“Okay, any allergies?” Joe asked again.
“Yes!” I said.
“Okay, are they medical?” Joe asked.
“No!”
“Peanut or something?” Joe asked.
“Yes,”
“Oh okay, then we are good!”
This yes and no questions went on for a while.
At the hospital. I was stopped at the desk to answer some more questions, I handed in the health card. After a good half hour or maybe more, I was sent with a nurse to Erik's bed. Erik had a IV in his arm and was hooked up to a bag of clear liquid.
“I have a ruptured spleen!” Erik said, his voice was groggy, and his eyes looked a little glazed. He must be on some pain killer drugs. I thought to myself.
“How do you feel?” I asked, he shrugged a little.
“Tired, like I could sleep for a few days, it's the drugs though... right?” Erik said, I smiled and nodded.
“The nurse says that I will have to stay here for a few days,” Erik sighed.
“Ouch, sorry,” I sat down on a metal chair by the bed, I put my head in my hands, “this is my fault, I should have been paying better attention to what I was doing!”
“It's okay, I was bound to end up in the hospital, some time,” he said, “I have been avoiding it for years!”
“Really, what did you do?”
“Broke a few ribs, my ankle, wrist, small things like that!”
“Small things, are you crazy?” I gasped.
“Hey, chill, yeah, they were small things nothing to worry about,” Erik smiled, “are you always this way?”
“What way?” I asked.
“Worried all the time!”
“No, I am just in a little shock, I just sent a guy I hardly know to the hospital just by touching him!” I groaned, and slumped back into my hands.
There was silence for a long while, I listened to the clock tick away, tick, toke, tick, toke, tick, toke, tick. I counted with the clock 'till I reached one thousand three hundred. Then to my surprise, a nurse pulled the curtain back.
“How are you feeling...?” she looked at her clip board, “... Erik!”
“Well I'm not in pain, so I think you can call that okay!” he said.
“That's good, I am going to take you to a Ultra Sound, and then after that we are going to take you for a MRI, but I have to asked you a few questions.”
“'Kay,” Erik smiled.
“Do you have any metal in your body? Any artificial heart valves, metal plates? Bullets?” she asked.
“No, no, no, and no,” Erik smiled, at the same time I snorted.
“Okay then, let's go!” the nurse pulled out a wheelchair from behind the curtain, Erik raised his eyebrows. I helped Erik into it, while the nurse transfused the bag of liquid onto a pole with a hook on the wheelchair. The nurse. She pushed the chair out of the little curtained area, then down a hall and into an elevator. She pressed the 3rd floor button. When the door opened, she pushed Erik down the hall and around a few corners, finally we reached a door that read Ultra Sound. I pushed the door open and held it for the nurse to push Erik through. Erik was pushed to a door, I stopped at the chairs and sat down. I guessed that I wouldn't be needed in there. I sighed and bent over, my head between my knees.
“Tessa?” I snapped up at the sound of my name. The nurse smiled at me.
“Yeah,” I smiled back.
“Could you come in?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Erik asked for you,”
“Really?”
“Tess get your butt in here!” Erik's weak voice called from the room. I jumped up and walked over to the room, I leaned in and looked at Erik lying on the bed with a bright green dressing gown on. I smiled.
“Yeah?” I cocked my head.
“Could you stay with me?” he asked. I blushed and was happy for the dim lights.
“Y-yeah!” wow was I only capable of saying 'yeah?' I stumbled in and sat down in a far corner.
“Over here Tessa!” the nurse pulled a chair over to Erik's side. I slowly stood and walked over. Once sitting the new nurse put a bunch of gooey gel on Erik's chest and started the scan.
For some reason the spleen is on the left hand side of the body and beneath the ribs, around the area of the heart, sorta.
I watched the black and white globs on the screen.
“Yeah, it looks like your spleen is defiantly ruptured,” the nurse said.
“Shoot,” Erik swore under his breath. The nurse started to print off the picture he was taking on the screen.
“I'll send these off to the doctor and we'll see how bad it is!” said the nurse.
“'Kay,” Erik mumbled.
There were more pictures taken and the whole thing was about half an hour. My mind started to wonder about half way through, went to my parents. Their names were Mackenzie and Josh Wellington. They got married at eighteen years old. They had me ten years later. They also had a boy after me but he died three months later. He had Lupus.
I decided to go and visit my parents graves after all of this was over. I would tell them about Erik, and how his parents died in the same crash.
I remember going with my Aunt to go see their bodies. The people didn't let me see them, but my Aunt finally talked them into my seeing them. I had cried my head off. Their bodies were almost ashes. All I saw is their faces. But that was enough to send nightmares right at me. They covered their faces and my Aunt pulled me from the room. I had screamed and batted at her arms. But she is one strong woman.
I was looking at my hands, tears streaming down my face at the memory. They dropped into my open palms.
“Excuse me, Tessa?” I raised my head to look at whom was speaking to me, “are you well?”
“Y-yeah, just a little fumbled,” I mumbled, “sorry!” I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand.
“Do you want to lie down, you don't look well,” I then noticed that the lights were on and both nurses were looked at me.
“Oh... oh no, I am fine,” I sniffed. I looked past them and noticed Erik was looking at me with a raised brow.
“Okay, well we are going to take Erik to his room,” one nurse said.
“Oh, right, he is staying here over night!” I hit my forehead, “but what about his MRI?”
“That's going to be held up, we'll tell you when it is scheduled.”
I was surprised that they didn't ask me any questions about how I knew Erik. But I guess that will come later.
I followed the nurse out of the room and out into the hallway. I followed in a daze, not really paying any attention to where we were going. The next thing I knew we were in a room with a TV and a very welcoming looking chair. I looked at the clock on the wall, 2:11. Whoa, how the time flies when you are panicking. The nurses brought in some juice and a few crackers for Erik to munch on. I was brought a coffee and a sandwich, with strict rules not to share with Erik. I gobbled down the food quickly, Erik watched me calmly, he didn't touch his food. I dared to meet his bright green eyes. The only part at him that didn't look dull and tired. I still sucked in a breath at the sight of his eyes.
“You look tired,” he told me. I snorted.
“Right back at you, I don't deserve to look tired, I am not the one with a ruptured spleen!”
“You know your not to bad!”
“What?” I raised my eyebrows.
“When I first saw you I guessed you were one of those stuck up, barbie girls!” he confessed.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he laughed, then grabbed his side, “why do you wear a scarf on your head?” I blinked.
“Ah, because I don't like my hair, but my mom always told me it was magnificent, so now that she is dead I sorta think that if I keep it, I am keeping her memory!”
“Really,” it wasn't a question more like a understanding, “can I see your hair?”
“Um... sure!” I blushed. I quickly ran over to the doors and pulled the curtains closed. I untied my scarf and let my hip length hair fall loose.
Am I doing the right thing getting to know Erik better?
It was a moment of pure awkwardness. Erik just stared and I tried to ignore it. I got used to hiding my hair. Not letting people see it. Not letting myself see it.
“Uh...” I mumbled, then I quickly put my hair back up into my head scarf. Erik still didn't say anything. I don't know if he is stunned or horrified.
Finally Erik blinked a couple of times.
“Uh... sorry!” he mumbled.
“That's why I keep my hair up!” I told him slightly annoyed.
“Right,” he said, “again, sorry!”
“Yeah, it's fine, just forget it!” I rolled my eyes. I sat down on one of the comfy chairs and closed my eyes.
I am just gonna rest my eyes for a little, no sleeping, you got that Tess!?
Next thing I know I am asleep.
I am running though tunnels. There is light far in the distance but I can't reach it. Now I am falling... falling so fast, I am loosing my breathe, what's going on?
Now I am inches from the ground suspended in the air. There is a light flouting in front of me. I blink. Then there is a book. It's cover reads, Werewolves, what in the name of hell?
I wake up.
The room is dark. I am curled up on the chair with a thin blanket over me. I sighed and closed my eyes, until my stomach rumbled. I slipped off the chair and walked quietly out the door. I walked to the food court, I grabbed a burger and a smoothie. I walked back to the room, and sat down in the dark. I ate the burger and then sucked on the smoothie. I then fell asleep again, into a dreamless sleep (or so I thought). I woke up a few times in the night, every time I was disoriented and scared.
“Tessa,” the voice called, “Tessa, you have to leave, you aren't safe, you have to listen to me! Please!”
“Who are you?” I asked, the voice laughed.
“Listen to my voice!” the voice said, suddenly the dark was bright, pictures flew past me, hitting my shoulders, my legs, everywhere. I grabbed one of them. There was a smiling face on it. A woman, her hair is long and thick. Gleaming gold in the flash of the camera. The eyes were a dazzling deep blue, almost black. Like mine.
“Please, who are you?” I begged.
“Look at the picture, listen to my voice, remember,” the voice cooed.
“What?”
“Don't be blind to the people you hardly know. They might bite!”
Then it hit me.
“Mom!” I cried, my eyes popping open.
“Tessa?” Erik's face suddenly came into view. His hand on my shoulder shyly. Erik, hospital, and I fell asleep on the chair.
Wait, hospital.
“Erik!” I jumped up. My hands on his chest.
“Huh?”
“Back to bed, now... come on move!” I pushed him backwards, he finally sat down on the bed. I still pushed him down even more, “lye down!” it came out as a growl but I didn't care. He was now lying down, my hands still rested on his chest. Erik grabbed one of my wrists, not harshly, very calmly. He forced me to sit down on the metal chair by the bed.
“Tessa?” Erik's voice was nothing more then a whisper, “you are really pale, and your hands are icy cold. You are sweating all over, and your pupils are dilated, like a lot!” I ducked my head, I didn't care how I looked, what had just happened?
“Tessa, look at me!” Erik's voice sounded scared. I shook me head, I stood up and tried to walk away.
“I should go!” out of the corner of my eye I saw Erik press the red button that called a nurse. I started to tug harder. I saw that it caused him pain so I switched to prying at his fingers that were not budging.
A nurse walked in.
“Good your here!” Erik said, “look at her,” he nodded at me. The nurse did and frowned.
“Is she okay?” she asked.
“You tell me, you are the nurse aren't you?”
“Let her go!” Erik did, “come here, let me see you!” I did. Well I did, but that wasn't really me doing so. Or it wasn't me in my right mind, “look at me!”
I raised my head to look her in the eye.
“I'm okay, really!” I smiled at her. Now that was me!
“Oh no your not! You look like you are in shock!” she said more to herself then me, “what happened?” she said this to Erik.
“I don't now, she woke up like this. I think she might have had a bad dream or something!” I turned my head to glare at Erik who held back a laugh.
“Okay, well, I'll get her some water and some food. You probably are hungry too, I'll get you something too... don't let her leave!”
“Got it,” Erik said. The nurse pointed to the chair by Erik's bed. I walked over and sat down my face bowed down, “Tess, are you okay?” his whisper was still scared.
I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it. He waited 'till the nurse was out the door until he started to talk.
“What happened?”
“I don't know. I had a dream, and I saw my mom in a picture. And she told me to be careful of people I don't know, 'cause they might bite!” I mumbled, “Erik, I don't know! Maybe I am just a little crazy right now. In the past few hours I have made you go to the hospital, figured out that our parents died in the same car crash, stayed with you over night, and gone crazy!”
Erik laughed.
“You know, I was watching you while you slept, well only for a few minutes before you woke up!” he said blushing a little, I got annoying feeling in my stomach.
“Really, well I guess I can add that to my list!”
“I realized that, within ten minutes of meeting you, we seemed to be old friends,” he said, I looked into his eyes, I really did.
I blinked. Something was different. His eyes, they weren't their magical green anymore. They were jet black. No light shined in them anymore! Erik didn't look different apart from his eyes, but how could they go from such a bright colour to a deep menacing black?
“Erik,” I whispered, “you eyes are black!” a bunch of emotions flashed across his face, I couldn't place them.
“Really?” he blinked, and when he opened his eyes they were back to their original green, I was relived but...
“Um... no, I guess they aren't, but I swear that they were, they were black.”
“Your in shock, remember?” Erik said.
“I am not, okay, the nurse is just jumping to stupid conclusions!” I said. I stood up, “you know, I really should go!”
“Oh no you don't!” I turned around to see the nurse holding a tray of food. Two bottles of water, and two sandwiches. I smiled. I walked back to the metal chair, I sat down and fiddled with my fingers.
The nurse handed me both of the sandwiches and a bottle of water. She just gave Erik the water since he was going to have surgery. Then she left without another word. I stared at the bottle of water. I unwrapped the sandwich and started to nibble at it. What am I doing? I looked over at Erik.
He sipped the water and made a face.
“The water doesn't taste good!” he complained.
“Poor you,” I took a big bit from my sandwich.
“You are a very cruel person Tessa Greene!” I choked on my food.
“How in the world do you know my name?” I asked surprised.
“I asked at the front desk quickly!” he said, “at the Dojo I mean!”
“Ohhh!” I said, “fine Erik Ugo Wilson!” I laughed.
“I wonder when I am going into surgery!” he mumbled.
“I bet you...”
“Right now!” we both looked at the door. A doctor was standing there with a wheelchair.
We went through a maze of doors and rooms, 'till we reached the surgery room. I was pointed to the waiting room and Erik was wheeled in. He sent me a quick scared look, and then just like that, he was gone.
I sat in the waiting room listening to the clock tick away.
Half and hour, one hour, an hour and a half... two.
I stood up and started pacing. What was taking so long? Pace, pace, pace and pace some more! What is going on?
“How is it going?” I asked the woman behind the desk.
“I am not sure sweetie,” she said, and I wanted to slap her for it.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
I leaned my head back on the cold green wall. I looked up at the fan spinning slowly. One, two, three, four, five... three hundred, three hundred and one...
Hour three... nothing. Then suddenly nurses ran out of the surgery room. Then a stretcher. A stretcher with Erik on it. A mask over him mouth and a nurse pumping air into him. They were yelling. I jumped up and ran over. A nurse stopped me. Grasping my arms tightly. I struggled against his grip.
“Miss Greene, please, I need you to stay away for a moment and speak with me!” he yelled at me.
“Dammit, what is going on?” I yelled back at him, my voice a high screech. He looked a little shocked at my yelling at him, but that didn't bother me one bit.
“Just calm down and let me talk!” the nurses were almost out the door. I craned my neck to see Erik, but I couldn't in the mass of nurses, “please, just come over and we can talk!”
“Fine!” my eyes didn't leave the closing door. I watched it for a few seconds. Then followed the nurse. We walked into a office.
“My name is Doctor Wallis, Miss Greene!” he said. Ohhh, he's a doctor. I nodded.
“Fine, no offence Dr. Wallis, but I just want to know what the hell is going on!” I said.
“Right, of course,” he said, he motioned to the chair I was gripping onto. I hesitated then sat down.
“Please!” I was begging now!?
“Right, okay so here's the deal!” he said, “we don't know anything!” my eyed bugged.
“WHAT!”
“Everything was going perfectly, and then suddenly his heart rate went up, his lungs collapsed, he was so close to cardiac arrest,” Dr. Wallis told me, a sad look on his face, “he is in the ER right now, and we are going to figure this out, you understand?”
“Yeah, okay!” I didn't want to be calm, I didn't want to whisper. But I did, I was calm and perfect.
“Now, I need to ask you a few question!”
“'Kay...”
“Who are you in his life?”
“Has he told you anything?”
“Yes,”
“What, I don't want to overstep anything!” I said, “and no lying, like I see on TV, 'cause if you are at all, anything like Dr House, I will bloody sue you!” wow are these words really coming out of my mouth?
“Fine,” he chuckled, “he told me that you two have been dating for two years, both your parents are dead, and have been living on your own for over a year!”
“Whoa...” was all I said.
“Okay, I will take that as a yes Miss Greene,” he said.
“Yeah, that's right,” I blinked.
“How long have you known Mr Wilson for?”
Twenty four hours!
“Five years,” I said, “give or take!”
“Right,” it seemed as if I got a similar answer to Erik. I am lying to a bloody doctor!
“Can I see Erik?” I asked.
“No,” he said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I have no way to tell you that everything is going smoothly!”
“I don't care, I want to see him!”
“I have tried to contact his family!” the doc is changing the subject!
“And how did that go for you?”
“They hung up once I mentioned his name!”
“Yup, just what I thought,” I told him, “they don't want anything to do with him!”
“I can see that,” he said, “what about your family? Is there anyone I should contact?”
“Nope!”
“Okay, well, maybe you should go eat something, foods free for families.”
“Thanks,” I said, “but I really want to see him, I don't care what he looks like, I am the reason he is in here anyway, so I am reasonable for this!”
“I am aware of that Miss Greene. But I am not allowed to let you see him!”
“But...”
“No buts Miss Greene, I am sorry.” I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it. I stood up and walked away.
On my way down the hall I heard my stomach rumble. Maybe I was a little hungry. I went into the first elevator and pressed the G button. I stepped aside at level 3 for a elderly woman to walk in, tears gleaming on her cheeks. She hurriedly wiped them away. I reached into my pocket and found my hankie. I handed it to her, and she smiled at me showing perfect teeth.
“Thank you dear,” she sniffed.
“Your very welcome,” I told her, “are you okay?”
“Yes... no... my grandson just passed away from Cancer,” she said, “it was bound to happen soon, and I am just happy he is out of his suffering.” a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. The door opened at G.
“I am sorry for your loss,” we walked out together and then turned away to walk in different directions. I followed the 'Food Court' signs 'till I reached it. I grabbed a Egg Mic-Muffin and a watery Coffee and sat my the fountain and watched the pennies and dimes twinkle in the water. I tossed a penny in and closed my eyes.
Please, let Erik live!
I opened them and a nurse was standing in front of me.
“Miss Greene?” she asked.
“Yes,”
“My name is Kathy, I am taking care of Erik, um... he is stable, but not a pretty sight, would you like to see him?” she asked.
“But Dr Wallis said...”
“Dr Wallis is a joke, he is only covering for Dr Harrington, you really shouldn't put any thought to him, he doesn't deserve it!” she smiled at me. I liked her.
“Um... is Erik awake?”
“Yes and no, he wakes up and for short moments then falls under!” she told me, “he has been able to stay away more and more the past few minutes,” I looked at her.
“O-okay,” I said, “I'll see him!”
We were at the 5th floor when the door opened and Dr Wallis walked in.
“Miss Greene, Kathy!” he smiled, “where are you going!”
“To see Erik!” Kathy said, I stuck out my tongue at the Dr Wallis.
“Kathy, she can't!” he said.
“Oh yeah, why not, is it because you are too scared that she might see a mistake you made?”
“Wait, wait, how did he make a mistake?” I asked.
“Looks like Erik is allergic to metal. It didn't show until the metals instruments we were using touched his raw flesh did he react,” she said, “it almost killed him! But for some odd reason he didn't react to the IV in his arm!”
“Oooohhhh, I am not following!” I said.
“He had a major allergic reaction to metal!” Dr Wallis said.
“Right!” the doors opened and Kathy and I walked out. I glared back at Dr Wallis before the doors closed, he was loosening his black tie. I looked away and followed Kathy. Our footsteps echoed down the through the halls.
“Erik?” I whispered, I was sitting by his bed. I didn't want to look at him, but I was. He was hooked up to three different bags. With different liquids in them. His face was pale, and there was a long scar on his chest. A nurse was putting goze on it. Once she finished and left the room I let that one annoying tear run down my cheek. A mask was still over his mouth hooked up to a tank.
“Erik?” I whispered again, “wake up? Please, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to do this to you, I really didn't, how are you ever going to forgive me?” I let my thoughts pour out, “if you ever get out of this please, don't ever let a crazy girl train with you... ever!”
Silence. I could only hear my deep breaths and Erik's.
“Tessa?” my head snapped up. I looked at Erik, his eye lids fluttered but didn't open.
“Erik...?” my voice was thick.
“If you ever knee me in the chest again, I will kill you!” he mumbled, the mask fogged up.
“It's only fair!” I said my voice chocking up.
“Huh, where am I?” he asked.
“The ER,” I told him.
“Wow,” his voice was so calm, “what happened?”
“You had an allergic reaction to metal,” I told him, and started to explain what happened. I studied his face waiting for something to happen, but nothing... not even a rising of heartbeat. I didn't like it. Not one bit.
“Why aren't you freaking out?” I asked.
“I am on some major drugs here, I can't freak out!” he said.
“Ohhh,” I said, “that makes sense...” I said, well duh Tessa!
“Mhm,” his voice was dead, it was like talking to a zombie. I didn't like looking at his face, it looked plain without his eyes.
A smile twitched at the edges of his mouth. It played there for a moment then finally settled in a shy smile. Then he opened his eyes. Even though he was in the ER and half dead his eyes still glowed. I didn't take my eyes off his. Even when he blinked slowly.
“Excuse me?!” a soft voice called into the room. I turned my head to see a woman in her late forties standing in the room with us.
“Hello,” I frowned in confusion.
“Hi, my name is Hilda!”
“Hilda!” Erik whispered, I moved to the side so he could see this Hilda, “Aunt Hilda!” a true smile spread across his face.
“Hey baby!” she rushed over to his side.
“How did you find me?” he asked. I was hurt, he didn't smile like that when he saw me... Tessa you idiot, why would he, you are nothing to him nothing at all... you are the one who sent him here, how do you expect him to smile for...
“Tessa,” Erik's voice cut through my thoughts, “I want you to meet my Aunt Hilda!” I smile at her and offered my hand. She glared at me, I mean glared. It bore right through me. I withdrew my hand.
“So, you are the reason my nephew is in here!” she accused.
“Yes ma'am,” I said, looking quickly at my feet.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” she told me, “you may leave now! There is no further need for you!” I blinked a few times at her. She had the same eyes as Erik. Suddenly I was full of anger... rage filled me up.
“You are right,” I said, I stood up and walked to the door, “I am soooo sorry Erik, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me one day. Good-bye!”
“I do...” but I didn't hear the last of what Erik had to say.
I ran into Kathy on my way out.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Home, I am not needed!” I said, my voice chocking up, “I have been fired by his Aunt!”
“What?” she asked, she looked maybe thirty, but she seemed like the kind of person I would hang out with!
“Yup...”
“Give me your number,” she said, “please, I'll tell you how he is, and you can call any time!” don't talk to strangers. A voice echoed in my head. Whatever.
“Do you have a pen and paper?” I asked.
“I am a nurse,” she pulled out a pen and a pad of paper. I scribbled down my cell number.
“Thanks...” she said and gave me a sympathetic smile.
I ran home. I flung myself onto my bed and cried myself to sleep.
End of Chap 1
Chap 2 will be coming soon!
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