Night Life {Watty Awards Finalist 2012}

Chapter 20

I woke up after a few hours of restless sleep to a bright hospital room. Blinking in the sunlight and shielding my eyes, I sat up, wondering why the curtains to my windows had been pulled back. The answer came to me in the form of a voice.

"Finally, you're awake," the voice said.

I glanced to my side to see Serena, who was fashionably dressed as usual in tight black jeans, a red turtleneck, and a fur vest that looked warm enough.

I blinked, confused, registering the person that was sitting in front of me.

"Serena?" I asked.

"Yes. Disappointed?" she replied.

"I--" I began to say, but stopped. I didn't really know what I was going to say anyway. I was thoroughly confused at the moment.

"Where's--?" I started, looking around as the memories of the night before slowly came back to me.

"Caleb had work. Luke called off because he has jury duty and he offered Caleb the hours. He left two hours ago," she replied, answering my unasked question.

"Oh," I said. Then I looked at her again, feeling shame and guilt for what I had said to her the night before. "Why are you here, then?" I asked.

"Caleb asked me to be here," she answered shortly.

I noted how her responses came quickly and sharply, her tone indicating that she wasn't all together happy with the situation and that she was probably still angry with me for saying what I did. I wished that I could tell her how sorry I was, though. I hadn't meant any of it.

I was just upset and wanted to lash out at someone. I needed to blame someone for the horrible feelings I had been feeling and Serena had just seemed like the easiest target. It was so easy to dump all of my problems on her because I knew she would take it willingly. I guess I had just taken advantage of that trait of hers and misused it. And for that, I was sorry.

"You didn't have to come..." I said.

"Someone had to drive you back to your place," she replied.

"I could have walked or caught a taxi or something," I mumbled.

"Well, it's not like I'm here by choice. I'm doing this as a favor for Caleb," she replied.

For some reason, that irritated me.

"Since when are you and Caleb all buddy-buddy?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Since he took the time to listen instead of assuming," she answered smartly.

I felt my cheeks flush lightly and I had the decency to avert my gaze. Why was it so difficult for me to apologize to her?

She pushed the chair she was sitting on back, making it screech loudly against the white and grey linoleum tiles. She stood up and brushed away the invisible wrinkles on her jeans. She reached into the large bag that had been by the chair and pulled out a wad of clothes. She threw these clothes at my face.

"Get up and get dressed. The doctor said you can leave when you get up. He ordered your medicine and I already picked it up," she said.

"These aren't my clothes..." I said, picking up the expensive navy blue cashmere sweater she had thrown at me.

"I know; they're mine. I don't have the key to your apartment, otherwise I'd have gotten some of your clothes. This will have to do for now," she said. She started walking towards the door to let me change. She turned around when she was in the doorway.