Take You Down

Take You Down: Chapter Twenty Seven

"Before the accident!" He exclaims, his eyes wide and dramatic.

I nod my head and smile, "Oh yeah, yeah. Sorry."

"You forgot?" He asks incredulously, his eyes widening.

Obviously, I didn't forget. There wasn't one moment I wasn't worrying--not even now.

"I'm sorry Jakey, I just need you to refresh my memory." I say calmly, my voice forcing out the lie.

He heaves a sigh, looking a little down that I could've forgotten whatever happened to him during the accident. "Well, I was riding my scooter a few blocks down from my school," He begins, while I mentally cheer at my success to make hims remember through my child phsyc. skills from last year. "--and I heard this really loud noise behind me that wouldn't go away. I remember daddy teaching me all these skills with your right and left hand--I don't think I remember them right now-- and so I used them to let the...'thing' behind me know where I was going. But when I went farther, I just kept on hearing the engine get louder and closer. Finally, when I turned my head to take a look and the annoying buttface, it was a motorcyclist  with a black hel--no! It was blue--a blue helmet...And then I did something to hit my head...But I don't remember...I--"

I squeeze his hand again, feeling guilty for hearing him have to think so hard, "Shhh, it's fine Jakey. You don't have to remember it right now. You've told me enough for now."

"No!" His voice gets a little higher, "But you don't remember what happened to me!"

I shake my head, "No It's all coming back now."

"Oh okay..." He agrees, his voice coming out back to normal again.

I nod my head and untangle my hand from his.

Just as I'm about to say something, the door clicks open, interrupting my train of thought. I whip around, feeling weirdly protective right now. However, I relax when I see a lone nurse standing there-the some one that lead me in-smiling sadly at me.

"Your ten minutes are up sweetie," She informs me.

Annoyed but at the same time, eager for him to see mom and dad, I nod my head and turn back to Jake. I reach out and swipe my hand across his hairline while he just stares back at me.

"Be good you goofball." I order with a playful tone in my voice.

Jake tucks his chin into his chest and giggles, "Kay,"

I smile and turn towards the nurse again, meeting her expectant stare with one of my own. I walk past her and out the door way, my stomach flocking with jitters as I leave the room.

Looking up, I see mom nervously fidgeting with the ring on her left finger. I walk up to her and and  give her a small pat on the shoulder.

She jolts up and sags into me slightly when she sees it's just me while I simply smile.

"He's okay mom," I assure her, nodding my head when she looks at me with doubt.

"Mrs. Lockey?" The same nurse calls out, beckoning her to see her son.

Mom puts her hand on mine for a brief second, before looking behind her and letting go before making her way feebly to Jake. I watch her walk in and then the nurse slowly come out a few seconds later. The door shuts, and the only thing I can see is the back of mom's head moving up and down and jake lying on the bed with a smile on his face.

While I watch, a hand comes to my shoulder, "Is he okay?"

I turn around halfway, my eyes meeting the hazel one's that could sweep me off my feet in the worst times possible. With dad still around, I don't repond to his touch even though my heart is beating wildly.

I lean back, just for Pablo to know I'm grateful, and nod my head, "Yeah, he remembers a little."

He moves his head up and down in understanding, his eyebrows still furrowed in panic from before. With his arms still on my shoulder, and my back pressed lightly to his, we just stand there, watching the happy reunion from the window. Well, at least, I do--Pablo stands in silence beside me, making me feel something I haven't felt in a long time.

"Are you?" He asks softly, referring to the question he asked about Jake.

I nod again, but  don't turn around, knowing that If I do, he'll only see another one of my lies. Pablo exhales quietly and then turns around to face dad.

"Mr. Lockey, would you be alright with me driving us," Pablo motions between him and I, "back home?"

Dad uncovers his face abruptly and looks at us as if he had been on another planet for so long, he didn't even recognize us. Then, as comprehension flickers across his face, he starts to respond again.

He smiles sadly, "That sounds good. Mrs. Fuentes and I are going to be staying here for the night."

"You are?" I butt in, "Well, then so am I." 

Dad shakes his head, "No sweetie, I want you two to go to school tomorrow."

A surge of warmth exerts my body and the sensation of annoyance starts to cloud my thoughts. "Jake is in the hospital and you're worried whether or not I attend school?"

"Sweetpea," Pablo murmurs under his breath, trying to reason it out of me.

That only annoys me more. The fact that Pablo is siding with my dad on this one, only annoys more more. In fact, all the while, I had been keeping my emotions locked up, and now, at the worst time, it was coming out. I know it isn't dad's fault, but I'm related to Jake just as closely dad is to him!

"Madison, you can come and visit him tomorrow." Dad reassures me, his voice calm yet at the same time, filled with finality.

At the edginess of his tone, I start to feel a suttle anger rise in my stomach. It starts off small, but the longer dad and I stare at each other, the bigger and bigger it gets. "The hell I can!"

"Excuse me?" Dad demands, now up and out of his seat.

"Madison." Pablo's voice comes out crisp and clear now, and he rubs my shoulder to snap me out of whatever stance he thinks I'm in.

Finally, like the foam in the can about to tip over the edge, I spill over and knock Pablo's hand off my shoulder. The need for space is demanding and I follow after it's calls, running down the hallway. I ignore Pablo calling after me and rush through the doors of the hospital.

When the cold night air encloses around me, I wrap my arms around myself and stand in front of the parking lot. With my mind racing, I think of all the things I said to Jake and I to him. 

It's at that moment when I realize there's only one thing I have to do.

And if it 'kills' me, then so be it.

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Hey hey heyy!

Thoughts on this upload?

If you feel like you're a little bit annoyed with Madison, that's a GOOD THING. I wanted people to keep in mind that not all protagonists are the best when it comes to reacting to certain situations--but I guess you already knew that. (;

Anyways, tell me what ya think cause I'm interested. There wasn't much Pablo this time around, but I still enjoyed writing this chapter.

Chapter Twenty Eight is going to be REALLY action packed (; Okay maybe not as action packed as people would consider an 'action packed' scene to be, but....OKAY. I'll give you a hint. How about if I tell you that someone takes things up a notch... 

Did that help you at all?

I guess not... huh (;

Guess you'll just have to wait and see!

Can I get 110 votes and 30 comments?

VOMMENT

xxSummerxx