Higher Stakes [Strings: Part 1]

Chapter 31: Three Months Later...

Chapter 31: Three Months Later

It was rough. The media went berserk as soon as the news of a Cyrus-Watson drama got out. It was hard for the company. It was hard for both families and friends. Cyrus was sentenced to imprisonment while Bradley was in rehabilitation, to mend his wounds. It was really hard for him. It appeared that secret of bets between him and Cyrus got out among his friends. Luckily it stayed there, rather than in the media. Some thought it was brave of him because they think that it should be done anyway. Others thought it was stupid, especially his own best friend, Selena. She hated it. She yelled at him for doing such things. However, the conversation does not flow over to her best friend, Demi.

Bradley wants to know what has been going on with her since that night. His friend, David said that Demi was there when the talk about bets were uttered. The Brit doesn’t want to believe it. Even if she did, what does she thinks of him? Is he a hero in her eyes? Or just an idiot losing his mind in a ridiculous fantasy. The Watson twins thought it was brave too. To them, he’s a knight. The older pair of the Watson does not think so. They were disappointed but somehow proud that their son would stand up to someone like that. But risking his own life is selfish.

Now, here he stayed for almost three months; sitting on the bed staring at his bandaged arm waiting for the nurse to inform him of his next therapy session. He stretched out his unbound left arm upwards. “Ah…” Run his fingers through his now longer brownish hair and scratch the scalp. It felt good. For once. A knock on the door alerted him. “Come in.” he answered. It was the nurse, with her familiar pinkish clipboard. “Morning.” He greeted her with a light bow.

“How are you feeling today?” she started her daily morning routine with her pen clicked and ready on the clipboard. She stole few glimpse of him before jotting something down on the paper. “Dr. Marshall is ready for you later at noon at the therapy room. It could be your last day here, Bradley. So count your blessing.”

For the first time, the Brit smiled. “Good to hear that.”

She smiled and put her clipboard down. “I suggest that you should dress up nice today. Just to make an impression on Dr Marshall. Look fit. Shower up first. Wear your best clothes and perhaps, you should comb your hair as well. You look like a 70s kid with that hair. Groovy.”

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

The look on her face then changed. It looked a bit concerned. “There’s something else I need to tell you, hun.”

“What is it?”

“She’s here.”

“She--- Demi?”

The nurse nodded. He froze. What!? Now? Oh God. This can’t be happening. “What should I do?” he asked the nurse. “Should I put some perfume? Should I cut my hair? Should I shave? Where’s my glasses!?” he rushed around in his room, from his bed to the wardrobe and pulled out his favorite dark blue and white plaid shirt and his beige pants. “Maybe I should my hair. You cut em. Come on, please, cut em!” he tried to find a scissor in one of the drawers by his bed. “Scissor!!”

“Bradley!” the nurse reached out for the Brit’s agitating arm and calmed him down. “Breathe, honey. Breathe. Everything’s gonna be fine. I just knew it. She sure looks so excited to see you.” She winked. “What I’m trying to say is… well, she sure dressed up nice. Flowery summer dress with white cardigan. Oh, honey, I think she’s into you. Even with bohemian sandals. So comfy. You better ask her where she gets them, I want a pair.” He laughed.

That made him smiled, maybe for just a bit. But, seeing Demi for the first time in three months is what he’s been waiting for. He wants to tell her how he really feel and hope for the best out of her. Ten minutes or so later, the Brit got out of his room and down the hallway passing by few familiar faces. According to the nurse, Demi was waiting outside at the garden for him. Well, isn’t that a person setting. She’s in flowery get-up and Bradley in color-calm attires. It’s like Ying-Yang. Perfect serenity.