Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 27

I hit the pedal to the metal as I sped off to the hospital.  As I kept following the GPS instructions of where to go, I couldn't help but think it was my fault.  If I hadn't kept picking a fight lately, maybe she wouldn't have gotten so sick of it.  I know that when Skyler needs her space, she gets away and clears her head.  And she must've been driving and that's when the accident happened.  

I gripped onto the steering wheel tightly as I finally got to the hospital.  I quickly parked the car and went into the emergency ward, the hospital lights eerily blinking above me.  I marched to the desk and said to the lady sitting there"I'm looking for Skyler Andrews.  I'm pretty sure she's in this ward...." "Oh you're Natalie Lane?  The emergency contact?" 

I nod and she types a couple things into the computer and then says "Alright hun she's in room 101.  Go down this hall, take a right at the end, and her room will be on the left." "Thank you." I say quickly before trying desperately to walk down the hall.  But the white tiles aren't helping me calm down before I suddenly look back to see that no one can tell me off for running.

I then break out into a sprint.  I took the right as I continued to run, looking at the room numbers on the left.  93....95....97....99....101!  I see it and stop before stepping into the room.  I see that Skyler's on the bed and I walk over, but I see that she's still unconscious, as a nurse is touching a couple buttons on the monitor beside Skyler.  She's got the canula in her nose, like Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars.  If she were awake, I would've pointed it out, and we would've had a blast joking about it.

"She's going to regain consciousness soon enough," the nurse suddenly said and I looked up at her and said "Does the doctor know if there was any damage or anything?  Any broken bones...." "There's still some diagnosis to be done, and we'll give you that information soon." the nurse said reassuringly and she walked out as I sat beside Skyler and took her hand in mine.

I feel tears well up in my eyes, as I see that theres a bit of a cut beside her forehead and on her lip.  It doesn't seem like she's broken anything, but I guess you can never be sure.  I squeezed her hand as I whispered "I'm.....I'm so sorry Sky.  I really should've listened to you.  I shouldn't have ran, I really shouldn't have.  I left you another mess to clean up and now....I hurt you.  And I'm sorry that I've hurt so many people.  Like you, Luke, Calum, Michael, Ashton.....I'm pretty selfish and honestly all you tried to do today was to make me happy and-....."  At this point there are tears streaming down my face as I begin to sob, as I shake, still gripping onto Sky's hand.

Suddenly I feel a pair of arms around my shoulders and I look up to see it's Michael.  He's got some tears in his eyes and he says "You know you haven't hurt anyone." "Huh?" I ask sniffing wiping my eyes.  He sits down beside me.  "When you were talking to Sky, apologizing to her.  You haven't hurt anyone.  No one's at fault for this.  It was an accident," Michael said as I look to see that Calum and Luke are also here, but Ashton isn't.

I look at Luke and he said "I was calling her, asking her if she knew where Ashton was-" "Why would Ashton go out without you guys knowing?" I ask and Luke sighs.  Michael bites his lip and then explains "After you left....Sky got an intervention and said was sick of all the fighting and then Ashton said something about how the fighting was affecting everyone and then how he didn't ask Sylvana out cause of all the heartbreak."

I'm quiet.  "He said how I needed to move on and was a big dick about it," Calum muttered and I'm about to explode at him, but I feel Michael's hand on my shoulder, as a silent sign to calm down.  "Yeah but Skyler also said to Ashton to not let you being a complete asshole like you keep him from an amazing girl like Sylvana." Luke says to him.

"But when I finally got a hold of her, I heard the accident all through the phone.....and she.....she wouldn't answer me and I was so scared.  It was honestly all my fault I distracted her while she was driving." Luke said his blue eyes suddenly swimming with tears as he sits down beside the bed as well.  I see the tears beginning to roll down his cheeks.