I wasn't afraid of drowning
I used to take swimming lessons when I was a child so drowning wasn't an issue, but I still am afraid of the ocean. I open my eyes and looked under me and saw nothing but darkness. The ocean was too wide and deep for my liking. It scared me because I didn't know what was underneath.
I started swimming up to the surface and inhaled once I felt the cold breeze. I look at West who was already holding up a peace sign while forcing a big smile. I wanted to be mad but I couldn't stop the smile that was sneaking its way to my face, when he saw me smiling he started laughing "I'm sorry that was just too funny" He said in between laughs. I started splashing him with water "Hey!" He started driving away a little "Come back here jerk!" I yelled swimming towards him "Make me" He teased driving away slowly.
I groaned, getting tired from trying to stay afloat and swimming "I'm tired" I whined
He chuckles and reaches out his hand, waiting for me
I started swimming towards him slowly and reach out to grab his hand but an intense burning and stinging sensation on my right leg made me jump in shock and pain. I yelped in pain and felt myself sinking in the water but West quickly grabs me by the shoulder and immediately pulls me up to the jet ski.
I was wincing and crying in pain while holding my right leg that was burning and stinging
"Shit!" I heard West yell in panic
My head started throbbing and I started feeling nauseous because of the intense pain that I was feeling
I hear a sound of another jet ski "Kevin!" West yelled loudly "What happened?" Kevin asked
"Lauren got stung by a jellyfish go back to the shore and tell the guards to call for an ambulance now!" I hear Kevin speeding away
"Its hurts" I said groaning in pain
"Hold on, Lauren. We're going back. I got you okay? I got you" He said trying to comfort me but the way he said it wasn't so comforting. West started driving back to the shore like a maniac. All I could hear was the engine and the sound of the wind.
He was going way too fast
I could feel myself throwing up any second now
"We're here! you're going to be okay, you're going to be okay" He said almost like he was talking to himself. I could hear sirens and people gathering
"She's here!" West yelled in a panicked voice. I squint my eyes and saw two paramedics rushing towards me but before they could touch me, I started throwing up.
One paramedic looks at my leg and shakes his head "She needs to get to the hospital immediately, she got stung by two jellyfishes" I force myself to look at my leg and saw a huge rash forming on my thigh and calf "Is she going to be okay?!" West asked panicking "She will be if we bring her now" West helps them carry me to their stretcher and I was immediately brought inside the ambulance.
West goes inside and grabs my hand "I'm so sorry, Lauren" He said worriedly. I started shivering like crazy, I felt like I was going to have a fever
"I-its not your f-fault" I said shivering "Why is she shivering? Is she having a seizure?!" West asked
"Fever is a common side effect of a jellyfish sting" the paramedic said
West runs a hand through his hair and squeezes my hand
"You're going to be okay" I nod slowly and before I knew it, I passed out.
....
"She's going to be okay. Good thing you brought her here immediately because the two jellyfish that stung her was a dangerous kind" I open my eyes and saw that I was in a hospital bed. I look at West who was talking to the doctor with a serious expression "When can she go home?" He asked "She can go home later but she needs to buy the antiseptic ointment written in this prescription paper-" he gives West the prescription paper "-sores usually heal without medication but can last up to one to two weeks but the wounds that she got from the sting needs to be cleaned three times a day with the ointment"
I groan a little feeling my whole right leg throbbing in pain. Both of them look at me and West immediately goes to my side "Thank God you're awake I thought you were dead" He said with relief "Who would die because of a simple jellyfish sting?" I croaked, my throat was dry as heck, probably because of puking earlier "Actually yesterday we had a patient who was dead on arrival because he also got stung by a jellyfish" My eyes widened "Apparently his friends didn't think it was that big of a deal"
"Jesus christ, I almost killed you" He whispered to himself "What?" I slap his head "Are you a jellyfish dumbo?" I asked, annoyed that he was blaming himself. He sighs and grabs my hand "I was the reason why you were in the ocean in the first place, if I didn't mess around like that you wouldn't be here" He said, head hung low. I look at him and smiled trying to lighten up the mood "I was planning to swim earlier though, so either way I would have gotten stung" I said giving his hand a squeeze
"What matters is that you immediately brought her here" the doctor added, making West sigh and nod "Thank you doc" I said
"Just doing my job, Ms. Blackwell" He said looking at his papers "You just need to settle the bill and you're free to go home" He said
My eyes widened "Where's my bag? I didn't bring my wallet with me"
My eyes widened even more
"Holy shit what time is it?!" I asked, panicking. West looks at his watch "It's seven forty pm"
"WHAT?!" I yelled loudly. Holy shit we were suppose to travel back home today. Did they leave? Were they waiting for me? Did they know I was here? Was Xander worried?
Xander
I shouldn't be thinking of him but something inside me was wishing that he was worried about me
"Lauren calm down, you just got in an accident" West said rubbing my arm "I know you were suppose to go home today but I'm sure they would understand"
"Here's your bag" He hands me my bag "The twins brought it here earlier when they came to visit you"
"West?" He looks at me "Yeah?"
"I'm sorry but I left my wallet at the house, can you maybe pay for the bills and medication first then I'll pa-"
"I'm the reason why you're here in the first place of course I'm going to be the one to pay, Lauren" He said with a 'duh' look on his face
"I already told you, it's not your fault and I'll pay you ba-"
"What? I can't hear you?" He said going out of the room to pay. I shake my head and chuckled
He was too stubborn
I open my bag and look for my phone and saw that I had a hundred missed calls from Andrea and some unknown numbers.
I groan
I'm so dead
I look at the text messages sent by Andrea first
"Hey babe! we're leaving at 6pm okay? stay safe at the beach! xx"
"Lauren where are you?"
"Are you on your way back now? It's almost time to leave"
"Lauren where are you? Everyone's getting worried"
"Babe please answer"
"Xander's getting really worried now"
"The boys are at the beach looking for you and you weren't there where are you?!"
"Please tell me you're okay"
I open an unknown number's text messages
"Where the hell are you? - Xander"
"Reply once you see this"
"We're at the beach where are you?"
"Lauren we need to leave at 6 its already 6:30"
"Are you okay? pick up the phone"
"Can you at least reply and tell me you're okay"
"WHERE ARE YOU"
I open a few more messages from unknown numbers and saw that it was from David, Jase and Gabriel. I decided to save all of their numbers and took a deep breath.
Should I call them now? I felt so guilty for delaying our trip.
I decided to call my uncle first, I'll call them once we're on our way back
I press my uncle's number and waited for him to pick up. These past few days I've been sending random text updates but I haven't told him that I was on a vacation with some friends, I just knew he would freak out.
"Hey ely" His husky voice made me smile "Hey there, how are you?" I said getting comfortable on the bed, making sure I don't move my right leg that much to avoid pain "I'm good, I missed your voice ely" I smiled "I missed your voice too especially your lasagna" I chuckled
"I can always bring some there you know?" I smile widely, appreciating his offer to drive for thirty minutes just to bring me lasagna "It's fine uncle but thank you"
We started catching up and updating each other about what's going
"Well I'm going to sleep now, I had a busy day at work and it drained the life out of this old man" I laugh "Okay Goodnight uncle, love you" I said
"love you too, ely"
My door opens and West comes in holding a small paper bag "Here's your ointment" I grab the bag and thanked him "You put some of that three times a day okay?" I nod "Can you walk? I grabbed a wheelchair just in case" He points at the wheelchair outside the room. I roll my eyes "Of course I can" I got out of bed and tried to stand up but putting too much pressure on my leg was making it throb even more making me wince and fall back.
"Sure you can" He said with a sarcastic tone. He walks up to me and helps me stand up. I made sure to put more pressure on my left leg and just a little on my right while walking, West sits me down on the wheelchair and we went to the elevator.
I look at my leg and saw the huge red bruise on my calf and thigh. Rashes and blisters were still there but the doctor said it will go away. My leg looked disgusting. I look at my clothes and realized I was still wearing the hospital gown "Don't we need to return this?" I said pointing at the gown
"I paid for it for you to keep it, you're wearing nothing but your bikini remember"
"But I have clothes inside my bag" I said "You can't walk on your own, I cant accompany you inside the bathroom, Lauren. Just keep it" I nod feeling embarrassed that West had to pay for all of this. The elevator doors open and he stops infront of the entrance
"Wait here, I'll go get a cab" I nod and waited for him to come back
After a few minutes he comes back and we went outside. The cab driver goes out and helps us by opening the door for me and I thank him
West carefully helps me up and assists me
I wince in pain whenever my bruise bump on to something. West gives the address to the cab driver and we headed off.
I hear my phone ringing again and saw that Andrea was calling
I look at West "You should answer that, they must be worried" He said
I take a deep breath and pressed the green button
_____________