17 // Pris
My phone goes off in the middle of the night. I roll over in my bed and grunt. My bed feels so warm. I don't want to get up to walk over to my desk, where my phone is charging.
The only reason I convince myself to get out of bed is that Dani hasn't texted me since six this evening, telling me that she was going out later. It worries me slightly, but I figure it's nothing major.
I stumble to my desk and realize someone is not texting but calling me. It's Dani's number appearing. I pick up, "Hello?"
"Pris, it's Alex."
Alex's voice startles me. It scares me how serious she sounds.
"What's wrong?"
"Something went down and we're at the hospital. I'm driving to your house to pick you up. Dani wants you there."
"Okay. When will you be there?"
"About ten minutes."
"Just text me when you're here or you'll wake up everyone."
"Understood."
She hangs up. I put the phone down and start imagining the worst. If Dani wants me there, then she's conscious. That's already something.
I throw some clothes on and head downstairs, phone in hand. She texts me that she's arrived fairly quickly. I open the door and quietly close it. Sure enough, Alex is standing outside of her car across the street from mine. I walk towards her. Her face is completely beat up, bruises covering her face. Her eyes are kept bent down.
"What happened Alex?"
"Get in."
I get in with Alex. She drives off towards the hospital I assume.
"We went out earlier and hm," she trailed off. "We were assaulted."
"Assaulted how?"
She points at her face, "Dani took a serious hit and requested you so I came."
I can hate Alex all I want. But tonight truly shows how much of a friend she is to Dani. It takes a lot of friendship to go get your friend's girlfriend, who dislikes you, even though you're hurt as well. My respect meter has risen so high for Alex.
"Thank you Alex."
She glances at me, "No problem."
There's a quick silence. I twirl my fingers around, looking outside. The hospital is a bit of ways away. Alex keeps an intense glare during the drive.
"I know I'm an asshole and that you don't like me but you're really there for Dani and I... and I can only respect you for that."
I look at her. She keeps her eyes on the road. I feel a need to reply, "Thank you for saying that."
"My head hurts too much to fuck around."
We both chuckle and go back to our silence. She pulls up at the hospital. We get out and she leads me into the room where Dani is still being examined. When she sees me, her face lightens up through the bloody scars covering her face.
I rush towards her and touch her arm, but that makes her flinch. I apologize and keep on staring at her. There's only me, Dani, Alex and this girl I've never seen before. Dani follows my eyes and speaks up, "That's Lana, Pris. Tony's girl. Lana, that's Pristina, my princess."
We smile at each other and particularly blush at Dani's words. She looks shaken up, just like all of them. I watch Dani receive more examinations. Alex and Lana soon leave the room to let me stay with Dani.
"I'm sorry we woke you up so late," Dani apologizes as I yawn.
"It's okay," I say. "What happened?"
"We were walking out of a bar. And as we passed through the train stations, these five guys wanted to attack Lana, so we defended her but it ended up in a fight like this."
"Is anyone seriously injured?" I ask, passing my fingers through hers.
She sighs and scratches the back of her head, as usual, "Blue's girlfriend has gone through emergency. And we still have no news."
I clear my throat, "How did she get hurt?"
"They threw a rock to her face."
I don't say anything. I prefer keeping my calm to be there for Dani, even though I'm not much stronger than she is during this experience.
After about thirty minutes of standard exams for Dani, they release her and give her a prescription for antibiotics. It seems to be the same result for Blue and Tony, as well as Alex. Blue's girlfriend needs to stay in longer. As we head outside, we stop and all look each other.
"What happened to Rachel?" Blue asks Alex, visibly.
"I dropped her off when I went to get Pris."
Tony asks next, "Do we file a complaint?"
This question causes a huge silence. Some look at the others, and some look away. Alex and Dani are looking at their feet. Blue's eyes travel onto everyone's face, just like Tony's. It's a puzzling question.
"No." Alex finally says. All heads turn to her. She continues, "We're not calling the police."
"Why not?" I blurt out, louder than I thought.
"Because I don't want the embarrassment of getting my ass kicked everywhere."
"What?" I say. "That is so stupid Alex."
Alex shrugs and pulls a cigarette out to smoke. She lights up and starts puffing.
Dani speaks up, "It's not like they'll find them anyway. It's just only going to get our photos everywhere so they can come again."
I'm completely shocked by their reaction. I thought, knowing how passionate they are about their identities, that they would be revolted at the idea of staying passive. When I see their faces, I only see injustice that needed to be corrected.
"I agree with Pristina," Lana says. "I can't stand looking at all of you and thinking they'll get away with it."
"Lisa did not just go to the hospital for nothing," Blue says. I could feel the anger in her tone when she spoke those words.
We all shift our heads towards Tony, the only one to have not said anything. He squeezes Lana's hand harder and says, "I don't want it to be known either."
It causes a major rift between all of us. Dani sucks on her lip ring. Alex finishes her cigarette, throws it onto the ground and smashes it with her foot.
"Maybe we should figure it out tomorrow," Lana says, her finger stroking the back of Tony's head.
"Yeah, you need some sleep," I add.
I keep Dani's hand in mine. She looks over at me, "I need to take you home."
"Don't worry about that."
"Can someone drive Pris home?" she asks.
It startles me because it sounds like she won't be joining. Alex addresses everyone, "Who else needs a ride?"
"Tony can stay home at my place. It's only three blocks away," Lana said. "Blue, you should come too. You'll be close to Lisa."
Blue and Tony nod at the proposition. Alex, Dani and I watch them go. Alex gestures for us to climb into her car and she starts the car. Dani is with me in the back of the vehicle. She stays so silent during the entire drive.
I lean towards her and whisper, "I imagine you don't want to meet my dad in these conditions."
She shakes her head, "Of course I can. But I need a day to rest my mind."
"Okay, take your time."
Her hand covers mine. I've never felt so close to her in this moment. It's scary though because she needs me right now. And I have to be there for her.
I kiss her gently. Her eyes light up when I do so. I kiss a bit more. I touch her delicately, because I don't want to hurt her. She's already in enough pain. After that exchange, I rest my head on her shoulder, but slowly, to make sure it's not painfully.
I move my head a little, just so my lips reach her ear. I then whisper, "You're still my stud Dani," while stroking her arm.
I see a tear roll down her cheek and she holds my hand tighter. She needed to hear this.
--
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