"Fi, pass me the butter please!" Ma's Okie accent pierced through my thoughts.
I opened the fridge and handed her the butter, since that morning I was deep in thought. Last nights belief came swooshing back to me in the morning. Ma had told me that I still wasn't fit for school so I stayed home. The morning had gone by as a blur to me so far.
I had sent Jade more than a few messages to ask her what was happening but they had all remained unanswered. I was fed up with her but I had to clear things up as soon as possible. I chucked my phone onto the couch next to me when it beeped,
FI! UV GOTTA COME RITE NOW! JAMES AT THE HOSPITAL! HE'S HURT; GET UR ARSE HERE RITE NOW I SAY, HE NEEDS 2 C U!
Instantaneously I ran to my car outside, 'what had happened to James? Was he alright? Why was he in hospital? Why did he need to see me?' I grabbed my keys, started the engine, stepped on the gas pedal and zoomed off into the direction of the only hospital in the town.
I dashed into the corridor and ran to the receptionist's desk, panting I asked for James room and was led to the emergency's room; I went in and found that there was only Jade there next to his bed. I gasped when I saw him, his whole face was bandaged up so that only his swollen eyes could be seen and his very thin lips.
Almost at once I was by his side holding his hand in mine, I noticed Jade glance at me with tears in her eyes but there was something more which was undoubtedly hatred. I ignored her; I had no time for her trash right now,
"C-Can you l-leave me alone w-with f-Fi for a while p-please?" James stuttered,
My heart went out to him, he was in pain, the poor boy could hardly speak! I caressed his thick hair, this was a feeling I had never experienced before, and it was so pure and true that I almost felt joyful.
What had happened to me all of a sudden? I heard the door click closed and James painfully tried to face me. His eyes were shut tight with the effort but I made no attempt to stop him.
"How are you feeling?" I asked him,
This was the most idiotic thing I had ever asked but that was what people usually asked when they came to see someone sick at hospital. I might've never been to see anyone sick in my life before but I wasn't that dumb, I had seen plenty of movies!
I saw him roll his eyes and then regret it almost immediately after, he winced but and I could feel his grip tightening on mine.
"Fi, I w-want you to stay away from R-Ryan, h-he's d-" he was faltering so bad but I never got to know what he had to say because just at that moment, the nurse came in looking disappointed, she shooed me to the door and I could hear her saying thwarted to James,
"I told you were not to have any visitors until tomorrow, that's a bad beating you've got there boy, if you want to get better, you better rest."
There was no use of me waiting on the bench outside, the nurse had precised that he had to take it easy for now. He couldn't even have a normal conversation. What had he trying to tell me about Ryan? Had he been telling me to stay away from him? Had I heard correctly or was he stumbling over his words so much that I hadn't understood? Had Ryan done that to him?
As if on cue, Jade came up to me an unreadable expression on her face,
"He could've killed him Fi! Do you realize how serious this is? How could you Fi?" she asked me hysterically,
"What are you talking about Jade?" I asked her in a trembling voice,
She didn't answer my question but said,
"You choose Fi, its either him or us," and with that she left.
What had gotten into her? I left the hospital after some time my mind in total chaos, what was going on? I had to find out and I had to find out now...
I had only one thing in mind as I drove furiously into the one direction I knew I would possibly find him. He was going to give me answers now! All his stupid kisses wouldn't stop me from getting the truth out of him this time. I parked on the corner of the streets and fuming with rage went right into his yard, crossed the front verandah and rang the doorbell.
Almost at once the door was open and a calm looking Ryan emerged from behind it. This seemed to get me on my last nerve and I strained to keep my face straight, I avoided his eyes and instead concentrated on his really muscled torso.
"What did you do to James?" I asked him through gritted teeth,
I saw his face contort into a sad feeling,
"I had a feeling you would come and see me about that matter, I'm really sorry Fi, I didn't mean to he just-" he stopped almost at once, his eyes were glowing dangerously,
"Why did you do that to him Ryan?" I asked in a dangerous tone,
I noticed his jaws clenched and his eyes were filled with anger and hatred. He motioned for me to come in and I followed him in to a room which was probably his own. He sat me on the bed and sat beside me,
"Fi, he was talking trash about you, I lost my cool and..."
"What the fuck? Wait, he's usually like that! He treats me of bitch, and much worse, he doesn't really mean it! it's just that we're close friends! And you beat him up because of it!" I was totally pissed,
He scoffed, "close friends, tell me about it!"
"Don't change the subject Ryan, you've got some serious explaining to do boy," I said glowering at him all the time,
"I'm sorry, I didn't know!" he said defensively,
"Do not approach my friends or family you brute!" I yelled at him getting up tears threatening to shed,
He pulled me back down with that incredible force he had and down I went onto his lap, I tried to pull away but in vain. I stayed there still trying to avoid his eyes. Then I remembered something...
"Why do you want me dead, Ryan?"I asked as staidly as possible,
I heard him chuckle, "quite the contrary Fi, I don't want you dead!"
"Why?"I asked turning to him, I could no longer stay without looking at him,
I felt his body stiffen underneath mine,
"Why would I want you dead Fi?" he asked me,
His wonderful blue eyes searched mine for a moment, I felt a tingly feeling as his hands traced my backbone smoothly, his grip loosened on me, I took the opportunity to get off him and stand up, for once towering over him.
"Then why are you always around when I have accidents? Why is it always you helping me? Why Ryan? I want to know the truth, Why is it that since you arrived here I keep having accidents?"
His expression went blank and he was biting his lip, this was funny, It was I who usually did this either when I was worried or thinking hard. But why would he be worried? Couldn't he tell me the truth once and for all? Was he planning to lie to me?
"I want the truth," I told him,
He looked at me and smiled his usual cocky grin,
"Tell me, Brooks," I asked annoyed,
He looked away, his face reddening,
"And why do you have to know?" he asked after some time,
"I have a right to know why you keep helping me Ryan!" I bellowed, furious at his retortion,
"I help whoever needs help, there's no particular reason why I help you, its just that you're quite clumsy." He told me,
I knew that this wasn't an outright lie, it was quite true though...? Although anyone who saw him right now would know that he was hiding something,
"Ryan, tell me the truth!" I hollered losing patience with him.
He got up abruptly and I intentionally took a step back, my tone seemed to have disturbed him, his eyes would always betray him. He felt angry and I could see it in them. He probably hadn't had as much experience as me with lying and hiding my true feelings.
Well for the second part I had no problem since I considered myself as a 'feeling-free' girl. I had noticed that during these few days this had seemed to be changing though.
"Fi it's getting late, you've got to get going, Ma will get worried," Ryan told me uncomfortably,
I glowered at him, 'so it was going to happen like this, he was going to send me back home without answering me!'
His eyes were burning with anger, "Why do you have to be like this?"
"Oh I'm the one who's being like 'that' now?" I solicited antagonized,
"Oh just go home girl," he said half walking, half pushing me to the front door. I had noticed the pain and frustration in his eyes as he opened the door for me to leave, but that didn't stop me,
"You're a moron just like the others Ryan! I'm warning you, never approach me, my family nor my friends ever again! Do not try to save me ever again!" and with that I walked away.