Stefani
Just as we were about to leave there was a knock at the door.
Due to my father's protective trait, he answered it
"Bradley!" I heard from the front room.
"Joe! Is Stefani here?"
"She is, but we are leaving to go to the hospital"
"Is everything okay?!" Bradley's tone was worried
"Yes, Just a sprained ankle, no biggie" Joe joked lighting the tension
Nobody laughed
The two stood in the foyer for a few minutes in silence not knowing what to say or do.
"You are welcome to come with if you want," Joe spoke up
What the fuck dad.
"Sure" Bradley responding pretty quick
I have nothing to say to Bradley.
"How about I meet you there since Stef will probably want to take up the whole row" Bradley smiled
"Great Idea!"
I heard the door shut and my dad's loud footsteps nearing me.
"What the fuck" I yelled
"Language Stefani!" My mom warned hating when I swore in front of her on purpose
"Why did you do that!" I yelled louder
"What do you mean? He's your best friend!" My dad's voice grew louder with his New York accent slipping out
"He's the reason I was taken!"
The room grew silent.
My parent's mouths were in the shape of O's not knowing what to do next.
"Let's just go and get this over with" I spoke up starting for the door.
Again my parents were speechless
"Let's go," I said again, but louder
My parents said nothing, but they grabbed their things and headed out the door with me.
I wasn't hobbling or limping, but the pain was there for all the wrong reasons.
~
Once we arrived at the hospital Bradley was nowhere in sight. I was happier then I should've been.
It took a few minutes to get checked in and on the waiting list for the doctor.
When we took our seats in the waiting room is when the real fun happened.
Nobody recognized me or cared since it was a private hospital meant for the high class known people which helped out a lot in the following events.
We were not even sitting for thirty seconds when Bradley came in.
I refused to make eye contact. I was told he was the reason I was taken and it's not hard to not believe. It all made sense.
"Stef.." his voice dropped
I ignored him.
"Stefani," he said again and took a seat next to me.
"Are you okay" he whispered so only I could hear
I closed my eyes wanting to disappear.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there" he put a hand on my leg
His skin against my leggings felt like acid.
"I'm sorry it didn't end the way you wanted it to" I fired at him in a loud whisper
We both looked around to see if anybody heard. My parents were taking phone calls across the room from their business and my empire.
"I swear I had nothing to do with this" His voice went low
"I don't believe you"
"Please, Stefani"
"I. Don't. Believe. You" I broke the words down
"It was Irina. She told me the reason why she did it"
"Great job blaming it on your ex"
He covered his face with his hands.
He went to say something but a nurse came out from behind the wall and called me back to get looked at.
We both stood up
"Stay here. My parents are kinda mad at you" I put a hand on his arm basically pushing him away
"Stef"
"Stop using my name. You are gonna make it worn out" I warned him
His face looked heartbroken, but with all the pain he caused to our friendship I still overwhelmingly hated him...
Hate is a strong word.
Overwhelmingly disliked* him.
When I started walking towards the door my parents got up and followed leaving Bradley alone with other patients who were waiting for good news.
~
"So miss Germanotta, it appears you have a broken Medial Malleolus and some torn ligaments. You will need another X-ray in the future, and some more visits to see if you will need surgery, but for now, we are going to put you in a walking boot and an excellent physical therapist!" He closed my chart
"In English?" My mom laughed
"She broke the very bottom of her right leg, almost her ankle, and tore some things. She doesn't need a cast since it wasn't a big enough break that we need to hold things together. It's actually better for her to walk with a boot since it'll make the ligaments fix themselves instead of stiffing. It'll most likely be a six or seven-week process of a boot and a ten-week process of PT" he stood up from his stool "Dr. Derek Pullbout will be in here shortly to get you fitted for your boot" Dr. Osloso shook my parent's hand including mine and left the room.
"That was English?" My Dad laughed with my mom and I joining in.
Shortly after the next doctor came in and started fitting me for my boot.
~
The whole appointment took about an hour and a half and by the time I was wobbling (due to the unevenness from my feet) into the waiting room, I found Bradley asleep on the chair.
"Poor thing," my mother said
"How is he a 'poor thing'" my dad said back
"He looks exhausted.. maybe it was all a miss understanding" my mother walked up to him
"Did you have a real conversation with him, darling" my dad was now switching sides
"Not really.." My voice dropped low after noticing my mom waking him up
He shook awake instantly looking at me.
"How's the leg" he stood up
"It's been better" my bitchy tone broke out
"I could tell" he laughed
"Then why did you ask"
"Stef" My mom warned
"Mom" I looked at her "we should get going. I want to fly out to California tomorrow"
"So soon? Everything is happening so quickly! Especially after what happened" my dad chimed in
"I have things to deal with" I shot a look at Bradley
"I think we all need rest" my mother grabbed my hand and started walking me slowly to the door.
~
The car ride was silent. It was just My mom, dad, and I since Bradley is driving on his own back to my parent's house so we can have a "real conversation" after a good nights rest.
I was definitely not looking forward to it.
Once we arrived home I was the first to go into the house and into my childhood room. I wanted to vanish away from everything. I took off my boot replacing it with a compression brace and slipped out of my gross clothes into an oversized "New York" shirt and underwear.
This was my favorite way to sleep Bare chest and legs, but with a cover-up in case of emergency.
I climbed into my bed and instantly fell asleep remembering all the dreams I had when I used to lay down on this exact pillow. Annoyingly as soon as I closed my eyes I found myself opening them.
I heard the tv on and three voices chatting.
"Ughhhhh" I let out a groan while stretching
When my feet hit the cold Woden flooring I didn't bother to look into my bedroom mirror.
I walked the short distance from my bed to my door and swung it open. The sound was coming from the first floor while I was on the second. Before I exited the room I grabbed my boot and did all the pump up things and walked down the twelve steps, steep staircase.
"Stefani!" My dad smiled with a pan full of eggs in his hands and a towel over his shoulder
"Good morning Dad" I smiled back
From the kitchen, I looked into the family room and saw my mom and Bradley looking at me.
"Good Morning," they both said at the same time
"Howdy" I replied
"So are we gonna talk?" Bradley stood up with a coffee cup in his hand and walked closer to me
"After Breakfast" I stepped back