I knew it felt like I was pissing fire. As I lift my legs and lean back onto the pillow, I look over and see my cell phone sitting on the counter. Nancy notices and hands it over. I try to turn my phone on, but it’s dead. I let out a frustrated groan.
“Is that an iPhone?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Nancy smiles, then winks. “I have a charger for you back at the nurses’ station. You probably want to get in touch with that girl who’s been calling to check on you several times a day.”
She smiles and finishes entering the updates into the computer before quietly walking out and shutting the door behind her. I glance at the clock and see it’s just after 3:00 a.m. I probably won’t get much sleep at this point, but my body is begging for it. I’ve never felt so drained in my entire life.
When I close my eyes, images of Viola fill my mind. I can almost taste her lips on mine, and I cringe as I remember the look on her face when she left the house. I wish we didn’t leave things the way we did, but I’m determined more than ever to make it right again. The door opens and closes before I hear Nancy plug in my phone. If I weren’t so exhausted, and it wasn't so late, I’d call Viola right now just to hear her voice.
Before falling back asleep, I think about Mia, and how she’s a complete fucking mess. Drew needs to know the truth, but I know it’ll hurt him more than anything. If their relationship is truly over, there’s no point in digging the knife deeper.
I think about how Mia was starting to freak out, so I pulled off the highway and into a parking lot to help calm her down. She was nearly in tears, and knowing Drew wouldn’t want her to be upset, I tried comforting her the best that I could.
Before I can think about what happened after that, I’m ripped away from my thoughts of her to the thoughts of my car. Memories of the sounds of breaking glass and crashing metal start to surface, but I can’t visualize any of it, which almost makes it worse. Maybe it’s for the best, but I wish I could erase all the memories of what happened from my mind.
Sharp pain stabs me in the chest as I linger on my thoughts. Before they can transform into nightmares, I push the miracle button to erase it all, and soon enough, I’m drifting into nothingness.
VIOLA
I’ve been completely out of it since I saw Travis in his hospital bed on Friday morning. It’s been eight grueling days and the fact that school starts back tomorrow doesn’t help.Where did the time go?Most of it was spent trying to work out the scenario that led Travis and Mia together. I don’t know the circumstances, but I’m going totryto give him the benefit of the doubt. Not knowing has been torture, but I won’t allow myself to jump to conclusions until we talk. I don’t know what I should be thinking or doing right now, but one thing is for certain: I can’t handle another broken heart because of him.
At the beginning of spring break, I said I didn’t want to be around Travis. Now, it’s torture being away from him. I wake up Sunday morning to the ringing of my phone. My heart races when I see Travis’s name flash across the screen. I quickly answer, and butterflies mixed with an anxious feeling swarm my entire body.
“Princess…”
“Travis?”
“I’ve missed you.” He sounds weak, and his throat is raspy.
My heart thumps hard in my chest, and I choke back tears. “I’ve been calling every day to get updates. I’ve been so worried.”
“I know. I’m being released today, though, and then we can talk. The doctor’s walking in. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay,” I add just before the call ends.
My head is a bit clearer now, knowing he’s finally being released, but I won’t be at ease until Travis is home. Finding out he was with a girl—Mia, of all people—still makes my chest clench with a sharp ache. Will there always be aMiain the picture? OrSarah from the Baror aRachel? I can’t remember a time in Travis King’s life where he didn’t have a long line of conquests at his beck and call. That old nagging feeling returns in the pit of my stomach, but I force it away.
I drag myself out of bed and head to the kitchen for some coffee. While I wait for it to brew, I begin collecting my things from around the house because class starts back tomorrow and I need to get back to my dorm. It feels like a different lifetime from who I was when I left the dorm two weeks ago.
Once I’ve placed my crap by the door, I pour a cup of steaming hot coffee, then add a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar. As I’m stirring my liquid magic, Drew speaks from behind me, scaring the living shit out of me. I jump, nearly spilling my perfect concoction of caffeine.
“What the hell?” I gasp, glaring at him. “Warn a girl before you creep up on her.”
“Someone’s jumpy this morning.” He moves around me and grabs a mug for himself.
I watch as he pours it and instantly takes a sip.
“Gross.” I make a gagging noise. “How can you drink that black?”
“I can’t drink basic bitch coffee, Vi.” He takes another sip just to taunt me.
“At least add some sugar.”
He wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. “What’s up with your crap by the door? Did you finally get your letter to Hogwarts?”
I glare at him. “He’s got jokes,” I say with mock amusement.