“Not much room,” Boyd said. He looked around the room and finally settled on placing the flowers on the empty bed next to mine. “I’ll text you later to see how you’re doing.”
“Thanks for being here, Boyd. It really means the world to me.”
Boyd kissed the top of my head and left. What was it with my head? It must have been my happening hairstyle. I studied all the flower arrangements in my room. There had to be at least two dozen.
I kicked off my covers and grabbed hold of the IV cart, gliding it across the floor with me as I made my way to the windowsill. The assorted roses were from the faculty and staff at the school. The assorted carnations were from St. Edwards’s football team, which was the opposing team from last night.
There were also flowers from Devin’s parents, Nikki’s parents; families that worked with my dad, and surprisingly from the cheerleaders, although I was certain Amber didn’t pitch in a dime for. And ugh, flowers from Wayne Stevenson with a note for me to reconsider going to homecoming with him.
My phone started to ring and I did my best to scramble back to my bed without getting myself tangled up in the wires. The call was from my house.
“Hello?” I said.
“Parker, honey. How are you holding up?” my mother asked.
“I’m okay. Still a little queasy, though.”
I heard my mother sigh. “I wish I could be there. I’m so sorry, Parker.”
“Don’t fret it, Madre. I’ll be fine and will probably be home tomorrow.” I took a cautious slurp of my soup. It was bland and missing something, like salt, herbs, and taste.
“Just drink plenty of fluids and get some rest. I love you, Parker.”
“I love you too, Mom.” I disconnected and stared at the screen. It actually didn’t feel strange and unnatural for me to say that.
Some unknown forces were messing with the balance of the universe. I could almost feel it through the core of my soul. I needed to clear my head and talk to someone about all the strange events swirling around my life recently
There was only one way to get out of hospital prison. I ripped the clear tape off the back of my hand and carefully pulled the needle out of my vein. Some blood squirted out, but I pressed my right palm over my hand for a few minutes.
I got dressed in the bathroom and ditched my hospital gown in the dirty linen bin next to the door. The nurse’s station was clear and no one was lurking about that I could see. The window of opportunity was open, and this was my time to make a break for it.
No one saw me escape. I used the stairwell figuring none of the nurses would be in there. I made it out of the hospital unscathed. There was a mid-October chill in the air, and I was thankful to have had my hoodie with me.
The cemetery was a couple miles away. I had no other means of transportation to get there, other than to walk. It felt like an eternity by the time I reached the cemetery gates. I stumbled across the grounds, my breathing was labored and sweat was dripping from my temples.
When I finally reached my father’s grave, I collapsed in front of his headstone. “Dad,” I panted. “I need you so badly right now. I don’t know what to do anymore. Please tell me not to be stupid.”
He didn’t answer. I ached for a response. Aside from life experiences, he was the one who taught me to be tough, to keep my defensive shield up, and to trust no one. I wanted to trust again. I wanted to trust Trent, Devin and Boyd were truly sincere with their concerns in my well-being. I wanted to trust that my mother truly loved me. And I just wanted my father back.
“I miss you so much, Dad,” I cried, resting my body over his headstone. “You were the only one who truly understood me, protected me, and loved me.”
My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself staring up at the rust-colored tile above my head in my hospital room. For a few beats I pondered the theory that my escape to the cemetery was just a dream, until I saw the faces of Boyd, Trent, and Devin staring down at me.
“I thought you guys left?” I said.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Devin growled. “You could have died, Collins.”
“Died?” I was still dazed and confused. “From eating soup?”
“Are you saying you don’t remember going to the cemetery?” Boyd asked.
It wasn’t a dream. I actually did escape. “I had to talk to my father.”
“You could have called me, Parker,” Boyd said, anger instilled in his voice.
I glanced up and stared directly in his eyes and asked, “Would you have taken me?”
Boyd stared over at Devin and Trent, and then shrugged his shoulders. “Sure. As soon as you got better.”
“No, Boyd. I couldn’t wait. I really needed to talk to him.”
“What’s so important that you couldn’t wait one more day?” Trent asked.
“You wouldn’t understand. None of you would.”
“Try us,” all three said in unison.
I didn’t like the third degree from three guys who never paid attention to me, or even acknowledge my existence since junior high school. Who the heck do they think they are? All of a sudden they’re my friends and protectors?
“You know what? I think you guys should leave before I call in a nurse.”
“No can do Parker,” Boyd said. “You left us no choice but to babysit you.”
I couldn’t help but to snicker. He was out of his freaking mind if he thought for one second I was going to allow him to babysit me. “Seriously, I want all three of you to leave me alone.”
“Okay, I believe I have the first shift,” Devin said looking at his watch. He then glanced up at Boyd and said, “See you at four.”
“But what about your work-out tonight?” I asked them.
“That was last night,” Boyd said. “It’s Friday.”
“What?” I was dumbfounded. I’d been asleep for more than twenty-four hours?
“We’re forgoing on poker tonight for you,” Devin said.
“It’s all good. I stand to make more money from your mom with this gig,” Trent said.
Now it all made sense. My mother undoubtedly was paying them a decent amount of cash to watch over me. They certainly wouldn’t have done it on their own accord or out of concern over me. It wasn’t about me at all. It was about the money. I hated them, all of them. I was relieved to have refrained from expressing my feelings towards them and making an ass out of myself earlier. I trusted no one.
Trent and Boyd sauntered out of my room and Devin remained standing over me. “Can I get you anything?” he asked.
“No. I’m going to make your job easy, I’m going to sleep.”
Devin slid the covers over my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. Gee, how noble. I’d be sure to tell my mother to tip them well.
A nurse woke me up at six o’clock to take my vitals, and an orderly came in carrying a food tray. He placed it on the table, taking the lid off the plate to reveal grilled chicken, rice pilaf and mixed vegetables. I grimaced at the sight.
“At least eat the vegetables,” Boyd said. He was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room next to my bed.
I wasn’t sure I could stomach even one bite. But I wanted out of this hellhole, and I wanted to get far away from the Three Stooges. I couldn’t wait to get them out of my life. Someone else could take over as the newspaper’s photographer. I no longer had the appetite to photograph scum.
“Fine,” I said. I inhaled the vegetables without taking a bite and washed it down with apple juice, never saying one word to Boyd in the process. When I was done, I pushed the table away and went back to sleep.
A different nurse woke me up at ten o’clock to take my vitals. The room was dark, except for an eerily glow from the television. Trent was watching ESPN Sports, and it appeared as though he were asleep.
“No slacking on the job,” I said. “You’re not getting paid to sleep.”
“I’m not sleeping, so don’t go getting any ideas,” he said not bothering to look at me. “Besides, I
developed the craft to sleep with one eye open.”
“That’s just down-right creepy,” I said, and went back to sleep.
Chapter 11
When I woke up at nine o’clock Saturday morning, I was thrilled not to find anyone stirring about my hospital room. Peace and quiet, just the way I preferred it. I actually felt much better and had a craving for a Big Mac.
The nurse who stole my sucker strolled into my room. “How are you feeling today, Parker?”
“I want my sucker back.”
“I ate it,” she said smiling. That took nerve. And for that, I added her to my not-so-nice list.
“Besides, with three handsome guys vying for your attention you may want to stay away from sugar. A beautiful face like yours doesn’t need a bunch of zits.”
And with that compliment I erased her from my list. “Trust me; none of them are vying for my attention. They were paid to be here. They don’t care about me, just my mom’s money.”
The nurse wrapped my arm to take my blood pressure and pressed the button. This was one vital I wish weren’t so painful. I was starting to bruise from the tightness.
“Considering one of them nearly punched a hole in that wall right there when he learned you took off, I’m going to disagree. He was pretty upset and concerned.”
Before I could ask which one, she shoved a thermometer in my mouth. I peered over my shoulder to look at the wall. There were three indentations in the plaster, probably from their knuckles.
When the nurse removed the thermometer I asked, “Which guy was it?”
She grimaced. “Three hot guys, does it really matter which one?”
I didn’t answer right away. God forbid it was Boyd. He was the one standing in that corner. It would only complicate my life more if it were he. I certainly didn’t want it to be Trent. He was scum. I knew if we ever dated, he’d dump me the second he became bored. And there was no way it was Devin. I think he hated me more than Trent did.
“No, I guess it doesn’t,” I finally answered.
At two o’clock the attending physician signed my discharge papers and I called my mother to come pick me up. She claimed she was still a bit weak and had already sent Boyd to fetch me. An act that probably cost her an extra twenty dollars.
I couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower. My hair felt heavy and greasy. I probably smelled rancid and was thankful for the overwhelming scent of flowers to mask my body odor.
Boyd entered the room with an empty cart, followed by a male orderly with a wheelchair. He helped Boyd pack up all the flowers on the cart, and then had me sit in the wheelchair.
On our way to the elevator, I remembered Nikki’s car. “Holy crap! Nikki’s car is still at the school,” I said to Boyd.
“No worries, Parker,” he said pushing the cart next to me. “Trent and I took care of it
Wednesday night. It’s safe and sound in Nikki’s driveway.”
“How is Nikki?”
“Still on the mend,” he said as we exited the hospital. His mom’s Maxima was parked at the patient pick-up curb. “She’s just now able to keep liquids down.”
“That’s great.” The orderly helped me into the front seat and I thanked him. He then helped Boyd in loading all the flowers into the trunk. Boyd angled in behind the wheel and cranked the engine over. “How come you have your mom’s car?”
Boyd laughed. “Because if I took my truck, all those flowers in the backseat and trunk would fly out of the bed of my truck and cause a lot of accidents.”
“True that. Thanks for picking me up.”
“No big, I’m happy to help out.”
I studied his knuckles as he drove. Neither hand sported scrapes or bruises, which meant Boyd wasn’t the one who punched the wall.
“So, how much extra is my mom paying you?” I asked him.
“What?” Boyd’s cell phone rang. He extracted his phone from the pocket of his Letterman jacket. “Hey, Nikki what’s up?” He handed me his phone.
“Hi Nikki,” I said.
“Parker, I’m so glad you’re okay and coming home. I was so worried about you.”
“I’m good as new, and anxious to put this whole experience behind me.”
“We all are. But then again, I didn’t vomit Spaghetti O’s all over Amber’s cheer shoes, pass out in front of half the school, and rip an IV out of my hand to visit my father’s grave.”
“What can I say; I like to live life on the edge.”
“And terrify the living bejeezus out of your family and friends in epic proportions, putting us all over edge.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. Don’t get so melodramatic on me.”
Boyd pulled into my driveway and snatched the cell phone away from me. “We’re here,” he said to Nikki. “I’ll be over in a few.”
I helped unload all the flowers, placing them in the foyer. I didn’t know where else to put them and I was quickly losing energy. “Thanks again,” I said to Boyd.
“Sure. And your camera equipment is on your bed.” Boyd closed the door behind him and I heard the car tires squeal when he backed out of the driveway.
As much as I wanted to check in on my family, the strenuous exercise of catering over a dozen flowers from the car to the foyer had me wanting to take a nap. I stumbled down the stairs and threw myself across my bed, not bothering to move my camera equipment.
Five minutes later my cell phone went off. I lifted my right side off the bed and fumbled around the pocket of my hoodie. I knew I left it in there somewhere.
“Hey, Nikki.” I cleared my throat from sleep phlegm.
“Are you going to school today?”
“Today?” I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. It wasn’t five minutes ago that I went to bed. It was over twenty-four hours ago. “I think so. You?”
“Sure am. See you in forty.”
I had forty minutes to shower, blow-dry my hair and cake on enough make-up to look like I didn’t belong on the movie set of Night of the Living Dead. I slid off the bed; my kneecaps ached from sleeping with my legs half off the bed. I dragged myself to the bathroom contemplating whether to milk my illness one more day. I loathed the thought of running into Trent and Devin.
Mom was in the kitchen making scrambled eggs and bacon. She looked great, as did Mariah and Emily. They were forking down food as if they hadn’t eaten in months.
“Good to see everyone back to normal,” I said taking a seat at the table.
“Food, good,” Mariah grunted.
“You look sick-free, too,” Emily said to me.
“Doing better,” I said washing down my eggs with some orange juice.
“I feel like shit,” Mom said, plopping down in the chair next to me.
“But you look great,” I said.
“Not that,” she huffed. “I poisoned my own children.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Mom,” Emily said. “How were you to know those potatoes were bad?”
“It just sucks,” Mom replied choking back tears.
“Take the negative and turn it into a positive,” I said. “You created a lasting family memory for all of us to tell our grandkids one day.”
Nikki turned into the school parking lot and whistled. “We just may get front row parking today,” she said.
“Life just doesn’t get any better than that,” I mocked.
“It does,” she laughed, tossing her sunglasses on the dash. “But it certainly is a great start to a Monday.”
That’s Nikki for you; a cheerful, bubbly and happy human being. A person with her positive attitude should have a career teaching seminars for the depressed. I would be her very first paying customer.
I saw Boyd with Trent and Devin a few cars away. They were waving Nikki and I over. “You go ahead,” I said to Nikki. “I need to get to Mr. Morrison’s class to see how he wants to handle the sports section.”
It wasn’t a lie. Although I was going to do everything in my power to avoid the Three Stooges, I did need to talk
to Mr. Morrison. I only had a few snapshots of Wednesday’s night game, but with being in the hospital I never had the opportunity to develop them.
On the way to my locker many students who passed me welcomed me back, glad to see I was on the mend. A few slapped me on the back, ecstatic for puking on Amber’s shoe. I thought it was an embarrassing moment for me, but they made it sound like it was the other way around.
I reached my locker, spun it through the combination and opened it. The sounds of crackling wrappers cascading down filled the hallway. A bunch of Charm suckers fell to the floor and covered my feet.
“Grape!” a kid yelled out, and snatched one.
“Who the hell crammed all these suckers in my locker?” I asked anyone who passed by. Most of them grabbed a sucker or two without asking.
Not surprisingly, I noticed a folded note amidst the pile of suckers. My psychic vibes were telling me the note was from either Casey or Amber. The note probably said I was a sucker for thinking Trent was interested in me just because he stood watch over me at the hospital. She was partially correct; I was a sucker.
I kicked the pile of suckers to the end of the bank of lockers, keeping a handful for Nikki and myself. Within ten seconds the pile disappeared. When I reached Mr. Morrison’s classroom I nearly trampled over Casey while she was slumped over while tying her white gym shoes.
Casey was wearing a cheerleader uniform. I had to do a double take and blink the fuzz out of my eyes. “Why are you wearing a cheer uniform?” I asked her, taking a breather from my cherry lollipop.
“Morgan Daley broke her wrist when she slipped on the grass doing back handsprings,” she said standing up. “And I’m first alternate. Now step back from my cheer shoes you fugly puking skank.”
Her name-calling just threw a monkey wrench in who was leaving me love letters in my locker. On the football field Wednesday night, Amber called me a fugly bitch. I thought for sure she was the one who left me the note. But just now, Casey spat out the same terms of endearment.
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