“I will,” I said, getting on my bike. “See you later.”
I rode home, peddling as fast as I could. I had never felt so scared before in my life. It was an awful feeling. I couldn’t lose her.
Throwing the front door open, I called, “Mum, Dad, Finn?” I was desperate to get to her, more desperate than I thought I could ever be. I didn’t like how much she was starting to mean to me.
“Noah, what’s wrong?” Mum said, grabbing my arm. Dad and Finn followed her out of the kitchen.
“Scarlett’s been in an accident. She’s in the hospital.”
Mum’s face fell. “Oh God. How is she, do you know?”
“Stable is all I really know. She’s been awake.” I felt the prickle of tears rush up my spine. I wasn’t going to cry. “We need to go.”
“Absolutely,” Dad said, face ashen. “Get in the car.”
I didn’t question them when they all decided to come. Of course, they were going. Dad grabbed the keys and we rushed to the car.
“Who called you?” Mum asked when we were on the road.
“Marissa.”
“What did she say?”
“Just that. She said they hit trees so, I don’t know, they lost control or something hit them. Scarlett and Jonathan were hurt but he’s awake and she isn’t right now.” I didn’t want to admit how scared I was.
“She has been awake, though, that’s a good sign,” Finn said. “She is going to be fine.”
She has to be.
“Of course she is,” Dad said. “Now, no negative thoughts. Positivity is key.” He switched the radio on and sound drifted through the car. It didn’t make me feel any better. I knew I should stay positive and I was usually so good at it, but I’d never cared for anyone else the way I did for her. There was just something about Scarlett, so pure, fun and innocent, that reached into my very being and attached itself to my soul.
I never stood a chance.
The hospital was eerily quiet and the stench of chemicals attacked my nose. Back home we made our own cleaning products and none of them made my eyes water or stomach turn.
We were given directions to a waiting room near where she was. I wanted to see her, to make sure that she was going to be okay but I wasn’t permitted to enter her room.
We were told that she was doing fine and had been awake again. Even though she’d been awake my concern was increasing. Her mind was resting after a knock to the head but so far today all of her tests had come back normal. She would wake up when she was ready but the wait was excruciating. Scarlett had to heal soon.
We needed her more than she knew.
Scarlett
I WOKE UP to sunlight streaming through the window and Mum looking at me. “Hey,” she whispered.
“Hi. How are you? Dad? Jeremy?”
“We’re all okay. What about you?”
“I’m good. What time is it?”
“Almost nine. Dad’s been released.”
“Good.” I wished I would be, too. “Mum…Did Noah come?” I bit on the inside of my bottom lip anxiously as I waited for her reply.
“Of course. Said he’ll be back for visiting hours.”
The relief I felt scared me. I really liked him. Most of my friends had boyfriends and all the boy drama that came with it. I’d decided that I wasn’t going to worry about relationships until I was out of school, possibly even university but then Noah crept his way in. Now I had boy drama.
“He’s been beside himself, worrying that he’d never get to see you again, especially after your difference of opinion.”
“He told you about that?”
“Not details. I kind of figured anyway, you’ve been a little distracted over Easter. Usually, you love all the chocolate.”
“I do.” She was right, though, I had been a bit distracted.
Jeremy came in, followed by a new doctor and I could’ve kissed them both. No way did I want to talk about me and Noah anymore, especially with Mum.
“Scarlett, I’m Doctor Thorn. How are you feeling?” he asked in a thick Scottish accent. His bulging belly touched the bed as he leant down and raised a penlight, no doubt to shine in my eyes.
“Head hurts, but I feel fine.”
“Okay, I’ll sort something for the pain. It’s good to see you back with us, we were worried.”
“I can’t believe I slept for so long.”
“It’s not unusual when there has been head trauma,” Doctor Thorn replied. “I’m just going to check you over and then I’ll give you something for the pain.”
Once I’d been poked and had a light shone in my eye, the doctor left to get me something that would hopefully stop the hit-by-bus feeling.
“Can I see Dad, please?” I asked. Last night I’d fallen back asleep before I’d seen him or Noah.
“He’ll be back soon. He popped home for a change of clothes,” Mum replied.
“When do I get to leave?”