Author's Note: For this entire story, Sburb never happened, the trolls don't exist, and all the kids are sixteen. Enjoy~
"Miss Lalonde?" the kind nurse spoke softly. "You have a visitor."
"What do they look like?" asked Rose, craning her head upwards to see.
"A blond boy with-" the nurse began to say, before she was interrupted.
"Yo, Rose!" called the voice. "You're in here, right?"
"Let him in," said Rose. The nurse nodded and exited the room, allowing Dave to enter. He was wearing his trademark sunglasses, and he appeared to have just gotten dressed.
"Fuck, Rose," he began. "First of all, John and Jade are on their way here. I told them what happened. Second of all," he frowned. "I'm real fuckin' sorry, alright? This wouldn't have happened if we had all just left together."
Once every two months, Rose and her friends threw a sleepover and held it at each other's homes. They rotated locations, and last night's sleepover would have been held at John's home. However on her way there, Rose was struck by a speeding car, and never made it to the house. Her mother had found out what happened when Rose awoke and was finally able to contact her.
"Dave," said Rose. "It's not your fault at all, you know. You couldn't have known."
"Yeah, but fuck!" said Dave. He appeared to be heavily distraught. "You could have DIED or some shit! I should have known something was up when you didn't make it to John's house. I should have said something when you didn't answer your messages. God, I'm so fucking..."
He trailed off, laying a hand on Rose's. "How are you feeling?"
Rose was slightly taken aback. She didn't expect Dave to be so caring or considerate. It was possible he still suspected this was his fault. She frowned.
"Dave?" she asked.
"Yeah, what?"
"Could you do me a favor and stop thinking that this is your fault in any way shape or form? It was all mine. I was being careless."
"You could also say that car should have slowed the fuck down."
She smiled. "That too."
"Anyway whether it's your fault or the driver's, I want to stay here until you're better."
"Dave, my leg is broken and my hip bone is fractured. That is highly improbable." she said, gesturing toward her body.
"I got nothin' better to do," he assured. "I could visit every damn day."
She rolled her eyes. "Well as long as you're here, the nurses are terrible when it comes to arranging beds. Could you please press the button to make the bed tilt upwards?"
Dave nodded and found the button she was referring to, making it so that the upper-half of Rose was propped up slightly, and she was able to see him easier.
"Thank you."
"No problem," he said. Then his phone chimed, and he checked the message.
"John's dad is driving John and Jade here now. They should be close."
"That is good. I hope that none of them are worried too much."
"They should be worried though. What happened was serious as fuck."
"I know it was serious," said Rose. "And that I am lucky that I didn't sustain too much damage. However I just do not want them to worry themselves to death. I'm here now, and I feel fine."
Dave frowned, and thens sat down next to her in one of the guest chairs. "Does this place have any AJ?" Rose shrugged.
She reached out to get her laptop, which was out of her reach on a cabinet above her, and Dave got it down for her, handing it to her slowly. "These nurses are idiots," he said.
She smiled and opened up her laptop, opening a recently bookmarked page. Dave suspected it was probably more of Rose's fanfiction, so he rolled his eyes and sat down again.
"What's the news on the guy who ran you over?" he asked. "I mean, if you're alright talking about that."
"Of course I am," said Rose. "It wasn't too traumatizing an experience, you know. Nothing shocking. I just felt a large blunt object strike me, going at over thirty-five miles an hour, and the first thought in my head was, 'Oh, this can't be good.'"
Dave chuckled. Rose was certainly stronger than she looked.
"At any rate, I know it was not done on purpose. I heard the driver's surprised cursing and beratement of himself even as I hit the ground and my ears rang a little. He was the one to call the ambulance after all."
"Who was he?"
"A random guy, honestly," said Rose, looking over at Dave. "You appear to be very worried."
Dave glanced down in embarrassment without meaning to. "Worried about you is all."
Rose smiled. "That's sweet. You know it's really adorable to see you all flustered and panicky."
"I am not panicky," he said firmly.
"Of course not, Cool Guy," she said. "It's alright to show concern and emotion, Dave. Especially since I can still read it on your face even with those sunglasses on."
Dave smiled softly and didn't say a word. Soon afterwards, John and Jade rushed into the room, along with John's father.
They were all much more concerned than Rose had initially thought. John was extremely sorry that he didn't look into the situation earlier, having not known where she had gone. Jade was in the same boat with John, cursing herself for not checking up on her. John's father apologized profusely for having not contacted Rose's mother when she did not show up. He had spoken to her beforehand and gave her condolences. Rose figured her mother had left momentarily to get a drink, to calm her nerves.
They all stayed for hours to speak with Rose, and to help with anything she could have needed. Rose was slightly embarrassed and told them all that it was fine, and that she simply needed her rest. When they left and claimed to visit tomorrow, Dave stayed behind.
"Holy shit," he said, holding up a bottle of apple juice. "Guess what the cafeteria had."
"I'm guessing apple juice would be the answer to that riddle," she said. "Dave, you should get home. Is your brother concerned?"
"Nah, I let him know what was up."
"Nevertheless, visiting hours are drawing to a close, and," she yawned. "I'm starting to get tired."
"Rose, I'm tellin' you, it's totally fine. I don't mind staying here with you."
She arched an eyebrow at him. He was acting a little strange...
Nevertheless, Rose nodded and sank into her bed, pulling her laptop up closer to her. She glanced at Dave.
"You know, it doesn't hurt to take those off once in a while," she said, referring to his sunglasses. "No one is gonna think you're any less cool. And I'm the only one in here."
"Rose, the shades make the cool guy look. Without them, I'm practically naked."
"Then let me see you naked," she teased. "Do it for the car accident victim."
"I can't believe you're gonna pull that card," he said. "Alright, fine."
Dave took off his sunglasses and showed her his red eyes. Rose had never actually seen them, and she was pleasantly surprised. It made Dave look so much better, she thought. So much less lifelike and much more attractive. She grinned.
"Was that so hard?" she asked. She yawned as Dave clipped his sunglasses to his shirt.
"I guess not. It just feels really weird without them on."
"Well I think you look a lot better without them on. Like a real charming young man instead of a hipster."
"Who says I can't be both?"
Before Rose could answer, he received a message from his brother and opened it.
timaeusTestified [TT] began pestering turntechGodhead [TG]
TT: Hey man, say goodbye to your girlfriend and hurry back.
TG: shes not my girlfriend man
TT: Not yet, I know.
TG: why would you even assume such a thing
TT: You talk in your sleep.
TG: i do?
TG: wow fuck this is news to me. you better not say anything
TG: i swear to god.
TT: Relax, Romeo. I don't really care all that much. Just say goodnight and kiss her or something and then come back.
TT: I made tacos.
TG: you should have said that sooner.
TG: you've made tortillas with meat and cheese and lettuce whoa
TG: can't wait to get the fuck back home now.
TG: hope i don't get hit by a car or something because i'm running over there so fast.
TT: You're cruel. Tell Rose I said goodnight.
TT: You'll hang out with her again in no time. It's alright if you let her rest, you know.
Dave put his phone away and turned to Rose, but found that she was sleeping, her laptop still powered on. He closed it softly and returned it to its cabinet, before turning his attention back to Rose. He really thought that she looked very peaceful while she slept, and she barely made any noise. He saw her blanket rise and fall slightly with each breath, her hair slightly disheveled.
She deserved to rest, and Dave planted a quick kiss on her forehead before he quietly exited the room, never noticing her wide grin.
