I pulled my shoes on and ran outside. The particle accelerator was due to go off in fifteen minutes. I made my way to the park, where I had decided I would watch the launch from.
My trainers scraped against the ground as I located a bench. Once I had found a bench that faced the direction of the S.T.A.R Labs building, I planted myself on it. Pulling out my cellphone, I eyed the skies above. They seemed to be growing darker and darker.
I pulled up my news app, which revealed that S.T.A.R Labs would appear in ten minutes. I sat back against the bench and watched all the people on the streets. Tons of people were gathered on the streets or walking towards S.T.A.R Labs itself. Even though I was a Kindergarten teacher, I hated being crowded. That's why I sat in the park. I'd still be able to witness the launch, but it would be a much worse view. I didn't mind sacrificing a view for comfort. A nearby tree caught my eye. I could get a better view from up there, I thought. It would be better than the bench but still not directly at S.T.A.R Labs. I slipped my phone into my purse and approached the tree. It had been a few years since I'd climbed a tree. The last time had been to retrieve a toy for the Kindergarteners. I had told them they weren't allowed to climb the tree to get it and that only I was allowed to get it. It hadn't been quite the climb that this would be, but I was up for the challenge.
I placed my thin hands on the bark, judging the distance between the ground and the first branch. Testing my foot on the tree, I kicked up and snatched the first branch. I pulled myself up, glad that I went to the gym this week. I climbed up two more branches until I found a branch thick enough to support me. I looked down, slightly nervous I would fall. My eyes made contact with the sky, and I mentally face-palmed myself. The clouds were rolling in, as black as the Dark Knight of Gotham City's cape. At least if I get struck by lightning, I can win a Darwin award. I thought sarcastically. Being up in the tree not only gave me a nice view of S.T.A.R Labs, but it gave me a feeling of power. I felt powerful up here. I could see everyone below, smaller than I.
Checking my phone, I saw I still had five minutes. I decided to play a game I usually played when I had free time. I watched an elderly man sit on the bench where I had been sitting earlier. I wondered what he was thinking about. The Particle Accelerator, probably. Or his family. I scanned the ocean of people swarming Central City, wondering what each person was thinking about. She's probably thinking about that guy over there, I decided, watching a woman inspect a man from afar. I snickered lightly before my phone buzzed. It was an alert that from S.T.A.R Labs had appeared. I watched the news live from my phone just as a text came in.
Chris: Good view?
To Chris: Very. You watching?
Chris: Yep.
Smiling, I looked back at the news. A black haired man wearing glasses crossed the stage in the news video. He took the mic in his hands and the crowd continued their applause. I lightly tapped my leg with one hand, unable to clap because I would drop my phone out of the tree if I did.
"Thank you." The man smiled. "My name is Harrison Wells. Tonight, the future begins. The work my team and I do here will change our understanding of physics. We'll bring about advancements in power, advancements in medicine and trust me, that future will be here faster than you think." He paused to allow the heavy applause to erupt from the audience. I grinned, wondering what was going through Wells' mind. He must be so proud, I decided. I would be if I was accomplishing something so grand. All of S.T.A.R Labs was probably very proud of their work.
"The particle accelerator is now live." Linda Park, the reporter, announced. I looked back down at the news report before turning the screen off and stuffing my cellphone back into my purse. A light rain fell from the dark clouds, sprinkling my blonde hair with the light drops. I thought about getting down, but I still didn't see anything regarding the accelerator. Nothing had happened. Nothing aside from the loud crackle of thunder that boomed across the sky.
Just as I was about to climb down from the tree, a flash of orange caught my eye. I looked at S.T.A.R Labs to discover what the flash was. Orange flames burst from the top of the building. A gasp broke through my lips and I had to hold onto the branch for support. A bang sounded and the orange flames shot straight up through the air, connecting with the black clouds above. The flames mixed with the storm, sending a colossal, flaming ring of destruction soaring outwards. As the ring expanded and grew closer to me, I froze. Do I climb or do I jump? I'd break something if I didn't land properly. I didn't have much time to think because it was a foot away from me. I jumped from the branch, screaming as I fell. I bent my knees, preparing to land. The ground met me quickly and I crumpled to the ground with a thud. My hands shot out and clutched my ankle, pain running through my feet and ankles but mostly on my left ankle. I rolled onto my side, feeling like a soccer player. They were always rolling on the ground, grabbing one of their ankles. That was me at this moment. Not only did my feet hurt, but I felt lightheaded. My vision began to grow dark like the clouds and that's when it consumed me.
"Lissa." Someone whispered.
"Lissa." The voice said, louder this time. I sucked in a deep breath but kept my eyes closed.
"Lissa? Are you awake?" The voice asked. Slowly, my eyelids opened but was greeted by stinging light. They clamped shut again. I tried again, opening my eyes. I was in a white room with a large window to the left. I looked down to see that I was dressed in a dull blue gown, accompanied by IVs. Hospital, I realized. Remembering that someone had spoken to me, I turned to the right. My gaze was rewarded by the face of my fiancé. I reached my hand out and he took it in his.
"What happened?" I asked Christopher.
"You apparently fell out of a tree?" He raised his eyebrows at me.
"Jumped, actually." I corrected.
"Jumped? What were you even doing in a tree, Lissa?"
"I wanted to get a good view of the particle accelerator but I didn't want to get crowded." I admitted. Chris rolled his eyes at me.
"What happened with the accelerator? I remember seeing fire. When the blast came towards me, I jumped out of the tree." I explained.
"It exploded and people are really mad. Everyone's swarming outside S.T.A.R Labs. A bunch of people died, more injured. Lots of people are in the hospital right now. They checked your head for possible injuries because you passed out but they couldn't find anything. Yet, you keep passing out." He buried his face into the side of the hospital bed. I looked up at the white ceiling, tears brimming my eyes. A bunch of people died, more injured. I recalled his words. Along with some other people, I had been so excited for the accelerator to go off. Some people had protested. If only they'd listened to the protesters…
I swung my legs off the edge of the bed, sitting up. Then, I stood and crossed the room with the drip in hand. I inspected Chris, glad he was here.
"What are you doing?" His voice made my eyes travel from his clothes up to his face.
"Huh? Sorry, I didn't really hear what you said." I blinked, wondering if maybe I did have a cranial injury.
"I didn't say anything." Chris raised his eyebrow. "Lissa, maybe you should lie down."
"I thought you asked what I was doing or something." I shrugged.
"Oh, maybe I did. I thought I was thinking that instead not saying it." He chuckled. I laughed with him and continued my journey out of the room.
"Wait, my ass isn't hanging out of this dress is it? Some of these don't have backs." I froze before I made it to the door.
"Yes it is. Come back here." Chris belted out laughter.
"Help me walk backwards." I commanded, fighting more laughter. "What if one of these kids' parents are here? I don't think they need to see it."
"But I do." He spoke as I watched him.
"Really? Nice." I rolled my eyes.
"What?" He tilted his head.
"That comment." I responded. "Never mind. Just come help me." Chris came over to me and took my hand. He helped me back to the bed without exposing my nudity to the people in the hospital.
"If we bring a nurse in here, they're going to pester me rather than let me go, aren't they?" I sighed.
"Probably." He agreed, chuckling at me.
"Let's get it over-" I paused as a couple nurses entered the room.
"Good. You're awake. How are you feeling?" The shorter nurse asked.
"Absolutely fine." I answered. "Am I okay to go home, now?"
"Not just yet. We need to be sure that you're healthy first." The taller nurse rejected me.
"We're going to ask you a series of questions. Just answer them honestly and we'll go from there." Just as she was explaining, a group of doctors rushed by. They were wheeling someone on a bed, screaming about something medical that I didn't understand.
"Barry! I can't lose you!" Another person followed the gurney, soaked in tears. Horrified, I turned back to the two nurses in front of me.
"What's your full name?" The tall nurse asked, adjusting her glasses on her face. Her black hair framed her face, brushing against her dark skin.
"Alissa Alexandra Clare." I answered, looking over at Christopher for help as I didn't feel up to answering questions.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"Where do you live?"
"Central City." I told them.
"Who is that man?" One of them asked. I looked over to see that she was pointing at Chris.
"Him? I don't know that man. I thought he was a doctor or something." I twisted my face into horror, as if Christopher had seven eyes and large bat wings.
"Lissa." Christopher gaped. "She must have a concussion or something." He spoke just as I looked down at his shoes, trying not to laugh.
"I'm sorry. I'm just kidding. Sorry. I know this is serious. Sorry." I giggled, watching his face morph into unamusement. I wondered what kind of drugs they gave me.
"You know, Lissa, you're very immature for a Kindergarten teacher." He narrowed his eyes, though I could hear the amusement hiding behind the scolding.
"I know the drugs we gave you are causing you to act out, but if you can, please refrain from making jokes at this point, Alissa. Keep your answers truthful." The nurse spoke calmly. I remained silent. "Who the hell actually makes jokes like that? Stupid. I just want to go home." My lips parted in shock. Was she even allowed to say that?
"Who is that man?" The other nurse asked, acting as if her colleague hadn't spoken.
"My fiancé, Christopher." I murmured.
"You can go home, now. We'll check you out of the hospital. Christoper, make sure she gets a lot of sleep. The drugs should wear off by tomorrow." The kinder nurse informed us. Chris passed me my clothes which I took to the bathroom to change into.
"Thanks for bringing me a change of clothes." I muttered as I slid my engagement ring back onto my finger. I stared at the ring. It was a slim white gold band with three diamonds side by side. The middle stone was larger than the outer ones and the band was decorated with tiny diamonds. After we arrived back at our home, Christopher turned to look at me.
"What's wrong? You were silent the entire way home." He cupped my cheek in his large hand.
"Didn't you hear what that nurse said to me?" I asked incredulously.
"When?" He raised his dark eyebrows.
"When she asked who you were to me." I reminded him.
"Oh, when you pretended you didn't know me?"
"That was the medication talking." I defended myself, slightly amused.
"You're still affected by the medication." Christopher pointed out.
"Whatever. Anyways, she said something horrible to me." I shuddered.
"What did she say?" He asked.
"She grouched at me for making a joke then called me stupid. After that, she said she wanted to go home." I admitted, feeling as stupid as she said I was when I saw disbelief flash in Christopher's eyes.
"I doubt she said that. I don't even think she's allowed to say that. Besides, if she did say that, I would have heard it and gone all security guard on her ass." I laughed at that as he continued, "It was probably just the meds."
"Okay." I sighed, but I couldn't help but think that that medication wasn't a hallucinogen. Ignoring my suspicions, I curled into Christopher's chest.
"Remember how skinny you were in high school?" I asked into his well-formed chest.
"Remember how chubby you were in high school?" He countered.
"They weren't kidding when they said the less attractive kids got hot when they were adults." I snickered.
"Are you calling me hot? I don't think you've called me that since...hmm, let me think, ever." Christopher questioned. Oops.
"It is bad for your ego." I told him. "Can't have you being cocky now, can we?"
"But you just called me hot." I could tell he was smirking even though I couldn't see him.
"Actually, I implied it." I corrected him.
"So you admit to it."
"Shut up. Look, you're a very attractive man. There, happy?" I pretended to be grumpy.
"Yes. Lissa, you're an extremely beautiful woman." He complimented me.
"Thanks, Chris." I hugged him tighter and I felt his lips brush against my blonde hair. "Is it May, yet?"
"Nope." He sighed.
"Here we come, May thirty-first." I joined him in sighing, but it was a happy sigh.
" sounds really good, you know." Christopher told me. "Maybe I should start calling you that now."
"Lissa Lern sounds kind of like that lawyer from Starling City. You know, the cop's daughter." I laughed.
"Laura Lance?" Christopher clarified.
"Laurel." I corrected.
"Yeah, it kinda does. Laurel Lance, Lissa Lern." He tried the names out.
"Alissa Alexandra Lern. Maybe I should hyphenate. Alissa Clare-Lern. Nope. Not doing that. That sounds terrible." I joked.
"Maybe I should take your last name. Christopher Clare." I laughed harder than I should have when he said that.
"Christopher Clare or Lissa Lern. CC or LL, well AL I guess. Sounds good to me." I grinned at him. "Although, I think my students were really looking forward to having as a teacher. I mean, who doesn't want a teacher with the last name that sounds like learn?"
"That sounds like one of those educational videos that no kid wants to watch." Christopher chuckled.
"Because you said that, now you have to watch it." I teased.
"Hmm...pass." He decided. "I have to get ready for work, now. Don't do anything stupid while I'm changing." He quickly brought his lips to mine then headed to our bedroom. I sprawled on the couch, letting my legs dangle off of the arm.
"We should get a dog." I suggested.
"That's the meds talking! Sorry, Lis, no dogs for drugged up teachers!" He called from the room.
"A cat?" I offered instead.
"I'm allergic, Lissa." He reminded me. Dammit.
"Horsie?"
"You hate horses." Christopher spoke as he came into the room wearing his uniform.
"They're scary!" I defended myself. "What about a budgie?"
"No." He shook his head. "Bye, Lissa." He closed the door after him as he left for work. I jutted my lower lip out in a pout as I lay sprawled on the couch.
I turned to the floor and spoke, "He's gone." I said this with my lower lip still pushed outwards. My actions made me giggle. "Now, I'm talking to myself."
I giggled once again then ushered out, "Oops."