Chapter 3
Rallos and I entered the hospital waiting room in silence. As the minutes went by, the more pain I felt surging through my body. I sat there shaking for what seemed like hours. In the car ride to the hospital, Rallos and I were mostly silent, and we still are. But I don't have the courage to talk.
"Are you okay Ms. Tamar? You are shaking pretty violently. I'm worried about you." Rallos whispered. I really hate when people worry about me. It makes me feel like I can't fend for myself. But I can, I have been all my life pretty much. When my father left, my mother had to go find another job. Every morning she's gone before I wake up and she doesn't come home until about ten at night. My mother never helps me with my homework, never makes me breakfast, lunch or dinner, except on the weekends when she sleeps until noon. I don't think she has even once worried about me.
"Don't worry about me I'm perfectly fine." I whispered back, even though I was the farthest away from perfectly fine.
Rallos laughed quietly and said, "Okay, whatever you say, but just so you know, you don't look so perfectly fine to me." He laughed a little more. Great, I'm glad he finds all my pain amusing. I just kept my eyes closed and tried not to think of the pain.
"Lillix Tamar?" A nurse's voice rang out from one of the doors. I opened my eyes and saw Sara, the nurse smiling at me. She has always been the nurse here at the hospital and I knew her name because I have a record at Highton Hospital.
I have cracked my head open at least three times, broken my leg and my arm twice, and have had many near death experiences with allergic reactions numerous times. Throughout the years, I've been known for trouble. This just adds another to my long list. Rallos stood up and held out his hand. I put my hand in his and he helped me up. Sara laughed a little and asked, "What happened this time Lillix?" I rolled my eyes and said nothing. She looked to Rallos and he smiled. He properly introduced himself.
"My name is Rallos Bells, Lillix's new neighbor." Puzzled, I looked up at Rallos. How did he know where I lived? Did I tell him in the elevator that the apartment was next to his was mine? He noticed me staring and gave me a fastidious smile.
They started to talk about what happened to me as I stood there in obvious pain.
"Can we please just see what is wrong with me? We're still in the frikin door!" I yelled, not meaning to be rude, but I needed to get back to school or I will probably get another suspension. I only had three suspensions left until I am expelled.
They both laughed,
"Okay, sorry Lillix." Sara said, even though she wasn't the least bit sorry. We walked down the hallway at a slow pace. Every step I took I flinched from the ghastly pain now enveloping my entire body. The only thing that made me feel at ease was the feeling of Rallos's strong arms wrapped around me to keep me stable.
We finally entered the room and I took a usual seat on the big, paper covered bed. Rallos found an empty chair and sat down. Sara took my temperature, heart rate and the usual hospital procedures.
"Wow Lillix, this is almost the worst I've seen you. Your temperature is up along with your heart rate. Lie down and Dr. Mankel will be in shortly." She gave me a warm smile, fluffed the pillows and helped my sore aching body lie back onto the hard paper bed. My rib cage roars and my whole body aches.
"Just make it fast Sara; I'm in a lot of pain." I snap at Sara. She laughs softly to herself and leaves to go fetch Dr. Mankel. I close my heavy tired eyes. Every breath leaves my body in pain, so the bright idea to hold my breath pops into my brain. I wait about thirty seconds until I am forced to gasp for some air; not the best idea, it just makes it worse. How could a little shove cause so much pain? Then, I remember Rallos. I open my eyes to find him examining the full length of my body. He glanced up to my face and our eyes locked. I gave him a toothless smiled and blushed.
"There is no reason to be embarrassed Ms. Tamar, you are very beautiful." Rallos whispered almost as if he was purring. My blush turned a deeper red as I tried to hold back a whimper of joy. Beautiful, me? I know that I'm not bad looking, but I know that I'm not beautiful. His eyes glaze over my dull red hair that badly needed a touch up. Then he looked over my face where my favorite part of my body was; my eyes. They were a faded purple. People are always fascinated by them. Some days they are a deep purple and some other days they are a lighter purple.
Then he looked over my thin lips and over to my slightly pointed ears just like his. He was totally conscious that I was fully aware that he was looking at me. Then he looked down my neck and examined my thin, slender figure. My cheeks went beet red once again, and my heart felt like it skipped a beat. A strange warm and tingly sensation covered my body and my stomach felt like it was doing back flips. The pain I was feeling before was faintly noticeable. He looked back up at my eyes. His eyes drew me in and for the first time I saw deep mystery in his electric green eyes. The more I starred into his eyes the more I became less evident to my surroundings.
A sudden knock rapped against the door making us both jump and look quickly away from each other. Dr. Mankel walked into the room with a big smile on his face. Just as swiftly as Dr. Mankel waltzed into the room, the deep pain rushed back into my body.
"Let's have a look at ya', alright Lillix?" Dr. Mankel said with and obvious fake smile. I think is as sick of seeing me as I am of him.
"I guess so…" I sigh. He looks down at his folder and says,
"Says here that your temperature is one-hundred point three degrees."
"Yup," I sigh again. One-hundred point three isn't so bad compared to what it has been in the past. Dr. Mankel pulled out his wheelie stool and sat down. He looked through his notes and looked back up at me.
"Lillix, what kind of pain are you experiencing?"
"Well," I started; here comes the long list, "my ribs hurt really badly and every time I breathe they hurt too. I am pretty much sore all over not including all of the scrapes." I take a quick glance over at Rallos. He seems somewhat amused by all of this as if it were some joke. He was the one who caused me all this pain! But without him, I might be as good as dead and in a million times more pain.
"Oh, and my head hurts really badly also Dr. Mankel!" I exclaimed.
"Yes… I can see that Lillix. You have a very nice bump on your head." He muttered the last part too loudly to himself. "Lillix, I think I am going to take you in for a couple x-rays. Is that okay with you?"
No, that's not okay! I suddenly panic.
"But Dr. Mankel, I can't afford an x-ray! Can't you just give me some gaze and major pain killers and send me on my merry way?" I pleaded. Mom wasn't going to be happy about this x-ray situation. She hated paying for the cost of my medical bills. Lately she's been making me pay for my own.
"I'm sorry Lillix; I just can't let you walk out of here unchecked. It would be too hazardous to your health. Plus, won't your insurance company pay for it?" Dr. Mankel asked. I sighed deeply causing much pain.
"Mom stopped paying the bills a couple months ago. She told me that if I got hurt again, I would have to pay for it. Dr. Mankel, please, I can't get an x-ray. My income isn't that much at Scooters! I can barely pay for gas!" I try desperately to convince Dr. Mankel to just let me pass this time.
"I'm sorry Lillix." He said sympathetically. Thanks mom, thanks a lot for caring about me and my health. Now look where it got me! I'll owe this hospital money for the rest of my life!
"I'll pay for it." Rallos said suddenly just as I was about to break down. I stare up at him in disbelief. I can't let him pay for it. It's a couple thousand or more!
"No… I can't let you pay for that. It's way, way too much." I insist.
"Lillix let me pay for it. I have nothing else to use it on. Plus my grandfather left me with about a million dollars. I think I can handle the bill." As I just stared at him in surprise, he gently smiled at me.
"Well there you go Lillix; you have someone to pay it for you!" Dr. Mankel said, surely just interested in Rallos's money. I just continue to stare at Rallos not knowing what to say.
"Please, Ms. Tamar. I would have it no other way. I can pay for the x-ray." Rallos pleaded. He looked so desperate, I couldn't say no, especially since it is such a generous offer.
"I guess, but I will pay you back someday." I feel a twinge of gilt. He walks over to me and takes my hand and says,
"That won't be necessary, Ms. Tamar." His voice truly was heavenly. I open my mouth to protest, but he puts his warm finger on my smooth lips. My cheeks flush yet again, as Dr. Mankel says,
"I'll go get that x-ray ready Lillix. Sara will be right in to get you ready." Dr. Mankel smiled and left the room.
"Thanks Rallos, this means a lot. There is no way in hell that I could pay for that x-ray." I sigh wincing at the pain rushing through my body. Looking up at him, I see him smiling lovingly. I smile back at him trying to match his.
"I must keep you safe Ms. Tamar, for yours and everyone's own good."