I'm soooo sorry it's taken so long, I haven't had internet, so here it is, finally!
I hadn't even noticed I fell asleep, but when I next woke up, I was cold again. No arms around me, no one in the room. Sitting up, I stretch as much as I can with all my casts, bandages, IVs, tubes, and other such things attached to me. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the sleep in them, I sit, waiting for something to do. I hadn't quite realized that I had so little to do. Looking around, I notice someone had dumped my backpack into the corner, but I had no hope of reaching it without unhooking everything jabbed into me and taped in place, that would probably cause a panic. So I sat there, relentlessly bored. I figured I might as well think things through, and so I began to think. Sifting through everything that happened, processing it.
When I heard the door open I may or may not have jumped. I glance up in anticipation, hoping for Marshall or whoever it was holding me last night. Seeing only Nurse Pound Cake, I was simultaneously relieved and disappointed, though I deflate a bit I quickly realize I now had someone to talk to. She went about normal nursely duties, making small talk. So of course I was surprised when she opened her mouth and said something so completely... NOT small talk.
"Your stepfather has been taken into police custody. On the charges of child abuse and neglect, assault, battery, attempted murder... The police are coming in later to talk to you. Are you alright with that?" She looks at me quizzically and I don't know what to say, I open my mouth but words elude me so I snap my jaw shut again wordlessly, unable to speak. When I realize she's still looking to me expectantly, I simply nod, reverting back to silent communication techniques. She gives me a tender smile and speaks again, her voice gentle as fluffy downy feathers as she talks to me. "You were asleep when the police came by earlier, but they did have a few of the possessions in your room. I'll bring them to you." She walks out, coming back in a few minutes later, a smallish box in hand.
The cardboard box contained my few books, my cellphone which had been in the hospital's care, some clothing, and a laptop which was most definitely not mine, along with the chargers for both pieces of technology. The computer was a MacBook Pro which was most likely personalized as it was a metallic pink, without the aid of a case. When opened, the keyboard was white with each button ringed with color, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, o or purple depending where it was placed on the set up, so when looked at all together it formed a rainbow. The Apple logo on the back was rainbow as well.
After gawking at the piece of technology in front of me for a few moments, I hold it out to the nurse who had helped me to sit up and had moved my backpack to a place I could reach it. She gazes at me blankly, not comprehending my silent offering. I take pity on her and open my mouth to enlighten the woman. "This laptop. It's not mine." This only seems to confuse the nurse even more. Sighing, I hold it out further for her to take from me.
"Oh sweetie," She finally takes the awesome piece of technology from my hands only to replace back into my care on my lap. "One of your friends brought it for you, said you left it at their house."
"But... I couldn't even afford half a busted microchip from a used one." She smiles at me kindly before leaving me by myself yet again.
Having nothing better to do, I boot up the laptop, hoping to find out whose computer it really was. The lock screen was a generic pre-programmed background. There wasn't a password, and after the laptop logged into the User account, it was, of course, yet another generic background. There wasn't a name programmed anywhere, the only things downloaded were the latest versions of all the Microsoft programs, and Google Chrome. And of course no one had typed up a single saved document or searched up anything online. There was absolutely nothing personalized this computer other than the fancy appearance.
Groaning, I shut down the laptop, glancing at the time as I did so. Noting that school would be out in a few minutes, I make a group message for Jake, Finn, Fionna, Marshall Lee, Marceline, Cake, and LSP- not having Flaym's number. 'Hey, did any of you leave a laptop here?' Along with a picture of the MacBook opened and at an angle so you can see the lid and keys.
Flopping back on the 'bed' I groan a bit until I hear my phone go off, the song Asshole by Ronnie Radke ft. Andy Biersack along with a short vibration, it was Marshall Lee sending me a text. My heart flops around in my chest involuntarily as I click open my messages to read the note. 'Doesn't that look more like something of yours Gumbutt? :P' Another message chimed in, again from Marshall, 'Though that shade of pink would totally look great with my skin tone.' I snort a bit before biting my lip and rolling my eyes, as I could totally see Marshall doing as he tapped on the small, lit buttons to create that message. 'It's not mine, I was told one of my friends left it. I automatically thought of you, Marshall Lee.' I pushed the button to send off the short electronic message before realizing I had called him by his full name, Marshall Lee, I hadn't done that since the first week I had met him. As I snap my Razor shut, I curse myself. Sighing I wait for a response, after about an hour I check to see if I just hadn't heard it go off, but there was no new message and of course it had only been five minutes.
The door to the ICU opened and I looked up to see who it was, Flaym, to my surprise. Startled, I just stare-I know, bad manners- open mouthed. "F-Flaym... Hi." He grins cheekily.
"Well aren't you gentlemanly Prince Gumball?" He enunciates the 'prince' very carefully and sarcastically as he takes a very deep, flourished- though obviously well practiced- bow. I can feel my face heat up with slight indignation as he steps closer, pulling a chair to my bedside. "We didn't get much time to talk last time, so I figured we could kinda get to know each other now." He pulls an orange backpack from his shoulders that I hadn't noticed before and rummages around in it for a minute before extracting his arm and revealing a deck of playing cards in his hand.
We played and talked for hours until a nurse came in to announce visiting hours were over. Gathering up his cards, he holds out his hand. Chuckling when he realizes I'm confused, he wiggles his fingers and states simply, "Phone." Pulling the piece of pink technology out from under the thinning pillow I hold it out to him. Snatching it from my hand, he quickly punches in some digits and hands it back to me. "There you go Gummy." Turning, he saunters out of the room, pausing only to say, "I hope you enjoy that laptop Gum." Snapping my eyes up, about to tell him something, but he's already out the door. Snapping open my phone, I punch out a furious text about how a computer was WAY too much to accept from a stranger before scrolling through my contacts, searching for a new name in the list. Low and behold, I come across an unfamiliar entry, 'Hottie;)' Scoffing, I enter that contact as the recipient, rolling my eyes as the text sends. I don't get a response, of course. I end up drifting off to sleep waiting, hoping, for someone to talk to me.
In the morning, I'm awoken by a nurse bustling around the room, when she notices my wakefulness, she smiles in apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you... How are you feeling dear?" Her voice is gentle, sweet but not unbearably so. Her soft strawberry blonde, double length hair feathered around her eyes. The front half that wasn't her bangs hung slightly lower than her shoulders, the hair in the back hung clear to her hips.
"I'm alright..." Slightly unsure as to how to respond to this girl, and I do mean girl, she looked to be about my age.
"Don't worry, I'm actually certified. My name is Bonnibelle, I'll be taking over as your nurse for the next few days until you're clear for release." When she is done checking on me, I'm moved from ICU since I wasn't in immediate danger of death. The next few days passed quickly between visits from the police, the group, and setting up my new laptop (which I had properly scolded Flaym for, he brushed it off as nothing, much to my annoyance, and refused to take it back).
When I finally got my release forms, I signed myself out now being eighteen. It isn't until I'm sitting in my assigned room, waiting for the okay to leave when I realize I have nowhere to go and no one to drive me there. The door opens and I look up, ready to get out of those four, blank white walls, ready to be sat in a wheelchair and steered out of the building that smelled sterile, like antiseptic and bleach. When I saw Flaym walking in behind Bonnibelle I almost cried. "Hey. Sorry to intrude, I heard you were getting released today and didn't have a ride. So here I am. Your ticket out." Once I had been wheelchaired out and my stuff had been placed in the back of Flaym's modest Toyota, I got comfortable in the front seat. As he got settled in, I turned to him to voice my gratitude. "Thank you Flaym..." I keep my voice quiet as I rest my cheek against the headrest attached to the chair.
"Of course, anytime. Now, where are you going?" In my relief of seeing a friendly face picking me up, I forgot I still had nowhere to stay. I look down, avoiding all eye contact with Flaym and fidgeting with absolutely nothing.
"Well, I need to get some things from my apartment, landlord said he'd let me in today to get some stuff." He nods, looking at me pointedly. After a moment he opens his mouth and speaks.
"What's the address?" I start and spout off the numbers and such, knowing it off the top of my head not even needing to think. He makes a quick left, turning sharply. In my unpreparedness, I hit my head on the window. Yelping quietly, I gingerly rub the tender lump forming on my temple. "You okay?" When he glances over, I give him a thumbs up, signaling my okayness.
As he pulls onto the street, I begin to fidget again, looking anywhere but him and I dive out of the car before he even finishes parking. I know he was hot on my heels but I rushed across the complex parking lot, pulling the key from my pocket somehow not fumbling as I shove it into the doorknob and twist, unlocking the portal to ell swiftly. Striding in, I usher Flaym in quickly, embarrassed by the mess strewn all throughout the apartment. I go straight to my room, leading the way through the narrow, dark hallway and into the light pink door that signified my room. Gathering some more clothes and the few precious items I had, a few framed pictures and a photo album, I pack it all away neatly into my hot pink duffel bag before heading out the front door of the small, dirty apartment.