A/N: Just a note. I am, in no way, knowledgeable of anything dealing with medicine, dotctors, and such. So everything in this chapter (besides the SBL characters of course) are entirely made up.
"You can count on me like 1, 2, 3.
I'll be there.
And I know when I need it,
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2.
You'll be there.
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do."
- Bruno Mars
Chapter Eight
The classroom felt empty without Carson in it. I sat where he usually sat, lounged back in the chair as the door to the classroom opened and in came Malerie. She had her video camera opened and rolling just as she always did. She closed the door behind her, pushing the glasses up her nose as she froze at the sight of me.
She aimed the camera at me, her eyes going to the screen. "What are you doing here? You're not on the Newspaper," she said in her mono-toned voice.
I looked away from her and looked down at the pen I had in my hands, I twisted it, twirled it. It was Carson's favorite pen. "While Carson's out, I'm taking over the Newspaper."
In the corner of my eye, Malerie dropped her camera down to rest at her side as she looked at me directly. "That would be me though."
I sighed and put the pen down on the desk, looking up to glare at Malerie. "Oh yeah? Tell me, do you have any plans for the Newspaper today, Malerie?" I asked her in a rather snappish-way in spite of the situation.
She looked stuck as she sat her camera down on a nearby desk, messing with it as if it were on and aiming at me. "I have an idea, actually..."
"Oh yeah? What's that." I asked her as I got up and leaned one hand on the desk to rest my weight on it while my other hand rested on my hip.
"I wanted to...put an article in the Newspaper about...Carson."
I slammed my hand down on the desk, causing her to jump as my anger surfaced. "Malerie. Carson is in a coma," I paused to focus on her, making sure she was giving me her entire attention. "He's not dead!"
She kept her expression empty, her eyes trained on me. "I know that."
I scowled as I shook my head, taking my hand off of the desk to cross my arms. "Here's some ideas. Prom's coming up, right? Add in a reminder. And you gotta let everyone know how Mr. Renner is retiring. He tends to forget to let his students know about it. Don't forget to put in the limo adds for Prom." I threw my notepad at her that had the suggestions on it. "Since you know how to run the Newspaper without Carson and all."
I grabbed my backpack and Carson's pen, storming out of the room. My anger was remaining within me – I didn't know if it was because of the situation or because I've had enough of people thinking they were better than me, even though it hadn't happened that often.
"Wait."
I froze and turned my head to see Malerie stepping out of the classroom. The stormy weather had sent a strong breeze through the area. My hair was put up into a high ponytail, but it was swaying relentlessly.
"What, Malerie." I tried to calm my voice down. I actually felt bad for snapping her as I did earlier and practically was doing it now.
"Look, I'm left in the dark here. Okay?" She looked desperate, taking a few steps closer towards me. "No one has told me anything about Carson. So I don't have a clue what's going on with him."
I sighed, hoping my anger could be released within that single sigh.
"So...can you tell me what's going on?"
I looked away from her for a moment before I turned my body around to face her completely. "Carson's in a coma. He got into a car crash and...he had some massive head trauma. They're saying that he's lucky to even be alive. They say that the best they can do for him right now is to make him as comfortable as possible...so Miss Phillips is gonna bring him home. Doctors want notified in case of any changes."
Malerie nodded her head, looking down at the ground. It was the first time that I had seen her without her camera. "What about his memory?"
Fear crept up in me, in place of my anger that I had earlier. "They won't know until he wakes up," I answered shakily. "But I have to go. Miss Phillips his waiting for me."
She nodded her head and disappeared back into the classroom. I hurried to my car and drove to Carson's house where Sheryl was waiting for me. Carson was supposed to be moved to his home today, so I'd be able to finally see him.
Sheryl opened the door with a relieved sigh. "Good. You're here."
Ever since Carson's accident, her and I had been talking. Although I would never forgive her for throwing out Carson's acceptance letter and the way he told me she treated him, her and I got along. We began spending a lot of time together. On the night of Carson's accident, while Sheryl had waited for word from the doctors, she bought me coffee and nearly bought everything out of the vending machines. We sat in silence, then, but it was a comforting silence. I knew she just needed someone to be there with her and that person was most certainly me.
"Hi," I felt the need to say.
"So, I moved Carson into the master bedroom. He has a bigger bed now – thought he'd be more comfortable there. I was hoping that you'd help me finish setting it up before I run to the pharmacy." She sounded just as frantic as always, barely freaking out.
"It's alright, Sheryl. I'm here," I assured her soothingly.
She sighed as she waved for me to follow her. "What do you want for dinner? I can make chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli or..."
"Anything's fine," I told her, my stomach growling at the mention of food.
I followed into the bedroom at the end of the hallway – Carson's new room. His things sat piled up against the wall, the closet opened to show his clothes in there. It felt empty. But then my eyes laid on Carson, who sat on a blue bed, hooked up to a machine that showed the steady beat of his comatose heart.
I felt like my world came crashing down around me, tears prickling at my eyes.
"The doctors said he could wake up any time..."
I hesitated for a moment before I looked at her, nodding my head. "Sheryl, I got this. I remember how Carson had his room – I know how he wants it. Don't you worry," I said, giving her a small smile in hopes of lightening the mood.
She stood there quietly after setting the cream back down on the nightstand. She looked at me, smiling back as she nodded her head in understanding.
She sucked in a breath and put her hands on her hips. "Well I'd better go to the store then. I'll be out for a few hours so if you ever need anything, you have my cell phone number..."
I nodded my head, following her out the door, down the hall, and into the kitchen.
"Remember, if you need anything, just let me know." I just nodded my head, watching her leave.
I sighed in the eerie silence, looking around the quite house.
After standing there for what must have been a long time, I walked back into Carson's room. I took about half an hour putting his room into a setting close to the one he had in his old room. When the room grew dark, I turned on the nightstand's lamp which casted a soft and warm glow about the room. I looked at Carson's body and then at the monitor.
I felt...scared.
And finally, I allowed myself to break, but not too hard. I crawled onto the bed, sniffling softly as I allowed only quite sobs escape me. Careful of the cords connected to Carson's skin, I wrapped an arm around his abdomen, letting my other arm lay there between my body and his, and rested my head on his shoulder. His quiet breathing was what made me feel all the more empty and scared. I wanted him to hold me close and tell me that everything was going to be okay.
What if Carson never woke up?
What if he woke up and didn't remember me?
What if he woke up and didn't remember himself?
I tangled my legs around the leg closest to me, hoping it would help make me feel better. It only did slightly.
"I love you," I whispered shakily.
