Chapter 10

I sat by myself at the breakfast table. I guess that's what happens when you oversleep breakfast by two hours. Not that it really matters though. We all seem to have improved to the point of not being depressed anymore, but we are still in this program. We basically do whatever we want. Mathias says that he needs to observe us and make sure we don't relapse, but I think we'll all be fine without him. However, a part of me doesn't want to leave. Part of me wants to stay here so I can see Lucas everyday.

I was jolted by my thoughts when Mathias walked in the door. I waved at him and brought my attention back to my soggy cereal. I twirled my spoon around in it, watching the flakes dance in the milk. I had become so engrossed in mushy food that I squeaked a little when Mathias came up behind me and said "Guess what tomorrow is." I jumped from my seat and spun around, slightly startled. I let out a breath when I saw it was just him.

"Did I scare you?" he asked with a grin on his face.

"No. It was just reflex." I retorted.

"I totally did."

"Shut up!"

"Well anyways, guess what tomorrow is."

"What?"

"Guess! You should know!"

"I seriously don't know."

Mathias let a long exaggerated sigh before saying "It's Lucas's birthday!"

"It is?!" I asked surprised.

He nodded.

"You forgot didn't you." he said.

"No! I just got blocked from my memory!" I protested.

"Whatever. We're throwing a party and you're in charge of keeping him busy until three o'clock. Got it?"

"Yeah I got it."

He walked towards the door and stopped inn the door frame.

"Oh, and don't forget a present." he said before leaving.

A present huh? And I have to somehow buy it without going outside of the hospital and then wrap it without Lucas finding out. This is going to be harder than I thought. I don't even know what he wants, but I guess that's pretty easy to figure out. I'll just ask him.

I wandered into our room and found him lounging on his bed reading a book. He looked up when I walked in and waved before returning to his novel.

"Hey Lucas, what's your favorite thing?" I asked.

He looked up from his book again and said "Um...Coffee?"

He is the only person I know who would say that. I'm pretty sure he's a caffeine addict.

"Anything else?" I pressed.

"Hmm...you." he replied.

My face turned bright red and I quickly turned away.

"Coffee it is!" I said before I left the room.

I leaned against the door for a couple of minuets so I could return to my normal self. When I had gotten myself together I went in search of coffee. It can't be that hard to find it here. People have to work the night shift all of the time and how do you think they get through that? Caffeine! Before I knew it I had made my way down to the hospital cafeteria. I quickly walked over to the coffee maker and looked at the different coffee's that were offered. None of them seemed like they suited Lucas at all. I was about to give up when a man walked up to the trash can next to me. He had a bag with "Organic Coffee" plastered on it.

"Um, sir do you not like that coffee?" I asked the man.

"No, it's horrible. It's one of those flavored ones." he replied.

"What flavor?"

"Um...Chocolate covered cherries. I don't like it at all."

"I'll take it off your hands for you."

"Deal."

He handed my the bag and scurried off to a table with his friends. Score! I'm sure Lucas will love this. How can you go wrong with chocolate covered cherries (unless you're that guy)?

I asked one of the nurses that always hangs around Mathias to wrap it for me once I got back to our hallway. She said that she would give it to Mathias tomorrow. With that problem solved, I began to prepare for my next big task. Keeping Lucas out of the dining room until three o'clock. That could be hard. I laid down on my bed and began devising a plan.

First, I would serve him breakfast in bed. Then we'll take a walk around the hospital for the rest of the day and get lunch in the cafeteria. Finally, I will bring Lucas back for his party. It was perfect.

...

"Emil wake up!" a voice whispered.

"Five more minuets." I groaned.

"Emil now!"

"What?!"

I sat up and saw Mathias standing beside my bed.

"Did you forget?" he asked.

"Forget what?!"

"You have to keep Lucas out of the dining room. Hurry before he wakes up."

I got up and Mathias left to help with the party preparations. Once I had clean clothes on, I used the phone in the room to order Lucas's breakfast because, lets face it, I suck at cooking. It's the reason why I usually eat cereal. I climbed back on my bed and let my feet dangle off the side. My mind wandered to what Lucas said yesterday about me being his favorite. I had been trying to ignore it. I'm pretty sure it means nothing. He was probably just joking, right? Still I couldn't help but hope that it did mean something. I ran my hands through my hair and laid back on my bed.

The next thing I felt was something gripping my ankle. I let out a screech and, in a desperate frenzy to free myself, fell off the bed.

"You fall a lot don't you?" I heard Lucas ask.

"Shut up. Don't scare me like that." I replied as I sat up.

"Sorry."

For a while we just sat there awkwardly.

"Lets go get something to eat." Lucas said as he began to stand up.

I pushed him back on his bed and said "I already got something so there's no need to go to the dining room."

He looked at me suspiciously. All I did was give a weak smile. Five minuets later there was a knock on the door. I answered it and found a woman holding a platter with eggs, bacon, and a steaming cup of coffee. I accepted the food and closed the door behind me.

"Breakfast time!" I announced as I handed Lucas the food.

"Nothing for you?" he asked.

"I'm not hungry." I replied.

We sat in silence as Lucas ate his food. When he finished he set the plate on the drawer.

"Do you know what today is?" He asked not looking in my direction.

I know what he wanted me to say but I couldn't say it for sake of the surprise party.

"Tuesday?" I asked.

"Okay. Thanks." he replied.

It could be my imagination but I thought I heard a quiver in his voice. However, when he turned around his face was the same as ever, emotionless. I passed it off as nothing.

"Today we're going exploring!" I said.

"What?" Lucas asked confused.

"We're exploring the hospital!"

"Why?"

"Because it will be fun."

I grabbed him by the wrist and drug him out into the hallway. I was careful to avoid the dining room as we began our "exploration." We spent most of the time before lunch riding up and down the elevator, peeking in to see what's on each floor, and watching the city below us from the roof. By the time it was lunch, I was starved. I guess it probably would have been a good idea to eat breakfast this morning. When we got to the cafeteria I pulled out what little money I had and bought us lunch.

"What do you want to do next?" I asked between bites.

"I don't know." he replied.

"I heard there was a courtyard in the children's department. Want to check that out?"

"Sure."

After finishing our food we went in search of the courtyard. It didn't take long to find. It was a fairly large for what you would expect a hospital to have. There were sidewalks that formed many squares of grass that were dotted with trees and bushes. Lucas walked over to a more secluded grassy section and laid down under one of the trees. I followed and laid down next to him. I looked up at the sky. In a way, it was like the color of Lucas's eyes. They've seen so much yet continue to hold that soft glow.

"The sky is so plain, yet beautiful." Lucas said.

"It makes me want to stay here forever." I replied.

I felt Lucas inch a little closer, but I didn't pull away. I just let out a yawn. I could feel my eyes getting heavy.

"You know Emil, I-" was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep on Lucas's shoulder.