Chapter 9: Confrontations and Stupidity

The next day, Izzy went to the hospital to check on Race. The doctor's said he was doing great and should be out the following day. This news made Izzy extremely happy so she went in and told Race, who if he could, would have jumped for joy.

"This is great. I can't wait to get out of this uncomfortable bed. I hate it. I tried sleeping in it and that didn't work. I stayed up all night." Race said. "I just want my bed back."

Izzy laughed. "Well, I can't help you there. You just have to stick it out for one more night. Then you'll be back at your place with your bed and your friends waiting on you." She smirked.

"Huh?"

"I talked to the guys and they're going to be helping you out whenever they can. So you don't over-exert yourself... or put your bandages on wrong." Izzy said.

"What? I would put the bandages on correctly. I paid attention when she told me how." Race said, turning his head away from her.

She looked at him like oh-I-know-you-didn't-just-turn-away-from-me. He turned his head back and smiled. "Okay, I might have strayed away from the conversation but I got most of it."

"Uh-huh, sure ya did. Mush will be playing nurse when you get home." Izzy said, getting up.

"Where are you going? Stay with me." Race pouted.

"I have to work. I'll come back later and visit you. I promise." Izzy said, leaning down and kissing him. "I'll see you later."

"Love you." Race said.

"I love you too. I'll see you later. Bye." She said, leaving.

"Bye." He said, staring at the door.

Race sat there for a few moments when someone else walked into his room. He looked up to see Steve. He snarled. He didn't want to deal with Mr.-I-like-to-stab-people. Race just wanted him to leave.

Steve walked over to Race's bed and stood there. Race looked straight ahead.

"Are you going to say anything or just stare at me?" Race asked, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry." Steve said.

"Oh, cause that's enough for me to forgive you. You just stabbed me." Race said.

"I understand that you're angry with me... hell I'm angry at myself." Steve said, sitting on a chair.

Race turned to look at him. "Did you just swear?"

"Yeah. I'm really not like how I seem. I hate acting like that." Steve said.

"Then why do you?" Race asked.

"My parents. They believe me to be the perfect child. That's why most of their friends think I'm an only child." Steve said, looking at Race.

Race shook his head. "So... you're not an only child?"

"No. I have two older brothers. I'm not supposed to talk to them but I still do." Steve said.

Race sat there with his mouth open. This was amazing. Steve Hawthorne was not at all like he acted. It was amazing. If Race had met this guy and he wasn't engaged to Izzy, he might actually like him.

"I know, it's hard to believe right?" Steve asked Race.

Race just shook his head, "You're... you're like a completely different person. I really can't believe it. If you weren't engaged to my girlfriend and if you didn't stab me, I would actually try to befriend you."

Steve laughed lightly. "Thanks. But you might like me after I tell you this."

Race shut his mouth and looked at him.

"I'm not marrying Izzy."

Race smiled. "You're not? This is... this is great!" Race said, excitedly.

"I know, but it's not because of you. I mean, you and Izzy play a part in it, but it's mostly for someone else." Steve said.

Race looked at him quizzically, "Who?"

Steve sighed. "Well, her name's Amanda Stanton. I've been dating her for the last three years and I can't get married and all that when I love Amanda."

Race looked at him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Steve must really be a totally different person. He had a girlfriend... who he's been dating for three years. Race was in a little shock. He had to help Steve because if he helped Steve... he'd be helping himself out as well.

"Well, Steve, I'm going to help you out." Race said.

"What?" Steve asked, looking at Race a little scared.

"Yeah. I'm going to help you get with Amanda so I can have Izzy." Race said.

"How are we gonna do that?" Steve asked.

"Steven, Steven, Steven. You've really never heard about me?" Race asked, smirking evilly.

"What are you planning?" Steve asked.

"Well, we'll start off by..." Race got lower as he talked as if someone else besides the two men were in the room.

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Izzy walked down the hallways of the hospital. She had a sandwich and a drink for Race because hospital food is the pits. It's just so gross. The only good looking thing is... well nothing really.

She opened the door to see Race and Steve.

"Hey, guys. Uhm, Steve why are you here?" Izzy asked, looking at Steve as he stood up.

"Uh, I was just leaving. I was apologizing to Race and now I'm leaving." He said, smiling. He opened the door and looked at Izzy. "I'll see you later, Izzy."

Izzy watched as Steve left. She turned to Race, "Did he just call me Izzy?"

"What? Oh, it sure did sound like it." Race said, he noticed Izzy had a bag. "What's in the bag?"

"Something for you." She said, pulling out a sandwich and a drink. "Here's something for you to eat."

"Oh, anything's better than hospital food." He said, snatching the food.

She laughed. "Well, here's your drink too." She handed him his drink.

"Thank you." He said, taking his drink and taking a few swigs.

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"I wonder how Race is doing." Blink said.

"Izzy said he was doing great. She also said she saw Steve talking to him too." Shelley said.

"Really? Did Race kill him?" Blink asked, still a little bitter.

He walked over to his chair and sat down.

"No," Shelley smiled, sitting on Blink. "She said he called her Izzy."

"Say what?" Blink asked, pretending to be scandalized.

Shelley laughed and hit him playfully. "Never do that again. But you know how he always calls her Isabelle. It's really weird, but he was acting stranger than usually when he left Race's hospital room."

Blink set his head on Shelley's shoulder. "It is weird. Maybe he's finally realized he's an asshole and he's changing his ways."

Shelley laughed and kissed the top of Blink's head. "Even though that's funny, I don't think that's what it is."

Blink shrugged. "Then, I'm all out of ideas."

Shelley rolled her eyes.

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David was at Elle's house... but Elle was working. So, David was in her basement watching t.v. Jude came down and noticed a thing on the couch.

"Hey, David." He said. "David? Why are you here? Elle's working? Did you not get the memo?"

David looked up, "I know, I just wanted to get out of the loft. Blink's starting to drive me crazy."

"Ah." Jude said, going to leave, "wait a minute, how did you get in here? No one was home. I just got here."

"I used a key." David said.

"You have a key now?" Jude asked.

"Your mom had one made for me." David answered, flipping the channel.

"What? Why does no one tell me anything?" Jude asked.

"Because you're never home because you're most likely having sex with someone." David said, looking at him. "You do realize that I have an answer for everything." He popped a chip in his mouth and started crunching on it.

Jude shook his head and walked back upstairs. David smiled and changed the channel again.

"Dora, Dora, Dora the Explorer!"

"AH!" David screamed, throwing chips at the t.v.