I've had the idea for this chapter bouncing around for days, so I decided to post it while it's still fresh in my mind. There's a little angst, but there's friendship and cute fluff that outweighs the angst. Enjoy. =)
Matt and the others managed to make it to the hospital in 45 minutes. They all leaped out of their cars and Amy carried Alex into the hospital. When the receptionist saw a group of teenagers come into the hospital, her initial reaction was to ask if they were trying to skip out on classes, but when she saw Amy bringing in Alex, who looked horrible, the receptionist called for a doctor to come put Alex on a gurney and take her to the back to check her out. All Alex's friends and brothers could do was just stand in the waiting room while their friend and sister was carried back to be examined by the doctors. Once Alex had been taken away, everyone there for her cried quietly for a few minutes. They couldn't believe that something like this was happening again. It was even harder on Matt, Jeff, Maria, and Amy because she was the closest to all of them. After everyone finished crying, they all just sat in the waiting room, awaiting word on Alex's condition. They all made sure to let their parents know what happened and why they had to leave school early in case their parents had gotten calls from the school letting them know they weren't at school.
"Guys, I just hope Alex will be able to pull through this." Trish said.
"We all do Trish. I just don't fully understand why this had to happen to Alex. I mean, she gets beaten senseless in middle school and now in high school too? That's just not right." Derrick said.
"I can't believe this all happened just because she finally stood up for all the years of bullying she's had to deal with though. If only we were in one of the shitty Disney movies where the minute the bullied kid makes a stand for themselves, things just turn into sunshine and gumdrops." Amy said, leaning against Matt.
"I know. But no, we're stuck in a world where bitchy people can't stand to not have attention on them." Maria said.
"All I can say is that Michelle and the other popular kids are gonna have hell to pay once we get back to school tomorrow." Ashley said.
"Guys, I think we shouldn't talk plans of revenge right now. The last thing anyone wants to think about right now are the very people that hurt Alex. We should at least just try diverting our talk into something else. Especially since poor Cody's pacing like a madman." AJ said.
"AJ's right. I vote that we just change the subject to something else. Talking about whaling on the popular kids won't speed up Alex's recovery any." Jeff said, drumming his fingers on a table beside him.
"Hmm, are any of you other guys planning on auditioning for the talent show? So far Candice is the only one to audition." Punk said.
"I'm considering, but I don't know if I'd want to sing a duet piece or a solo song." Mickie said.
Talk slowly moved away from worrying about Alex to which people in their group would audition for the talent show. No one had even noticed that a doctor had come out from the back or that their parents all came to check on Alex. The first person to notice was Zack and once everyone heard the doctor calling for people there for Alex, he was surprised to see so many people step forward.
"I'm Alex's father. Is my daughter OK?" Gilbert said, stepping forward with Matt and Jeff close to him.
"Yes she is, Mr. Hardy. I'm still trying to find out how this happened to her. Do you think any of her friends with you could elaborate a little on what happened?" the doctor asked, looking around.
With some hesitation, Kaitlyn, Derrick, Zack, and Maria stepped forward. "We know, sir. We didn't actually see what happened, but we were actually in the halls trying to find Alex because of a text she sent us." Maria started.
"Then, we came across two people laid out in the hall. One was one of the girls who's a freshman with me, Alex, and some of our other friends." Kaitlyn continued.
"We asked the girl if she had seen Alex, but she doesn't exactly like us, so what she said was kinda sarcastic and snappy." Derrick added.
"And then when we saw the other kid, Maria went over to turn the kid over only for us to see that it was Alex." Zack finished.
"Thanks for telling me this kids. And the way you kids brought Alex in today is like how she was years ago. Thankfully her injuries aren't that serious, but I must say in advance that her left leg is broken. We have it in a cast, but it will have to be in it for about a month." the doctor said.
"As long as Alex is OK. Can we see her?" Jeff asked.
"Not at this moment. She's still sleeping right now because of some of the medicine we gave her, but you can all go back and see her in about 30 minutes." the doctor said.
"Thank you so much doctor." Gilbert said, leaving to join the other parents.
The teens were then left in their own little group to talk about what they just heard.
"OK, now I really want to kick Michelle's ass now." Melina said.
"For the record it was Kelly that did this, not Michelle, so you'll have to use Kelly as your punching bag." Maria said.
"Does it really matter? Payback is payback as far as I can tell." Melina said.
"You'll have to give me a cut of your payback ass-kicking." Amy said.
Candice tried to pay attention to what her friends were saying, but her attention was drawn over to where Cody was sitting. She had never seen Cody look so upset. Taking a breath, Candice walked over to Cody and took the seat next to him.
"How are you holding out Cody?" Candice asked.
"I guess I'm doing OK. I just can't believe that this happened. Michelle just won't be satisfied until Alex isn't even herself anymore." Cody said, holding his head in his hands.
"I can't believe it either. I guess Michelle doesn't think she's all that if she's jealous of Alex." Candice said.
"Huh? Care to elaborate there? You lost me for a minute." Cody said, looking at Candice.
"I'm just sayin'. I mean, did you see the look on Michelle's face when Alex told her off this morning. I only wish I could've taken a picture on my phone. That was a FaceBook worthy moment." Candice said, smiling.
"Huh. I didn't see it that way. Alex does have backbone. That's one of the things I love about her. When she's standing up for something or talking about something she has a passion for, she can't be stopped." Cody said, smiling.
"That's something I love about her too. It's what everyone loves about Alex. And it's because of her passion that we want to help make her happy again. I know I've only been here a few weeks now, but everyone keeps telling me that having me here has helped open Alex up." Candice said smiling.
"And I want to thank you for that. Especially for the day you girls had when I saw Alex in that dress. I never could get the courage to ask her out because her natural attitude just makes me all nervous and lovestruck. So, again thanks. For helping to get Alex to open up again." Cody said, hugging Candice which she returned.
After several minutes of waiting, the doctor came back telling everyone that they could go see Alex, who was waking up. Trying to be as orderly as possible, all of the people there for Alex went back to see that she was watching an episode of Spongebob Squarepants and laughing when she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in." she called.
As soon as the door opened, Alex was happy to see her friends all there to see her. Before she could even say anything, she was immediately made the center of a huge group hug. She could hear her friends all saying they were glad she was fine, but at the same time, she could hear them all crying a bit. Once the group hug was finished, she decided to say something.
"Guys, please don't cry. You all look like a litter of sad puppies." Alex said, crossing her arms.
"But Alex. You're laying in a hospital bed with a broken leg. How can you not be sad?" Amy asked.
"Because I'm not as roughed up as I was years ago. Plus, I was able to actually stand up for myself, by myself. I'm not sure if that's something to be proud of, but I am." Alex said smiling.
"You do have a point. We're all just glad you're OK. We actually thought we'd have to turn into a group of headhunters and go apeshit on Michelle and the other popular kids." Amy said, hugging Alex again.
"Thanks you guys. It means the world to me." Alex said smiling.
"Hey, that's what friends are for." AJ and Kaitlyn said. "After all, you'd do the same for us if we were in here."
"True true. Now how about we lighten up the mood in here? I feel like singing. That is, if you guys wouldn't mind joining in." Alex said.
"Sounds like fun to me. What should we sing?" Candice asked.
"Let's sing Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay. I've always liked the beat of that song." Alex said.
"Sure thing. I love that song. Anyone else want to join in?" Candice asked.
"I'll sing." Maria said excitedly.
"Ah what the hell. Count me in." Amy said.
"I'm in too. After all, you girls are gonna need a guy to provide bass." Jeff said, smiling.
"Awesome. Now we just need someone to play the beat." Alex said.
"Taken care of." Dustin said, taking out his phone and playing the basic beat for the song.
Alex, Candice, Jeff, Amy, and Maria decided to sing at the same time as a group while the others danced in the room.
I turn the music up, I got my records on
I shut the world outside until the lights come on
Maybe the streets alight, maybe the trees are gone
But I feel my heart start beating to my favorite song
And all the kids they dance, all the kids all night
Until Monday morning feels another life
I turn the music up, I'm on a roll this time
And heaven is in sight, Ooh
I turn the music up, I got my records on
From underneath the rubble sing a rebel song
Don't want to see another generation drop
I'd rather be a comma than a full stop
Maybe I'm in the black, maybe I'm on my knees
Maybe I'm in the gap between the two trapezes
But my heart is beating and my pulses start
Cathedrals in my heart
As we saw, oh, this light
I swear you emerge blinking into
To tell me it's alright
As we soar walls
Every siren is a symphony
And every tear's a waterfall
Is a waterfall, ah
Is a waterfall, ah
Is a waterfall
Every tear is a waterfall, ah
So you can hurt, hurt me bad
But still I'll raise the flag, Wooh
It was a wa-ah-ah-ah-aterfall
A wa-ah-ah-ah-aterfall
Oh, Oh
Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Oh, Oh
Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Every tear
Every tear
Every teardrop is a waterfall
Once the song was done and everyone was talking happily, Candice glanced over at Cody, who was sitting beside Alex with an arm around around her shoulders. She smiled at this visual and was pulled into a hug by Punk, which she returned. It soon came time for everyone to leave, but Alex didn't want her friends or her brothers to leave and none of the teens was ready to leave either. With permission from the doctors tending to Alex and their parents, after they went home and got changed into more comfortable clothes and getting sleeping bags, they all had a camp-out in Alex's hospital room. Once everyone had settled and was getting ready for the night, Candice happened to see Cody crawl in bed with Alex on her right side and throw an arm around her waist. 'Yep. Alex has definitely got backbone. But then again, that's what we love about her.' Candice thought before drifting off to sleep, smiling.
Read and review. Alex is recovering well, but now she and the other freaks have to face the music at school the next day that is Michelle and the popular kids. How will things play out after Alex's fight with Kelly? Stay tuned for chapter 15. =)