Not exactly 12 hours but it'll do.

Chapter 21: Just Listen

SETH'S POV

I took a deep breath a knocked on the Hope's front door. See things from her point of view. Be pro choice. Leah had seemed kind of panicked when she told me to go see Chrissie, but everything seemed fine. No paramedics or frantic mothers running around. At least not in the front yard. Leah didn't even give me a reason to go see her. Hehe Chrissie probably misses me. The door opened to reveal Mrs. Hope.

"Hi Seth, it's been a while since I've seen you around here," she said politely, "Why don't you-"

There was a crash and we both looked towards the ceiling. Another crash and I was scooting around Mrs. Hope to get into the house. It sounded like glass being shattered. When I got upstairs, Chrissie's door was locked and loud… rock music was playing? It was so un-Chrissieish music. She must really have missed me. I tried to open her door but it was locked.

"She hasn't opened her door," her mom said from behind me, "She's been playing music and throwing stuff around all day. It's so not like her."

"I-Is she okay?" I whispered.

"I… I'm not sure," her mom said, biting her lip.

There was another loud crash and the music turned louder. I turned to Mrs. Hope, trying to plant the most apologetic look on my face possible.

"Mrs. Hope, I'm really sorry for this," I told her sincerely, before turning the knob until I heard a crack and the door swung open. Loud music blared and the scent of… alcohol leaked from the room? It was trashed, a bunch of picture frames and perfume bottles were smashed all around the room.

"Oh look! Seth's here!" Chrissie yelled over the music, her tear-streaked face coming into view. She looked pissed, but even more upset and hurt.

"Chrissie! Are you drinking?" Her mom yelled, storming into the room.

"You want to have a party?" Chrissie screamed, "Let's have a party!"

She ripped the lid off of a pill bottle and dumped the entire thing into her mouth.

…

Chrissie's hand felt cold in mine. It was completely still and I prayed for it to move. Because I needed to see her awake and healthy. She was sleeping now, lying in the hospital bed looking perfectly peaceful. Outside the hospital room, her mom was talking with Dr. Cullen. I could probably hear them if I listened, but I just focused on my Chrissie right now, bidding her to open her eyes.

I may have just witnessed the scariest thing in the entire world. I don't know what set her off, but I'd never seen her like that. I felt so guilty for not being there for her. I was supposed to be there, by her side, for everything. I felt like I'd messed up. Horrible. I should have known something like this would happen. But I just let me stupid opinion get in the way. Curse my stubbornness.

My heart leaped when I felt Chrissie's hand tighten around mine.

"Chrissie?" I whispered.

She sighed and then opened her eyes, "Hey you," she croaked.

"Hi," I said, relief flooding through me. She was awake.

"Okay, how much trouble am I in?" she asked expectantly, trying to sit up. She struggled and winced

"No Chrissie," I said, pushing her gently back down. She rolled her eyes but didn't try to sit up again. Instead, she turned on her side to face me.

"Ow! What the hell?" she looked down at her hand at the needle sticking out of it, "Tell me what's going on, Seth."

I thought for a minute. Did she remember? She was drinking after all.

"Chrissie you had to get your stomach pumper," I whispered.

She was quiet for a minute, "Huh," was all she said.

"Do you remember anything that happened?" I asked tentatively.

She looked up, trying to remember, "Uh, I was throwing some stuff around, I drank didn't I? Ugh that wasn't my smartest move. And then… did my mom tackle me to the ground?"

"You overdosed on pills Chrissie, she was trying to stop you," I told her.

"Maybe strategic reasoning would have worked better," Chrissie sighed.

"This is serious stuff. Carlisle said the hospital wasn't going to take this lightly and-"

"Aw are they gonna make me get a shrink?" Chrissie groaned.

"Most likely," I told her sternly. I was gonna keep talking, but she put her finger to my lips.

"Stop," she told me, closing her eyes.

"Stop what?"

"Acting all stern and stuff. I already have a mom, dad, and whole shitload of doctors to do that for me. I screwed up. Go back to being fun Seth. Pretty please?" she asked me, poking her lip out.

I sighed and kissed her for head, "Fine."

"Yay!" she squealed, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I laughed and hugged her back, sighing deeply, "I'm sorry," I whispered.

"No, I'm s-"

"Stop," I told her, covering her mouth, "I'm sorry. You're right. There is a choice. Always."

She studied me for a moment before giggling and giving me a quick kiss. Thank you Quil!

"I forgive you," she told me, biting her lip and smiling.

"CHRISTINA HOPE ARE YOU INSANE?"

The door flew open and her mom stormed in, followed by Dr. Cullen who looked surprisingly calm. Chrissie sat up quickly, putting on her defensive face.

"Mom, I'm sorry," she said.

"Sorry won't cut it! You could have been seriously harmed. Or killed!" her mom yelled.

I thought I heard Chrissie mutter that's sorta what I was going for, but I could have been mistaking. What with these ol' ears of mine.

"And those pills! Ten thousand dollars a pill Chrissie! The insurance isn't going to cover it again!" mom yelled. Wow. That is a lot of money per pill...

"Good!" Chrissie yelled.

"Luckily," her mom continued on as if she hadn't even heard her, "I was able to sort everything out and they're going to supply us with another bottle."

"Ugh!" Chrissie fell back onto her pillow, covering her face with her hands.

"About that," Dr. Cullen finally spoke up, "As we discussed, Chrissie did agree to the pills correct?"

"Correct," her mom answered quickly. Chrissie huffed loudly from next to me, still covering her face.

"We would like to keep her hospitalized, at least for the first few days of the treatment. And because of… recent events, we think it would be best if she was under the hospital's watch. At least for a while," Carlisle told her.

"What?" Chrissie whined, sitting up again, "No, I want to go home."

"Chrissie, we don't think that's the best idea right now," Dr. Cullen said, "Now we have to discuss a therapist-"

"No! Please please please!" Chrissie yelled, "I'll do anything. I won't complain about the pills, I know what I did was wrong! I'll never do it again! Just please don't get me a shrink!"

"Who do you recommend?" her mom asked, as if Chrissie hadn't even said anything.

"The hospital has many good physiatrists that I would be happy to recommend. We can set up visiting hours and…"

Dr. Cullen and Mrs. Hope continued to talk. I was watching Chrissie, who pulled the iv right out of her arm. She didn't even wince, and I'm pretty sure those things hurt. She pulled her sneakers on, which were sitting next to the bed, and walked right out of the hospital room. In her pajamas. I looked at Carlisle and her mom to see their reactions. Chrissie had just ripped an IV out of her arm and left the hospital room in her pajamas.

And I was the only one who had noticed.

0000

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," Chrissie muttered, "How did you find me?"

"I followed your scent," I told her honestly, sitting beside her.

"That's really weird you know," she sighed.

"Yeah I know."

…

"So of all places, why did you pick a closet to sulk?" I asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.

She shrugged, "It was the first place I saw, I guess."

"I-"

"You-"

"What were you gonna say?"

"No you go."

"Um, alright," Chrissie mumbled, "Seth… I'm… I'm so tired," she whispered, laying her head on my shoulder.

"I can understand that," I said, kissing the top of her head."

"They just won't listen. No matter what I do," she whispered, sniffling, "I mean, one person can only take so much."

She's fifteen years old and hasn't had one normal moment in her life. I can see why she's tired. Her mother's gone insane, she's always sick, she's always alone. I know what she needs right now. She needs someone to talk to. And I for one am a great listener.

"I'll listen," I told her.

"No you won't," she sniffed, "You don't want me to die either. Nobody wants to accept it! They all want me to be happy and cheerful all the time. But I just can't do that anymore."

"You don't have to. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," I whispered.

"I feel like I'm stuck. I mean, just when something normal is going to happen, this always has to mess it all up! And all I've known my entire life is being sick. Knowing that I'm going to die. But what if I do get better? What then? It's never going to happen, but what if it did? Am I scared of getting better?" she looked up at me, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Do you want to get better?" I asked, feeling like that was maybe the right thing to ask… maybe.

"I… I just don't know," she whispered, "Of course I want to, I'm being silly. It's the… getting my hopes up for nothing part that scares me. I'm afraid of getting attached to the idea of getting better. Because it's not going to happen. And I don't want to end up like my mom. Always trying to find a way… and what's going to happen to her and dad when I'm gone? Everything they've done will have been for nothing. Oh and Jay. I'm only grateful he has Leah now. She'll take care of him. I know she will. And then you. Oh Seth I… I'm so sorry," she finished, tears pouring down her cheeks like waterfalls.

Girls' brains are confusing.

"Shh don't be sorry," I told her, taking her in my arms, "I'm so… so happy to know you Chrissie. And no matter what happens, I'm eternally happy that we met. You've changed my life for the better, so no matter what happens, you'll still be here. Every second I spend with you is worth a million years. I love you Chrissie. So so so much."

She sniffed and pulled away so she could look at me, "I love you too Seth. So so so much!"

I chuckled quietly and wiped her tears away with my thumbs.

"Never be afraid to talk to me Chrissie," I said, "I'll always listen."

I held out my pinky and she giggled before linking hers to mine, "You're a dork."

"Yeah, well you're stuck with me so live with it," I told her, "Sorry not sorry."

She laughed again, louder, "You noob!"

"Did you really just call me a noob?" I asked, tickling her sides.

"No… no! Seth don't you dare- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH AHAHAHAHAHA HAHA HA HA H AH AH AHHAHAAHA HA A HAHA AHAHAHA HAHAHA HA HAH!" She squirmed in my arms.

"Apologize!" I demanded.

"I'm sorry! I promise!" she cried.

"Good girl," I said, petting her head.

"Hey, I'm not the dog here," she muttered, her eyes widened, "I take that back!"

"Too late!" I yelled, tickling her sides again.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"What on earth is going on in here?"

We both froze and looked up. A short and eh… plump… nurse was standing over us, crossing her arms over her chest, "Rebel rousers!" she scoffed, pulling us both up by our ears. She pulled us all the way back to Chrissie's hospital room, going on and on about kids these days and how they're sex addict because of the bloody rap music the radios play. And how in her day she would never-

"Oh there you are Chrissie," Carlisle said brightly, "I got them. Thank you Mildred!"

"Heathens!" Mildred spit, stalking off.

"Nice meeting you, too!" Chrissie called, waving.

"Ouch, she had demon fingers," I muttered, rubbing my painful ears.

"Ah Mildred," Carlisle sighed, "I can't wait until the day that old bat retires."

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