Far Behind
Chapter 6: Origin Of A Promise
Tori ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She bursted through the hospital doorway in the middle of the night, looking for Dustin's room. She had been sleeping when she heard the ambulance. The annoying lights and the ring of the phone was what woken her up. Shane had informed her on everything that had happen and now she is standing in the middle of the lobby, trying to find someone she recognized. Sure enough, Hunter and Cam were standing down the hall, talking to each other. She made her way towards them, trying to catch her breath. The two boys did not look happy, she could tell from their face expression. It scared her.
"Where is he?" Her voice cracked.
Hunter pointed inside the room, he couldn't say anything. Tori pushed past him, and inside. She looked around and found Dustin laying on the hospital bed, life less. The blonde crept a little closer, and into the light to get a better look at him. The white fabric sheets covered his body up to his chest, and tubes and wires were hooked all over him. Shane and Blake were standing there, remaining silent as they watched Tori's face grieve with more and more pain as she took each step. She slowly moved her way towards the bed, a single tear dropping from her eyes. She found a near by chair and sat down, trying to collect her thoughts. Her best friend was laying right in front of her, and she was scared for him. Scared that she would lose him. It was strange how much she really cared, she started to think that maybe she did have feelings for him. She wiped her tears away as a young woman doctor walked in with Hunter and Cam. She was holding a clipboard, and was wearing a long white doctor's coat. Everyone turned and waited for her to speak, afraid that the words that would come out of her mouth would shatter everyone hope. But then again, it could fuel whatever's left of it. Whatever it was, Tori was eagerly waiting to answer.
"May I ask you where you found him?" She asked, looking at her board.
Hunter was about to speak up when Shane put his finger up and walked over to her. The crimson motocrosser stayed quiet, letting Shane take the stage.
"About a mile off campus."
Everyone knew what he was doing. Lying to the doctor to save Dustin from getting kicked out of college. Everyone cared for him, they really did. They didn't expect something this big would happen to them all. Tori regretted not going after
"He's lucky that you found him. A few more hours, he would have died." She spoke in such a voice that made everyone feel guilty, "He's in a coma right now but his vital signs are stabled. He overdosed on heroine, which set his body into shock. As soon as he wakes up, he's going to need some treatment. Perhaps rehab. There are a few methods I can go about with, but in the end, the mother has to choose. "
Tori looked at him and then back at the doctor, "Do you know when he will awake?"
She shook her head, "Im sorry I don't. Could be minutes, days, months or even years. It's getting late. I'm going to have to ask you guys to go soon."
She turned and left as Tori placed her hands on his. She could feel the coldness in him, the lifeless body that laid before her. She shed a few more tears, causing the room air to contrast with her tears, making her cheeks feel cold and dry. Shane placed his hands on her shoulder and nodded to her. Telling her that it was time to go. Cam and Blake started to talk as they exited out of the room. Hunter made his way to the door, and took one last glance at Dustin then at Tori before leaving.
"Give me a minute." She whispered.
Shane nodded, leaving her with some privacy. She inched her way over, still holding onto his hand. Starring at him, she forced a smile and recalled the conversation they last had. The one that didn't exactly end as well as she was hoping. The last line he had said before he left 'I don't know what to do with my life anymore' sparked an old memory of that very promised that She, Shane and Dustin made as kids. A few more tears weld up in her eyes as she wiped them away, her mind drifted away, all lost in thoughts....
Flashback.
11 year old Dustin Brooks was running around on the sand, pretending he was a plane He felt the warm sand sink between his toes as he extended is arms out and made all the crazies sound effects one man can make. Tori laughed as she watched from the boardwalk, with Shane. They sat on the edge as they watched their cheerful and carefree best friend have the time of his life. It was the last day of Summer, and the three of them were enjoying it together. Enjoying it before having to go into the 6th grade.
"Dustin? What are you doing?" Tori giggled.
Dustin twirled himself around and crashed into the sand, spraying it everywhere. The wind picked up and began to tangle particle sands in the air, as it slowly rain downed back to the ground. The young brunette turned and smiled his biggest smile. Shane just rolled his eyes, laughing as he played around with his skate board. Tori turned and looked at him, as he attempted to do a move.
"Shane? When did you get started in skateboarding?"
"I don't know. It just seams fun!" He laughed.
They turned and saw Dustin throwing sand all around and him screaming, "Nah man! Not skateboarding! Motocross! DIRT!" He screamed, throwing sand at them.
Tori moved out of the way and gave him a dirty look. She stood up and sighed as she stuck her hands in her back pocket. Dustin walked over and smiled at them both.
"6th Grades. Eventually it's going to be Highschool. Then college. Time flies by." She pointed out.
Dustin groaned and sat down, "I don't want to think about it."
Shane snickered, "Why not? Afraid it might take you to a place where you don't want to go?"
Dustin rubbed his neck and whimpered at the thought of where his life was going. He dug his feet through the sand and looked out at the water and the clear blue sky.
"I don't know. I just don't want us to break apart." He honestly admitted.
"What do you mean?" Tori asked.
He shrugged, ruffling his yellow t-shirt and falling back into the sand and sighing loudly. Shane jumped off his skateboard and walked to the edge of the board walk and looked at him.
"Spill dude, ir I kick your butt." He snickered.
He sat up and look at them, "I want you to make me a promise." He stated.
Tori blinked a couple seconds, "Eh? What?"
"Tori, do you promise?" He asked again.
Shane sat down next to the blonde, "What are we promising?"
"That no matter what happens in the future, we will always be friends. So then when I grow up, even If I don't know what to do, you guys will be there still."
Tori and Shane laughed at once. Dustin sat there as they calmed down and looked at him.
"You don't need to promise. We always will Dustin." Tori reassured him.
Shane nodded, "Yeah dude. Were friends till the end."
"Just promise." He asked again.
Tori sighed, "I promise. Nothing will ever happen to us in the future."
Dustin laughed and ran towards them. Shane and Tori got up and the three of them begin to run down the beach and towards wherever they were planning on going..
"Tori." A voice echoed, "Tori. Come on, let's go!"
Tori snapped back from reality and wiped her tears away. She got up and headed towards the door, looking back one last time before leaving with the others. It was past 12 and everyone was tired, it had been an extremely long day. They slowly made there way to the parking lot and stood in a circle, glancing at each other. Tired, worried, upset. Different emotions were running through each of the rangers.
"Guess we should get going." Blake suggested and walked to Cam's car.
Cam nodded, "Yeah. We best going. Come on Hunter."
Tori looked away, looking out at the distant. Hunter sighed and turned to his fellow friends that were suppose to give him a ride.
"Go on without me." He informed them.
Tori turned and looked at him as Hunter took a few steps forward, "Come on. Let's go for a walk." He suggested.
Tori smiled and nodded, "All right. I could use one."
The two them waved to the others and began walking down the parking lot and onto the field. The stars were out and the sky was clear, making it a nice fall night. Tori stayed quiet as they walked along and sat down in the grass field.
"You doing all right?" He asked.
She looked at him then back at the stars, "How can I? My friend in the hospital. I feel as if I let him down."
'Don't feel responsible."
"I could have stopped him at the funeral. But no, I was so stupid." She continued on.
Hunter pulled Tori close and hugged her, running his hands through her soft blonde hair. He hated seeing her in pain, hated that she was blaming herself for everything that happened. It wasn't her fault, no one saw it coming. At least he didn't.
"Everything is going to be fine." Hunter reassured.
The nurse walked down the hall, looking over some folders. She was getting ready to go home at night, when she heard a beeping from a near by room. She walked into Dustin's room and looked around and saw the beeping from his life support system. Suddenly the beeping began getting louder and his vital signs were dropping. The nurse ran as fast as she could toward the bed, frantically looking around.
"Someone! I need the doctor!!" She screamed.
A doctor came dashing in, pushing her aside. He checked the monitors and then for his pulse. The nurse carefully watched the life
"Vital signs are dropping." He stated the obvious.
"Doctor, were losing him!!"
"How do you know Hunter." She asked, looking up at the sky.
"I just have this feeling." He whispered