Summer pulled her new silver BMW convertible into the nearest space in the crowded parking lot. She took the key out of the engine and flipped the mirror down to check her hair.
"God, get a grip!" Summer thought, slamming the mirror back up. She sat in her seat for a few more minutes, composing herself. She reached down and found her purse, checking her phone. The screen was flashing. One missed call. Summer flipped it up, and to her 'surprise' it was Coop. She quickly flipped it back down again, not needing to deal with Marissa right now. She took in one shaky breath, and got out of the car, flicking her key so her car locked behind her. Sliding her sunglasses on, she took a cautious look at the sign that loomed in front of her. Newport General Hospital glared down at her, the black shiny letters glinting in the California sunshine. Summer carried on walking through the automatic doors, her high heels now clacking on the linoleum that coated the floor. She stood in the foyer, shivering slightly as the cold air hit her through the vent. Distressed eyes turned to look at her, as if she had interrupted the eternal silence that was the hospital waiting room. She wrapped her arms around herself, and walked straight up to the Reception. An overweight woman with a badge that stated her name was 'Mrs. Palmer', sat there reading some romance novel, practically asleep. Summer tapped the glass lightly, wincing at the sound it made. The woman looked up, and gave her a dirty look, before sliding the window back.
"Can I help you?" The woman drawled in a deep southern accent, eyebrows raised. She looked the girl up and down, wondering why she was here. Maybe she was here to see her sick brother? Father, maybe even boyfriend. She seemed to be having an inner battle with herself, which wasn't new to the Receptionist at Newport General. Ol' Mrs Palmer had a steady supply of tissues in her cupboard if things didn't go so well. You had to have a hard heart to work at this hospital.
"I'm here to visit Ryan Atwood." Summer managed to choke out finally, finally taking her sunglasses off. Mrs Palmer swivelled around in her chair, tapping painfully slowly at the old computer. Several beeps were emitted, and Mrs Palmer began to shake her head.
"I'm sorry, but we don't have a Ryan Atwood at this hospital." Mrs Palmer said, croakily coughing from the amount of cigarettes she smoked during her lunch break that day. "Never have, and hopefully never will." Summer gripped the wall tightly.
"Are you sure?" Summer asked, through tightly clenched teeth. Thoughts were running through her head. She couldn't do this…could she? . . . She couldn't have been so damn stupid . . Oh God. . .
"Yes, I'm sorry, miss." Mrs Palmer replied, shaking her head, and scrolling down the page once more. "Maybe you have the wrong hospital . ." But Summer had tuned her out. . . she brought a hand up to her head which was suddenly aching. . .the thought ran threw her head again . . .She couldn't do this . . .and she felt her knees buckle under her, as her body crumpled to the floor.