Are you looking for chapter 9? Well if you are congratulations you have found it. And if you weren't looking stick around anyways.
The bus lurches to a stop at the same time Irene vocally announces it from the cab. I drop my glance away from the wall, though I hadn't been seeing it, or hearing anything for the last few minutes. The ability to lose myself within my thoughts and roller coaster of feelings though the world around me is still in full swing has always been easy for me. Lately with Jack and Annie trying collective to create World War III I have been putting it into practice more often than not. When I moved my eyes I catch Carey's the only way I can describe the emotion I am reading off of him is concern mixed with fear, and I know it's not for himself it's for me. I am sure I have done a fair share of creeping him today, my jumpy teenage channeled behaviors, weeping in the store, staring off into another galaxy for over ten minutes, and to think it's not even noon yet! I wonder if he tried to speak to me during the ride depending on how deep I look myself up internerally effects if I'll catch outside influences such as my name being called. But for some reason I don't think he did.
"Honey do you need help getting off the bus?" Irene asks him.
"Yeah I think I do." He replies to her as he stands up resisting the urch to place the blooded foot onto the carpet, and reaches his arm out for me to be the one to help him. After all I am the closet one at the present moment. Irene yells out for Annie and Jack to both get out here now. In the past they were always out in the common area, joining in the fun, or has I actually call it killing boredom. Now they are more often playing it solo only meeting social needs and interactions when forced. This morning them playing the game and starting the movie is quite rare. I said it once, I'll say it again, and I am sure a thousand times more teenagers no will ever fully comprehend their thoughts and actions. Frankly I have stopped trying.
With Irene leading the pack we walk or in Carey's and mine case stumble towards the ER marked doors. I assist him down onto a chair that I only hope looks more uncomfortable than it actually is, while Irene obtains the correct forms from the desk. Besides us the only two other people is a young woman somewhere in her mid twenties holding a sleeping toddler on her lap. Jack has wandered over the food vending machine looking intently thinking of what to buy if at all. I try to not scuff out loud as I catch Annie staring at a group of young good-looking doctors. The chairs are actually quite uncomfortable, small hard plastic chairs; the genius one thought of filling waiting areas with them should be shot. Carey's foot is outstretched to the seat adjacent to him, I take a glance once again, and am happy to discoverer the flowing of blood has stopped, in fact now it doesn't look that bad. I am willing to guess though it doesn't' look bad it's likely still hurts like a bitch.
"Carey!" Even it's not my name that was called I still jump at the sound of Irene's voice from across the room, where she stands with what I can only presume is a doctor holding a clipboard in his hands. I had been anticipating a wait duration of at least thirty minutes, dead here or not. Taking a notice of his stumbling as trying to stand the doctor calls out for an orderly to fetch a wheelchair. I try to ignore the fact I find the doctor not coming over to Carey a bit strange, seems most inhospitable to me. A woman of Mexican descent arrives with the wheelchair and Carey plops into it.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I ask as he begins to leave. I know what answer I want him to say.
"No I'll be fine see you in a little bit." It was the right response. A part of me knows it's an irrational fear that I should be over by now; in fact it never should have developed at all. The fact of the matter is that I hate hospital more so examining rooms. Rick might have died in the car that night, but he wasn't official announced as such until he was brought to the emergency room. Hospitals are too full of sadness, dreams crashing down, bearer of life changing and life destroying news. Sure there are happy moments, recovers, new babies, still to me the sadness outweighs the joy.
"Hi Molly." I smile sincerely as Annie takes a seat next to me, without looking I am positive the cute guys have walked out of view, leaving the girl with nothing to entertain herself with.
"Hey there Annie." I start to chant silently to myself please don't try to start a conversation. I am just not in the mood to paste on a fake smile and pretend I understand even a fraction of the things she tells me. How a hunky guy did this, how are new favorite band of the weeks compares to her favorite act the week before, how she saw these really cute shoes with a matching purse at the mall. When Fi left she informed me that Annie could show me what real teenage girls worry about and enjoy doing. I'll take my so-called abnormal teenage girl over this any day. I do love Annie and would protect her from any harm that could ever befall on her, just she's not my daughter, and I miss my daughter.
"Oh my gosh I forgot to tell you!" Oh great here it comes.
"What sweetheart?"
"I got an email from my dad yesterday after the show, he and mom will be arriving in Los Angeles a week from this upcoming Tuesday. He wanted me to ask you, which would be easier meeting them there or having them, catch up with the tour. I have always wanted to see LA it seems so damn cool! Could we go there?" Yeah sure I am more than willing to completely tear apart the tour schedule, go out of my way, just so you can see some stupid celebrities and palm trees; was what I felt like saying.
"I think if they could meet us it would easier on everyone. When Irene comes back we'll check to see where we are scheduled to be on that day and let your parents know, okay?" She isn't doing a good job of hiding her disappointment but nods in agreement all the same. Nine days. Nine more days till Annie is back with her parents. I don't know if I should celebrate, cry, or laugh. If anything she's made life here very interesting.
"All done." Carey with Irene by his side calls out to us, the woman and the toddler had been called a little bit earlier. He is standing with crutches and a tight bandage around the injured foot.