OMG! Is this what I think it is? Is this a… a NEW CHAPTER! Anyone who is still reading this deserves a few cookies. R&R.
Chapter 8
There were three hundred and twenty seven tiles on the ceiling. Kali nodded at the ceiling as she finished her third recount, now thoroughly bored.
"You know," Kali began as she saw Doctor's shadow approach from behind the curtain, "the white in here is really boring. You should paint the walls, at least. Do you have any magazines?" Eyeing the curtain as it slid open and the doctor stepped in, Kali raised herself into a sitting position, leaning against the wall. The doctor's eyebrows shot up, and he grinned.
"I know it's not fun in here, but we need to keep you for observation; at least for another day. I have another IV for you," he added as he inserted a needle into Kali's right arm.
"I feel fine now," Kali complained as she watched the doctor set the IV up, "and I thought you said I was done with IVs after I finished that one last night!" The doctor shrugged and raised a thermometer to Kali's mouth.
"Open."
Kali opened her mouth and let the cool metal slide under her tongue patiently. When it beeped moments later, she let it slide out just as patiently and waited as the doctor examined it.
"You're normal," he said and nodded towards her. "You may be able to leave today. Oh, and I brought some fruit salad for you. To keep your blood sugar up," he placed the said fruit salad on a tray next the Kali's cot and left. Kali nodded slowly at his retreating back and yawned, purely out of boredom. Five days in the hospital with no visitors was definitely not her idea of fun. And Kai, who was still in the city, didn't know that she was here. Oh, she'd have a story to tell when he got back. Whenever that was.
Straightening out the nightgown that Elli had lent her, as all her own clothing had been destroyed in the storm, Kali reached over and pulled the fruit salad toward her; immediately brightening at the sight of the bright fruits. After the first few bites, a queasy feeling began to form in Kali's stomach, and she groaned in annoyance; placing the fruit back down. Elli, who had heard Kali's moan from main room, walked in and drew the curtain.
"I know it sucks," she said sympathetically, "but now you can have some light in here." Resting her hand on her hip, Elli surveyed the girl laying on the cot in front of her. "Hey Kali?"
"Whuuuut?"
"Would you like me to do your hair?" Elli asked, her head tilted slightly to one side. Kali aimed her ceiling-turned eyes toward Elli, an expression close to happiness on her face.
"Would I ever!" The happy look faded. "But the doctor won't allow . . ."
"The doctor," Elli began defiantly, "is on Mother's Hill. It's Wednesday. I'll even allow you to take a shower in my bathroom upstairs first." Kali had never seen such a sly smile on the quieter one's face, but quickly felt her own begin to form.
"I love you," Kali said happily and slipped out of the cot, bandana-less hair falling instantly into her eyes. Elli laughed at the bedraggled girl as she slipped the IV out of her arm.
"Follow me then."
Kali relished her fifteen minutes in the shower, letting the heat run over her sore, unused muscles. Running a soapy washcloth over her arms, Kali sighed in contentment. She hadn't been able to shower in goddess-knows-how long, and hair was practically screaming in glee when she stepped out of the warm haven. Wrapping a long towel around her body and another in her hair, Kali stepped out of the bathroom, looking happier than she had in months.
"I've been taking the small things for granted," she told Elli, who was sitting on her bed, toying with her dress. Elli grinned at Kali's appearance and handed her a clean nightgown.
"Just get dressed and we'll start with your hair. I have the perfect hair products for you!" Kali took the nightgown and nodded her thanks.
"But it'll dry all wavy like it always does," she said uncertainly, pulling her towel up with one hand. Elli winked.
"I'm as good as the Goddess. Don't under estimate the power of my hair products."
Kali laughed at this newfound personality of Elli walked into the bathroom to change. She emerged only a short minute later wearing the new nightgown and attempting to rub her hair dry with a towel.
"Well, I guess I'm ready," she began and stopped when she saw the hair products Elli had pulled out in mere seconds. "Good Goddess," she whispered as Elli plugged in a hair dryer. Elli grinned at her expression and opened a bottle that contained a bright pink gel.
"Sit here, and the fun shall begin."
oOoOoOo
When the doctor returned to the hospital two hours later, he found Kali sleeping lightly in her cot, and Elli looking slightly triumphant at the front desk. Being the male that he was, he didn't notice Kali's now straight hair pulled into a messy yet fashionable bun, and her long bangs hanging slightly to the sides of her face instead of in front of it. Her skin also glowed and smelled slightly of peaches, courtesy of Elli's body wash.
"Well," the doctor said to Elli, hauling a basket of herbs onto the desk in front of her. "You sure look happy." A larger grin graced Elli's face as she took a flower from the doctor's outstretched hand.
"It definitely has not been a bad day so far," she said merrily, and rose to place the delicate pink bud in a water- filled vase.
oOoOoOo
Kali yawned and stretched, feeling tremendously better. The IV had been removed, she noted happily as she reached for her leftover fruit salad. Her stomach didn't complain even once as she finished the fruit off, smiling happily at how clean and relaxed she felt. Grinning coyly, Kali slipped out of the cot and wandered into the main room, where the doctor sat at the front desk, instead of Elli. Kali grinned at him.
"I knew you'd be up and about," he told her, shuffling through papers. "And you're free to go. Karen brought by some clothes for you, as did Popuri and Ann," he motioned to a bag full of clothes and Kali's eyes brightened. The doctor looked up. "But from what I understand, Kai will not be returning for another week. I spoke to him just a few minutes ago. He says to remind you about the money at the Lodge, and to go to the Inn if you'd like. And Elli says you may keep the nightgown," he added as an afterthought. Kali grinned and skipped back into her room to change into a pair of black capris from Karen and a bright blue shirt from Ann. Stuffing the rest of the clothes and her bandana back into the bag, Kali went back out into the entry area, where she thanked the doctor politely before opening the door and stepping outside.
"I think today should be . . ." Kali counted on her fingers. "Summer 27? That can't be right." Her shoulders sagged slightly. "I missed Kai's birthday almost completely, with all the ruckus." Kali turned the corner to the beach and headed for the Lodge. "My birthday is in less then a month! The 22nd of Fall!" Opening the door, Kali walked toward the counter and spotted the promised money. It was enough for a few weeks at the Inn, and enough food to keep her alive. Not bothering to look around at the familiar Lodge in fear of suddenly missing Kai, Kali turned around and exited with her bag and money. As the summer air blew through her hair, she let the feeling of cleanliness and happiness surround her yet again as she breathed in the smell of sea.
"K-Kali?" Kali's eyes shot open and she turned away from the sea, almost dropping her bag into the sand.
"Gray?"
Gray stood before her looking slightly sleep deprived, worried, and comforted at the same time. The hair under his hair shot up in odd directions; a few stray pieces falling into his face. He took a step toward her as a relieved smile relaxed on his face.
"You're okay," he said, looking slightly uncomfortable. He took another step forward and stopped, waiting for Kali's reaction. A bright grin lit across her face, and she dropped her bag in the sand before running up to him for a hug.
"I missed you," she whispered to him into his shoulder.
"I missed you too, Kali. I'm glad you're okay." Gray pulled away softly, and examined his girlfriend carefully. "Your hair," he said suddenly, realizing no bandana covered her head. Kali grinned and took Gray's hand, pulling him along toward the square.
"Elli's quite cool when she wants to be," Kali told him and grinned as he ran back into the beach for her forgotten bag. Their hands latched again as they walked across the square towards the Inn.
"I was thinking," Gray began sheepishly, "since you don't like to stay alone and all . . . why don't you stay in my room at the Inn? Not in the same bed, mind you, but the same room," he rambled as they reached the Inn's doors.
"Gray, you dork, of course I will. We're getting married eventually, aren't we?" Kali stopped in front of the Inn's doors and put one hand on a door.
"I was thinking we could do the marrying part when Kai gets back," Gray told her bashfully, barely meeting her brown eyes with his blue.
"Okay!" Kali said cheerfully, and threw the doors open. From inside, Cliff and Ann waved at them from a table, and beckoned Kali over. She sat next to her friends, Gray close behind. Ann half tackled Kali in a friendly hug, and she laughed as Cliff shrugged and waved from across the table.
"Yes," Kali began as Ann opened her mouth, "it feels great to be back." Even Gray grinned at her happy expression. "But alas," she said mocking a woeful tone, "I am also sleepy from goddess-knows-what, seeing as I haven't done much of anything in the last five days. So I think I'll hit the hay now, and we can catch up whenever I wake up." Ann agreed sadly after pausing, and Cliff nodded in agreement.
"Hospitals make you tired," he said knowingly. "It's best you catch up on your sleep now." Kali nodded and stood, Gray following suit.
"I'll show her upstairs," he told them, picking Kali's bag up as she smothered a yawn with her hand.
They climbed the stairs slowly and turned down two hallways, before turning left into Gray's room. Gray set Kali's bag down next to a bed and pointed to it with one hand.
"This one's yours. This one," he motioned to the bed next to it, "is mine." He sat on his bed and watched as Kali kicked off her shoes and sat on her bed, instantly melting against its cushiness.
"I thank you for your help, Gray," Kali said almost soundlessly, her brown orbs closed. Gray walked over, smiling, and planted a light kiss on her forehead.
"Sleep well, Kali. I'll see you when you wake up." And with that, Gray turned off the lights and left the room.
