December 12th, 2010
"Hey, how is she?" Hector and Amanda rushed into the ER wing of the Centerscore Hospital to find Colt already pacing, clearly distraught. Zoe sat in a chair, tapping her foot and looking down. Sam's mom was on her way home from a business trip, but wouldn't be back until late that night.
"I don't even know, man. All they said is she has a concussion and a broken arm, but they won't let anyone in yet. I swear to god, I knew that dare was a bad idea. I knew it was a bad fucking idea, but you had to make her do it anyway. I should just knock you out right now." Colt loomed over Hector and rolled up his sleeves, as if he was about to punch him. Amanda quickly stepped between them.
"Colt, you need to chill the fuck out. You know Sam would have done the dare anyway, no one made her do anything. If you really care about Sam, worry about her instead of throwing around the blame, okay?"
Colt closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. When he opened his eyes, he sighed. "Look, Hector, I'm really sorry, I just-"
"Don't even worry about it. Just relax, I'm sure she's gonna be fine."
Colt nodded slightly, as if to reassure himself that it was true. The 3 of them sat in chairs next to Zoe, not speaking. Their other friends began to trickle in slowly, with still no word about Sam after hours.
Finally, a doctor entered the waiting room and approached Colt. "Is there a family member I can speak to?"
Colt shook his head. "Her mom won't be here until late, but I'm her boyfriend."
"Alright. She has a bad concussion and a broken arm. That's the worst of it. She's going to be just fine in a few days, and she'll be able to go home by next week. Can you tell me exactly how she sustained these injuries?"
Colt scratched the back of his head. "Uh, well she got dared to jump from the roof to a tree that was really close. She always does dares, but I tried to tell her not to 'cause I had a bad feeling, you know? But she did it anyway, and she made the jump. But the branch she landed on snapped after a few seconds and I guess she landed bad."
The doctor nodded. "Okay, well she's awake now. You can see her one at a time. I assume you'll be going first? Room 104."
"That'd be right." He made his way down the hall and to a room. There, Sam lay in a hospital bed hooked up to machines. She was awake, sitting up, with her arm in a cast. He rushed over and sat by her. "Sammy, I literally thought you were dying. You're not, right?"
Sam laughed. "No, I'm fine. Just banged up. I'll be out of here in a day."
Colt laughed shakily and leaned back in his chair. "I can't believe you got hurt."
Sam shrugged. "I knew it would happen one day. I don't regret it."
Colt's jaw dropped. "You don't regret jumping out off the roof and breaking your arm? And getting your head fucked up?"
Sam shook her head and cracked a grin. "All for a dare, right? You know how it is Colt, don't make such a big deal out of it. And don't act like you've never gotten hurt because of a dare, I was there when that wild goat kicked your ass, remember?"
Colt rolled his eyes. "That was different, Sam."
Sam sat up a little. "How is it different? You can be reckless and irresponsible, but I can't? Yeah right, bring on any fucking dare, I'm up for it. Now get out, and tell Zoe to come in." Sam flopped back onto her pillows. Colt sighed and got up. As he walked back to the waiting room to get Zoe, he thought about what Sam had said. Sure, he was reckless and irresponsible, so why couldn't she be? Sam was a stubborn person, and she was going to do what she wanted regardless of what Colt said. He only hoped that she'd never have to deal with more than a broken arm and a concussion, though he knew it wasn't true.