I don't own Kingdom Heart… if I did there would be a lot more of Riku, Axel and Zexion)… or Pizza Hut. Once again, phone conversations are in bold italics and thoughs are in italics. Yeah, that's about it.
And now the chapter!
As the door shut leaving them alone, Riku got up from the chair slowly moving to sit on the edge of her bed to get closer to the sick girl, pulling her to him in a hug. Jessica hesitated before hugging back, Riku's one comfort being that her hand still holding his tightly so that he didn't even notice her hesitation.
"Are you feeling any better Jessica?" Riku asked as he pulled back, his fingers tightening around hers somewhat. She nodded and he smiled in a reassured sort of way. Riku studied her face critically, his eyes searching her face. "What exactly happened last night after I took you home Jessica? Your brother was rather vague on the details, all he said was that you had been in the hospital since late last night."
"I really don't know what happened yet, the doctors haven't told me anything." Jessica lied, her eyes darting towards the ceiling. Why does it feel so wrong to lie to him? I didn't have any problems with the others when they asked me what happened before he showed up. Why does Riku make it feel so wrong to me when no one else does?
"Do you like the flowers? I had Marluxia cut the only best ones from the garden, and I went out and bought the ribbon for you myself." Jessica sighed in relief at Riku changing the subject; apparently he hadn't picked up on her fib. Her fingers curled around the vase scooting it across the table bringing it closer to her bed so she could see them properly. "The ribbon's actually why it took me so long getting here, I'm sorry I didn't get here to see you sooner."
"No, don't be sorry Riku. I love the flowers, and the ribbon. And besides, you were only about ten minutes behind the others." Jessica laughed at Riku's pleased expression, her fingers brushing the petals of a bloom ever so gently as she smiled back up at him. "I hope they tell me what's going on soon. I hate just waiting here like this, it bores me so much. I wish there was something to do around here."
"Not that I was eavesdropping or anything Miss, I only heard you as I was walking past the door, but if you're looking for something to do why not go for a walk down in the hospital gardens? I'll tell the doctors where you are if they get the test results in before you get back." A kindly little nurse said from the hall, sticking her head into the room.
"I don't know…" Jessica started, but Riku took over.
"That would be smashing, thanks a lot Ma'am. If you'd really be so kind as to tell the doctors for us if they come looking then we'll be off to the garden." Riku shot her a polite smile as she nodded in approval and walked out before turning back to a stunned looking Jessica. He pouted when she shook her head at him. "Oh come on Jessica, it'll be fun! The fresh air will do you good I bet, and I'll go with you so you won't be lonely. Come for a walk with me, please?"
"Alright, I suppose there isn't much else for me to do now is there?" She gave in, allowing Riku to help her up from the bed, unhook the necessary cables from the wall, wrapped a warm woolen blanket around her shoulders and they were out the door. Hand in hand they walked the gardens for nearly an hour, talking of anything and everything that came to mind. They shared all their secrets and fears with each other, a mountain of stories and memories until the same small nurse came and found them.
"I'm sorry Miss, but the doctors want to have a word with you. They said it's urgent." Riku shot Jessica a confused look that she ignored as they hurried back inside after the nurse that had summoned them. Once Jessica was back inside her room the nurse left them with a few final words. "They'll be at your room in a moment with the results, and I hope you'll be prepared for them."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Riku asked her, worried. Jessica bit her lip, trying to think of what to say. Riku it seemed had also been mulling things over, for just as Jessica opened her mouth to explain, he said, "You don't think they found anything too serious do you? Is that what the nurse meant do you suppose?"
"I don't know Riku, I really couldn't tell you." She felt that pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach as she lied to him yet again, secretly wishing she had just told him the truth the first time so that she didn't have to keep faking her confusion. "It's getting dark Riku, you should get home before someone gets too worried about you. I can handle things here on my own."
Really, I can. I practically lived in a hospital back home, this one's not that different, not that you know about that…
"No, I'll stay with you at least until the doctors get here. I don't like the idea of leaving you here all alone like this, it just doesn't feel right." Riku said softly, holding her hand tighter than before. She looked down at the way they had their fingers laced and smiled to herself, wishing she could explain why it way the sight made her feel so happy inside. It was then that the two doctors returned, walking briskly in ruining the tender moment between the two.
"Excuse me son, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." The eldest of the doctors said, moving aside so that.
"Why, Jessica wants me here." Riku said a little angrily. Riku stood up and opened his mouth to retort back angrily which he did. "Anything you have to tell her you can tell me. She wants me here, right Jessica?"
"Just go Riku, do what they said. I'm fine, you can come back to see me tomorrow." Jessica told him, watching in pain as his face fell. She knew she had let him down, but Jessica was determined that no one find out about her one deep dark secret until she was ready to tell them. He let go of her hand, walking passed the pair of doctors huddled in the room by the door without a backwards glance in her direction. Waiting to speak until she was sure Riku was long gone Jessica sighed. "Well, what did you learn from the tests? And before you tell me the news, I already know about the leukemia so you don't have to tell me about that."
"We looked at your old hospital reports after assessing your tests and noticed, shall we say, major differences between the two." The elderly doctor sighed taking off his spectacles and wiping them off slowly before turning to look at his companion who cleared his throat and picked up where the first had left off. "I'm afraid the cancer isn't as under control as your last doctor may have led you to believe my dear, the test results show a much wider diseased area than do your old reports your last hospital sent us. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we think the cancer may be spreading."
Riku walked through the large white doors of the hospital, striding confidently through the halls towards the room his newest friend had occupied the day before. The key word in that being 'had' in that statement. Upon reaching the door of the room he found it wide open, and looking through it he found an empty bed.
"Excuse me, but can I ask you something?" He asked a passing nurse pushing a supply cart. She nodded, looking into the room behind him. "Where's the young lady that was in this room yesterday? Did she get released to go home early? I came by to pay her another visit."
"She's not at home, poor thing, and I'm sorry to say I'm not sure she's with us anymore." The woman sighed heavily making Riku feel very apprehensive. She looked him over once before elaborating. "If you want to know what happened to her, I'd enquire about it at the front desk. I've told you all that I have a heart to say."
Riku palled, fearing the worst immediately. Dropping the single white rose clutched in his hand he sprinted back towards the front of the hospital as fast as he could, skidding to a halt in front of the receptionist's desk panting hard. The man behind the counter looked up at him, a little shocked to see him so out of breathe.
"May I help you sir?"
"I'm looking for a friend of mine, she was here yesterday." Riku choked out between breathes. "Her first name's Jessica, brunette, brown eyes, and I'd tell you her last name if I knew it but I don't."
"I think I know who you're talking about." He frowned as though upset and wrote down directions and a room number for Riku that happened to be on the third floor of the building. Looking at it Riku headed for the stairs, skipping two at a time. Reaching the correct floor, he followed the directions through the halls, finally stopping in front of a door leading off to another hall with a plaque reading 'Critical Unit' above it. Ignoring this, Riku stepped inside, his eyes falling on a truly heartbreaking sight.
Sitting just outside one of the many doors was a disheveled looking Brandon, his back pressed against the wall, sobbing into his knees wildly as Sora stroked his hair whispering into his ear all the while, evidently trying to comfort him the best he could. Feeling as if in a trance Riku walked slowly over to them, kneeling down in front of the saddened pair, both of whom looked up. A spilt second's recognition later and Riku found Brandon holding him close in a desperate hug, the devastated brother crying into his shoulder as Sora continued to pat him on the back.
"What's happened, she was fine yesterday when I saw her." Riku said in hushed toned, still hoping this wasn't real. "Is she alright, what's going on Brandon?"
"She got worse unexpectedly during the night when no one was with her. God, I feel so stupid! I shouldn't have left her alone last night!" Brandon sobbed, his face tear from his tears. A doctor came suddenly out of the room beside them and they all stood up quickly, Sora and Riku supporting the other between them. "How is she doing?"
"I'm sorry to have to tell you all this, but I'm afraid she didn't pull through. Jessica has died…."
"Sir, excuse me? Sir, did you hear me? I said she's in room 144 around the corner." Riku broke out of his trance, surprised to find himself staring at the male behind the counter still. His thoughts must have run away with him, Riku thought as he mentally hit himself for thinking so negatively. "I said she's in room 144 around that corner there."
"Thank you." Riku said, swiftly heading in the direction he had pointed. Riku burst into room 144, relieved to find Jessica sleeping soundly in the bed just inside the door. She looked no different from the day before, much to his relief. Brandon was sitting in the chair by her bed doing hid Pre-Algebra homework. "Hey Brandon, I guess I came at a bad time huh?"
"Not really, she's been asleep all day they said." Brandon said shutting his book and looking up. He hadn't been crying by the look of his eyes, but Riku saw a sadness there he hadn't noticed the day before. "They won't tell me anything. Apparently they told Jessica what they found last night, but she refuses to tell me anything too! I have absolutely no clue what's going on. It must not have been good news if they moved her to this room though; it a room for people expecting to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time."
"Don't worry too much Brandon; I'm sure she'd tell you if it was serious." Riku said warmly, patting Brandon on the shoulder. Brandon smiled, shoving his book back in his bag and standing up.
"Well there's no point sitting around here, she's not going to wake up any time soon. I'll come to see her tomorrow; hopefully she'll be awake then. See you at school then Riku." Brandon sighed, heading out of the open door.
"Get better soon Jessica," Riku whispered, creeping over to her bedside quietly. He swept a lock of hair from her forehead, leaning down to plant a soft tender kiss there before pulling back. As he reached the door he turned off the lights, whispering a promise as he did so- "I promise you Jessica, as long as you're in the hospital I'll come to visit you every day so you won't feel alone."
For a whole week Riku kept his promise, going to visit the girl every day. A nurse confided in Riku as he left one night after dark that she had heard 'that nice young lady he kept visiting' tell her brother one afternoon that the best part of the day for her were his visits. Riku's friends, on the other hand, weren't as ecstatic. He had blown several of them off numerous times to visit Jessica, and it was really starting to bother him. Not that they told him to his face.
"Hello Jessica, I came back to see y…" Riku cut off mid sentence as he entered the empty room. Just as he was about to rush out on the intent of running to the receptionist desk for the second time in the past two weeks, a voice stopped him.
"I thought I'd find you here. Jessica's not in the hospital anymore Riku." Riku turned and gazed at Sora leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed looking so very calm. He walked slowly over to Riku and put an arm around her shoulders in a friendly way. "She's gone home already Riku. I was here with Brandon when her parents came to get them. She asked me if I could please wait here for a while in case you showed up to visit like you did after school everyday."
"At least she's alright then." Riku sighed, heading out for his car with Sora in toe. "I won't lie, when I saw the empty room back there my mind jumped to the absolute worst situation ever."
"Riku…" Sora said softly, his eyes full of understanding. As far as he was concerned, there was no point asking, but he had to hear Riku's answer nonetheless. "You actually care about someone for once in your life huh? I mean you really do like Jessica, a whole lot, don't you?"
"Wow, I can't believe we've been here a whole month already!" Brandon sighed, stretching his arms above his head. This is the life alright: lying in the tall grass on a Saturday with a few close friends, it couldn't get better than this. Well, it could get better than this I guess. I mean, I could have some cash in my wallet to blow on stuff for once, my jackass of a father and the step-bitch could die, Jessica could NOT have leukemia anymore…
"This is nice, I actually am enjoying myself," said Paine, the small hint of amazement in her voice making the group laugh, Paine actually joining in for once. She smiled, getting up from her place on the grass to spin around in circles holding hands with Rikku until they both fell back onto the grass in a heap of giggles. "Wow, I am so out of character today it's not even funny."
"Maybe we should all lie out in the grass together more often, if only to make Paine function like a normal happy teenager again." Namine smiled getting a reproving poke between the eyes from the said usually grumpy female lying next to her.
"It's just too bad dear old Wakka couldn't be here too. His basketball schedule is really driving me crazy!" Rikku huffed, wiggling around to get comfortable. In the end she kicked Yuna in the side, slapped Paine in the face, and head butted Paine without being able to lie still. She sat up instead, giving up on being comfortable.
"Oh well, this is still nice without him here." Yuna smiled, patting Rikku on the hand. Rikku pulled away stood up as though struck with a brilliant idea, stretched with a large fake yawn, and laid back down – only this time across both Yuna and Namine so that both girls burst out into fits of giggles.
"Now I'm comfortable, this IS the life!" Rikku said through her giggles, her arms behind her head on Yuna's stomach. Yuna and Namine exchanged a look, counted to three silently and shoved Rikku off. She fell to the ground with a satisfying thump the two conspirators picked themselves up and dashed away from the disgruntled girl. Moments later, the chase was on, Paine watching her friends as she would a soap opera on television – down her nose."
"God, they are so childish." Paine sighed, laying back down and closing her eyes. THUD! Paine opened her eyes to see Rikku sitting on her chest with a wide grin on her face. Letting out a cry of anger Paine made to strangle her but Rikku jumped up just in time and went haring after Yuna and Namine again. Promising to mentally punish herself for it later, Paine sprang up and chased after Rikku, swearing to do everything in her power to make the blonde girl pay.
"Hey Brandon, can I ask you something?" Tidus asked rising up onto his elbows, the piece of grass he had been chewing on hanging out of his mouth limply. Brandon looked over at him from where he lay, nodding. "Where's your sister? I thought you said she'd be here."
"You know what Tidus…" Brandon sat up, gazing up at the sun as though fixated on in. "I actually couldn't tell you. I don't know where she's gone to today, I just woke up and she had already left the house. Come to think of it I kinda want to know where she went too." She doesn't tell me anything anymore. I still don't know how she landed herself in the hospital last month. What's she hiding from me?
"Hey Brandon, is that your cell phone going off? It's not mine I don't think…" Tidus pulled his phone. Brandon pulled out his phone and flipped it open.
"Hello?" Brandon couldn't remember giving anyone his number, but just in case…
"Hey, is Brandon there?"
"This is him…" Brandon said slowly, apprehensive as always. The only person with his number was his sister, and this totally wasn't her voice at all – in fact it sounded like a male voice...
Namine grabbed Rikku and Paine by the shoulders, nodding over in Brandon's direction. Yuna gaped, surprised to see the usually antisocial teenager was chatting happily on the phone, talking and laughing with someone who remained unknown.
"Great, I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes then, bye." Brandon smiled happily as he shut his phone, standing up and brushing the grass of his clothes as he headed for the road. "Hey guys, I gotta go. I have somewhere else to be…"
"Huh, I don't think I have this one yet." Jessica's fingers lingered over the volume before finally pulling it out and looking for a price tag. Her eyes widened sadly as she placed the book back onto the shelf. "Who am I kidding? I should be happy with the other three I picked out. Besides, like I can afford… what is HE doing here?"
She turned around, acting as if she hadn't just seen Riku walk past the front windows of the bookstore. Turning back around, she caught his eye as he glanced through the window. He smiled at her and waved, leaving him confused when her eyes traveled right past him before darting behind another shelf out of sight.
Riku tried to look around the shelves for her but couldn't catch a glimpse of her. Giving up ever meeting up with the others at Pizza Hut as he wrenched open the door of the small shop to step inside. A flash of brown hair caught his eye as she darted between shelves away from him, and finally Riku understood what was going on. Smiling to himself, Riku took up the chase.
After searching the whole store over he was still at a loss as to where she had gone. Looking towards the doors at the tinkling of the bell, Riku saw Jessica walking out of the store with her books in hand. Rushing after her, he stopped and bent down to pick up the book titled Teen Idol that she had dropped as she walked out. Opening it, he found a note scribbled hurriedly on the back of the receipt:
Hey Riku,
I didn't know you liked Meg Cabot books too. You'll like this one a lot… if you haven't read it already of course.
Yours truly, Jessica
Okay, so things are starting to heat up between our would-be couples. Next chapter, things take an unexpected turn – I'll leave it up to you to decide if it's a good or bad thing.
Until next time!