Chapter 3 - Scars

It all came in a blur. I didn't know what was happening or where I was. I could hear things, but they didn't make sense.

I could hear a loud roar, and splashing. It was easy to understand that I was on a boat, but it didn't make since on how I got there. I don't remember anything…except darkness.

I could hear screaming. Many people, all over the place, from every angle.

I tried to speak, but my throat burned when I opened my mouth. It felt raw, and it burned with an intensity that I'd never experienced before.

"I think she's waking up!"

Oliver? Was he on the boat? How much had I missed?

"She's alive! Calm down! Look! She's okay, she's waking up!"

Genie? How many people were on this freaking boat? There had to be a weight limit some where.

I opened my eyes, they felt crusty with salt water.

I saw Genie off to the back of the boat, he had his hands on Miley's shoulders. She was crying, I had the overwhelming urge to hug her, but my eyes widened when I saw the giant gash in her right leg. It was bleeding, but not severely. It went from her knee to half way down her leg.

I tried to move my legs to go to her, but it felt like someone was chopping them into tiny pieces when I did. I screamed in pain, but that just burned my throat making the pain worse. Well, this sucks.

"Lilly!" I could Miley screaming…I could hear her crying.

"Don't move!" It was a man this time, he must have been the Lifeguard but he was panicking just like everyone else.

I saw everyone looking at my legs. Curious, I looked down to see what was so special.

I nearly had a stroke at what I saw. My legs were covered in red, warm, sticky, blood. I could smell it, the irony rust smell, it covered me. I felt like throwing up.

The boat came to a stop, now the sounds of other Malibu beachgoers surrounded me. I saw the stretcher coming towards me, I didn't know where it came from.

My peripheral vision began to go black. Ugh! Not again!

"Lilly! Hurry, say the words!" It was Genie. He must have been talking about making a wish, "Just say it and it all goes away!"

…darkness…

…beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…beep…

My eyes opened on their own.

I had to blink a few times before any of the blurry shapes around me became focused. I was lying in bed with white sheets, no doubt a stupid hospital bed.

A looked around, swallowed, and quickly regretted it as I felt the pain.

"Lilly?" I jerked my head over to where the angelic voice came from.

Miley sat in a chair beside my prison of a bed, just a little beyond arms length. She had tear stains on her cheeks.

"Lillian!" I looked over at the door to the room from where my name had been shouted.

"Mom?" I asked, a slightly smaller burning feeling filled my throat, but not enough to stop me from talking.

"Lillian Truscott don't you ever scare me like that again!" She exclaimed while rushing over to my bedside, following her in was Mr. Stewart and Genie.

I gave Genie a look but he nodded and gave me one of his small, warm smiles. He must have it covered.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice was horse.

They all stared at me. But then, I didn't need anyone's explanation of the attack. I could see it all clearly now.

"I mean, after the…incident." I chose my words carefully.

"May I?" Genie asked politely, searching every face in the room for an objection.

Everyone nodded, Miley looked depressed. Now I really wanted to hug her.

"It was a baby shark that attacked you and Miley, that's why your injuries aren't bad enough for them to have to remove your legs. But what happened, was the baby shark took the first bite to see if you were edible and worth eating. Apparently, you taste pretty good and he came back for round two. This time he bit Miley, then let go and swooped around again." Genie explained. Casually using his hands to demonstrate the "swooping".

I glanced over at Miley, her face looked frustrated, like she was concentrating on something really hard. I'd say she looked cute, but seeing the pain in her eyes…I couldn't say it.

"Then, once it came back for the third and final time, it bit Lilly once again. This time, it dragged you down, in hopes of drowning you. You see, if you were a bird or a seal then the shark would naturally want to drown you. It only makes sense. Incredibly smart animals they are." He nodded at his own words.

"Thank you so much, doctor." My mom said, placing her hand on mine.

Doctor? Nice cover up Genie.

"So, you're a doctor?" I asked over at him. I wanted to hear this, I tried to hide my smile.

Genie's topaz eyes glistened. I suddenly felt…happier, having his eyes to stare at…it calmed me.

"Technically, no. I studied sharks and other marine animals at Cambridge." He smiled.

Figures, I got stuck with the geeky genie.

"Shouldn't I be in like, a lot of pain right now?" I asked, confusion evident in my tone. Was that too random?

"Don't worry bout that Lilly, they got you and Miles all drugged up real fine." Mr. Stewart commented, patting Miley's shoulder.

"How are Oliver and Sarah?" Miley asked them, her voice was so tensed with stress, it hurt me to hear it.

"They just headed home to turn in." Mr. Stewart answered, having a large yawn after his sentence. Was it that late? I glanced out the window, it was pitch black outside. Not even a single star in sight. The moon was even hiding behind a cloud.

"Maybe you should head home, it's really late." Miley suggested, Mr. S nodded and her hugged, then he waved to us and walked out the door. Now all that was left was to kick mom out. I really wanted to talk to Miley in private. There was something I had to tell her. Before I got run over by a truck or melted by a massive amounts of lava.

Hey, if I get a genie one day and attacked by a shark the next, I might end up being serenaded by a bunch of toads and carried off by the tooth fairy.

"I'm fine, you should go too, mom." I told her.

She looked hurt, but I couldn't handle her and her nagging and whining right now.

"Are you sure?" She asked. I could tell she didn't want to leave me, but come on mom, you gotta go sometime!

"Yes, mom. Just go, come back later." I smiled at her, trying to make it sincere. I guess she bought it.

"Well, I'll be checking in on you frequently. Don't do anything stupid, Lillian, I don't want the nurses calling me about you having a wheelchair race or anything."

"Okay, mom." I smiled, this time it was real. Sometimes my mom knew me too well.

"Hope you feel better, you too Miley." She looked over at Miley, I glanced over at her too, she still had the same frustrated look.

"Thank you." I heard her mumble.

My mom sighed and walked out of the room, glancing back at Genie one last time.

"Say it." Genie mouthed.

"Wait a second, Genie." I said without thinking. I had to talk to Miley first.

"Genie? I thought your name was Freddy." Miley curiously noted, her eyes moving to look at him.

"Well, my real name is Genie, but growing up that wasn't a very macho name for me, so I go by Freddy." Genie swiftly informed her.

Nice save, Genie. He glanced at me with his warm smile.

"What's wrong Miley?" I quietly and cautiously asked. Was she in pain? Was there anything I could do to help?

She practically glared at me, something she hadn't done in a long time. I was taken aback by this. Did she think all this was my fault? Maybe it was…

"What's wrong? How can you say that Lilly? We're in a hospital! Look at you! You're covered in cuts and bruises, and…and…you could've died! Lilly, you could've died!" She began to tear up, I think I did too, but I just kept listening.

She got quiet, bit her bottom lip and then continued in a softer voice. I was surprised at how much power was behind her slow words.

"I felt the bumps. I knew it was there. If I'd of done something then…then maybe we wouldn't be here. It's all my fault." Her voice broke.

"Miley, no! None of this is even close to being your fault. You tried to tell me, but I didn't listen." I began, I didn't know where this was going, "But…the entire time, from the moment that stupid shark first bit us…all I could think about was you getting hurt."

What was I saying?

"Lilly?" She quietly asked.

"Yeah?" I cautiously asked back, what if she was gonna yell at me some more? I didn't want that, but at least I knew she was alright.

I glanced over at her. She was staring at the white wall in front of us. The paint was so plain and boring, it really did make you feel sick.

"When you were being dragged down…under the water…I couldn't move. I could see the shark…I could see you being dragged down…the air escaping from your mouth…the giant parade of bubbles that floated to the surface…I could see Oliver and Sarah shouting my name, but I couldn't hear them. I couldn't hear anything. I wanted to try and save you…but I turned around and swam away…I swam away, Lilly…I didn't even try to help you…I didn't even think about it…I just started swimming away…I left you…I left you…"

I was crying. I could hear the pain in her voice, and it hurt me. I was crying like a baby.

"As soon as the boat reached me, I jumped on it…I started looking for you…but I couldn't find you anywhere…I could see the red in the water…but not you…I couldn't see you…" Her words had an edge to them, like she was mad at herself that she couldn't find me.

"I yelled your name…you didn't respond…I broke down, I started crying and screaming…Freddy was there…" I glanced over at Genie when she mentioned his name, "he helped me calm down…he said he knew you were okay…I wanted to believe him…but I couldn't."

"Then they found you, and dragged your body out of the water…I thought you were dead…" She stopped talking.

"Miley…" I didn't know what to say. They didn't exactly teach you how to tell your best friend that you didn't die and it's all gonna be okay even though I'm in a hospital bed and almost lost legs.

It was quite. The room, was quite. I could hear Miley's quiet sniffles. I could hear the air conditioning unit. I could hear the small murmurs of passing doctors and nurses outside.

I stared into Genie's topaz eyes. They weren't shiny anymore. Not even a tiny little glint to them. Dull. Just like the walls.

"You woke up." Miley spoke, breaking the tense silence. I knew what she meant. She was continuing her story, she had gotten control of herself again.

"You woke up." She repeated. "I saw your eyes, but the blood…it was too much…it wasn't long after you went unconscious, that I fainted. When I woke up…I was here…and you weren't awake."

"How long was I out?" I asked once I knew she had finished.

"A few hours. It's late." Genie answered. "But not to late for wishing."

He was giving me hints. I knew he wanted me to wish all my injuries gone, that's what was the most appealing.

"I wish…" Miley gently spoke, "…that none of this ever happened. My leg hurts really bad, the medicine isn't helping much." She gently stroked her cut.

I wanted to hug her so badly, but I couldn't reach her. I knew what I was going to wish for now. The only thing that would make me feel better.

"I wish…" I began, and Genie stood up in anticipation.

"I wish that all of Miley's injuries were gone." I said every word like I meant it. Genie's eyes grew wide with surprise, but he must of got my message. He snapped his fingers and a puff of blue smoke surrounded Miley.

The smoke was gone in a few seconds. I watched, worried about the outcome.

"What the-?" Miley sat up from her seat, shock all over her beautiful face. "What did you do?" She accused Genie.

He shrugged and looked at me, sitting back down in his seat by the wall.

Miley hesitantly stood up next to my bed.

"My leg…it's fixed…" Awe oozed from her words. "Lilly! Your wish! It came true!" Miley looked at me, wonderment all over her face. She looked perfect. Too perfect. No one should be that beautiful.

"Congratulations." That's the best I can come up with? Congrats? Stupid, Truscott! Stupid!

"But…how?" She hesitantly asked, looking from Genie to me.

"Can't we tell her?" I asked Genie. His look showed that he disapproved.

"Tell me what?" She asked, curiosity in her tone.

"We have to, Miley's my best friend. I can't leave her out on this." I pleaded. It must have been the fact that I had just gotten attacked by a shark that got him to cave, but he did and for that I was thankful.

He nodded and looked out the window that showed the dark night outside.

"Miley…" How was I gonna explain this? "Freddy is actually a…genie." It came out as a mutter.

Her face was expressionless. Then it broke out into laughter. God, how her laugh makes me feel…

"Lilly, I think they gave you too many meds." She giggled. At least she was happy.

"Miley, I know it sounds crazy but…just look at your leg." I figured proof was the best believable evidence I had.

She stopped laughing. She slowly bent down and examined her leg further.

"Oh my god." She muttered. "Lilly…how could you? Your injuries are way worse then mine! You're going to be in worse pain then I could ever of imagined!" Was she really going to fight about this? Was a simple thank you too much?

"Miley, this is nothing! I've handled skateboarding injuries worse then this." I replied, that was probably a lie. But oh well.

"Lilly…this is serious. You have a genie…and you wish for me to be better? Why? Why would you choose me over yourself like that?" Her eyes mesmerized me.

"Miley…before I go crashing through a window, or any other outrageously weird thing happens to me…there's something I've been meaning to tell you." I bit my bottom lip, why was I nervous? Come on Truscott, suck it up!

"What?" She anxiously asked, pulling a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I…well…"

"Lilly! Thank God you're alright!" I hate you Oliver. Miley looked equally disappointed that he had barged in an interrupted our talk.

"Shut it doughnut!" I replied as harshly as I could, but my words had no menace behind them.

"I thought you and Sarah went home?" Miley asked, her eyes narrowing into a small glare.

"Yeah, but as soon as Mr. Stewart told me that Lilly was up I ran back!" He smiled at his own sentence.

I sighed as Oliver began to give a full blow-by-blow of what he had experienced while both me and Miley were playing gladiators with a shark.

He talked about the boat, and the squeamish lifeguard. The ride to the hospital in the ambulance and how Sarah had started hyperventilating.

He just kept going on and on and on and on and on…I fell asleep on him.

AN: I just couldn't leave the tooth fairy idea out :P Thanks for the reviews, I'm trying to update as much as I can but writing these stories is really hard :D I'm trying to get as much detail out of how Lilly feels as possible. I keep re-writing and re-reading every thing. lol If you have any suggestions, please! I'll use what I can :D