9 pages, mostly all chapter, one song! Yay! Haha. So I planned on having this out earlier PLUS the Insta Fame Chapter up but, My computer deleted them AGAIN! I think I've mentioned before how when my computer loaded everything was gone, including the apps that came with it when I bought it, my pictures, documents, everything. Then I had to restart it and everything came back except my recently saved documents. It happened AGAIN! My friend is supposed to look at it soon and see if he can figure out what's going on with it. So sorry about yet another delay after I promised you a chapter two weeks ago!
I re-wrote this in one night and haven't really proof read it so if it sucks grammatically or otherwise let me know and I'll fix it! I hope you all like it, the first round seemed better but, it wasn't finished and it's gone now so hopefully it's not horrible!
I don't know how long I sat there sobbing but eventually the sobs started receding.'Ok Rose no more crying, especially not in front of him'. I thought to myself. Damn him. I'm supposed to be mad at him and hate him yet here I am crying in front of him. Showing him my scars. No more. No more crying in front of Dimitri!
All of a sudden I'm broken out of my inner rant and ramblings by "Barbie girl" shattering the silence.
"I really need to change that damn ringtone!" I muttered grabbing my cellphone. Viktoria put it on my phone for Mia as a joke and I keep forgetting to change it. I quickly hit answer. "Hey."
"Hey babygirl. How is he? I called as soon as I found out….well actually I found out after you had gotten on the plane so I hoped you'd be off by now," she rambled.
"Mia it's...it's pretty bad. All the nurse would tell me is he's stable but still critical. She barely let us see him," I said then I realized what I said and really hope she didn't catch my slip up.
"Oh honey, you know him he's strong. He'll pull through. If anything he'll pull through just so he can keep annoying you and following you around like a lost puppy," she tried to joke but it hit hard.
"That's how he got in this bed, following me around," I said quietly.
"Oh I didn't mean it like that. He was coming out there because he loves you and wants to be there with you and unlike the rest of us he has nothing holding him here. Oh I'm not supposed to tell you but I'm going to anyways. Viktoria and Mase's mom are on the plane heading your way."
"Viktoria's coming?" I half-yelled shocked.
"Yea, she wanted to surprise you. She figured you'd need a friend plus she didn't want Masons mom flying on her own. Why do you sound upset about that?"
"Because…there's something I haven't told y'all. She's going to hate me when she finds out."
"Finds what out?"
"I um…I found Dimitri…and well….he's kind of here at the hospital with me."
"WHAT?" she yelled. "Shit Aj's asleep. What? Why haven't you at least told her yet?"
"Well remember me telling you about my asshole producer?"
"No? Not him!"
"Yep. Well I kind of wanted to see if I could get any answers out of him so I would at least have something to tell his family but it hasn't worked out."
"I'm guessing since you said he was an asshole that means you two aren't getting along?"
"Absolutely not! Well…kind of…now at least…I don't know. The short story is: The first thing he did was snap at me but, he didn't know it was me at first. Then we get into a huge fight and I ended up slapping him. We agree to try to work together, his psycho ex "confronts" me, he takes me out to eat, I sang songs I never should have in front of him, get into a fight with him about Adrian, then Adrian calls him after I found out about Mason and he rushes right over and flies here with me while I'm a crying mess. Then I slightly mentioned Conner. Now he's out in the hallway and I'm in here crying with Mase. So now I guess we kind of are getting along BUT I don't think that would be a good idea. I keep letting things slip." I rambled relieved to finally be telling someone about all this shit.
"Wow…Wait, Adrian? Adrian Ivashkov?"
"Yep. He heard me sing one of my songs and wanted help writing a song he's working on. after we went to a karaoke bar/ club to celebrate."
"Damn girl! Wait if he dropped everything to come with you to Texas, things can't be too bad, right?"
"He said that I STOLE his family because mine sucked so bad."
"Dimitri said that? Really? Did you tell them what they did to you?"
"I told him that they kicked me out, I ended up at that scums place and finally Olena took me in. I couldn't tell him why they kicked me out though. I'm telling you, he's not our Dimitri anymore. He's been showing bits of the old him, like on the plane but, I don't know if I'm buying it."
"So what did you tell him about Conner? I'm guessing not much."
"No, that would probably kill me. Just saying his name made me a sobbing mess. Seeing Mason like this because of a car wreck and being in the hospital reminded me of it all. He heard me talking to Mason and I brought him up. Well naturally Dimitri asked me about it so I told him that it was someone really important to me that also died in a car wreck….well because of a car wreck."
"Rose, you don't know that. The doctor said it could have been a pre-existing condition that no one had found. You don't know that it was because of that damned car wreck," she argued like they always do when I bring this up.
"I don't want to argue about it now," I sighed, exhausted suddenly.
"You need to tell him."
"No. It would kill me and possibly him. If he'd even care."
"Of course he would care-"
"Can we not talk about this right now?" I asked.
"Sure honey, but just think about telling him?" she asked. "Oh dang, Aj just woke up."
"How is my little monster?" I asked smiling for the first time in a while.
"A right terror, just like his daddy was," she laughed.
"Well he's got Aarons DNA so it's kind of expected of him," I laughed. "I'll let you go so you can take care of him."
"Ok. Keep me updated."
"Ok." I told her before hanging up. A few minutes later a nurse came in to check on Mason. Luckily she didn't question me so I guess she assumed I was family.
"You know they say it helps to talk to patients in Coma's," she said smiling softly before walking out. I stood up and sat on the edge of his bed beside him.
"So I'm guessing if you really can hear everything I'm saying then you can tell I just got off the phone with Mia. She's good, worried about you though. Why else would she have called this early. She thinks I should tell Dimitri everything…I don't think that's a good idea, plus he doesn't care. If he did he would have at least called me back…Remember that song we wrote when I was all depressed, I think I finished it. Want to hear it?" I asked knowing he couldn't answer.
I can understand how when the edges are rough
And they cut you like the tiniest slithers of glass
And you feel too much
And you don't know how long you're gonna last,
But everyone you know, is tryin' smooth it over,
Find a way to make the hurt go away,
But everyone you know, is tryin' smooth it over,
Like you're trying to scream underwater,
But, I won't let you make the great escape,
I'm never gonna watch you checkin out of this place
I'm not gonna lose you
Cause the passion and the pain
Are gonna keep you alive someday
Gonna keep you alive someday
I feel like I could wave my fist in front of your face
And you wouldn't flinch or even feel a thing
And you've retreated to your silent corner
Like you decided the fight was over for ya,
Everyone you know, is tryin' smooth it over,
Find a way to make the hurt go away,
Everyone you know, is tryin' smooth it over,
Everyone needs a floor they can fall through
I won't let you make the great escape,
I'm never gonna watch you checkin outta this place
I'm not gonna lose you
Cause the passion and pain
Are gonna keep you alive someday
They're gonna keep you alive someday
I'm terrified of the dark, but not if you go with me
And I don't need a pill to make me numb
And I wrote the book on runnin',
But that chapter of my life will soon be done
I'm the king of the great escape
You're not gonna watch me checkin outta this place
You're not gonna lose me
Cause the passion and pain
Are gonna keep us alive, someday
Yeah the passion and the pain
Are gonna keep us alive someday, someday
"Beautiful song," I glance at the doorway and see Dimitri standing in the doorway.
"Thank you. Mason and I wrote it," I said softly. He came in and stood beside me.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I hear from the doorway. I jump up and hurry to go run interference. I grabbed Viktoria and pulled her into the hallway. I heard Dimitri follow but I he stopped at the doorway.
"Vika I can explain and you can yell and scream all you want later but, right now is not the time," I plead glancing over to Masons mom who is standing beside a nurse. It looks like they were talking until Viktoria screamed.
"He's with you?" she questioned softly. I could see the hurt start to rise in her eyes. "You found him and didn't say anything?"
"Yes he's with me and it's not like that. i promise ii was going to tell you. I had no idea you were coming or else I would have warned you earlier."
"Yea I came because I thought you would need someone here with you but it looks like you have that covered," she retorted.
"It's not like that. He flew down here with me because Adrian called him." I told her softly.
"How long?" she questioned.
"I only found him two…well I guess now three days ago," I said glancing out the window seeing the sun. No wonder I'm so tired.
"Two days?!"
"I was trying to talk to him first so I could see if I could find anything out first but I promise I was going to tell you," I told her trying to get her to understand.
"You're no better than him," she glared. I wanted to physically recoil from that but stood my ground.
"You and I both know that's not true. I was trying to protect you."
"I don't know what to say. All I know is he left and you lied. You didn't tell me. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go see my friend!" she said pissed off. I know once the shock wears off she'll come around but, right now there's no reasoning with her. As she got to Dimitri she reared back and slapped him, then walked straight into Masons room without saying a word. I couldn't help but smile at Dimitri's shocked face.
"I told you she was pissed and hurt." I told him. Before he could retort Masons mom started walking back towards us. I quickly caught up to her.
"Mrs. Ashford I'm so sorry. Did they tell you how he is?" I asked.
"Yes. Now please move so I can go see my son," she said coldly.
"Um…ok. Can you tell me how he is?" I asked confused by her hostility.
"No and I don't want you around here anymore. This is after all, all your fault."
"Excuse me?" I asked shocked.
"He would have never been on that damned bus if it wasn't for you. It wasn't enough that you've lead him on for years, used him time after time, now when his family needed him you make him up and leave to go be with you in CALIFORNIA!" she yelled. She then gestured to Dimitri and continued quieter this time. "Now you go and bring this mess with you!"
"Mrs. Ashford, I never meant for any of this to happen. I told him to stay home time after time. I told him to stay home with you. I didn't even know he was headed out there until he was leaving. You know I love your son as if he was my own brother. He's one of the few people I call family. As for Dimitri that was a last minute thing and I'm sorry that upset you."
"Enough! I don't want to hear any more of your excuses. I'm going to go see my son and don't want to see you out here again!" she said forcefully before making her way into his room as I stood there in shock.
I felt Dimitri behind me but stormed off down the hall until I saw a small smoker's balcony. I ran out and stood against the railing. She's right. It's exactly what I've been telling myself it's my fault. I stood there engrossed in my own self-deprecation, throwing insults at myself, fighting the urge to cry yet again, for who knows how long. It must have been a while because when a hand landed on my shoulder I must have jumped a foot, only then did I realize I was almost sweating in my sweats, how appropriate, from the New Mexico heat.
"You ok?" asked Vika as I turned to her.
"Nope. You?" I retorted.
"I'm still pissed. Mostly at him, but I've been pissed at him for years now. I want an explanation from the both of you and I want you to tell me everything but now isn't the time." She said softly. "I talked to Mrs. Ashford. She's sorry. She said she wants to talk to you so I told her I'd come find you. You've been out here for almost an hour now."
"Wow. No wonder my legs feel stiff. Do you forgive me?" I asked hesitantly.
"Partly but, we still need to talk before you're forgiven all the way," she said with a smile. I wrapped her in a hug.
"I'm really glad you're here," I told her honestly.
"Me too. Especially now…come on let's go find Mrs. Ashford."
"Do we have to?" I asked not wanting to get yelled at again.
"Yes. She really is sorry. I'll let her explain," she said grabbing my hand and pulling me back into the hallway. When we got to Masons room, a tear streaked, Mrs. Ashford jumped up and threw her arms around me, surprising the crap out of me.
"I'm so sorry Rose! I was so out of line!" she said as she pulled away looking like she was about to cry, again. "I don't know what came over me. I was just so angry that this happened and I guess I took it out on you when you didn't deserve it. I know you love mason and he loves you too. Plus it wasn't your fault he was on that bus or that the bus crashed. Can you please say you forgive me?"
"Mrs. Ashford, thank you for apologizing but you really shouldn't you're right, this is my fault," I told her honestly.
"Oh honey no it isn't. I never should have said that. It's my stubborn sons' fault that he was coming to see you and that damned bus drivers fault for crashing the bus. I know you had no idea he was coming, heck if it wasn't for you stopping him he would have left when you did."
"Will you tell me how he is?" I asked changing subjects.
"They said he has some damage to a few organs, right now they look like there ok but they want to keep an eye on them to make sure they heal. His brain is swollen, they're hoping it will go down and they will run some tests after. He shattered his leg, they're going to need to do surgery on it but they're waiting on his brain, and he broke his arm but it should heal quickly. He lost a quite of bit of blood from his leg but they said his levels are good now. They're keeping him in a coma for today, they'll re-evaluate tomorrow" she said sniffling looking over to her son.
"Oh." Was all I could reply. She made her way to go sit down in the chair I previously occupied. Dimitri entered the room and asked me to go out into the hall way for a minute.
'I know you're going to argue but please don't," he started. "I think we should go get something to eat then, find a hotel and you should go get some sleep. There's one right down the street and you can just take a quick nap and come back in a little while. You're exhausted, I can tell so please just say yes."
"I'll agree to the food because I'm starving but that's it for right now," I told him before walking back into the room with Viktoria and Mrs. Ashford. "We're going to go grab something to eat, do y'all want to come with us?"
"No, thank you," Mrs. Ashford said at the same time as Vika said "Sure".
"Do you want me to bring something back for you? It wouldn't do Mason any good if you got put in the hospital because you started wasting away," I asked her with a slight grin. The corners of her mouth just slightly turned upwards in a very small smile.
"No I guess it wouldn't," she replied "Sounds like something he'd tell me. I guess just bring me up a sandwich or something small."
"No Problem," I told her softly. She half-smiled and I knew we were back our old relationship. She's forgiven me, now only if I could do the same.
Dimitri, Viktoria, and I, walked back towards the elevator and headed back downstairs. Soon enough we found the cafeteria. When we got in the food line I was pleasantly surprised.
"This is the food they're serving!" Dimitri exclaimed. " I can't even tell what this is!"
"That a sandwich Dimitri, you know those things us poor folk eat," I joked referring to the sandwich in his hand.
"Yes I know that but what's on it?" he questioned.
"Read the label," Viktoria smarted off pointing to the label on the top of the snease guard, thing.
"Oh," he said surprised. Viktoria laughed and I smiled at him.
"Trust me this is good hospital food…well it looks good. I've seen a lot worse," I told him.
"Yea like that meat surprise at memorial!" Viktoria exclaimed with a small smile. "That was disgusting, we never did figure out what it was supposed to be.
"It tasted like something rotten," I joked back.
"Memorial?" Dimitri questioned.
"Savanna Memorial," I answered my mood instantly plummeting again. Then at his still confused look I continued. "Car wreck."
"Oh. Why'd you go to Savanna? Why not Baia's hospital?"
"They didn't have the doctors I needed," I said quickly. Viktoria gave me a look but, I ignored it and grabbed two sandwiches, then walked away. I was trying to get a soda and a water but Dimitri reached out and grabbed the water for me. We walked to the cashier and before I could say anything Dimitri spoke up.
"I'm paying for her, myself and her," he said pointing back to Vika who was standing behind him.
"I can pay for my own meal," I muttered.
"No, you can't. You already told me you were broke, plus I don't mind." He told me sternly. I just shrugged and stepped back so Dimitri and Viktoria could get their items scanned, not wanting to argue. When they were through, I grabbed myself and walked to a table and sat down.
"Are you really mad because I bought you a sandwich?" he asked with a laugh.
"Yes. The only people even sometimes allowed to buy me food are boyfriends, family, or close-friends, you are no longer none of the above!" I said matter-of-factly.
"And last night?" he questioned raising one eyebrow. I glared at him even harder because he knows how that annoys me.
"Last night?" Viktoria questioned.
"Last night was different!" I said ignoring her.
"How?" he asked.
"What happened last night?" Viktoria asked. I looked at her confused.
"What do you think happened?" I questioned but before she could reply I turned back to Dimitri. "That was IHOP."
"Oh," Viktoria muttered. I gave her another small look. What did she think happened?
"How is that different?" Dimitri questioned.
"Because it was IHOP!" I said frustrated. "IHOP doesn't count, there are a one or two places that exclude the boyfriend, family, friends rule. That's one of them."
"You make no sense!" he exclaimed with a laugh. "It's a sandwich Rose, not that big of a deal. Besides you told me last night you were running low on cash this week."
"Yes but I brought my flight funds so I have money. I knew if I flew here there would be expenses. I'll just come see the baby after I make up the money I use now!" I stated.
"You're so stubborn!" he exclaimed. Before I knew it Viktoria was laughing hard.
"What?" I questioned.
"You two!...Some things never change…" she said between laughs. I smiled because she's right, some things never change. This is how Dimitri and I have always been…'Only this time we won't kiss and make-up later' I thought darkly. In started eating my sandwich as Vika calmed down.
"No I guess some things never do change," Dimitri said softly before starting to eat his own food. Half way through the food Viktoria started with her questions.
"So how long have you two been in contact?" she asked.
"Almost three days now," I told her softly.
"Three-days! And you didn't tell me!"
"We've been busy," I muttered giving her a look telling her I'd explain later.
"Where have you been?" she asked Dimitri.
"All over the place," he answered vaguely.
"Why didn't you visit, or call, or send a damn postcard?" she asked.
"It's a long story. Rose have you decided about sleep?" he asked in tone that told me I was leaving whether he had to drag me out of the hospital. So I naturally decided against him.
"I think I'm going to stay here." I told him.
"Rose you do look tired. The last time I saw you this tired was…well…you know," she said looking at me then glancing at Dimitri.
"I'm fine!" I said sternly.
"No you're not. You need to sleep before you pass out from exhaustion. 'You're no good to Mason if you're in the hospital with him'" he said quoting me from earlier.
"Yea you can go take a nap and come back then later we'll all go to the hotel for the night," Viktoria said. "and you can help by getting a hotel room for us."
"See, Viktoria even agrees," Dimitri said. At that point I gave up feeling the lack of sleep.
"Fine but only short nap!" I warned.
"Good. That's all I'm asking," Dimitri said smugly.
"Can you tell Mrs. Ashford and give her this sandwich and water for me?" I asked Viktoria.
"Sure thing," she replied grabbing them and walking towards the elevator.
"Let's go before I change my mind," I told Dimitri heading towards the front of the hospital.
Ps. I know the Song 'The Great Escape' by Pink, Isn't JUST a song about death but I liked using it there. Let me know if you don't like it and I'll change it.