CHAPTER 13: INTERFERENCE

For one straight week, I camped at dad's hospital room. My bag was crammed in one corner of the room and all I unpacked were a couple of sweat pants and loose shirts and my toiletries.

Dad was getting better. He was sitting up a few days ago and was muttering short phrases to us. He was yet to regain his strength, but his progress was good.

I leaned forward on the window, looking down on the street in front of the hospital.

"Blake..." I heard my dad whisper softly. I walked over and helped him sit up on his bed. "Why are you...still here?"

"To watch over you." I sat beside him.

"Go home..." I smiled at him as he slowly brushed a hand against my cheek.

"No." I said defiantly.

"...your mum...will take care of me..." He was struggling, but he was really getting better.

"And I will, too." He shook his head slowly. "I'm staying until you get out of this place."

"...at least...go and unpack..."

I planted a kiss on his cheek and replied, "I will as soon as they get back. Go to sleep, dad."

A few days after promising dad I'll unpack at home, I did. It was then that I realized I had neglected my cell phone and everyone else who contacted me through it. I looked at it. twenty missed calls and twelve messages. Wow.

I dialled Rachel's number.

"Hey." I greeted slowly.

"Blake? Gosh! I thought you'd be dead by now!" She sounded relieved.

"I'm that rotten, huh? I'm so sorry." I rub my temples slowly.

"No you're not. I'm just worried. What happened?"

"Dad. Heart attack. Go figure." I shrugged to myself.

"Well, is he okay?" Her voice was softer now.

"Dad's coping." I hold my breath for a few seconds, then I go right ahead and ask, "How's Danny?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" She said matter-of-factly.

"I haven't talked to him in a while, to be honest."

"I guessed. The lad's been in my apartment almost everyday since last week." Her voice was still soft, but I hear a bit of accusation.

"I guess I owe him a phone call. Talk to you later?" I sighed softly.

"You better. Bye."

I sighed again, louder this time. It's ironic that I feel scared about calling Danny. He always made me feel better. Always.

"Danny? It's me..." My voice faltered.

"I know..." He replied rather coldly.

"Can I start with 'I'm sorry'?" I closed my eyes, my throat already dried up.

"Apology accepted. Now give me a reason." This was a side of Danny I was always scared to see. And now that I've seen it, it's a side of him I couldn't believe existed.

I sighed and sat on my bed. "Dad...he's had a heart attack. Had to be here for him."

"Would it hurt to call me two minutes or even just send me a text then?"

"Guess not. And I'm sorry. I just feel really guilty about not being around when it all happened." My throat was closed up too.

"When will he be out of there?" I can sense concern, but his voice was still cold.

"One more week." It sounded like a whisper. I was tired.

"So you'll be a ghost for another week?"

"Possibly. I'm really really sorry."

He sighed. "It's okay. We need to have a one on one after you get back over here though." He didn't sound mad. Not anymore, but he wasn't totally forgiving either.

"I'll talk to you soon. Love you." I said softly.

"Tell you mum and dad I said 'hi'. Good bye, Blake." With that, the line went dead.

I don't blame him for getting angry. He had every right to be angry. I can't help myself though. How would you feel if something bad happened to someone in your family and you were the last to know?

I got in my bed, pulled the covers over my body and closed my eyes. At that very moment, memories of Danny started flashing through my mind like a movie.

I hope he's not mad enough to break up with me. I don't know what I'd do if he did.

"I miss you more than you think..." I breathed quietly as I drifted off to sleep.

To be continued...