Hi guys! I know this is a quick update, but I felt like writing today. Finally, a chapter that it over 900 words, lmao. I hope you guys enjoy. :B
A day or had passed and Rose had not bothered Dave since. Of course, he was pleased about the silence, but he couldn't help feel a twinge of worry. He hadn't exactly been nice to her the last time they spoke and now she hadn't talked to him for so long.
Next time she came up to ask him if he was eating dinner, he planned to accept since he'd gotten so hungry. Not eating can do that to someone. But since she hadn't come up, he got off his ass and pushed open his door. "Rose?" he called, "you home?"
No answer.
"Rose?" he called again. Still no answer. By this time, his worry grew. He sped down to his mother's room, knocking furiously, "Mom?"
No answer. No answer. No answer. No matter how much he knocked, he got no answer. He pushed the door wide open and glanced around anxiously. His mother was nowhere to be found. He was actually relieved at this fact because at least she wasn't answering because she'd overdosed or something worse. If she wasn't here, she was probably out with Rose, but where? That was the question.
Dave retreated to the kitchen, now calmer. He pulled out a box of Derse O's from the cupboard. They were kid's cereal but he had always liked them. He poured them out into a bowl and grabbed the milk from the fridge, sitting down at the table. He hadn't realized how lonely it was until he was sitting down at the table. In the past, when he would join Rose and his mom, dinners were eaten together. Occasionally Jade would join them as well and they would have fun. They chatted about many things as they ate great food cooked by mostly Rose and his mother. A soft smile came to his face as he remembered those times. His Bro was a pretty horrible cook. There was never anything in the fridge but swords from his gangs and creepy puppets lying about. He liked to eat with Rose and his mom, but just being with his Bro was fine with him too. They joked, rapped together and make sick beats. His Bro taught him how to fight and that was a lesson Dave wouldn't soon forget.
It was hot outside. Summers in Skaia were very hot. Dave and his Bro had been out in a training field outside Lan's Dojo for hours without a pause. Dave had learned valuable techniques that day and he learned how to sneak up on his enemies without getting caught.
Fighting with his Bro was fun.
His smile faded as he remembered the blood—the dead body lying in front of him. He shook his head, staring down at the cereal. He wasn't really hungry anymore, but all this not eating really was taking a toll on his body, so he figured he'd better do it.
He took a bite and squeezed his eyes shut as he swallowed. Eating was hard when you wanted to choke with sobs.
Eventually, Dave had managed to finish his cereal, although it had taken him so long that the remnants were soggy as hell. He stood up and put the bowl in the sink. What did he want to do? He didn't know, but he needed to get out of his stuffy house. He felt like he was suffocating from all the horrible memories.
But they weren't all bad. The memory of Jade and Rose bursting in on him while he was trying to take a shit still haunted him, but when he thought about it, he couldn't help but laugh. They needed a third opinion, Rose said, and Dave was who they thought of first. Dave didn't even know what they were arguing about and he never got to know, because the moment they barged in, he'd let out a shriek—a manly shriek and the girls giggled and laughed. They asked him about his opinion, but Dave was too preoccupied trying to cover his manhood that he didn't hear.
"Maybe you didn't notice," he'd said, "but I'm trying to use the bathroom here!"
Rose and Jade just looked at him as if they didn't care, but he eventually managed to make them leave. That very day was why Dave always locked his bathroom door, even when he was alone at home. He really didn't feel like taking any more chances.
There were more memories though, like sorting through Christmas presents, learning how to cook a Valentine's cake with Rose for Jade, laughing over sitcoms, watching their neighbours from the back window as he was dragged around by his monstrous dog.
They were all good memories. Even the bad ones, Dave decided, he wouldn't get rid of, because all of them—all the good moments, all the pain, all the joy and all the sadness made him who he was today. Someone strong.
He was strong. He knew he was because if he wasn't, he would have died long ago.
A ring from the doorbell brought him out of his thoughts. He looked toward the door, not really wanting to move, but it could have been Rose and his mom returning. He walked over to it and pulled it open. Even though he was wearing shades, the light was still strong. Probably because he'd been cooped up in his room for hours on end.
"Dave!" the voice that greeted him was an overly cheerful one. Jade.
"What are you doing here?" he answered, not trying to sound rude.
"I have something to show you!" she smiled brightly. She turned to her side and rummaged through her bag, "It's in here somewhere…"
Dave stood at the door, awkwardly waiting for her to find whatever it was that she was looking for. "Jade, I don't mean to be rude, but if you're—" before he could finish, she jumped and yelled, "I found it!" She was holding a blank little card.
"What's that?" Dave asked.
"It's for you. You're going to decorate it," Jade said with a bright smile.
"What?" Dave made a face. He was really not in the mood for whatever she was going on about.
"It's going to be a Get Well Soon card," she answered.
"Oh, Christ," Dave sighed. "Is this another ploy to get me to visit the hospital?"
"I'm not tricking you, Dave," Jade's smile was softer now. "It's Rose. She's in the hospital."
Behind dark shades, Dave's eyes widened. He felt his stomach drop. Jade continued, "Your mother is with her now and she's fine; she's awake, so you need to make her a card."
Dave looked at her like she was insane, "Make her a card? I should go visit her!"
Jade shook her head, "Dave, just trust me, okay?"
Dave didn't know what to think. Of course, Jade was one of the smartest people he knew, so if she said something, he wanted to believe her, but this… He was so confused. "How did she get there? Is she hurt?"
"No," Jade giggled, "She's going to be absolutely fine. Actually, she did something fantastic."
"Fantastic?" Dave raised an eyebrow. He was relieved to hear she was fine, but what was it that she did?
"While it's going to take her a while to recover, she did something really great," Jade was very happy and Dave had no idea why. "Are you going to decorate that card or not?"
Dave sighed, rubbing his temples, "Alright, I'll do it." He stepped aside, motioning for her to come in. She skipped inside and over to the kitchen table. She noticed the opened Derse O's box and sighed, "Really Dave?"
"There was nothing else to eat," he mumbled.
"Call me next time, silly. I'll cook for you, you know I'd be happy to," she said.
He nodded, "I'll remember that."
The two sat across from each other as Jade pulled out a variety of colored markers, glitter glue and stickers. "This has to be beautiful, so put lots of effort into it," Jade said.
"Right, okay, but what exactly did Rose do that was so great?" Dave wondered, still not putting the pieces together.
Jade giggled, "You'll see in time."
Dave sighed, "Yeah, yeah." The two continued to pick out different items to decorate the card with until they were completely done. They'd spend over an hour on it, but it was well worth it. The end product did look smashing.
"It looks fantastic," Jade said. "We can give it to her, shall we go?"
"What? Now?" Dave was stunned. It was all so sudden. "Can we visit her?"
"Of course. After this operation, most people can go home afterward, but Rose is staying a bit longer because she has a pretty weak stomach," Jade said.
"O…kay," Dave said, still very confused. "Let's go, then. I want to see her."
So, go they did. The two friends hopped aboard the bus and drove down to the Skaia Hospital. Dave waited anxiously for the bus to stop and when it did, he and Jade bolted out and into the hospital lobby. Jade walked up to the receptionist and acquired Rose's room number. It didn't take them long to get up there, but when they did, they saw Rose, lying on a hospital bed and Dave's mom was sitting next to her. They were smiling.
"Dave," Rose said, looking toward the door. "How nice to see you. I was wondering when you were going to get here."
"Of course I'd come," Dave said, walking up next to her. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, "I didn't feel much pain at all. I was unconscious for the most part."
"What did you do?" Dave asked. Rose looked past him at Jade, who gave a little shrug. Rose bit her lip. She didn't want to tell him just yet. She wanted him to see for himself that John was going to be okay. She wanted it so badly and if she told him what she'd done, the surprise would be ruined.
"I was a kidney donor," Rose lied. "There was a little boy with failing kidneys, so I helped him out."
"Just like that?" Dave asked.
"Yes, well, you know how I've always had a soft spot for children," she said.
"Jesus, Rose," Dave let out a huge sigh, "I was scared you know. When Jade first told me you were in the hospital, there was a moment that I thought I was going to throw up."
"Sorry for worrying you," she reached out to give his hand a small squeeze, "but I'm fine. I'll be back at home sooner than anything and I'll make you dinner."
"No," Dave said. "You can relax. You just went through surgery, for Christ's sake. I'll make you and mom dinner this time."
"You don't have to do that," their mom said.
"I want to," Dave stated firmly.
Rose and their mother exchanged joyful glances. "Alright, Jade, would you like to join us for dinner tonight?" their mother asked.
Jade smiled, "Thank you, I'd love to."
Dave thought for a moment. It was like old times. Everyone was gathering for a dinner he was going to cook them. Rose taught him how to cook basic food, but he wanted to do something better. He wanted to cook something great because he cared about these people. He cared a lot and he was an idiot for making them worry. That, he knew, but sometimes he couldn't help it. It was the way he was, but it was something he was working on.