In and Out of Love-Chapter 7
By MyNameIsCAL
"Where are you going?" I asked Max. Thank God I didn't have to use that oxygen mask anymore.
She was dressed up, more than usual anyway. It was almost eight at night.
"Going to see Carter," she answered. "We gotta pull stuff together so we can prove George is guilty."
Max walked back toward me and leans down to kiss me on the cheek. "I'll be back soon, ok? Try to sleep."
She squeezed my hand before she headed back out the door. Max absolutely confused me sometimes.
My arm and shoulder are almost completely healed. It seemed that my body was working from the head down. Even my ribs showed up as almost fully healed in the x-rays. The only thing that still looked really bad were my legs. Although the doctor compared them to the x-rays from before my surgery and they were a lot better than that. It amazed him I had gotten this far in a week, but this was extremely painful for me. I wanted to get out already. He told me once my legs were more stable, he'd let me go in a wheelchair. That would still be a while.
Max went out a lot to see Carter. Since I was stuck here, I was already losing her. Carter would charm his way back to Max and I'd be stuck here suffering. Nothing was ever in my favor. I thought the only god thing about the accident was that it would bring us closer, but it was also going to drive us apart. Maybe I just needed to relax and forget about everything for a while.
"Move your arm."
I begin to move my arm in circles for the doctor.
"It's amazing," he said. "Your arm is practically healed."
I nodded. "Just a little sore."
He smiled. "We'll check up on your ribs and legs later this week. I'm assuming your lung has done a nice job of healing too."
No one ever really told me about that, but I guess I was ok now considering there was no more oxygen mask or chest pain. Max stood in the corner, smirking. Humans amused us by their amazement. When the doctor walked out, we burst out laughing.
And then Carter came to visit me. Actually, that bothered me, considering Max and he were going out every Friday night. My usual night with Max. Not that she wasn't spending enough time around me because she was. I'll always be a jealous person when it comes to Max wanting someone else.
"You're lookin' pretty good for a guy who just got hit by a car like week ago," Carter said, pulling off his blazer. "How's it going?"
I shrugged. "It's alright."
Carter nodded and stood at the end of the bed. "I think we got a good case here. You guys know exactly what George was after and not to mention that evidence the police are uncovering all point to George planning this out. They're questioning him as we speak."
That should excite me, but I'm too tired and too much in pain to even care at this point, but I faked my excitement and let Carter continue.
"He'll be locked away before you know it," he said.
Pain suddenly swept through me. I winced, my eyes closing. Carter asked me if I was ok, but Max was the one to answer. "They're taking him off the morphine slowly."
I felt her hand on my shoulder, trying to tell me to relax. Could she tell that Carter's presence made me that nervous? Carter excused himself from the room and Max sat down on the chair.
"It's going to be alright, Fang," Max whispered. "Take it easy. I'll stay here if you want. Carter and I were just going to get food anyway."
I shook my head.
"No, I'll stay," Max insisted. "Let my just tell him."
I closed my eyes again, listening to her move to the door and come back.
"Max." My voice was hoarse, like it pained me to talk, even though it didn't.
"Yes, Fang?"
"Max, don't go off with Carter again," I pleaded.
"Why not?"
"Because I want to ask you for another chance. Because I need you more than ever."
The few seconds of silence Max used to think felt like years. And when she agreed by taking my hand in hers, I felt like all that pain had disappeared, even if for just a little bit.
"Alright, Fang," she said softly. "But can we promise ourselves one thing? If this doesn't turn out the way we want it, we'll still be able to get back to being friends."
"Of course," I agreed. This was my last chance. At least I wouldn't lose her completely if I screwed up again.
Max smiled. "Now sleep."
Two weeks later, I got out of the hospital. It hurt to walk, but I wasn't staying there any longer. In another week, I would be fine.
"Ah shit, my car." It just hit me now. I couldn't drive us home because we didn't have a car to drive.
Max sighed. "Will you stop worrying for once? I have my car here."
"I thought you didn't like your car."
Shrugging, Max took my hand and pulled me across the parking lot. "Well you wanna go home or what?"
There was a news van at the edge of the parking lot. A reporter, a woman, stepped out. Max unlocked the car and I ducked inside quickly. The reporter reached us just as Max started to back out. I leaned my head against the window and watched them disappear in the distance as we made our way back to my apartment.
I hope they wouldn't follow us.