Wow. 19 chapters. I didn't think I'd make it this far. Thank you guys for the reviews. I love them so much. Here's another chapter for you guys. Love ya!
Guest-I know. Don't worry. She's not here for long. Thank you. I will continue. If you have any ideas that you want in here, please tell me & I'll try to fit them in.
Guest-I did read it. I don't really know why you had me read it though. Do you not like it? If not, what kind of stories are you interested in, & I'll try to make one.
The gang parted ways, & there was Alyssa. I stood up & glared at her. She's the one who caused this.
"I just wanted to know if he's okay." she explained. I lost it on her.
"No he's not okay! Would we be here if he was okay? My God! Yeah. He's fine! This blood on me isn't from me trying to stop a gunshot wound. He's not in there dying in surgery! We're just out here because we want to be." I yelled. I started at her, but Soda held me back & Alyssa started crying. Parker walked her out & I sat back down.
"Who the hell does she think she is? She's the one who caused this." I started to cry again. The whole gang rushed over & gave me a hug, not caring if I got Pax's blood on us. Wow. Our second big greaser hug. We must be going soft. The doctor came out & talked to us. He was still in surgery & listed as critical. I let out a strangled yelp as I collapsed into the chair. Soda & Parker sat on each side of me. I didn't talk to anyone. I had stopped crying & conversations broke out around the waiting room. Two-Bit & Steve, Darry & Dad, Johnny & Pony, & Dally was just stalking in the background. I was frozen in my thoughts. What if he dies? He can't We need to talk. I was interrupted by someone's voice. It was a different doctor.
"We stopped the bleeding. He's in an induced coma to lower the pain. The bullet shattered the second rib, so we had to fix that as well. He's scheduled to wake up tomorrow. Only immediate family can see him right now." he explained, looking at the rest of the gang.
"They are. Their cousins." my dad lied. The doctor winked at us & left. We all walked into the room & I stumbled into Soda. I let out a short gasp. He was hooked up to more tubes than what Pony was. Tubes in his chest, his arms, & one down his throat breathing for him. He was so pale. Soda helped me to a chair. I was breathing really hard.
"We're gonna give you some time to talk to him." Parker told me. I nodded & they all left. I took his hand in mine & put my head on the bed.
"Oh Paxton. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone anywhere. I shouldn't still have been mad at you. You said sorry. I am. I am sorry." I bawled. I looked up at him, expecting a sarcastic Paxton type answer. Nothing. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Darry.
"I'm sorry kid. You need to go wash up. Your brother went to grab you some new clothes." he explained. I nodded & he helped me up. As I went out, my dad went in. There were so many people there. News reporters, the whole high school basketball team, & countless girls who drool every time he walked by. I guess that's what we get when your brother's a Tulsa famous basketball player. Evie was Steve, but pushed her way through the crowd over to me. She took my hand & drug me to the bathroom. All the gang was keeping everyone in stitches. Especially Soda & Two-Bit. I let out a small laugh. We got to the bathroom & I washed my hands real good. The water was red. Evie gave me a duffel bag, so I went into a stall, changed, & came out. Evie gave me a hug.
"I am so so sorry. Are you okay? I mean, physically you are, but mentally?" she asked, still hugging me. I nodded & she broke the hug.
"I'm still just a little shaken up & mad." I admitted. She looked at me weird.
"Why are you mad?" she asked me. I sighed.
"Alyssa had the audacity to show up. She actually asked if he was okay." I ranted. Evie scoffed.
"Uck. If you would have told me that Paxton was interested in her, I would have told you that she was a bitch." she stormed. I nodded my agreement. We walked out of the bathroom & were instantly rushed by everyone that was waiting. It was overwhelming. Everyone was asking me questions as I made my way over to the gang. This is crazy.
"Hey! Leave her alone. If you got a question, stand in a line & she'll make her way to you." Steve shouted.
"And if you bug her too much, you'll be dealing with us." Dally added. Some people left, but most got in a line & waited for me to answer their questions. A guy named Michael from the basketball team was first. He gave me a hug.
"Hey. What happened? I know he was shot, but how?" he asked. I shook my head.
"I really don't know. I wasn't with him. Before he passed out, he mumbled something about beating someone up." I squeaked. He nodded, gave me another hug, & left. The next was a reporter from the local news.
"My name is Tamara Allen from 7&8 News. We are here with Tali Adders at Tulsa Memorial. Tali, you're brother is here, because he got shot. Is that correct?" she asked. I nodded.
"And, how did that happen?" she asked.
"Um, I was mad at him & I decided to take a walk at about 2:30 this morning. I had run to a bad part of town. A really bad part & Paxton had followed me. I got even more mad at him & run the other way. I realized that we just needed to talk. I started to run back to where I left him & I heard a gunshot. I ran back & he was lying in the ground. He took his hand out from under his leather jacket & he had gotten shot." I remembered the whole story.
"I understand that before you moved here, Paxton was a star basketball player in New Jersey & he was just beginning practice at Tulsa High." she responded. I nodded.
"Yes. In Newark, he was the team captain of the basketball team & he did just last week, start practice at the high school." I told her.
"Is Paxton going to be okay?" she asked, suddenly. I don't know how to answer this.
"Um...the next 24 hours are super critical to know if he's gonna be okay. I honestly don't know." I stuttered, & I started to cry again. Soda came over & wrapped his arms around me.
"I think that's enough questions for today." Soda told everybody. The waiting room cleared out & pretty soon it was just the gang & me. Parker & my dad were still in with Paxton. They came out & I went in again. I sat down in the chair & held his hand. I looked at him, & then fell asleep, my head on the bed.
