Chapter 2: Hospital Visits
Approaching the front door, Sky paused with her hand on the door handle of her house. She could hear the thundering of her dad's voice.
"Why the HELL were you with him?" He yells at her mother for what must be the millionth time.
Her mother scoffs. "Who said I was? Why were you with your secretary?" Sky peeled the door open slowly and saw her father's face burn red. He picked up a beer bottle and threw it with mighty force at her mother. With the experience that came with their fighting, her mother threw herself out of the way. She smirked as it soared past her and landed a different target, Sky.
Sky could feel the tears prick her eyes and the blood started to drip down her face. She frantically looked around as she had promised herself years ago never to cry in front of them again. The last time they had both laughed in her face.
Before she let any of the traitor tears fall, she slipped back out the door knowing full well they wouldn't be following her. She could hear their laughter trailing after her.
She turned around, blinking at the Clearwaters house trying to remember why she had gone back to her house. Of course her 12th birthday would be spent bleeding out half her weight. Wait.. what did she need to do? Her head was already reeling and she was feeling so lightheaded. She touched her forehead as she walked away from her house. Bringing her hand back she saw the blood. How did she forget?
With a little more speed and purpose, she started walking her way back towards the Clearwaters. Sue would know what to do. She had to be home. Sky tripped and landed in one of Sue's flower bushes. Oh no, she hoped she wouldn't be mad.
Pushing herself back up she shook her head again. It was starting to hurt even more. She looked up and could see the front door right ahead. Just a little further. With the last of her resolve, she used the railing to pull herself up to the front door. She held the door knob for a moment before slamming her fist into the door as hard as she could muster. She hoped with all her might that it was loud enough for someone to hear her inside.
Sky noticed that her head was starting to get dark and she knew she was going to lose consciousness any second. She found her thoughts drifting to the day of the week and was grateful it was a Friday. At least she wouldn't have school tomorrow.
It was as she had this small revelation that the door slowly started opening. Sky found herself looking into her best friend's eyes. "Sethie..." His eyes widened as he looked down at her no doubt mangled head.
"LEAH!" He shouted with all his might for his 15 year old sister.
She came charging up to the balcony at the top of the stairs. "Seth, I am on the phone with Sam. What do yo-" Her voice trailed off as she saw Sky and the puddle of blood surrounding her. "Oh my god. Sam I have to go." She quickly whispered to her boyfriend Sam Uley. "Get some cloth on her head, keep pressure on it. Make sure she stays awake. I'll call 911 and and..." Seth had been fixated on staring at Sky in horror. Leah yelled, "Seth NOW!"
This was all it took to click his brain into place. He was shaking as he ripped off his shirt. Sky briefly remembered it was his all time favorite shirt. Some touristy shirt from visiting another state that read 'the sky's the limit.' He told me he liked it because it had her name.
"Sky, Sky you have to stay with me. Can you do that?" He asked her softly. She tried to nod her head but found that it didn't want to cooperate.
Opening her eyes she looked at him and tried to smile. "For you."
"Thanks Cheshire." Sky let out a bellow of a laugh at the mention of the nickname she had gotten a couple of years ago. She grimaced in pain. She thought back to when she had gotten it. Seth and Sky had watched Alice in Wonderland and she commented on how much she absolutely adored the cat. Probably the only cat she would ever like. She was much more a dog person. "Sorry, sorry. Nothing Funny, got it." And he kept rambling asking her the most random questions to keep her awake.
As if by magic Leah popped up out of nowhere and started talking. "Baby Sky, what happened?" Her voice was so concerned, it almost had Sky crying. She was the sister she had always hoped for.
"I...I... I can't." Or else they will hurt you guys too. Her unspoken words floated in the air and she wondered if they could see them.
"They had another fight didn't they?" She practically growled. Leah was a confidant for Sky. She told her everything that she safely could without putting her at jeopardy. "Did they throw something at you?" She was nearly screaming, Sky could hear the venom in her voice and flinched away.
Leah's features softened when she realized she wasn't helping the situation. Seth growled at his sister and pulled Sky closer in his lap. She noticed that he was shaking. "Calm... down." Was all she could manage to get out.
"Sorry Cheshire." Sky smiled a large, Cheshire smile, even though it hurt.
"No... problem... Dragon." She managed to rasp out between breaths. Sky looked up and felt her heart melt at his breathtaking smile. Sky remembered how long it took him to ease up to his nickname. She gave it to him after seeing a pair of his boxers with dragons all over them.
Sky looked over at Leah as she exaggeratedly rolled her eyes. "Alright, I guess Sky wasn't the only one to hit her head." She teased and Sky smirked at her. "I called mom, dad, and 911. Mom came rushing home right away, but I told her the ambulance would probably beat her so she is going to pick us up and bring us to the Forks Hospital. Dad has a very important meeting with the Elders tonight and said he would get to the hospital as soon as possible." Sky could feel Seth nod his head at the same time she heard the sound of the ambulance.
As soon as the paramedics got out of the vehicle, they were making their way towards the trio. One of the paramedics looked down and gasped. "What happened?"
Seth and Leah shrugged, and Sky was in no place to tell her. Another paramedic came over with a stretcher and they loaded me on. Seth walked with me to the ambulance and then the guy said, "Young man, stay here."
Sky started to panic as Seth let go of her hand. She wrapped her hand in a death grip around two of his fingers. "No... Don't leave... Seth..." The paramedic tried to protest but quickly gave up, recognizing the need to get her to the hospital.
Once Seth was inside along with the paramedics, Sky zoned out and paid no attention to anything but the funny smell coming from the ambulance...
"Doc, when's she supposed to wake up?" Sky would recognize that husky, adorable voice anywhere.
"She'll wake up soon Seth, nothing to worry about. She just has some cuts on the right side of her face, and a concussion from the force of the blow." A slow voice spoke. One that Sky didn't recognize.
"And what about all that blood" Her favorite husky voice spoke again.
The slow voice sighed as if he had explained this all before. "We gave her transfusions. She is in the clear now. We will just keep her for another night for observation once she awakens.
That surprised Sky into talking. "Another?"
"Ah, Miss Chambers. Yes you have been here since last night, and we plan on releasing you tomorrow so long as your vitals maintain as they have." Sky found herself nodding in understanding. "My name is Doctor Myers if you need anything." She nodded again and he took his leave.
Seth came charging up to Sky and wrapped his arms in a very light version of his usual bear hugs. Sky frowned deeply and he immediately noticed. "Are you hurt? Oh shoot I shouldn't have hugged you that hard. Let me get the doctor." He started heading towards the door before SKy's small hand wrapped around his wrist pulling him back.
"You are not allowed to leave this room until you give me a proper, normal Seth hug. Now. No options." He smiled and leaned down, hugging her so hard she could barely breathe. "Perfect!" She exclaimed as he let her go.
Seth let out a belly laugh before his face turned serious. "I don't want to press... no wait. I don't care. Tell me what the hell happened to make you show up at my front door bleeding out of your skull." She gave him a small smile.
"Hey, no swearing mister!" She scolded him.
Seth frowned, a big, exaggerated frown. "Sorry mom."
Sky grinned back. "Well..." She looked around the room making sure no one was there. "An alien tried to abduct me. They really are getting wild."
"That's not funny Sky. You need to tell us if something is happening. Did they do this to you?" The last part was said so softly that she barely heard it.
She wanted to tell him. More than anything in the world. But her father's threats hung over her head like a storm cloud that would never leave. "I am sorry about the flowers, and the blood. You know I would tell you if I could..."
Seth knew there was a reason she couldn't say anything. "Whatever they are trying to hold over your head, we can help. We can get you out of there."
Sky turned her head away. "Anything we do will just make everything worse. I'm sorry Seth, I can't tell you."
He sighed, "One day. One day I am going to rescue you from this madness. That is the one promise I will do anything and everything to make true."
Sky breathed in to respond and a shiver racked her body. She hadn't even noticed she was cold. Before she could protest, Seth was taking off his favorite hoodie and slipping it on over Sky's head. She struggled out of his hold so he climbed up onto the hospital bed and pinned her down, sliding the sweatshirt over her head. "Okay, okay. Seth, you win! I will wear your hoodie, but get off before someone sees you on me!"
"Too late." Leah muttered as she walked in and sat in the chair on the right side of the bed. "Honestly, 6th graders these days." Sky giggled as Seth climbed off her, red as could be.
"Lee Lee, it was nothing. Seth just wanted me to wear his hoodie because I was cold but I said no because I wanted him to keep it on." She 'mhm'd' and rolled her eyes.
It was at this point that Mom, as I liked to call Seth's mom, walked in with a slight smile on her face. "Okay sweetie, I have some good and bad news. Which one do you want first?"
"Bad, bad!" Sky screeched.
"Alright... both your parents went away for one of their trips and left you home alone. I have no clue when either of them will get back." Sky frowned. She thought she had said bad first. I voiced this concern and she laughed. "Oh sweetie, that was the bad news." A grin nearly broke Sky's face.
"Can I guess the good news?" Sue smiled and nodded. "Does it have something to do with you?"
"Yes it does Sky,
Her smile grew. "And your house?"
"You're doing great Sky."
"Okay, okay. I have my guess!"
Seth gave Sky a drum roll as Mom said, "What is your guess, dear?"
"I'm going to be staying with you until mother and father get home!"
"Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner!" Leah announced in an announcer's voice. Seth and Sky giggled and grinned at each other.
"Now Sky there is one rule, you've gotta be a good girl." Seth said, imitating what his mom was probably about to say. Sky broke out into laughter again. Everyone rolled their eyes except for Sethie and I.
"Sky, you'll be sleeping in the guest room. Though we might as well just stop calling it that, huh?" Sky nodded with a grin as Mom spoke. She yawned, prompting Sue to jump up. "Oh, it's time for us to leave, get some rest sweetheart." Sky frowned deeply.
"But I don't wanna be alone!" Seth grinned and Sky knew exactly what he was thinking. Slumber party at the hospital!
"Mommy can I stay with Sky tonight?" He asked in an innocent voice with big puppy dog eyes.
"Actually Squirts. "Lead called. "I'm staying with Baby Sky tonight." I grinned at Leah and then turned to Seth to whisper an apology. He shrugged and turned to leave, before running back and hugging his best friend.
"Goodnight Cheshire."
Grinning again, Sky said, "Goodnight Dragon." They both smiled before they broke out in giggling fits.
As soon as Seth and Mom were out the door, Leah hopped up on the bed with me. She kept glancing down at her phone as if she were waiting for something. "What is it Lee Lee?"
"Oh nothing really. My cousin Emily is coming to visit us in a 's been excitedly texting me nonstop."
Sky smiled. "She's the one you're always talking to right? What's she like?" She was grinning real big again. The Clearwaters were like her family and she wanted to know every single one of them.
Leah shrugged and looked sideways at her. "We aren't really close. She's 17 and doesn't really spend a lot of time up here. But she is probably, annoyingly one of the nicest people you will ever meet. I mean, actually yeah we are pretty close. We text every day. I guess... I don't know. I'm worried you'll like her more than me." She fiddled with her phone again.
Sky gasped. "Lee Lee! You are my sister. No one could ever replace you." Leah's face softened. She was about to respond when her phone started ringing. "Who is it? Who is it?"
"It's Sam. You wanna answer it?" Sky nodded excitedly.
Lead put the phone gently in the younger girl's extended hand. Sky flipped it open and pressed talk. "Sam!" She squealed.
Sky heard him laugh before he spoke, "Hey Sky, how are you feeling?" Sky grinned and thought about his question.
"I am absolutely wonderful! Guess what?"
Laughing again he answered, "Only you would say that while you're in the hospital. What's up little cub?"
"I'm moving in with the Clearwaters until my parents come home!"
"Woo hoo! That's fantastic squirt!" He kept going on and on about Sky and all the things they could do while she was living there, so she giggled and handed the phone back to Leah.
"Sam, honey, I think you can stop yelling now."
Sky heard him sigh before he said, "I was having a conversation with squirt over there."
Leah scoffed, "If you'd rather talk to her just say it!" She winked at Sky and a big smile grew across her face as well.
"Awh baby, I was just kidding! Please don't hang up! I love you!" Sky's mouth opened a little. The only I love you she had ever heard, outside of the Clearwaters saying it to each other of course, was Mom Clearwater saying she loved Sky.
"Leah! He said he loves you! Stop making him feel bad!" Sky screeched before she had a chance to stop herself.
Leah was blushing like crazy. "I love you too, Sam."
Sky thought she could hear the grin in his voice as he spoke. "Do you, Leah Clearwater, want to go on an Anniversary date with me next Saturday so I can express my gratitude for you letting me love you, and loving me back?"
"Oh of course I would love to go out on our 2 year anniversary date with you Sam Uley." Sky grinned and did a little dance. They made such a cute couple.
"Sam and Leah sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, First comes love! Then comes marriage... then comes baby Sam in a baby carriage!" Sky sang along with the song and made Leah blush fiercely red. Sky could see it clearly under her russet skin and grinned in triumph.
"Well, I should probably let you and squirt go so you guys can gossip up a storm. See you soon Lee Lee. Goodnight, I love you."
"Awh!
Leah rolled her eyes at Sky's antics once again. "Thanks honey, I love you more. Goodnight, sweet dreams. And feel better!"
"Thanks babe, this cold or flu or whatever is happening is killing me. I'll do my best to be in tip top shape for our date!" With that he ended the call.
"You guys are adorable." Sky turned a question over for a moment. "Does your mom mind?"
She looked confused. "Mind what?"
Sky rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That he is 18 and you're only 15, of course." Leah shook her head then thought about it.
"She didn't love it at first but got over it quickly. Besides I will be 16 in 2 months." She had a beautiful smile on her face. Sky knew Leah would move mountains to be with Sam and make him happy.
"Are you and Sam going to get married and have kids?" Sky asked, being nosy.
She thought about it, blushing again Sky added to herself, and then shrugged. "Maybe. We haven't really talked about that yet."
Sky nodded. "Leah?"
"Yeah Sky?"
"How are babies born? I know it happens when you are, and I quote "careless at the bar" but I don't understand how..."
Her eyes widened. "Ask your m-" She seemed to cut off mid sentence to go a different direction. "Okay... Buckle up." Then she went into way too much detail about sex and STDs and if you don't want it its considered rape.
"Please I beg you Lee Lee! Stop! Too much information." Leah smirked evilly and Sky swore that would be the last time she asked her about anything like that.
Sky yawned again and Leah noticed. "Oh shoot! You should get in bed!" Sky sighed in relief, no more talk about birds and bees. She turned her head and laid it on the pillow. It only took her seconds to drift off to sleep.
Sky didn't know what time it was when she woke up, but when she looked over at Leah she saw she was still sleeping on a cot that one of the nurses must've pulled in at some point. Sky could tell that Leah's conversation with Sam was still playing in her mind, even as she slept, because of the soft, content look on her face.
Looking down at her hand she realized that she was still wearing Seth's hoodie. She brought the arms up to her face and breathed the scent she knew so well in.
"Hello dear, how are you today?" Sky jumped a little and looked up at the nurse, nodding a hello.
"I'm good thanks. Can I go home now?" The nurse chuckled and told her that Mrs. Clearwater was going to be back to pick her up in an hour. The kind nurse lady unplugged Sky from all the machines she was hooked up to and told her to stay put until the doctor came in to check on her. With another nod, the nurse was off.
Sky was contemplating whether or not to wake up Leah when she heard her phone buzzing on the table. Walking over to it, Sky saw the call was from Sam's mom. She decided it must be important so she picked up the phone. "Hello? This is Sky Chambers speaking."
All Sky could hear pouring out of the phone were muffled cries on the other end. Without a second of hesitation she ran over to Leah and shook her awake. "What?" Leah mumbled, still half asleep.
Sky held the phone out, "Sam's momma is crying..."
Leah's eyes opened wider than Sky had ever seen and she grabbed the phone from Sky's hands. "What happened to Sam? What's wrong?" Her widened eyes soon filled with tears. "No... that can't be. You have to have it wrong! He can't just run off. I talked to him last night and he was happy!" Sky felt her heart rate increase, confusion and fear eating away at her.
"Leah, what's happening?" Sky asked, the panic creeping into her voice.
Still crying, she said. "Thank you for telling me. Yeah you too. Bye." After she hung up, she scooped Sky up into her lap and told her what had happened. Apparently Sam's mom tried to have a conversation with him about something and he got angry and took off without a word. He didn't end up coming home last night after that.
"But why did Sam run away?" Sky asked.
Leah shrugged, still crying. "I don't know. What if he's hurt? She said he ran off into the woods." This seemed to stir something inside of her. "I'm sorry baby Sky.. I am going to run out and check the woods. See if I can find any trace of him. I am so sorry to leave you alone, I just... I need to..." Sky nodded her understanding and practically shoved her out of the room.
Sky was still sitting on her bed, crying when the doctor showed up.
"What's wrong?" He said bewildered, eyes scanning her body for new or heightened injuries.
"My friend is missing." Sky said, crying harder.
His features softened. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks, and Sky quickly shakes her head.
"I just want mommy Clearwater."
He sighed and said, "Well, the moment she gets here, you are free to go. All she will need to do is sign the forms." Sky nodded as he took a seat on the bed.
"Before anyone else gets here, I do need to go over a few things with you. Would that be okay?" Sky slowly nodded, apprehensive about what was coming next. "How did you get injured? Your friends thought it might have something to do with your parents but didn't know for sure. Are you safe?"
If you tell anyone about what goes on in this house, I will hurt them worse than you can ever imagine. Think about that. No one will be safe. Because of you. Her father's words bounced around her head. She looked at the doctor wondering if she could tell him. If she would finally be safe. Or if he would take her away from her parents, and therefore, the Clearwaters as well. It wasn't a risk she could take. "I-I tripped when I was walking home from the Clearwaters house to my house and I caught the ledge of the windowsill because I was foolishly trying to balance on the flowerbed. I certainly learned my lesson Doc."
His shoulders relaxed and he smiled. "Well, that's good to hear. I bet you can't wait to get out of here." He continued idle chit chat with her while they awaited Sue.
The second she walked into the room, she looked around startled. "Where is Leah?" It sounded like she was crying too. The doctor excused himself saying something about papers.
Seth poked his head in the room and saw the fresh tears in her eyes. He ran with all his might and engulfed her in his arms. She sighed. He always knew exactly what she needed to feel better. "She said she was going to check the forest for him. She thinks he could be hurt." Sky stopped at that because the look on Mom's face was killing her. She buried her face in Seth's shoulder. "Where did Sam go?" It was muffled, but she knew they heard her.
Mom's frown increased, something told Sky she was holding something back. "From what we can tell, he ran away."
"But why? Last night he was happy. So happy!" Somehow Sky knew that there wasn't going to be an answer to her question.
The doctor walked back in at that moment and cleared his throat. "Mrs. Clearwater, I have those forms whenever you are ready." She looked over and slowly grabbed the clipboard. Reading through the form, she asked a few questions here and there and then signed where she was supposed to.
The whole room thanked Doctor Myers as he left the room. Sue turned and looked at the two, holding out a hand for each of them. "Who's ready to get out of here?" Their responses were quick as they jumped off the bed.
Once we slid into our seats in the back of the car, Sky thought of something she had forgotten to ask. "Um... Mom?" Sue looked up into the rearview mirror at her. "How am I going to get my clothes and backpack and stuff?"
She gave a small smile. "Already taken care of sweetie." Sky sighed in relief and focused on the forest flying by them.
When they finally got home, Sky gasped and covered her mouth as she saw the blood stains all over the carpet. "Oh no! I ruined your rug mom!" She screamed and started to cry.
Seth just grabbed her hand and started pulling her up the stairs. "It's fine, momma just hasn't had the chance to clean it yet," he whispered to her as he pulled her into her bedroom, first door on the left. Right across from her room was Seth's room, and right next to it was Leah's. She had slept over so many times in this room, Sue was right, it practically was hers. She sighed. It was definitely more her room than her own room was. Harry had her pick out the color of the walls along with the comforter. She had chosen forest green walls that blended in with the forest beyond her window and a dark purple comforter that she claimed looked best with it. She didn't think many people would like it but they encouraged her to pick what she wanted the most and she did just that.
They glanced sideways at each other before running towards the bed and launching themselves on to it. Seth just laid with his arm around Sky, silence engulfing them. He knew she didn't want to talk and he respected that. They spent a good long while staring at the glow in the dark ceiling stars that speckled the ceiling.
What seemed like hours later, and likely was, Sky heard Seth's tummy growl. She giggled and grabbed his hand, heading down for some lunch. Sky thought that mom must have read their minds from downstairs because as soon as they rounded the corner into the kitchen, she was just dishing out 3 bowls of Mac N' Cheese. Sky raised an eyebrow at her, knowing that she didn't like the stuff. Gratefully they both reached out and grabbed the bowl of their favorite meal and said their thanks to Sue.
After they had finished eating Seth brought her into the living room and threw on her favorite television show. She was too worried to even pay attention to Avatar the Last AirBender. Every few seconds her eyes drifted to the window next to the TV that faced out into the forest. She couldn't help her mind picturing Leah and Sam walking out of the woods, hand in hand. The show changed every half hour but she didn't even realize it wasn't the same show they had started with. It was 6:15 when Sky perked up where she was sitting, catching a glimpse of Leah walking out of the woods alone. Sky nudged Seth but his gaze had already followed her own and he was booking it to the door, Sky following close behind. When they got to Leah, they tackled her to the ground.
It took her longer than she would like to admit to realize that Leah was crying. Clicking in her mind, she said, "You couldn't find him, could you?"
Leah slowly shook her head, long hair flopping from one side to the other. "I looked everywhere. He's just... gone." Seth pulled her into one of his giant bear hugs and Sky just sat there in shock. What happened to Sam? And where is that stupid boy now?
"Don't worry, he'll come back. I know it." Sky whispered.
Leah nodded and got up, pulling Sky and Seth to either side. They walked inside for a very quiet dinner. Thinking back, Sky couldn't even remember what they had eaten, her big sister had all her attention. When Leah excused herself, so did Seth and Sky. They went upstairs, and got ready for bed silently before brushing their teeth and hugging each other goodnight.
Sky tried her hardest to fall asleep, but just couldn't. Not with the sound of Leah's sobs from the room next door.