"Summer," gently called Finn. Relief echoed through his voice, even more so when he saw her sitting up in the hospital bed. No confusion lit up her eyes, only concern for the others, Echo and AJ in particular, although she didn't speak her words. Instead, a half-hearted smile appeared across her lips before her attention was diverted to the cast bound around her left arm. She had little doubt her arm had been broken during the crash, sustained at the same time as other injuries scattering her banged-up body. Finn rushed to her side without a second thought, softly wrapping her in a hug as if to wordlessly welcome her back to the world surrounding her; JD followed suit shortly after, the group hug helping to comfort Summer when her loud thoughts seemed to overshadow everything else.
"AJ, Echo. Are they okay?" asked Summer, her voice cracked and broken as tears appeared in her eyes. She knew the accident had been vicious. The pink car had come out of nowhere, and the driver seemed set fast on forcing them off the road; upon succeeding, it sped away as if nothing had occurred. Although Summer doubted the car would have gotten far, its front had been mangled by the many purposeful collisions. "Have they caught the driver and passengers?" she asked, almost terrified of the answer she was to receive.
"They found the car abandoned on the side of the road, about five miles west of the accident," replied JD, suspecting whatever Maryse and Carmella hid from almost everyone else had something to do with the occupants. "They're trying to find the assumed driver now and the passengers present at the time," he added sincerely. Thanks to the updates the girls had shared, they knew the car was registered to Samantha Waters. However, they knew little more than that.
"AJ and Echo are across the hall in ICU; everyone else got off lightly," spoke Finn, suspecting Punk would still be irate; there was little doubt Summer had heard him yelling at everyone. "Punk's with AJ, Cross, and Damian are keeping him company," he added, knowing at least Seth was with Echo. Although unsure who else was, he'd seen Corey and Dean leave the room shortly after entering. However, he doubted Aleister would stay away from Echo long; the pair were like siblings. To the point, many of them joked about it and often said wherever one was, the other was just a little behind.
"Rhea and Aleister are with Architect's Demon," announced JD. "Fearless said if you're not released by tomorrow, she's bringing a few things over to make it more comfortable for you," he added. Looking around the white-washed room for the first time, he realized how cold it felt. Nothing in the room inspired hope or happiness, just bland, clinically white walls, although the large window at least gave natural light to the cold, uninspiring room. "Aleister already plans to bring some of Echo's things over tomorrow, but she said she'd freak out if she woke up to the bare room."
"Did they find Serenity?" asked Summer, her voice quiet and scared. Quickly, her blue eyes darted around the room to ensure the girl in question wasn't present. Almost immediately, Finn and JD looked at each other in confusion, that being enough to alert Summer that neither was aware she was involved in the accident or anywhere near it. "She was in the pink car, the front passenger seat. The others were the four friends she met at the mall," she continued, recalling that Maryse and Carmella had seen Serenity in the car, confirming her mind wasn't playing tricks on her.
"Serenity's here waiting to be checked out," uttered JD, his Irish accent ringing through. Finn seemed to quietly fume at Summer's side, his eyes almost glowing with unspoken anger. "Roman's with her, and no Finn, I don't think he has anything to do with it. He was pretty frantic about it when Bex and Deano informed the rest of us of the accident," added the Irish native, recalling how panicked Roman was when he was told of it. His first thoughts went to Serenity; after all, she was supposed to be with the girls on the shopping trip.
"Does anyone else know?" asked Finn, trying his hardest to keep his anger in check, although he honestly felt he was failing miserably at his self-given task. At the same time, the plaguing feelings of guilt seem to grip him as if to remind him that he failed to protect his chosen family.
"Mella and Maryse both said they had seen her, too; I don't know if they mentioned it to the police, though," admitted Summer, sensing something was off. Although she had begun to question why Serenity was there, besides a few bumps and bruises, the girls in the offending car were unlikely to be injured. Was Serenity trying to fool people into thinking she was with the others? Was all of this a part of her wicked ongoing games? Was there more to come? "What game is she playing now?" asked Summer, burning rage filling her otherwise calm voice. It wasn't long before she was overcome with the sudden urge to storm down to the A waiting room and tear Serenity a new one.
"Honestly, I think we're all asking that question," voiced JD, turning when Jey appeared through the door. His grin brightened ever so slightly to see Summer awake. In his hands was a plain white bag, and inside were the prom items the other ladies had determined were Summer's.
"Your prom things, the Bella's sorted through everything; they think these are yours," called Jey upon noticing Summer's intrigue over what was in the bag, although she never worded her thoughts. "Nice color scheme, by the way; if Finn can ever drag himself out of the anger fuel state, he'd be proud," added the Uso, placing the white paper bag on the table over Summer's bed, watching as she immediately dug through it to ensure everything was there.
"This isn't mine," said Summer upon coming across an elasticated diamond bracelet. "Maryse's," she added, remembering the Canadian beauty getting excited when she purchased the entire set the bracelet belonged to. Renee and AJ had been the same when finding jewelry pieces for their chosen dresses. Renee had chosen a sparkly jewelry set to go with her dark blue dress. It was simple in design but went with the dress perfectly. On the other hand, AJ chose to mix and match her jewelry: Harley Quinn and Joker bracelets, a ribbon headband, and a couple of rings.
"I'll get that to her," replied Jey, reaching to take the sparkling bracelet. A grin appeared upon recalling Nikki and Brie sending Aleister away with an enchantments bag, a comment to follow suggesting they hadn't been able to determine which dress belonged to Rhea and which was Echo's. The two girls had a similar style, and neither was present when Rhea and Echo had purchased their dresses. "You're lucky. The Bellas couldn't work out which dress was Rhea's and which was Echo's, so they sent Aleister with both, and the accessories they were sure belonged to the two," added Jey, hearing Summer chuckle again seemed to light up the room a little bit.
"Rhea's was the glittery ballgown and the sapphire jewelry," replied Summer, cluing the three in on who the ballgown belonged. "She wanted to be fancy but also include you, so she chose sapphires because she knows your favorite color is blue," explained the leggy blonde, recalling when Rhea had mentioned the reasoning for her jewelry choice; as for the ballgown that had surprised everyone, including Rhea, as the Aussie had intended to get a simple sequin gown.
"Makes you wonder what Echo chose," commented Finn, speaking for the first time since learning Serenity was involved in the accident but not in how she spun it to those around her.
"Dark elegance," replied Summer, a small smile coming to her lips once more. "We all know Echo is classy when she wants to be," chuckled Summer, recalling the dress seemed to combine two styles in one. From that back, it appeared to be a silky ballgown, but from the front, it was an elegant lace-detailed dress with a silk train. "All of us can be; just got to give us a reason to be," she added, knowing prom was a good motivator but not the only reason they would choose to be sophisticated for an evening. Her smile only grew up remembering the different styles and colors the other ladies had decided, from Mella's sage green number with a cape to Maryse's golden form-fitting one, AJ's silver gown, to Nikki's burgundy one, and Becky's emerald one to highlight her hair more.
"Aye, don't get upset, we'll be together again," called Finn upon noticing the tears beginning to shimmer in Summer's eyes. As if the severity of everything just hit her. With AJ and Echo being in the ICU for the time being, the school, particularly Hunter, would have to scramble to find two replacements. Arrangements would also have to be made for their exams, and the police would be involved in the school's investigation. Not to mention, prom was now in the air for the two, as was graduation. "They may not be able to compete in the tournament finals, but they'll be at prom. We all know they wouldn't miss the chance to have fun in the posh frocks."
"Like you boys being trouble in tux," sighed Summer, recalling when Renee had joked about the same thing earlier in the afternoon. "In the case of you Darklings and Dean, Terrors in Tux," she added, hearing Jey chuckle from the window, no doubt having seen the funny side of the comments. His attention briefly turned to his phone upon receiving a message from Jimmy, the twins' elder, keeping him updated on what was happening regarding Roman and Serenity.
"Got sparks flying down in A ," voiced Jey, finding it almost satisfying given the circumstances. "Jimmy keeping me updated, Little-Miss-Drama-Queen has been escorted out by police, Ney Ney gave her a piece of her mind, Drew gave Roman a wake-up call, and Jacob is laughing at all of it," added the Samoan, holding up his phone to answer the question on how he knew. Although he'd admit, he wasn't surprised his cousin laughing in the face of chaos. "Not a clue why Jacob's here though, baby bro, and the Tongas are nowhere to be found."
"Remind me I love your terrifying cousin," replied Summer. A chuckle escaped her lips upon remembering something Echo had said upon meeting the other Samoan. Finn and JD likely remembered it, too. "What was it Echo said that time? He took to life at All-Star Academy like a rubber duck to water, a giant terrifying rubber duck," she added, once again hearing Jey's amusement.
"Don't think anyone's called Jacob a rubber duck before," Jey laughed, making a mental note to call the cousin in question Rubber Duck in passing if only to see his reaction. "Then again, I have never been called pancake until Cross," he added, recalling some funnier nicknames. Normally food related. It wasn't unusual for Echo to call someone Pumpkin, nor AJ to call another Muffin or Crumpet. "I still remember when Cross called Siko a carrot, he still trying to work out what she meant by it."
"No worries, Cross once called for Dom using the term oi you chomping cabbage," laughed JD, remembering some of the funnier times when the everyday foods could be used as cleverly disguised insults, which could easily be missed upon first hearing it. "I think the carrot is on the list of insults, along with turnip, cabbage, and brussel sprout," he added, knowing the only person outside of Cross who could give knowledge on the nicknames was Aleister. Somehow, he remained the only person who could understand her way of thinking, as if he could decipher her words.
"Like Rhea and calling people Jack'O'Lanterns in July," added Finn, knowing she only reserved that particular nickname for those she truly despised, a list that only comprised two at the moment. Roman and Serenity.
"Who was it AJ called a Fluffy Muffin?" asked Summer, a smile gracing her lips once more. The nicknames and insults surrounding food never failed to bring a smile to her or pull a chuckle out of her, even when times seemed too dark and hopeless. "Was it Punk or Drew?" she asked, knowing it was one of the two. "I remember she called Miz and Corey sweetcorn and candy cane," she laughed. Still, the image of the pair with identical looks of utter bewilderment was burned into her memory. Even more so when the two were unsure if the nicknames were a compliment or insult.
"Don't be a lemon," started Jey, a grin akin to mischievous painted across his lips. "Be a rosebud," he laughed as if recalling a past student shouting those words at another.
"All you need now is a party train, a dancing gladiator, and a lolly," chuckled JD, adding to the fun, if only to distract Summer a little longer and take her mind off the accident. After all, she had her well-being to focus on.
"I got my Halloween costume for next year," replied Jey. "Remind me to ask Punk advice on off-key singing," he added, hearing Summer laugh out loudly. "Wait, hold up, is Demon still banned from that Hot Topics store?" asked Jey, recalling her mention some time ago that she was banned from a specific store, although she hadn't given any details about the store. The reveal comes as part of an icebreaker game: two truths and a lie.
"You and Jimmy still band from the hardware store?" Summer asked in response, knowing that the three boys of the New Day had also been banned from the store all five had previously worked at.
"Yup, they practically hired someone to throw us out if we step foot in the place," voiced Jey, chuckling as he remembered some things he, Jimmy, Kofi, Xavier, and Big E got up to. Everything from flying around the aisle corners on step ladders to the simpler things that would wind up staff and customers alike. "You'd think we traumatized the manager with the way he acts," added the Samoan teen, an innocent grin appearing across his lips, even more so upon recalling the middle-aged man had a permanent frown cast upon his lips, his brows always sown together in a scrawl, he seemed to be a loss when it comes to humor too. Although he did what most would assume was a smile the day he could fire the five of them and make it clear they weren't welcome to return with growled words. "That reminds me, the Lame Game. What is it?" asked Jey, being met with Summer snorting almost immediately, no doubt recalling some of the daft things used for the list.
"AJ and Echo created the game during our junior year. Aleister and I were the judges until they dared us to participate," chuckled Finn, recalling some of the things on the list, everything from tripping over to being hit with a dodgeball. Occasionally, something embarrassing would appear, such as shouting a specific word or line in a busy corridor. "A list of random objectives; the first to complete them all wins and gets to make the list for the next round. Whoever has the most points at the end of the week gets a treat," he explained, recalling when Aleister and Cross had taken it to championship levels each week, they would compete in pairs, one set each week. The winner of that week would move on to the next round. Repeating until the best at the odd little game was crowned.
"I dare all of you in the mix-n-match family, including Jey, to try it when you return to school," laughed Summer. "I'll make the lists and think of some prizes for the winner and runner-ups," she added, volunteering to be the list maker, the only thing she could do given she was being confined to a hospital bed with a broken arm and shattered leg, among other injuries.
"I'm game," replied JD, firing a message to the group chat to ensure the others knew of the dare and challenge set before them by Summer. "I've sent a message to the group chat so the others know," he added, smirking now. "Add call Jacob a Rubber Duck to the list."
"You got it," called Summer, reaching to pull him into another hug. Seconds later, he did the same with Jey and Finn until it resembled another group hug. "Call Hunter Helmsley. Papa H is also on the list," she added, knowing that would be challenging even for the Darklings who interacted with him daily.
"Does that mean call Michelle Momma Bear on it, too?" asked Finn. "And put mistletoe in Echo's room?" he added, knowing the gothic teen would murder the person responsible for the festive plant being in her room, especially given her war with it during the week leading up to Christmas. "Purposely mix up comic book characters to wind up AJ," he continued.
"You do that, she'll throw the whole stack of comic books at your head and give you the silent treatment for a month," replied Summer, "As for the mistletoe, Demon's twin will take it down ever since the Christmas war with it, he ensures none of it is around, even if he does joke about it," she added, knowing Hunter had made several jokes about the festive plant and his sister's never-ending battle with it and her infamy on the school's Christmas section of the website.
"I'll give Jacob the heads up about the Rubber Duck thing, at least so he doesn't scare the hibbie jebbies out of some poor sod," answered Jey, making his intentions clear, if only so Jacob had a heads up of what was coming and knew those of the Mix-N-Match family meant no harm. At the same time, he was alerting him to the idea of snapping at those outside the larger family-like group. "May as well rope Siko and the Tongas into it, too. Been a while since I got the chance to wind my little bro up," added Jey, suspecting Siko would question the sudden attention even if Tama and Loa realized what was happening.
"Alright, Summer. If you accept it, your task is to create two lists of equal challenge, one for us guys and the other for the limited pretty ladies," began JD as if he were a grandmaster giving their students a task to test their skills. "Prizes will be left up to your discretion, as will the number of points each challenge accounts for."
"Challenge accepted; I'll make AJ and Echo proud," replied Summer, his eyes beginning to shimmer with mischief as the dark thoughts that had plagued her before faded and became forgotten. "Give y'all a challenge too, but in a fun way," she added, ensuring each knew they would have fun with it, as the game was initially intended to be. After all, AJ and Echo had no end of fun while playing it the previous year; the rest of the Darklings were always laughing at it when they participated in the championship version. "You can tell the pair all about it when they wake up."
"And we'll tell them how much we love them, like we're gonna do with you," called Finn, feeling as if it was a cause for celebration that Summer was awake. Although in the ICU, he now understood she was there because there was no other place to put her. They'd all celebrate when Echo and AJ woke up, too. Only then could they all begin to heal together. Maybe by then, they'd have answers to questions and good news to share with them.