way I did that day on the bus. I’m sorry for d oubting you, for not being there for you like I always say I am. I should’ve gone with you, maybe then this wouldn’t have happened. ”
Drew reached out blindly and patted her hand in what was supposed to be a comfort ing way. “Don’t apologise , you did nothing wro ng. I was the one who insisted I go alone . This isn’t your fault.”
She sniffed, her shoulders trembling slightly. “But it is , I could have done something… ”
“No, you couldn’t have. You didn’t know what was going to happen. ” He paused , and then added: “a nyway , stop acting like I’m dead or something.” Sean knew the other boy had said that partly just to irritate him. How ironic could this conversation get?
“I’m glad you’re not ,” she said.
“So am I.”
She looked close to crying again. “I almost believed you were though, when I saw you in the hospital. I didn’t think you’d ever wake up again.”
“Sorry, for making you worry,” Drew’s expression softened a little. “But don’t, because I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”
“You can’t plan when you die,” she said quietly. “You could get hit by a car again and die for real next time, just like that.”
“It could happen to you as well. It could happen to anyone, not just me.”
“I know,” she said. “But I already know what it feels like to have you die on me once, and I don’t want to ever feel like that again.” Sean was surprised; he hadn’t thought it would affect her so much.
“Was it really that bad?” Drew asked.
“I came to see you every day in the hospital,” she admitted quietly. “I couldn’t concentrate in lessons, and I couldn’t sleep or eat because I was so worried. I really thought I’d never see you again and the last m emory I would have of you would be of our argument on the bus .”
“You worry too much,” Drew shook his head. “If I die, then I die. It’s going to happen one day anyway.”
She looked upset by his cynical comment. “You treat this as though it’s nothing, but it’s not. Don’t you even care?”
“ Of course I’m glad I survived, but there’s no point thinking about what might have happened. I’m still alive, that’s what matters.”
She smiled. “Is that basically your long-winded way of telling me to shut up with the emotional stuff?”
“Yup.”
She laughed, wipi ng at her eyes. “Right, sorry. I forgot that guys have the emotional complexity of a sponge. Let’s m ove on.”
Drew laughed. “That’s more like it; I’ve missed your insults. What have I missed at school?
“A lot of work.”
“Apart from that?”
She shrugged. “The study area’s been banned indefinitely because some idiots set of f stink bombs in there, and Liz found out her boyfriend was gay.”
“Sounds pretty normal ,” Drew chuckled. “ Think I’ll be the centre of gossip when I go back?”
“Probably. People have been asking me about you all week. There’s been all sorts of rumours flying around.”
“Like what?”
“Someone said that you got hit because you were high on drugs.”
“How unimaginative.”
She laughed lightly, and it carried on like that for a little while. They stuck to small talk, discussing school and work and classes. Sean had to admit that Drew was doing a pretty good job of impersonating him, and he felt a twinge of anger every time he said something that made Ali laugh or smile. Why couldn’t she see through him? He was her best friend and the boy in the bed was a psychotic dead thief dammit. He felt himself gradually losing hope as the conversation continued. All he wanted was for her to leave now, so he would be able to get some answers from Drew.
Tha t time came half an hour later. Ali got up from the chair and stretched. “Well, I’d better go home now. I have work due in tomorrow. I’ll come and visit again soon though, okay?” she assure d him.
“T hat’s fine.”
She picked up her
Drew reached out blindly and patted her hand in what was supposed to be a comfort ing way. “Don’t apologise , you did nothing wro ng. I was the one who insisted I go alone . This isn’t your fault.”
She sniffed, her shoulders trembling slightly. “But it is , I could have done something… ”
“No, you couldn’t have. You didn’t know what was going to happen. ” He paused , and then added: “a nyway , stop acting like I’m dead or something.” Sean knew the other boy had said that partly just to irritate him. How ironic could this conversation get?
“I’m glad you’re not ,” she said.
“So am I.”
She looked close to crying again. “I almost believed you were though, when I saw you in the hospital. I didn’t think you’d ever wake up again.”
“Sorry, for making you worry,” Drew’s expression softened a little. “But don’t, because I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”
“You can’t plan when you die,” she said quietly. “You could get hit by a car again and die for real next time, just like that.”
“It could happen to you as well. It could happen to anyone, not just me.”
“I know,” she said. “But I already know what it feels like to have you die on me once, and I don’t want to ever feel like that again.” Sean was surprised; he hadn’t thought it would affect her so much.
“Was it really that bad?” Drew asked.
“I came to see you every day in the hospital,” she admitted quietly. “I couldn’t concentrate in lessons, and I couldn’t sleep or eat because I was so worried. I really thought I’d never see you again and the last m emory I would have of you would be of our argument on the bus .”
“You worry too much,” Drew shook his head. “If I die, then I die. It’s going to happen one day anyway.”
She looked upset by his cynical comment. “You treat this as though it’s nothing, but it’s not. Don’t you even care?”
“ Of course I’m glad I survived, but there’s no point thinking about what might have happened. I’m still alive, that’s what matters.”
She smiled. “Is that basically your long-winded way of telling me to shut up with the emotional stuff?”
“Yup.”
She laughed, wipi ng at her eyes. “Right, sorry. I forgot that guys have the emotional complexity of a sponge. Let’s m ove on.”
Drew laughed. “That’s more like it; I’ve missed your insults. What have I missed at school?
“A lot of work.”
“Apart from that?”
She shrugged. “The study area’s been banned indefinitely because some idiots set of f stink bombs in there, and Liz found out her boyfriend was gay.”
“Sounds pretty normal ,” Drew chuckled. “ Think I’ll be the centre of gossip when I go back?”
“Probably. People have been asking me about you all week. There’s been all sorts of rumours flying around.”
“Like what?”
“Someone said that you got hit because you were high on drugs.”
“How unimaginative.”
She laughed lightly, and it carried on like that for a little while. They stuck to small talk, discussing school and work and classes. Sean had to admit that Drew was doing a pretty good job of impersonating him, and he felt a twinge of anger every time he said something that made Ali laugh or smile. Why couldn’t she see through him? He was her best friend and the boy in the bed was a psychotic dead thief dammit. He felt himself gradually losing hope as the conversation continued. All he wanted was for her to leave now, so he would be able to get some answers from Drew.
Tha t time came half an hour later. Ali got up from the chair and stretched. “Well, I’d better go home now. I have work due in tomorrow. I’ll come and visit again soon though, okay?” she assure d him.
“T hat’s fine.”
She picked up her
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