The Professor

VI

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*...

The sound of an EKG registers in my head and I regain my consciousness. I'm in a hospital

My eyes shoot open and I frantically scan the room the EKG beep sound starts to speed up

My body is so sore. I feel like I got hit by ten busses and fell off a cliff

'How did I get here? What happened to me?' I thought as I tried to find answers

I was shocked to see a big coat jacket and a tie on the couch in the side of the room

Someone stayed in here with me. But who? I don't know anyone like that and my only other friend isn't talking to me

I hear a deep voice from outside and quickly close my eyes and pretend like I'm still unconscious as they come in

"I don't know ok?! It's a bit complicated.."

Is that Mr. Romano?! What the hell is he doing here? I struggle not to give a reaction

"Ok we'll talk later. I'll text you when we can meet up....yeah...and Luca please.."

I feel a hand caress the side of my face

"Find who did this to my girl"

Butterflies swarm in the pit of my belly. I hear him hang up and sigh

I figure this is an appropriate time to wake up

I open my eyes and gauge a reaction from him

"Ruby? You're awake" He says with apparent shock

"How did I get here?" I ask trying to get straight to the point

"I found you in an alley. You were beat up pretty badly. I brought you here and that was about two days ago"

He says with a pained look on his face

I don't who could've done this to me. I try to be nice to everyone

Thoughts flood into my head and I get overwhelmed, and tears fall from my eyes

Mr. Romano instantly wraps me in a bear hug and his woodsy scent envelopes me

"I'm so sorry this happened to you. I promise I'll find who did this." he tells me reassuringly with a slightly scary tone

 "We're getting you out of here" he tells me as he gets his things together and calls a nurse to discharge me

"I have to call my roommate, she's probably freaking about me" I tell him worried about her

"I already called your friend Lily. She came and left right after you got out of surgery. Didn't look too concerned if you ask me"

He said her name like it tasted disgusting

I don't say anything more, too shocked to say anything

My best friend who I've known for years doesn't even care to check up on me? 

No get well card? No balloons? Nothing?

I say nothing more as my heart feels like it's getting stomped on

                       ..................................

We check out quickly and he carefully walks me to his car

The ride was silent, and I appreciated the quiet. I'm still trying to process everything

I got jumped by three big dudes, my supposed best friend doesn't give a fuck about me

And the only person who seems to care about me is my sex God of a professor

My life is amazing right now

As I look out the window, I realize we pass the Princeton campus

"Hey, you passed the campus" I say looking at him for the first time the whole trip

"I know" he responds in a monotone 

"So where are we going" I ask him 

He turns and looks at me as we sit at a red light 

"My place...."

       
                     ..................................