Scream 4

Chapter 24

To say that the tension hanging in the air could be cut with a knife was the understatement of the century.

Minutes dragged on that felt like eons.

The hospital room fell quiet; the only sound coming from the rhythmic whooshing of the ventilator. Everyone kept silent for some time until Stu made the first move. "Why're ya readin' that, babe?" There was that same happy yet nervous infliction in his voice, another attempt at trying to act like everything was okay. Like nothing was wrong.

Ignoring him, you flicked a page in the book, then another, and another. Had you looked up once, you would have seen a number of emotions visible on his face, increasing in intensity with every page you flipped: worry, fear, stress. Stu looked so tense, so uncomfortable, like he was seconds away from throwing up.

Billy on the contrary, kept stone-still, only staring at one thing: Jed's Olsen's hand that was resting on your shoulder.

"Babe..." Stu stepped forward, close to losing it. There was something wrong. You didn't react to him or Billy's presences. Your expression was vacant, and all you did was turn the pages of the book that fucking reporter had given you, getting closer and closer to the ending.

This was their worst nightmare come true. This was what Billy feared was going to happen. And now that it was, there was no stopping it without exposing themselves in the process.

Jed, apperently, found himself leagues above the two men who weren't even worthy of a second glance, as he spoke only to you.

"This is the most enthralling fragment," Jed's index smoothly descended over your shoulder, down your arm ever so slowly, just shy of skimming your skin. From the crook of your arm it travelled to your hands that were clutching the book tighter and tighter.

Using the bookmarker he had previously placed between the pages, the reporter skipped the segment you were currently browsing through. You didn't know why, but the excitement he now exuded sent a shiver down your spine. "Right... Here," Jed enthusiastically gestured at the page he so badly wanted you to read.

It was his close proximity to you that sent Stu over the edge as its intention had been. Not even Billy could stop his friend as he crossed the room in three to four steps, and snapped. "Who d'you think you are? You fucking stay away from her."

What transpired next happened so fast your brain could barely process all of it. Stu lunged forward, pulling his arm back to brace for a punch, but it never made an impact. You didn't think you had ever seen a human being move as swiftly as Jed did then, avoiding the blow by ducking down and taking hold of Stu's wrist with his right hand while the fingers of his left curled around Stu's collar and grabbed him there in an unforgiving grip.

In less than three seconds, Stu was sent flying back over the floor, and you peeped, the monitor keeping track of your heartbeat picking up tremendously. The latter looked more than ready to go at it again, and he probably would have weren't it for Billy stepping in.

"Don't!" Billy warned and looped his arms under Stu's armpits, heaving him up and then pulling him back to the opposite side of the room with little trouble. "It ain't worth it. Fuckin'–Stop strugglin'."

You were in complete shock, half expecting the nurse to come rushing in to check what the commotion was about, but she didn't. One glimpse at Jed showed that he was perfectly composed, only adjusting his tie and pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

The freelancer didn't appear surprised at Stu losing his temper, bothered by Billy sizing him up, or anything of the sort. He really didn't. It was almost the opposite. He looked amused. Almost laughed, even. A certain confidence radiated from him that left you tongue-tied, like he was in complete control here, despite being at the disadvantage of one against two. You realized in those seconds the difference between mundane cockiness and utter self assurance; Jed was definitely the latter.