Summer Boy

27.Dangers

  If Hell ever took the form of an average place, it would be a hospital.

  That's where I felt like I was when I woke up. My body was burning, but mostly my throat. My head was pounding so hard, I didn't even want to open my eyes. I knew I was in a hospital, I could feel it. I could smell the meds, the pain. I guess I should have felt lucky that I was even alive, but in that moment all I could think of was how absolutely fucked I was.

  "Chloe?" a soothing voice cooed. "You awake?" I reluctantly opened my eyelids. Those fucking lights, I thought. My eyes blurred at first, then the world slowly came into focus. Derick was sitting in the chair, holding my hand. The weight of one of those finger clamps weighed down my hand as he held it in his. His hair was dishevled and his eyes were rimmed in a strenuous red, deep bags underneath. He looked rough, but I'm sure I looked much worse.

  "Hey." I croaked. My throat ached, and I was so exhausted I could hardly sit up. There was a bouquet of fresh flowers on the bed stand, probably from someone pretending to show they care. Why would they, anyway? This was solely my fault.

  Derick stood up, coming closer and leaning over me on the hospital bed. "Chloe, honey, how do you feel? Alright?" he asked sweetly.

  "I feel like hell, Derick." I said, rolling my eyes to the white ceiling. My whole body was stiff as bored, I felt sort of paralyzed.

  "Shit, Chloe." Derick sighed, shaking his head. "They had to pump your stomach. I thought you weren't going to make it." he said. His voice cracked slightly as he said it. His eyes were glassed over, his bottom lip shaking slightly.

  "But I'm fine now, right?" I sighed, trying my best to smile through dry, lazy lips. "Stop it, I'm here aren't I?" I coaxed, thumbing over his smooth hand. His eyes met mine, and he nodded thankfully. "Now tell me what happened. What the fuck did I do this time?" I joked, smiling lazily.

  "You drank so much, Chloe. You had a point seven blood alcohol level. That's enough to kill you. They had to pump your stomach." he said softly. I could see the pitty in his eyes. He wanted to take it away, but this was my mistake. I fucked up, big time. And I would have to deal with this on my own.

  "Fuck," I sighed, looking away. "Are my parents here?" I asked as I snapped back to face him. He shook his head slowly.

  "My mom is here, she told them your parents are out of the country and can't be reached, and that she's your legal gaurdian."

  I owe Donna a big, fat thank you. And maybe even a cake, that would be nice considering she saved my drunken ass. "Where is she? I need to thank her." I said urgently.

  "She went out to go get you ice cream, she'll be back any minute." he explained.

  "Don't they always have ice cream at hospitals?" I asked.

  Derick chuckled. "Not your favorite kind."

  "She's getting me orange sherbert?" I said excitedly.

  "I told her it was your favorite." he said, grinning. "Oh, and Holly and Maxie are here too. They were so worried about you, you should see Holly. She's a real mess, Chlo. And Damien's on his way here. He told me to tell you he's sorry he wasn't here when you woke up, he just went to get some Tylenol. He was here all night long with me." Derick said. I couldn't believe Derick and Damien actually spent a night in the hospital together. I guess it was a long night for everybody.

  "And you two didn't kill each other?" I asked jokingly. He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

  "I guess not. We were so worried about you, it didn't even matter that we hate each other's guts." Derick laughed.