back again | [dahlia&anabel]

[jason andrew irving]

The car door slammed behind Jason as he stormed towards the door of the dreaded building, glowering slightly. He didn’t want to return to the hospital, but Dahlia had made a good point and over the past week his ribs had only started to feel worse. To say the least, he was crabby. It didn’t help that the only time he had been able to make an appointment was when Anabel was in class. At least Dahlia had agreed to come with him, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go alone. Now, he was irritated, dreading what he could potentially find out as he sulked into the building, finding the “outpatient” floor and traveling there via elevator, a very unamused look on his handsome face. Still scowling as the doors opened to his floor, he made his way to the receptionists’ desk, giving them his name before dragging his feet to one of the uncomfortable chairs they had in the room, hoping Day would arrive soon.

He wondered what Annie was up to, how her class was going, allowing his mind to wander to push his stress away. Yes, he was worried. Usually, when he was in the hospital, it wasn’t anything painstakingly difficult; in and out quickly, stitches or an x-ray or two. Hopefully, this time would be the latter and just as quick as usual. He didn’t want to be trapped here again, not after last time. He shivered as the unwanted thought of his ICU room drifted into his mind, imagining what he had looked like lying there. Bruised, broken, half dead. He didn’t want to go through that ever again. Never did he want to see the pained looks on his friends’ faces when they saw him there; that had been just as painful as his broken bones. Even with all of the suffering caused by the accident, at least one good thing had come out of it. Anabel had insisted upon moving in with him, even though he insisted he didn’t need to be babied. If that had never happened, he highly doubted they would have even discussed marriage, much less be planning a wedding.

Not long after he sat down, Day arrived and his nerves subsided ever so slightly, a small smile appearing on his stressed face. After waiting for a short while longer, time passing much more quickly than it should have, he heard his name and he stood up slowly, dreading everything he could possibly be finding out in a short amount of time. Smiling slightly to the nurse, he nodded his head when she asked if that was him and led him down a long, narrow hallway to a room, Dahlia right along with him. The nurse shut the door behind them, saying the doctor would be in shortly as he sat down in one of the chairs, his eyes clearly showing how unhappy he was to be here. After glancing over at Day for a moment, he sighed pushing back his nerves and telling himself it wasn’t going to be anything unusual, he was just going to ache for the rest of his life. That was a fantastic thought, not able to do anything he enjoyed doing without being achy afterwards.

Jason’s unhappy thoughts were pushed aside as his doctor walked in, smiling. He recognized the man’s face; after blacking out in his car almost immediately after being hit and then coming back to consciousness in the ambulance, he had blacked out again when he was being rushed into the hospital, apparently going into shock. Awakening from that second loss of consciousness, this doctor was the first person he had seen and Jason would never forget the words that he had spoken. This doctor had told him he was lucky…but he’d need surgery. Jason knew he should have gone back a few times after that week, just to make sure everything was okay, but he didn’t want to be told he had to spend a few more days stuck in a tiny room, laying in an uncomfortable bed, or worse, that he needed surgery again, so he had put off making the appointment until he decided he didn’t have to go back. At least, until he realized his ribs were always aching.

Sighing yet again, he nodded his head when he was told they were going to take x-rays and do a few other tests. Not something he had never done before, no, but aggravating none the less. His eyes shifted uneasily to Day, not sure how she’d take this. Had she ever been forced to go through these tests before? He groaned inwardly as he was led to one of the many testing machines, not looking forward to everything he had to be put through. Again. What if they did find something still wrong with him?

wearing; here
driving; this

[dahliaanderson]

Tapping her pen, Dahlia sat in History with her book in front of her. She couldn’t concentrate. She was dying to leave, just so she could be there for Jason. She knew that he would most likely already be there, and so she knew that he would be waiting for. Hating to keep him waiting, she was stuck in class. She’d already finished her homework and everything, packed up and ready to go. Just wanting to leave, she was impatient. She sat staring at the clock, aggravated when she actually read the words underneath it; ’Time will pass…will you? Hell yes, she would pass. She was one of the best students, and of course she would pass. She just wanted to get out of there. Wanted to get to Jason, though that was usual. But right now he was needing her, and she wanted and was going to be there for him. There were only two more minutes left, and she started tapping her foot as well. It just got worse and worse, sitting there.

Finally, the shrill bell rang and she sprinted out of class, ignoring the irritated people she maneuvered around who grumbled. They didn’t matter at that moment. She got to her car, unlocked the doors and threw her stuff in. Throwing the keys in, she hit threw it in reverse and pushed the petal down to get to the hospital. She didn’t speed, she only went about five miles an hour over. It was hard no to, but that wasn’t the moment to get pulled over, she knew. So she abided by the laws, and finally got to the hospital parking lot. Locking the doors and getting out, she ran to the door sprinting. Catching her breath, she scanned the waiting room when she got there. Her eyes finally rested on his handsome face, and a little smile came on her face when she saw the uneasiness in his. Sitting down with a huff next to him, smiling a little bigger at his smile, she didn’t really think when she punched his shoulder playfully, ”Oh, you’ll be fine, Jason. Don’t be a baby on me.” She smiled at him, hoping to resolve a little more tension. She patted his hand that was on his knee in a friendly way, and giggled a little. She knew how he was with jokes, and she knew that he’d do the same to her.

When the nurse came and started to lead, she was only a foot from Jason. She was determined to be there for him, to be strong. On the outside, she knew she looked unworried and controlled. But deep down, she was a little worried. She hated the look on Jason’s face. The worry and fear in his eyes was bothering. It rubbed off on her a little. But really, what could be the worst thing? They’d repaired him, so really maybe there was just one last thing they needed to do. Of course there was a part of her that wasn’t nearly as optimistic, and it was nagging at the back of her mind, but she was determined not to listen to it. But there had to be a reason why he was still in pain, three months later…

No, she told herself. She wasn’t going to think bad, she was going to be there for Jason, just as she promised him and herself. Sitting down next to him, she patted his shoulder this time. ”You’ll be fine, Jason. Relax.” Her voice was calm and kind, sweet and affectionate. It was how she felt, too. She was optimistic that it wasn’t going to be much. She smiled at the doctor when he came in, and nodded at Jason in encouragement. She just wanted him to be better, that was all she wanted. She wasn’t really worried when they said they needed x-rays. She was actually fascinated. She herself had never had to have one, and she wondered how it worked.

She followed them in the room, her eyes scanning over the equipment. It was all so different, and she nodded to Jason in a kind way, trying to show him he’d be OK. And she was pretty sure of that as she sat down to wait in a chair nearby. There wasn’t going to be anything wrong, she told herself over and over. He was fine. He’d always be fine. He was mostly happy, and he could move. He was a great person-and he didn’t need or deserve this. He’d be fine…right?

OOC:
Words; 802
Comments; Nah.
Links; Clothes

[jason andrew irving]

A reserved laugh slipped from him when Dahlia joked around with him, his smile growing slightly. “Fine, fine.” Just having her there was more than enough. It sounded ridiculous to him, but he needed the support from someone. He felt awful that he hadn’t been able to get an appointment when Anabel could be there, but he needed to get in before he started to put it off again. Besides, Day was his best friend. Her being there was the next best thing to Annie being there. She could bring a smile to his face any time.

Sitting in the actual examining room, Jason was surprised at how calm she looked. He wished he could look like that, but no matter how hard he’d try to hide it, he knew his eyes would give away what he was really feeling. Her calm voice relaxed him and he took a deep breath, resting his head against the wall behind him, closing his eyes for a moment. Sitting like that, he laughed slightly at the words that her soothing voice had spoken. “I sure hope so,” he said quietly. Opening his eyes when he heard the door opening, he glanced towards Day to see her encouraging smile. He wished he could be half as optimistic as she was, but just being here brought him down. Hospitals had been part of his life for the longest time; between him needed stitches and his parents working there, they had just been something he was use to. Only now did they make him uneasy.

Jason was obviously just as unhappy as he had been the entire day as he walked into the room with the x-ray machine, giving it a cold look as the doctor explained everything. He had heard it all before, but not in Utah. At home in New York was where he had heard the whole talk before and it was no different here. His doctor told him to take off his shirt for the x-rays, since what they needed to see was underneath of all of the buttons and cloth, and Jason looked at Dahlia, shooting her a teasing look, wiggling his eyebrows. As he threw his shirt in the chair where he had been sitting, his eyes avoided Day’s, knowing where her eyes were going to fall; everybody’s eyes lingered in the same place. Along that long, thin line that slid down his side. The doctor left the room and Jason grinned at Day. “Go along. I don’t think you want to be exposed to the whole radiation thing and become some crazed mutant. Look what it’s done to me.” His tone was joking as he attempted to shoot back the jokes that she had been teasing him with earlier, but his eyes never quite met hers. “Go on, you can see him torture me through the window in the room where he is.”

----------------------------------------------

Finally, the x-rays were done and Jason and Day were back in the previous room, waiting for the doctor to show up with the results. He was still stressed, it showed, but he was trying to push it back, joking around slightly with her. “Have you ever seen bones before?” He had. Never his ribs, but various other bones. Mainly from falling off of his horse and landing in an awkward position. He sighed, feeling uneasy again as the thought of what could go wrong slipped back to his mind. Turning his gaze on to her, he smiled. And it was a real smile this time. “Thanks for coming. You know you didn’t have to,” he said quietly, knowing it helped him to have her here. If she wasn’t sitting beside him, he would have been contemplating everything that could be wrong with him and everything that could happen to him.

What felt like a year later, the doctor walked back in, holding something in his hands that had to be the x-rays. Before showing them, he asked Jason if he could pinpoint where exactly the aches and pains from his side came from. After shooting a questioning look towards Dahlia, he nodded his head, running his hand along the lower portion of his ribcage. The doctor nodded his head, obviously expecting that. “Well, I can see why after looking at these,” he said, hanging up the photo-like objects and adjusting the lighting. It was weird for Jason to see all of the pins and plates holding his bones together and he shifted closer to Day subconsciously, needed her support. The doctor went on to explain that originally, they hadn’t been too worried about his lower four ribs, they seemed to be okay, but two of them weren’t healing right. Glancing at her uneasily, Jason waited for what had to come next, assuming what it was. “If it hadn’t been so long since the accident, I wouldn’t be so concerned about it, but since it has been a while, I’d suggest surgery…” Jason didn’t hear the rest of it, sitting down in one of the chairs and closing his eyes. He had gone perfectly fine for twenty one years of his life, but it seemed like now the world was trying to kill him, or at least scare him to death. “It’s not going to be anything like the previous one, it’ll take an hour tops and it’s not going to take nearly as long for you to heal.” He sighed, preferring not to go through with it, but if he was still in pain, there was no telling how long it would last if he didn’t. Besides, between Dahlia and Anabel, the two would probably strap him down and force him to go through with it. His doctor said he’d let him think about it, Jason had heard those words before, and he’d be back shortly. As the door shut behind him, Jason sighed loudly, glancing at Dahlia. “Well…?” The one word seemed to sum it all up as he rested his head in his hands, feeling helpless, weak. It was a feeling he had a lot of lately and one he absolutely hated.

wearing; here
driving; this

[dahliaanderson]

Smiling at her best friend, Day slouched just a little and sighed. Hospitals were rather unwelcoming; she’d never really liked them. People died and were only tended here because there was something wrong with them. Then again, it was here that they saved Jason, and of that more respect was for the place. She laughed at him teasingly, and shook her head. She looked at him with question in her eyes, ”Jason, if you don’t like it here so much, then why are going going to be a doctor?” It didn’t make much sense. Seriously. Hating hospitals, but having to work in them every day? That didn’t make any sense. Well, yet. She was sure that Jason would put it In a way that would make her understand. That was what he usually did.

Watching his face relax at her calm words, she smiled. She knew this was hard for him. It wasn’t like she wanted him to be all that much, but if it helped him, why not? It was strange how things seemed to change when you loved someone. It didn’t matter how uncomfortable you yourself was, it was how they felt. That was what ended up mattering to you. Sighing, she felt the sleep she hadn’t got from studing last night catch up with her a little. She leaned her head down a little, and it ended up sitting on his shoulder. Making sure it didn’t make him uncomfortable, she sat there for a moment. It was nice, really. It wasn’t like she was taking advantage, she was doing it because it might comfort him, and she really was rather tired. Closing her eyes, she relaxed more. Her head also jerked up when the door opened, and she woke herself up enough to walk. Squeezing his shoulder one last time, she smiled at him before they got there.

When the doctor came in to tell Jason to take off his shirt, she laughed out loud when he make his eyebrows move. She herself had only seen his shirt of a couple of times, and that was just because they’d been swimming. So as she watched him throw his shirt off, she caugh it instead of letting it land on the chair and pumped her fists in the air like she’d just gotten a huge celebrities’ shirt instead of her best friends’. It was only for Jason, just to make him laugh. The doctor didn’t see, since he was only adjusting the x-ray so he could get a good picture. She nodded when Jason suggested leaving, and her eyes only stayed on his face, never trailing to the puckered line along his side. She laughed a little at his joke, ”Of course! Who would want to be clumsy and annoying like you?” She laughed a little more, and went up to hug him gently on the shoulders. ”Now don’t you try and run away.” She left him then, smiling at the door before she closed it.

She took a deep breath at the door, shaking her head. Praying to God, she walked to the next room to stand by the doctor, and watched as he took the picture. It was cool how the process went, and she couldn’t even begin to describ it. Sitting again in the waiting room next to Jason, she laughed at his questions. ”Wait-I’ll have to look at your bones?!” She laughed and shook her head, then deciding she might as well answer seriously. ”Well, actually, I’ve never had a x-ray before. Stitches, yes. X-rays, no.” She nudged him gently then, smiling gently. He was just too nervous for her. She remembered how silly and crazy he used to be before the accident. She felt horrible for him-no one should have to go through that as he did. When he spoke again she was shocked at his words. She touched his hand gently, and shook her head. ”Hey, I wanted to come.” It was true and honest-you could hear it in her voice. Then she chuckled, ”Plus, how could I miss seeing your bones?” She grinned, and then looked to the door as it opened.

Listening to him, she actually got more and more scared. She bit her lip, and when Jason scooted to her a little, she reached out and took his hand. Squeezing it, her shoulders sagged when he said surgery. Seeing Jasons’ face fall, she clenched her teeth together, and when the doctor finally left, she turned to Jason, wondering what his face would be like. It was worse than what she’d though. He looked miserable and sad. His one word made her look down. ”Well…” she started, ”I think you’re the most accident-prone person I know.” It was true. She’d never met anyone who got in so many ties. Shaking her head, she exhaled a gust of air. ”I think you should do it, Jason. I know you really don’t want to, but why not? It would make you feel better, you could finally be yourself again…” It was true, and she wanted it more and more as she listed them. She wanted Jason to be happier, it was horrible for him not to be himself. ”And then you can just flip this place off and turn your back on it. You don’t want to have to come back again, do you?” She just wanted him to feel better, to be himself. And if this did it, then, why not?


OOC:
Words; 964
Comments; Nope.
Links; Clothes

[jason andrew irving]

Her question made him pause, wondering how exactly to answer it and he tilted his head to the left, glancing sideways at her. “Well, they never use to bother me. Not until…” his voice faded off and he shrugged; she’d know what he was talking about. It was only after the accident that hospitals started to bother him. “I was in them all the time growing up, since my parents work at one and, well I wasn’t the most coordinated kid around,” he laughed, relaxing a little bit more. “And I love little kids. Even if I’m stuck in a place like this, it’ll be worth it if I can help them.” He could see that going over well. ‘Oh, yes, by the way, your doctor’s the biggest klutz on the face of the earth.’ Smiling, his eyes met hers for a brief moment. “And it’s not like everything that happens in a hospital is bad.” Sure, some lives were lost, but many, like his, were saved. And babies were born in the hospitals. He liked that aspect; newborn babies were adorable.

Hearing Day’s sigh, he glanced over as her head started to sag, resting on his shoulder. Even though he did have a girlfriend, he didn’t shrug her off; she was his best friend. He felt awful that she was so tired. She should be at home taking a nap instead of sitting beside him. Her mini nap didn’t last long. After a few moments, they were whisked away for his examination, or as he liked to call it, his torture. He laughed when she caught his shirt, glad she was with him. She knew how to make him relax, even if she wasn’t really trying. His eyes still avoided hers, focused instead on the wall behind her, slightly away and down from her face. As she joked around with him, he stuck his tongue out at her, his eyes finally meeting hers. She stepped towards him and he hugged her in return, closing his eyes for a brief moment. With someone else there, it sort of kept him grounded so he didn’t freak out too much. He sighed a loud, fake sigh, rolling his eyes as she teased him. “Oh fine!” His voice was sarcastic, teasing as she left, the sound of the door shutting causing his heartbeat to pick up. He didn’t want to do this.

His eyebrows raised, surprised when she said she had never seen an x-ray before. Then again, he was the accident king, he probably had more x-rays than most people his age. “You’ve had stitches?! I have, too!” He teased her, his laugh quiet, nervous again. The waiting part really got to him; he was a bit tenser than he had been before. He felt her fingers brush against his hand and his eyes dropped down to his hand, smiling slightly at her words. It felt good to have her here.

After the doctor mentioned the surgery and left, he sat in the chair, his head resting against his hands, listening to what Day had to say. A short laugh slipped from him at she started, knowing how true it was. Everything else she said made sense, too, and it killed him to admit it. Taking a deep breath, he sat up straight, looking in Dahlia’s eyes, his dark eyes slightly glazed over. “I thought you’d say something like that,” his voice was defeated and his eyes slid to the ground again as he heard a slight tapping on the door before it opened yet again. Nodding his head when the doctor asked if he had decided, he sighed unhappily. “Yeah,” he said quietly, his gaze on the ground yet again as the doctor started to talk again. “Well, I just found out my next – and last – appointment of the day has been cancelled so we have time to do it now.” Jason’s eyes shot over to Dahlia, shock obvious in them. Then again, it was probably best if they got it over with before he could back out of it.

The doctor went on, explaining it would take about twenty minutes to prepare for it and get him settled. Anabel wouldn’t be out of class by then. By now, his eyes were completely glazed over and he nodded his head, standing up to follow him to yet another room to get ready for his second surgery. “I, uh, I have to call A-Annie,” he stammered, more to himself than anyone else as they walked down the hallway, his shoulder slouched. In the newest room, he let his knees give out on him and he sunk onto the bed, sitting upright as he watched Day. “I’ll be right back,” he muttered, pulling his iPhone out of his pocket and stepping right outside of the room, shutting the door behind him as he dialed his girlfriend’s number, leaving her a message and explaining everything that he found out. “And, well, I-I guess I’m going in today…now-ish. Um, yeah. I really wish you could be here, though. Well, hopefully I’ll see you a-after. I love you. Hanging up his phone and shoving it back in his pocket, he walked back in the room, smiling weakly at Day, glaring at the awkward hospital clothes that were sitting there waiting for him. “These should be part of my permanent wardrobe,” he mumbled as he pulled his shirt off, throwing in on the bed and pulling the…thing over his head. His fingers rested on his pants, the weight of his phone and his wallet making him hesitate. Pulling them from his pockets, he handed them to Day. “Here. Have a phone. And don’t spend too much.” He laughed weakly as he finished changing, tossing his clothes in a crumpled pile on one of the visitor’s chairs. It's not like they had ever slept together or anything, even when they were a couple, but Jason was comfortable with her, she was his best friend, and right now, he really didn't care. Now he just had to wait…again.

Sitting on the bed, facing her, Jason tried to remember what all had happened before his previous surgery. He remembered pain. Lots of pain, all along his side. There was an IV hooked to him as well as a bag of donor’s blood. His friends had been there, looking at him like he was dead. A shudder ran up his spine as the memories flooded through him. Even though the whole process wasn’t something he ever wanted to do again, two things really stood out to him; the anesthetic when it began to work and waking up from it. Pushing away any farther thoughts, his listless gaze rested on Day again, watching her for any sign that he had done something crazy when he zoned out. “I really, really hope you never have to go through anything like this,” he said quietly, his dark eyes looking into hers dejectedly.

wearing; here
driving; this

[dahliaanderson]

Her question seemed to make him think about it, but she nodded, understanding. She had a sickening feeling every time she looked at the collage of the broken vase she’d thrown at the wall. That hadn’t even been her worst fear, and he had to face his more than once. She smiled slightly at him, nodding in agreement. She then took her hand and ruffled his long, soft hair. “You’re such a big ole baby, aren’t you?” It was actually something she like about him. He was really cute like a baby, yes, but he had such innocence and kindness. It was hard not to look at him and soften up, just like babies always did. It was nice, and as she sat there next to him she was even happier than usual to be there for him, because this time she was the one to be there with him to maybe help him be more like his sweet self. It hurt so see him so down and sad, to see him hurting. It was horrible to see your best friend like that, and even worse when it was the one you loved on top of it.

When her tease made him play along, she smiled and laughed a little. He really was the best friend she ever had and ever would have. It would be very hard to replace him-almost impossible. That was why she didn’t want to. She knew he was scared, and worried on top of it. But he would be fine, she promised herself. He wasn’t going to die, and that was for certain. Did anyone die from that sort of thing anyway? No, she told herself. It was ribs, it wasn’t his lungs or heart or anything like that. Ribs could be repaired, they could be fixed. She knew that was what was going to happen. They were going to fix them. No doubt. It isn’t going to be serious, not at all. It was going to be something minor that could be easily repaired. Hew as fine. All these thoughts ran through her head, over and over they went to remind her. It was hard to stay calm though, in that little room. It seemed to start closing in around her in some claustrophobic feeling. Taking a deep breath, she repeated everything in her head, calming herself down. Jason needed her, and she wasn’t going to give up on him. Never, and this was when he needed her the most.

His laughing eyes made her laugh and she gasped, playing along. “Really? I can’t believe someone like you would ever get stitches!” She shook her head and laughed. What a goof. He really was a clumsy guy, so it seemed, to constantly need so many stitches and x-rays. What a guy. Watching him smile at her words made her feel better, too. She knew waiting was one of the hardest things, and that was one thing that she felt with him. She hated waiting on anything, especially bad news. The way he sat with his head in his hands, he looked so defeated. Feeling horrible, she wrapped her arm around gently on him. “You’ll be fine, Jason. You’re strong.” She smiled down at him, pushing her red hair behind her face to make sure he saw the intense seriousness in her big blue-green eyes as they looked into his dark brown ones.

As the doctor came back in, her eyes widened at his words. Now? She hadn’t expected that one, not at all. Gulping, she looked over to see Jason in with the same look on his face. She blinked, looking back at the doctor, and blinked again. ‘Wow’ was what was going through her mind at that moment. She walked quietly next to him as they got to the room and nodded when he said he’d be back. Going to call Anabel, she knew. She wished that she could be there. Yes, a shock, but Jason would be a lot more happy. Then again, he wouldn’t need her as much either. Still blinking in a little bit of shock, she slouched in the chair. This day was just getting stranger and stranger. Taking a deep breath, she watched him through the window. She had no words for the look on his tan face.

Laughing a bit as his attempt to joke, she nodded. “I can see that one.” She kept her eyes on his as he took off his shirt and then slip the slip on. She took his phone and wallet, and chuckled a bit at his small banter, and pursed her lips. “I’ll really try, but Hollister is having a sale…” Giving him a playful smile, she looked down at his phone as he finished getting undressed. She took his clothes and folded them, just to help him later. Setting them down after a moment, she looked up at his anxious, scared face. She got up and wrapped her arms around him-she couldn’t sit anymore. “It’ll all be fine, Jason. You’ll be fine.” She sat back down there and watched him space a little, making sure he didn’t lose it a little. By that, she meant break down or get even more scared. He didn’t, and she nodded at his words. “You and me both, Jason. And I hope you never have to do this again.” Taking a deep breath, the doctor came in and asked her kindly to leave. She got up and hugged him again, then kissed him on the forehead. “Be good. See you when you’re awake.” Squeezing his shoulders one last time, she went to the door and closed it, praying to God that what she said was true.


OOC:
Words; 998
Comments; Sorry it took so long! I had no muse!
Links; Clothes

[jason andrew irving]

He shook his head, smiling as Dahlia played along with his little joke. It seemed like anyone he knew for more than a week knew he was always getting stitches for something. And it always seemed to be for something only he could do. Tripping over his own two feet most of the time. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he was lucky he didn’t have more scars all along his body. There was a light one on his forehead from when he was a baby, just learning how to walk, and smacked his head into a corner of a table and that one was probably the most noticeable, self-inflicted scar on his body. The scar on his left temple was much worse, and newer, but it was usually covered up by his hair. And it’s not like he styled it like that intentionally, he had just been lucky that he hit his head there in the wreck so it wasn’t so noticeable.

Feeling her arms wrap around him, he lifted his head from his hands and hugged her back, shrugging at her words. The look in her eyes told him she was serious, that she really believed it, but he didn’t. His dark eyes slipped away from her blue-green eyes, his gaze resting on his shoes as it always did when he was uncomfortable. Squeezing her a bit tighter, he unwrapped his arms from around her, sighing uneasily. Zoning out as his thoughts took over, he chewed on his lower lip, staring off into nothingness.

Now. Well, that was exciting. This way he couldn’t run off. The message he left for Ana was short and though he tried to keep his voice light, he knew she’d hear the unhappy tone. He tended to stammer when he was nervous or afraid and well, he had been stammering quite a lot in the message. She’d get it when she was done with class and he hoped she wouldn’t freak out.

Pulling his shirt of again, this time not for x-rays, he couldn’t keep his eyes on Day’s, though he knew she wasn’t looking at his scar. He hated his scar and in no time, he’d have another one right along side it. Basically doing anything without a shirt would be out of the question. He didn’t want to see people glancing at him sideways, wondering what had happened to him. He laughed a short laugh when she said Hollister was having a sale and he shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t say you couldn’t spend any. Get something nice.” And for once, he wasn’t joking. He hadn’t really expected her to fold his clothes; he had been perfectly fine with them laying in a crumpled ball and he shot her a questioning look, sitting on the bed unhappily.

As she hugged him again, he sighed, chewing on his lip again as he hugged her back, squeezing her tightly. It kept him at least a little bit calmer, having her next to him like that. He shrugged again, not really sure what to say to her words. She couldn’t know that. Something could go wrong. With his luck, it would, even though it wasn’t a serious surgery. Nodding his head once when she agreed with him, he glanced up as his doctor walked back in, his eyes glazing over again when he saw the papers in his hands. Paperwork was fun. “Sign here in case you have some kind of reaction and die, saying that nobody in your family is going to sue us.” Yeah, that was reassuring. It was necessary, he knew that, but it didn’t make the process any less nerve wracking. After Dahlia kissed his forehead, he watched her walk out. It was hard for him not to tack on a “Maybe” to what she said. “Don’t hang around here, go home. Or to Hollister,” he replied instead, smiling uneasily.

The doctor left shortly after the paperwork was filled out and a nurse walked in a few minutes later, telling him to lay down. Groaning inwardly, he did as he was told, knowing what was to come. Jason watched the nurse slip the needle into the vein on the top of his left hand, nothing left to distract him from what was going to happen. It wasn’t the needles that bothered him, it was the effects of the drug inside the syringe. The IV now attached to his hand, he watched the nurse put the syringe with the anesthetic in it into the IV and suddenly all the liquid contents were now in his bloodstream, ready to knock him unconscious in no time flat. It wouldn’t take long, he knew that from before, but he hated the way it knocked him out. To him, it was what he imagined dying would feel like, unable to control the unconsciousness that slid over him. He wished Day had been able to stay as his eyelids started to droop and he blinked hard, forcing them open. Then again, maybe it was better if she didn't see him like this. Becoming groggier by the second, his eyelids were weighted down once again, and fighting against them proved to be futile; within a minute he was out.

wearing; here
driving; this

[ana isabel bailey]

A half-wheezing breath caught in Annie's throat as she clicked out the door of the lecture hall, precariously balanced on high red heels. A cloud of cigarette smoke was being created by the students that had been half shaking toward the end of class. It was a vice Annie was glad she'd given up. Honestly, she hadn't done it for herself. It was Jason actually that had convinced her to give it up, even though he didn't realize it. When she was just getting to know him he'd made some comment about how disgusting smoking was, having no idea that she smoked. That was when she became determined to stop smoking and she'd done it, but even now there were times when she felt like she couldn't breathe. Covering her mouth with her free hand she coughed a bit harshly and scurried out of the circle of smokers.

Finding a spot safely away from the smoke she leaned against the wall of the building, reaching into her book bag for her little red cell phone. Flicking it up she checked for any missed calls or text messages, clicking through an annoying forward from one of her girlfriends before finding the missed call from Jason and the new voice mail. She nibbled her lip as she waited for the call to connect to her voice mail. When it finally found the signal and the message began to play it brought her no relief. His quiet, fearful voice nearly made her want to cry. She had definitely wondered if something was a bit off but she hadn't thought it would be bad enough for more surgery.

"Oh, Baby," she whispered when he said he wished she was there, cradling the phone to her ear, "I'm so sorry." She hit the seven to delete the message when it was over and slid the phone shut. Hopefully, he'd said hopefully. That one word nearly killed her. She couldn't get over it. Licking her lips she shut her eyes. The very idea of losing him was just horrible. She hugged herself and reopened her eyes, knowing she needed to get there. It might be too late to see him before, but she could be there when he got up. Her arms still about herself she headed at a clip to her car. Sliding into the drivers seat of her little old car she put the key in the engine and turned it. The car choked like she had minutes before and then died. A dark look came over her face as she stared at the hood of the car. Rhonda was an old car that she'd had since her sixteenth birthday, but even then it had been a well used present. It was really about time the poor thing died. Now what was she supposed to do?

_____________________

"Thanks," the blond said with a smile to the guy that had offered to try his hand at making her car go. It hadn't worked and they'd had to call a tow truck. Once her poor old car had been hauled from the parking lot Gabriel had offered a ride and she'd happily taken it. Yes, maybe it was a bit dangerous to be accepting rides from people she barely knew, but she was desperate. She was going to be there no matter what. It had been fine, he was harmless and apparently knew Jason somehow or another. She shut the door to his car and gave a wave, heading for the entrance at an awkward gate somewhere between a walk and a run. There wasn't really any point in rushing but she was anyway. Entering the glass doors she realized she wasn't sure where to go and so she looked around with a confused look, a frantic nature still about her.

[dahliaanderson]

She nodded, though she knew she wouldn’t. She didn’t need clothes right now, let alone wanted to go and have fun shopping. It would feel wrong-using his money. Tacking a thanks on, she smiled slightly as he hugged her. It felt good to be in someone’s arms, to know that they cared. She did love Jason, and no matter what she’d always be there for him. It was hard for her to think of anything but the fact that in not too long he would be lying on the operating table, having a doctor bug his ribs. She hated him in pain, to see it in his eyes. Not to mention spending his money while that was happening. No, she would just stay there, waiting until he woke up. Of course it was what she actually wanted to do, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Yes, she would be going against his wishes, but she wanted to be there for him. That was all that mattered at the moment. Sighing, she crept down the hall sadly, wishing that he would know she was there. She wished she could hold his hand, tell him all was OK. Taking a shaking breath through her parted full lips, she swallowed. She needed to eat something, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to. A drink, maybe. That was on the bottom floor, so she took an elevator down. As it descended, it felt like her heart did too. All her happiness was sitting upstairs still, on an operating table with fear in his heart. It was a horrible feeling, and she had to hold onto the rail in order not to fall down.

As she got to the end, she turned to the right into the food court. Standing in line, it was kind of scary how desolate the place was. It was eerie, and the counter man looked started to see someone even in front of the cashier. Biting her lip, she sipped her cappachino sadly after paying him. She didn’t know what she was going to do for the next hour or so, but she knew that one thing she was going to do was sit there and freak. Sighing, she looked out the window, only to see a familiar skinny figure running up the stairs and into the door. Her blonde hair went flying as she looked around, and Dahlia stood up.

It wasn’t like she didn’t want Anabel there, she just wasn’t sure on how she would react to the fact that Day had been there when she wasn’t. Taking hesitant steps to her, she put her hand on the girls’ shoulder when she got to her. ”He’s upstairs, already under.” The words were quiet and scared, and they had a shaky sound to them that was strange. She cocked her head a little, and gestured to the table she’d been sitting at. ”Would you like to wait with me?” She wasn’t sure what she would say, but one way or another, she would try and be the best friend for Jason. And that meant trying to be friends with Anabel too, no matter how hard it was.

She bit her lip, sort of stating the facts that she had no idea why Jason was ‘under’ in the first place. So she spoke to her, leading her to the table. She didn’t have to stay there the entire time, but Day felt a little more safe to slump in the chair than to the floor. Swallowing the thick saliva that coated her mouth, she took a deep breath and decided that it would be best to fill her in on what she’d missed. ”They found bones that were still kind of broken, I guess, and now they have to fix them. Jason had agreed to going in today, but not without some persuasion. I was pretty sure that you would also think that he needed to, and so I told him he should.” She bit her lip again and looked at her, wondering if she was right. ”So now he’s in surgery…” She hated the thought, but she knew it was for his own good. He would be better, and happier. Maybe a lot happier than he ever was. It was all she could hope for.

OOC:
Words; 729
Comments; Sorry it took so long!
Links; Clothes

[ana isabel bailey]

A little pout took over Annie's fleshy lips when she spotted Dahlia. Odd Jason hadn't mentioned she was going to be there. What was he hiding anyway? With a deepening frown that was more in response to her thoughts than really anything involving Dahlia she reminded herself that she didn't really know the man she was intended to at all if she truly thought Jason was fooling around behind her back. Apparently now there would be no fooling around at all for Mr. Irving for another few weeks. Her pretty face again showed her thoughts of displeasure. Not that it was that big of a deal, but she would miss it, she could not lie. Anabel wasn't a sex addict, but she also was not one of those types to just try to get through it to please him.

Completely lost in thought Annie squealed when Dahlia's hand touched her shoulder, surprised even though she'd seen her already. She had been frantic to begin with, her sudden appearance had poked at Anabel's strung out nerves. Her blue eyes wide she stared at the other blond, calming as she processed her presence. She nodded to what she said, "I figured," cursing her dumb car in her head. It couldn't be much longer now though she figured. He'd called her what, two hours ago? That was long enough to fix a few ribs. Looking back at Dahlia, she examined her powdered face, still seeing that usual peculiar interest that surpassed friendship. Why Jason had to have a lovesick mop of a friend she just didn't know. It served her right for having so very many exes. None of them followed her about though probably because usually she was the one dumped and when it was the other way around Annie was quite the heartbreaker. Jason didn't have the past dating life she had, but it figured that one of them had to be half obsessed. Anabel was just waiting for his other two ex-girlfriends to make an appearance and complete his harem.

Anabel nodded at Dahlia when she invited her to sit and tottered over on her little red heels, plopping down in a padded plastic chair. Instantly her long nails of her right hand began to tap one after the other on the table, giving away that internally she was a mess. Her feet fidgeted beneath the table. Carefully she rested her chin in her hand as the other tapped anxiously away. She glanced over with her sharp eyes, nodding slightly and giving a little smile at the comment about having to persuade him. Indeed, Jason was not fond of the knife and probably would have backed out and let it be. Speaking mindlessly she replied to what she said about Anabel most likely agreeing with her, "He's been wincing for a while now when we have s-" she cut off and paused, realizing what she'd been about to say, "Strawberry ice cream," she rapidly censored herself, making no sense at all. Could she have made things more awkward? She hated her mouth: it was as though it had its own mind and there was no way to filter it.

Dahlia's response to the very awkward nature of their discussion made Annie just nod, now unable to make eye contact. Her milky cheeks were now a shade of red. Jason didn't even like strawberry ice cream and if Dahlia were as good a friend as she seemed to be she'd know that even if she wasn't aware of what Annie had been about to say. Giving a little sigh she gazed at a wall clock with a medical logo on its face and then looked back to Dahlia. "So," she began quietly, her posture clearly still recoiled in embarrasment, her voice quiet, "How long has he been back there?" She was dying to see him again. Give him a kiss and tell him she loved him and jokingly remind him she loved a man in a hospital gown, an inside tease stemming from the first time he'd had surgery.

wearing, this, no pun intended by the title. xD