Olive's P.O.V.
"He should have been here by now." Leo sighed, playing anxiously with his lip piercings.
We had both tried calling him but hadn't received a response. There was no text or call back. Anytime we tried to call it went straight to voicemail. From there we started to worry.
"His phone is probably dead," I said, knowing that wasn't the case.
I don't know what it is, but I have this sinking feeling in my stomach that something is wrong. I couldn't tell you what it is though, however, having Lucas not answering the phone was only making the feeling worse. My mind kept coming up with worse case scenarios to torture me further.
"Yeah probably," he sighed not convinced.
"What should we do? Want to try to see if anyone else has heard from him?" I asked, hoping he would say yes, because I don't have Lisa or Rachel's number.
"Shit." I heard Leo curse under his breath before he answered his phone. "Hello?" His voice sounded so scared, like he was bracing himself for the worst news. He stood up immediately as if the couch had caught fire beneath him. "Is he okay?....What hospital?....We're on our way."
"What is it?" I asked, feeling my heart race with worry. I felt myself taking panicked breaths and tried to calm myself until he answered.
"Lucas has been in an accident. We need to go to the hospital. Grab your stuff, let's go."
Leo didn't give me a chance to ask anything more as we practically ran to his car. He sped through the streets straight to the hospital with a look of determination. I chewed at the side of my nail the entire time from the anxiety that had festered inside of me. I'm scared as hell right now. My worry and anxiety only rose more with each step I took towards the hospital.
When the double doors slid open to the emergency room we were met by a crying Sarah and Lisa. Rachel was off in the corner looking tortured as hell as she stared at the ground like a comatose patient. Kane was beside his daughter in a lab coat, holding her hand for comfort.
"What happened?" Leo asked before I could even find my voice.
"That asshole ran a red light and hit his car!" Rachel seethed, pointing at a teenage boy with a baseball cap and a look of utter horrification. He saw her finger pointed at him and he physically paled. It was obvious the kid was full of remorse and deep regret.
"He's got a bad head wound and a broken arm. They are stitching him up and taking an MRI. He's currently unconscious, but they said they would come get us when he woke," Lisa added, holding Sarah in her arms.
Leo seemed so scared, probably having a lot of trauma brought up. I can't imagine what it must be like to hear someone you love is in a car accident after you've lost people in a wreck. I am starting to understand the whole 'celebrate the good when you can' thing now. I felt so sick to my stomach thinking of Lucas being hurt. I felt like I was going to throw up.
"He's okay." Rachel looked at Leo as she spoke. "He's going to be okay."
"Rachel's right. It could have been so much worse. Lucas is going to be okay, and in just a little while we'll all be with him." Kane added, trying to persuade us all since he's the doctor of the group.
We all sat in the lobby for what felt like eons before a nurse came out. We all stood up and rushed towards her. I am sure we scared her as her eyes widened and her voice shook.
"He's awake now. You're welcome to visit him two at a time. We don't want to strain him too much at once. He's got a concussion with a large laceration to the forehead. His arm is currently pinned until we can go in tomorrow and surgically fix its fragments. Be careful not to move his arm when you go in," she explained. "Who would like to go first."
"I would. I'm his mother." Sarah stepped up, tears in her eyes. "Lisa and I shall go first."
"Follow me."
The nurse took them down the hall past the double doors and to his room. I stood planted to my spot like the roots of a tree. I didn't want to move. Leo stood beside me, taking my hand and squeezing it as we both stared at those double doors, waiting for them to open again. Nothing needed to be said, we knew exactly how the other was feeling. Eventually, Lisa and Sarah came back out. They seemed in better spirits than before, but there was still a look of concern on their faces.
"Rachel, Leo, you guys go next." Sarah called to them.
Leo gave me an apologetic look as he stepped forward. I just shook my head motioning for him to go. He was his best friend and Rachel was his family, of course, they would all go before me. I'm just the girlfriend.. the very new girlfriend. Sarah and Lisa had left, feeling their presence was no longer warranted now that they knew Lucas would be okay. It was just Kane and I as he waited for Rachel to emerge.
"Olive, right?" Kane asked me as he sat on the chair.
I had remained in my spot this entire time, unable to move or sit. It was like my legs refused to move unless it was towards him. I turned my head to look at Kane for a moment before looking back at the double doors.
"Yes, that's right."
"I see you've managed to stick around longer than all the other girls," he mused, making me turn to look at him a bit flabbergasted.
"I see you like to stick your foot in your mouth." I rolled my eyes at him. He surprisingly just chuckled at me.
"That was a bit rude, wasn't it? I am sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm just surprised to see Lucas staying with one girl again."
"Yeah, I got that." I didn't hide the irritation in my voice.
Right now all I wanted was to see Lucas with my own eyes, to hold his hand and somehow make him better. Instead I'm stuck out here waiting my turn as one of the last ones to see him. I'm stuck out here with Kane's unwanted commentary.
"I think I see what he sees in you," he noted in amusement.
Some time later Rachel and Leo emerged. They seemed a bit more at ease now, too. I was ready for my turn, finally having my legs move. I brushed past Rachel and Leo straight to the nurse. She led me down the hall right to Lucas' room. The lights were off with the exception of a small, dim lamp on the bedside table.
Lucas laid with his eyes closed. His head was bandaged around his forehead while his arm rested on a pillow with some kind of device to hold it still. My eyes watered as I took his hurt state in. It could have been worse. The thought made me feel like I'd shit my stomach out. I didn't want to lose him right after I found him. He means so much to me. I somehow convinced my legs to take the few extra steps towards him. I grabbed his good hand, feeling him squeeze it in return.
"I was wondering if my Rose would be coming." His voice was scratchy, almost like he swallowed glass.
"How are you feeling? Are you in pain? What can I do to help?" I asked him in rapid succession, unable to calm myself.
"Come lay with me." Lucas patted the small bed beside him.
I didn't hesitate to climb in beside him carefully. I laid my head on his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. With each beat of his heart, mine calmed. I let a tear fall, hitting his chest on its way down.
He's okay.