Reluctance
“I wish you hadn’t dragged me here" Carmilla muttered as she sat hunched over in the plastic chair of the emergency room.
“Carm, I care about you,” Laura exclaimed loudly before lowering her voice when those around her turned to stare “and I think you have a broken rib!”
Carmilla sank lower in her seat and crossed her arms across her chest, wincing slightly. “It’s been almost a week and you’re still as sore as you were right after homecoming.” Laura sat back in her chair and fiddled with a loose thread on her jeans.
Carmilla sighed and tipped her head back, resting it against wall, she closed her eyes.
“Carm?” Laura’s voice was barely audible. Carmilla didn’t move, just kept breathing, in and out, her arms crossed over her chest.
Laura sighed and eyeing a water cooler by the window, she stood and began making her way towards it. Filling a cup small for herself, (why were they so flimsy!), she stared out the window onto the lush field outside. The midday sun was bright and was directly overhead so the few groups of people she saw were sat under the shade of the trees that dotted the border. There were people sitting alone, but Laura’s eye caught on something familiar far across the field. Someone wearing the same grey clothing as the rest of the group sat with their back to Laura, hunched over, pulling at the grass in angry clumps. Laura squinted, something seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She was tired, after staying up all night writing the speech she gave Carmilla this morning about going to the hospital. And she was pre occupied, Carmilla was mad, really mad at her. But she was here, so maybe that was better than nothing?
Finishing her water, she put the cup in the bin. She pulled another cup from the tube and took a cup back for Carmilla.
“Here” She said as she sat down. Carmilla’s eyes opened slowly, and focussing on the cup she licked her lips. “Thanks cupcake”. Taking the cup she drank deeply. Smiling she placed her free hand over Laura’s entwined fingers and squeezed. “I mean it.”
Laura blushed slightly and tipped her head.
“Carmilla Karnstein.” Called the large and overbearing nurse from the entrance.
Laura stood and offered her hand to Carmilla, whose eyes were suddenly frantic, scared.
“Don’t worry” Assured Laura repeating her words from her earlier Carmilla convincing speech, “I’ll be right here with you”
Carmilla stood up slowly, grimacing again as clear waves of pain ran through her chest. Her heart began to pound and it felt like her ears were filled with cotton wool. I can’t do this, she thought frantically, I can’t. Her mouth was dry and she swallowed painfully. She wished she had more water. Maybe they could get more water and wait, while she came up with an excuse to get out of there. Suddenly, she felt Laura’s fingers as they danced across her side and found the hollow in the small of her back. Soon they were around her waist, and although she didn’t want to look weak, she was thankful for the support, both physically, and emotionally. Laura put one hand protectively on her arm and they followed the nurse though the doorway.
________________________
Perry lay on her bed and stared at the roof. Lafontaine had gone away for a family trip, and she was super bored. Rolling over, she picked up her phone and fired off some texts.
-I miss you.
-Its super boring here without you.
-When are you home?
She sighed after minutes of staring at the screen with no replies and practically threw the phone at her nightstand. Maybe they were busy. She hadn’t heard from Lafontaine in days, apart from an odd phone call three nights ago to say they were going on a family trip and that they would see her soon. It had none of their usual perkiness though, and something about the call was off. It had Perry worried about them, of course, anyone who had to spend that much time with Lafontaine’s parents was cause for concern.
Her phone buzzed and she launched herself at it, almost knocking half on her books off her night stand. It was from Laura, Perry’s face dropped and she opened the message half-heartedly.
Laura: Hey! How’s it going? Where I did you say LaF was?
Perry shook her head and bit her lip and she typed out a response
-I don’t actually know. Somewhere holed up with their parents. Wish I did though.
Putting the phone down, she picked up a book and opened it to her bookmark. The phone buzzed again and Perry’s heart sank even lower when she saw it was from Laura.
Laura: Oh, I’m sorry Perry. I’m sure they will be in touch soon.
Perry felt her eyes glaze over with tears and she blinked them back and sniffed. Reaching for a tissue, her phone buzzed again.
Laura: This is going to sound really weird then, but is LaF sick?
Perry was suddenly tense and her fingers struggled to find the right buttons
-What do you mean sick?
Perry’s eyes flicked between her clock and the phone counting the seconds that passed. 148 seconds passed before her phone buzzed again. And buzzed, and buzzed. It was ringing.
Perry pushed a button and raised the phone to her ear.
“Laura?” she asked, her mouth dry.
“Perry,” came Laura’s voice, strained and uncomfortable. “It’s about Lafontaine.”
Perry’s blood ran cold and she gripped her phone to her ear, pressing it hard against her head in an effort not to miss a word
Laura took a deep breath. “Lafontaine’s not on a trip with their family Per, they've been admitted to the psych ward at the hospital.”