“Hans?”
“Elina! You’re awake!”
I started to sit up, but, after groaning in pain,
realised it was a bad idea and stayed flat.
“How are you feeling?” Hans asked politely, his
bright blue eyes staring concernedly into mine.
“I’m not sure... my hip hurts. But I don’t
remember...”
“Ruby?” Hans gave me a reminding look. Only the one
word, the one name, was all that was needed to remind me of the incident.
Recollections flashed into my mind. I remembered
Ruby’s murderous face. I remembered how scared I’d been. I remembered the gun.
“But... I
thought I was dead... or going to die...”
“I was kinda
worried ‘bout that too, but you’re clearly alive and doctor says you’ll defo
make it.”
My brain was gradually starting to work again and
other thoughts began to emerge in my mind.
“Why are you here, Hans?”
“Why d’you think?”
I didn’t reply, partly because I wanted him to tell
me himself and partly because I wasn’t completely sure.
“I care ‘bout you a lot, El. You can imagine how
devastated I was when I got a call from one of your security dudes sayin’ you’d
been shot. I rushed straight here.”
“Why did they call you?”
“I dunno, but it was through your school phone.
Maybe I was the most recent person you’d called, so they rung me and told me
what happened,” he shrugged.
“Do my parents know what’s happened?”
“I dunno,” he said again. “But I’m afraid they
haven’t come to see ya. I don’t mean to be rude but you’re parents are kinda
horrible. I mean, who wouldn’t come and see their child who’s in hospital with
some bullet wound, y’know?”
“They’re on holiday in Antigua,” I replied, slightly
bitterly. “But you’re right. They couldn’t care much less about me.” I took a
deep breath. Talking was tiring me out. “They just buy me stuff to keep me
occupied and away from them. They don’t even care about my education. I mean, I
was sent to our crummy school. They could have afforded for me to go anywhere.”
Hans flinched. I regretted how I’d worded what I’d
said, since Hans’ family couldn’t afford for him to go to another school.
“Sorry.”
Hans sat on the edge of my bed and took my hand.
“S’okay babe. You shouldn’t be neglected like that.”
I flashed him a small grateful smile. “How long have
you been here for? How long have I been asleep?”
“I’ve only been here ‘bout an hour. I think you’d lost
so much blood that you blacked out, then they gave you general anaesthesia so
you’d not be in any pain.” He brushed his hand down the side of my face. “It’s
three thirty, just so y’know. Ruby hurt you at, like, ten this morning or
something. You look so beautiful, by the way.”
I blushed. My cheeks now looked healthier since I had
been extremely pale from blood loss. Hans’ wispy blonde fringe swung over his tempting
eyes as he leant down towards me.
“Are you sure this is allowed in a hospital? It’s
kinda in public,” I whispered, in case there was someone eavesdropping in the
next bed.
“Surely
kissing’s allowed in a hospital. Anyways, the curtain’s shut round your bed.”
I returned Hans’ huge, gorgeous grin with a
delighted smile. His hand stroked my cheek. Hans leant all the way in, perching
lightly on the side of the bed. His tantalizing lips brushed over mine for a brief
moment. I closed my eyes in the perfect bliss, breathing in deeply. I was about
to reach out and put my hand on his neck to pull his face closer again.
“Miss Arias?”
Hans quickly sat up straight, trying not to turn red
or seem embarrassed. I think he was also a little worried, since it was one of
my body guards and maybe he thought that they were supposed to be keeping me
away from boys as well as danger. Not that the two things don’t link. It wasn’t
as if I’d moved anyway, so my eyes just flicked over to where my security guard
had entered my curtained off area.
I lifted my head up a tiny bit. “Yes?”
“How are you?”
I wasn’t sure if my security guard’s indifferent, unsarcastic
tone was because he didn’t see us kiss or because he had pretended not to.
“I’m... okay.”
“We’ve managed to contact your parents. They are deeply
sorry about this misfortune and have sent these flowers.”
Another man entered my section carrying a cream vase
with an extravagant array of exotic, vibrant flowers. They smelt beautiful as
he placed them next to my bed on the grey lino floor. But I also knew what they
meant.
“They’re not coming back from Antigua to see me, are
they?” I replied, restraining any upset from escaping into my voice and
exposing my feelings.
Hans looked sympathetically and affectionately back
at my face after the guard apologetically nodded his head.
“They’re mad. Completely cray-cray. Who wouldn’t
come see you, espesh when you’re in hospital?”
“Thanks Hans, but not everyone feels the same way
you do about me.”
Hans linked fingers with me. “Well I think anyone
who doesn’t is stupid.”
Smiling, I turned back to my security guard. “So
what’s happened to Ruby?”
My security guard opened his mouth to speak.
MISSING AND WANTED
Ruby Avril Chaplin
Age: 15
Height: 1 metre 60 cm
Appearance: wavy brown hair to the bottom of ribs, dark
brown eyes.
If seen, please contact 999.
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