Blue and Free by Aer (electronic reader TXT) 📖

call. I went in to answer it. “Hello?” “Yes, this is she.” I listened. “Yes, okay. Thank you doctor. I’ll be there shortly.” I hung the phone up and yelled my mom’s name. “Mom!” She came running into the kitchen. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I was sitting on the floor in tears. “It’s Josh. He was hit by a drunk driver head on.” She came over, knelt beside me, and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. Is he okay?” “The doctor said he was in stable condition and was awake.”

We were at the hospital now. I ran through the front entrance to the nurse’s desk. “Joshua Owen’s room please.” I asked urgently. “Oh, it’s not visiting time. You will have to come back in the morning.” I looked at her. “I’m his girlfriend and he told the doctor to make sure I was here no matter what time. Now, please his room number.” She nodded. “Room 102 on floor 3.” “Thank you.”
I was running before she could say another word.
I hit the button on the elevator and stood there impatiently. As soon as the door opened I went running.
I stopped at his door. I took two deep breaths then opened the door.
When I opened the door I knocked at the same time. I saw his parents. They looked tired. They looked up.
“I’m not interrupting am I?” Josh’s mother came over to me and hugged me tightly crying into my hair. I hugged her tightly. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise. Josh will get through this I know he will.” She lifted her head and nodded in agreement. I didn’t know Josh was awake until he said my name.
“Alise.” His mother let go of me and I walked over to him. He stretched his hand out and I took it. “How are you?” He smiled. It was a weak smile. “Better now. How are you?” I looked at him and smiled a little smile. “You should not be worried about me. I should be the least of your worries.” He frowned. “You are my worries. I don’t want you worrying about me for no reason.”
“Excuse us, Josh, honey. Will you be okay tonight or at least for a few hours? Your father and I have to go to the house.” “You guys don’t have to stay here tonight. I’ll be fine.” Are you sure, honey?” he nodded. They waved good-bye and left.
I was looking down. I had tears in my eyes and I didn’t want to alarm him.
He pulled my face up. “What’s wrong?” I was sitting in a chair next to his bed. “Nothing. You don’t worry.” “Come here.” He scooted over and patted the spot next to him. “No, you were just in a wreck. You need to be comfortable. Not squished and in pain. He looked at me. “I don’t care if it is the doctor’s orders for you not to sit right next to me. I don’t care. The one thing I want and care about is you. I want my girlfriend to lay right here, right next to me.” I sighed and got up to stop his ranting.
I sat down on the bed very carefully. So I wouldn’t jostle him.
“Come closer.” “Josh, I’m sitting right next to you.” He looked at me. “I want you closer.” I sighed and scooted all the way beside him. I was sure not to touch him. I smiled. He scowled at me. “This is as close as I’ll get. I don’t want you uncomfortable.” He put both his arms around me and dragged me closer. “This could never be uncomfortable. No matter what the reason.” He held me tightly.
A nurse came in. “Excuse me, dear, but we need you off the bed. He needs to be comfortable not in pain.” I nodded. I started to get up. “I put her there. I’m not uncomfortable. I feel better with her right here. So, if you don’t mind…” She looked at him and nodded.
“Josh you can’t fight with the people who know what’s best for you.” I paused. “You…” I was cut short. He was kissing me. Not gently this time. It was rough. Like it was needed. I pulled away breathless. “I don’t want a lecture. I don’t want to think about the wreck. I want to pretend like we are at your place sitting in the hammock like always.” I nodded. He started kissing me again. This time it wasn’t as rough. It was gentler. We kissed for a while.

I woke the next morning in Josh’s arms. I very carefully got up and went to the bathroom. I looked myself over in the mirror. I looked like I had been in my boyfriend’s arms all night. I washed my face and went back out. He was still asleep. I sat on the couch and read a magazine.

“When did you move over there? Why did you move?” I smiled. “I woke up about an hour and a half ago. I got up because; I fell asleep there with you. I don’t think your parents or my mom would like that much.” He frowned. “We are awake now so it’s acceptable. Come here.” I smiled and climbed on carefully.

We were watching the Regis and Kelly show when he started showering me in kisses. I laughed and turned my lips to his. He was so good at kissing! Just then his parents walked in when he’s kissing me and I’m sitting right next to him on the hospital bed. Not the scene to say we weren’t doing anything serious.
“Joshua!” His mother was yelling. I jerked away and climbed off the bed swiftly. “What do you suppose was okay about that situation?” She was fuming. “Oh, mom, please. Don’t act surprised. You know that if it were Melissa you and dad would just have walked out without a word. If we were just kissing.” He waited. He looked over at me apologetically. “That’s Melissa. She is a very nice girl and this girl is nice but sitting in the same bed as you! Alone! Making out! Melissa would never have shamed you or us like that. She has class and apparently this girl doesn’t.” “Mom, you are so not telling the truth. You know Melissa would sit in this bed, next to me and make out no matter who was in here. Don’t you dare degrade Alise like that! She is the best thing that has happened to me. I’m not going to sit here and let you talk about her.” “No, Josh, it’s fine. I may not be exactly like your family but I can tell you one thing. I never want to be part of it. My life was fine just the way it was before you liked me. I’m not going to put up with this. I’m sorry but I’m not going to be called trash by my boyfriend’s mother. I’ll see you around.” I walked out.

I walked out of the hospital. I called my mom and asked her to come get me.

“Honey, you wait here while I go have a talk with his mother.” I grabbed her arm. “No, it’s not worth it. Don’t waste your breath talking to someone who is shallow.”

We were home now. I went to my room and closed the door. I lay on my bed and cried for a while. I had never felt so horrible in all my life. When I could finally see I looked at my phone. I had forty-five text messages from Josh. I deleted every one without looking at them. I blocked his number, too.

I woke up in the morning feeling dead. Literally.
I ate my cereal slowly. Not caring that it was getting soggy. I hated soggy cereal but I didn’t care today. I didn’t go outside today. I did housework and went through all the stuff Josh had left at my house. His shirts. His books. His lucky bracelet he gave me when he first kissed me. I started to cry again. I only cried for five minutes. I wasn’t about to let some high school crush ruin my life. I wouldn’t let it happen.

I heard from my mother that Josh was discharged from the hospital. I just nodded, not caring, honestly.

The next day I drove to his house to drop off his stuff.
“Coming!” I heard a familiar voice yell. I waited. He answered the door. “Alise! Honey, I’ve missed you.” I backed away from him. “I brought your stuff you left at my house. I figured you would need it.” I handed him the pile I had. I didn’t wait for him to say anything. I went to my car and pulled out of his drive and drove off.

For the first few weeks he called the house everyday. I wouldn’t pick up. He came to my house twice. My mom was home and told him he needed to go home. That was what he did for a few weeks.

It’s been a month now since I last talked to him. I see him around a lot. But, he doesn’t make a move to come talk to me. I miss him. I miss him a lot. But, like I said before. I don’t want to be treated like that by his family or any family.

One day he called. I picked up the phone but didn’t say a word. “Hello? Alise? Honey, listen to me.” After he said that I hung up. I just needed to hear his voice.

The months passed. I still didn’t talk to him. I was finally happy with my life again.

“Are you excited about your first half day being a junior?” My mom asked. I nodded. “Yes, I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll meet my high school sweetheart.” I joked mock-punching her shoulder. She just shook her head.
“I’ll see you later mom.” I walked out of the house and climbed in my Mustang.

I got to school and got my schedule. My first class was French II. I walked to my class very slowly. When I got there Josh was in there. Great I have one class with my ex. Perfect!

The half-day went by quickly. Thank goodness.

I was walking to my car when a familiar face came up to me. “How are you doing?” It was Melissa. “Good, how are you?” “Great. I’m really glad you broke up with Josh. Now I can get him back.” I smiled. To hide the fact that I thought about hitting her square in the nose. “Your welcome. Have a nice life.” I climbed in my car and started it.
I drove home slowly. I just didn’t feel like going home so soon.

I was at the house now and I felt like surfing. I changed and grabbed my surfboard.
I was waiting on a wave when I thought I saw a shadow that looked like a shark. But, I blew it off. I figured there was a stray dolphin hanging out in the clean waters here. A wave came and I got ready to surf.

Just then I was wiped out by a huge bump. I got on my surfboard and looked around. There was that same shadow. This time I was sure it was shark. Not just any shark a great white. I stayed calm and didn’t move. It bumped me again.
This time it came in for a bite. It grabbed a hold of my leg and started shaking. I grabbed the knife I kept on me in case this day came and started stabbing the shark. It let go. It went