The last leaf on the tree

Answers part.5

Stella's POV

After the call, I went back to the class,

"Stella, what was that about? I'm sorry Ms. Kelly it won't happen again" "You still haven't answered my question yet. What was so important that whoever had to call you in the middle of my class?" I was starting to feel uncomfortable because she was starting, to make a fuss out of it in front of the class. "I can't say because it's a family matter" I knew she meant business when she suddenly stopped teaching. "Stella I've got time, even if the bell rings, I'll be here so I can wait for your explanation" I wasn't worried about the whole class that was staring at me, I was more worried because of Kehna.

Things like this, get out of hand sometimes. If I tell them what I was told a few minutes ago everyone is probably going to tell their side of the story and that always ends as rumors when everyone is saying something else.

"Someone got into an accident. I'm sorry I can't say more than that" I said as I walked back to my seat. The lesson resumed with me looking at the clock and it made me paranoid because I felt more attentive to the clock than ever. It felt like I could hear each second of the clock ticking.

An hour later,

The bell finally rang and I was the first to dash out because I had waited for this moment as if my life depended on it, but just as I was about to step out the door Ms.Kelly called me back. "Ms. Garcia, may I talk to you for a second?" I turned back showing the defeat. "Yes, ma'am?".

"You probably thought I let you off the hook easily but you're wrong. I thought maybe because the whole class was listening carefully for once, you'd rather not be so generous with information" I was getting impatient, I hadn't been standing there, listening to her for long but it felt like infinity.

"So here's my point, tell me what you couldn't say in front of your classmates or you'll stay here for detention. I've said this before I've got a lot of time so it's your choice" it was pathetic, while I stood there trying to figure out what to say to get her off my case. "Ms. Kelly isn't this bribery?" She chuckled and looked at me saying. "Stella this is nothing like bribery I could have told you immediately, that you were going to stay for detention but I didn't. I wanted to give you the chance to explain yourself"

"As I said, I can't. It's a family matter. You know like you don't just go to the governments and ask them about what their plans are for the future if they even thought of making it public".

"Okay, I'm done for today let's start your detention now" I wasn't worried at first because I thought I going to go to detention after school but she wanted to start now, and that made me panic so I had no choice other than to tell her. "If I tell you, you're not going tell the teachers or anyone at all, right? I mean if you do, it would be privacy misuse and you could get sued for it"

"Stop getting smart with me I'm not going to tolerate that. But the more questions you ask, the more time you're wasting. I don't know if you want to go into the break or not but you should hurry" She said sparing a quick glance at her wristwatch.

I had no other choice,

"My dad called me to tell me... That he had an accident"

"Why would he call you, just to tell you that he had an accident?"

"Well, I would call him so you can talk to him by yourself but you know... he's not really in the right state to talk, right now" I stated a bit sassy pissing her even more off. And she looked at me in disbelief.

"So your father was in the right state to talk to you a while ago?" I nodded in agreement. "So can I go now?"

"Yes, just make sure if I by mistake ask your dad about this he won't say something else" while she said that I was already heading out of the classroom but then I noticed I only had 5 minutes left so I tried looking for Kehna and her bodyguard Ruby but they were nowhere to be found. I almost lost all hopes but then I found them and Ruby was clinging to her like there's no tomorrow they were walking in my direction so I quickly ran to them when I got to them I could hear Ruby groaning.

"Hey, where were you guys I've been looking for you"

"I thought I wouldn't see you for at least 15 minutes but unfortunately you're here," Ruby said sarcastically. I just rolled my eyes and said.

"That's not the point, I need to tell you something, Kehna"

"Me?" I nodded quickly because we didn't have much time left. "Can I talk to you... alone?" I uttered looking straight at Ruby "You know I won't let you two talk, ALONE"

"Come on, Stella!"

"Just say it! It can't be that bad".

"Okay, look my dad just called me and told me, your mom had an accident".

"What...?" It was more like a confused 'What...?' and at that moment the bell rang and we couldn't hear each other so we ran outside, luckily no one saw us. "What do you mean my mom had an accident? Isn't she supposed to at the restaurant?"

"They had a trip and blah... blah... blah. I don't really know what happened" I could see she started to panic.

"W- What do I do? Where is she? Is she okay?" She started asking questions I've asked myself too. "I don't know the only thing he told me was that they're in Seattle right now". "You know what, I'll call my driver to come to pick us up" I was going to decline but I was like... 'I'm sure it's a one time thing. I can skip school for once, right? It's no big deal'

15minutes later,

"He still hasn't arrived yet!"

"Kehna, cool down a bit it's been like 10 minutes, my driver is trying his best to be here as quick as possible!" and there she groaned again for at least the sixth time that day.

Ruby was about to call her driver when he arrived .

"Miguel!" She screamed and he immediately noticed where the scream was coming from, "Where have you been? She was already going crazy!" she said referring to Kehna.

"Sorry, I just wasn't ready for you to call me at this time"

"It's your job, to always be ready!" I pinched her through the shock of hearing what she said. "I'm sorry" I whispered to him, he whispered

"It's okay" back in response. I was about to enter the car when Ruby suddenly stopped me, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Look, Ruby do you think it's necessary? I mean think about it, I'm the only one, who can give you information on the whereabouts of Kehna's mom"

"Ruby please don't cause a scene" Kehna quickly pleaded.

"Okay, enter the front seat," she said while closing the door.

I entered the car and I saw her glaring at me and I did to her the in response. "So, what's the name of the hospital?" the driver asked starting the car in full speed. And at that moment I realized I didn't even know where we were going, he looked over to me and probably noticed I was completely clueless he then decided to park in a corner. "Do you even know where this hospital is?" Ruby asked, as everyone else was too stunned to speak.

"No, but I mean there aren't so many hospitals in Seattle, right?" I saw the driver chuckle and look out of the window while Ruby just face palmed herself. "Stella seriously? What do you think, we're going to visit every hospital in Seattle to see if we're at the right place?" The whole while Kehna was quite, and it just made me feel like a nuisance.

"Okay! Wait, I'll try calling my dad let's hope he picks up" I tried calling a couple of times I was about to give up but he finally picked up the phone

"Hey! Hey, dad" I quickly said.

"Stella, aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"Yes and no, I'm in the car right now" he didn't allow me to finish

"You're in the car? Which car? Which car!?"

"Dad, relax we're coming to Seattle, and don't argue about it, just tell me where you are, before you start giving excuses why I shouldn't come, I'm in the car with Ruby and Kehna right now and we aren't going back so tell me which hospital it is"

"It's Med Health hospital, please take care of yourself" he whispered the last part, and as I turned to inform them about what I and my dad had discussed. Ruby quickly interrupted once again. "You could have told your father not to worry we aren't going to kidnap you or anything" I just rolled my eyes at her, "Anyways my dad said, they're at Med Health hospital" and with that we started driving, normally I would fall asleep in the car but everyone was awake, so what should I gain from sleep? My friend needed me.

A long while later,

"Okay, girls we're here," When we got out of the car I already saw Ruby and Kehna going into the hospital and I didn't even bother to think about it. "Hey! Thanks for waiting for me"

"You're not a kid so I guess you'll be able to find the way by yourself" before she could say anything further I quickly stopped her and said.

"I'll go look for my dad" with that I left and started looking around for my dad, but the thing was that the hospital was gigantic. I was still searching for my dad when I heard some voices in the corner that attracted me, the nearer I walked over the louder the voices became.

"What are we going to do, huh! What do we tell her family? That we went on a trip but couldn't bring her back... alive?"

"How does that sound to you?" I saw my dad flipping out he had his back facing me, he immediately stopped when he saw that the staff's concentration wasn't on him anymore. "Pa- Papi... what happened?" My tears were unintentionally falling and as much as I wanted to stop them from doing so... I was unsuccessful each time I tried to wipe them away.

"Stella where's Kehna?".

"Sh- she's with Ruby and her... Driver" I was having a hard time talking. "What's with Kehna's mom? Where's she?"

"Stella," he said and looked at the staffs as a sign, that they should excuse us. "Stella we're doomed!"

"What do you mean?" He was about to explain everything to me but we suddenly got interrupted.

"Stella! Where on earth have been? We've been looking up and down for you" Ruby seemed a bit annoyed with the situation and I was sure they had already noticed me being a crying mess. I tried to wipe away my tears

"Mr. Garcia where's my mom? And why are you crying". As my dad was about to answer a man wearing a white coat came out of the room, so I guessed it must be the doctor. "Mr. Garcia, we need the family of this patient"

"Is he talking about my mom Mr. Garcia?" My dad nodded. "I'm her daughter!" Kehna immediately called out, "Oh, are you her only family?"

"No, my dad is probably busy right now"

"I'm not sure if I can tell you this"

"Where's my mom? Is she okay?" The doctor hesitated a bit, "Your mother got into a fatal accident, she lost a lot of blood and I'm sorry, but we were too late and couldn't save her"

"What are you talking about? I want to see my mom! Now!" Kehna started yelling wanting the doctor to answer her questions and allow her to see her mother.

"Please calm down, there are other patients here" with that the doctor left and I turned to Kehna so I could comfort her but Ruby was clinging to her and I thought maybe she could use some space. I'll find some give her comfort rather than going now that everyone wants her to know that she isn't alone. She might feel suffocated... I concluded.