The Story In His Picture

Chapter 12

Song – Woodstock by Jon Bellion

…/…

My eyes opened and the last thing I could remember was falling into the pool. I looked around and examined my environment. The walls were white with blue curtains, it was then I took cognizance of what I was wearing.

The blue gown was short and it kinda stuck to my body. There was a bandage on my forehead, touching it was giving me a headache. The doctor came into my room not too long after and told me I’d be fine and I’d be discharged tomorrow.

“You just have a mild concussion. Some of your family members and friends are in the reception waiting for you, should I send them in?” He says and I nod weakly.

He nods and leaves, going to call them. My brothers come in with Luke and they hug me. I know they are worried but I smile to reassure them that I’m fine. They chat with me for a while before I ask about the others.

“Van had to stay back because she had to take care of the house, she’d come soon,” Jay says. They leave to call the others and I try to compose myself for their arrival. Chris opens the door and I’m immediately greeted by Elle’s scent.

She hugs me avoiding my head and she lets out a tear. She cleans her face with a napkin and smiles. Chris walks over to me and hugs me too, kissing my temple. “Darian had to do something but he said he’d come as soon as he’s done,” Chris says.

I try to nod and stare at Henry who hadn’t left his spot. “Can you guys give Henry and me a minute?”. They nod and leave.

“Hey,” I say. Before I could even continue what, I wanted to say, he cuts me off by saying “What exactly happened?”. “Uhm okay, when you left, I kinda felt you were angry at me. I don’t know why I did but I did. So, I tried to follow you and I ran, then, I slipped and most likely hit my head by the edge of the pool”.

He stares at me, intensely before saying “So, it’s actually my fault”. “No, no it isn’t. I was the one that ran”. He calms down before apologizing a lot. “I owe you a tub of ice cream,” He says smiling. “Okay, I’d like that. Please can you call the rest in”.

He goes to call Chris and Elle in and I can’t help but think of how cute it is that he was worried he was the cause of the whole accident. Chris comes in and sits on the chair beside my bed. He then whispers into my ear, “was it because of him? Like, were you going to meet him?”. I nod and he whispers “Okay”

“Well, get well soon Gen. Luke texted me that he wants to come in with Darian,” Elle says. “I’m not leaving Grey’s side so you and Henry can go”. I knew he was joking, but I couldn’t help but feel this strange tension between Henry and Chris.

“Okay,” Henry says before he comes to hug me and kisses my cheek. Elle and Henry leave us alone and they go to tell Luke and Darian to come in. “You have nice eyes,” Chris says to me as he practically examines my face.

I look at him, amused before I say “You’re just saying that because I’m on a sickbed”. Chris laughs before nodding and I roll my eyes, muttering “Jerk!”.

When he stops laughing, he then says, “I mean it though”. Before I could comment or react, Luke and Darian come in. “You sack of potato; I knew you’d be fine,” Darian says as he walks into the room. “Loud much?” Chris replies.

Darian comes to me and holds my face in his hands. He kisses my cheeks, my temple, he attempts to kiss my forehead but Luke drags him away and Chris shields my face. I just laugh.

“I brought your book for you and your pencil”. Luke gives them to me and I can’t help but be grateful, I had a best friend like him.

Night rolls by and they all fight to stay behind. The lot fell on Chris and Luke so yeah, they’re stuck with me for the rest of the night.

“Tami wants to talk to you, so I gave her your number,” Luke says. “Okay, that’s cool. I’d chat with her”. “Luke, please pass my book, It’s on that table”. I had given a nurse to put it there because it was making me uncomfortable on the bed. I point to the table behind me and he stretches to get it.

I pull my pencil from my hair and open to an empty page. Then, I write:

It’s the way we feel when we’re fine.

The laughter and tears we took for granted.

The joy in our eyes falling as smiles on our lips.

Now, forced smiles are seen everywhere.

“Everything would be okay,” They say.

I believe you’d be fine.

Just don’t follow the white light.

It’d take you deep into the night,

You’d never be able to come back.

…/…

The next week rolls by fast. Luke and I go to the movies as promised, just us. We watch Holidate and have fun. The routine is to watch movies and then go to ice cream. We make one t****k video using one of those best friend songs and it was cool.

On our way home, we stop by a field and take numerous pictures with the camera. I take pictures of him and he takes of me. Over the years, with me being a photographer, Luke was forced to learn how to take pictures too.

The pictures are fine majorly because of the sunset. After eating in the car, we head home. The day was indeed wonderful.  

I get to my house only to see Chris on my doorstep. “Hey,” I say to him. Chris just looks up and I see stress in his eyes. I open the door and motion for him to come in. We greet my parents who were seated around the dining table. “Hello Chris,” my mum says, smiling. “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Greene”.

“I’ve told you, you can call me Mona”. My dad looked at him before saying “And I, Philip”. “Yeah, Dad we have a project to do, so we’re gonna go now”. “Keep it PG in there,” my dad says.

We go upstairs and settle down in my room. I let him sit down on the couch and gather his thoughts before I ask him what happened. “Wanna talk about it?”. “No,” he says

He lays on the couch before saying “I hate my life”. I sit on the floor beside the couch and play with my fingers mostly because I don’t know what to say. “You really don’t have to say anything,” He says looking at me.

Our faces are inches away from each other’s, it’s like we’re breathing the same air. Chris leans back and I move backward. “Gen, someone is at the door waiting for you,” my mum yells. I almost jump as I go to check who’s at the door.

“Hey, I just thought we could hang out and go get ice-cream this evening,” Henry says.

“Uhm…