CHAPTER 20
"Morning, Slick," Kill said placing kisses down my face.
"Uhmm. I like waking up like this," I replied, rolling closer to him.
"Don't tempt me. We have to get going soon. You get ready. I'll go get your parents and take care of breakfast."
"You have to stop kissing me, then. If you don't, you're going to be late." I hooked my arms around his neck, pulling his face to mine.
"If I wasn't so scared of showing up with that,I just fucked your daughter look,I’d take you up on that offer." Kill jumped off me with one final kiss. "Get ready, slacker."
In the bathroom, I took my time, wanting to look good for Kill on such a special day. Worry gnawed at my stomach, but I refused to acknowledge it. This day was going to change our future-I was certain the boys were going to be discovered. I allowed the hopeful thoughts that maybe we’d be strong enough to handle whatever was thrown at us to filter through my worry.
After my final touches, I went downstairs to see what Kill was up to. A familiar smell hit me as I came into the kitchen. My stomach and mind revolted.
Kill smiled when he saw me. Martha and my dad were sitting at the table drinking coffee. The edges of my sight blurred with black, and my breathing became erratic as it tried to catch up with my pounding heart.
“Hey, Slick. I found a use for all the pumpkin you bought,” Kill said, pointing to a huge stack of orange waffles.
Images of Jason cooking his famous make-up breakfast assaulted my brain. My stomach flared in pain. I actually looked down to see if a knife was protruding from my abdomen. Kill’s mouth was moving, but his voice was indiscernible. He sounded like he was talking to me from inside a fish bowl. Blackness continued to crowd my sight until it eclipsed my vision. The last thing I remembered was a sharp pain at the back of my head, as I hit the floor.
Iwoke up in the hospital. An IV was attached to my arm and a band aid covering the inside of my other elbow. I was having a hard time staying conscious. Bits and pieces of my trip to the ER flashed through my mind.
The pain radiating from my stomach kept removing me from reality. My head throbbed, feeling as though there might be a huge, painful growth at the back of it.
When I was finally able to get a grasp on reality for more than a couple of seconds, Martha called for a nurse. An older woman with squeaky shoes made me drink a disgusting green liquid she dubbed the green goddess, as she smiled at me with lipstick-covered teeth.
My room was filled to the capacity with worried-looking faces. After I swallowed the nasty liquid like a good patient, Nurse Lipstick-teeth said she’d get the doctor.
"When the doctor arrives, you’ll all have to leave the room," she said in a stern tone to no one in particular before leaving the room. Everyone began talking to me at once as soon as the door clicked shut.
"Hush," Martha silenced all the noise, using an even more stern voice than Nurse Lipstick-teeth could ever dream of.
My eyes met the clock. I jolted up only to be hindered by the pain in my arm and head. “What the hell are you doing here? You need to be at the festival.” Even after my declaration at the time, the boys didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave.
“We aren’t going to the festival, Slick,” Kill said, making my stomach ache even more.
The medicine they administered through my IV, had taken the edge off of the pain, but it still was no match for the boulder.
“What do you mean you aren’t going to the festival? This is your big shot. You have to know you were going to be discovered today!” I practically yelled at them, unable to comprehend why they didn’t see the urgency of this.
“Slick, we weren’t going to leave you in the hospital and go play a gig,” Kill said, sounding exasperated. He moved to the bed, latching onto the hand unconnected to tubes.
“Well, I'm fine. So, get your asses out of here,” I pleaded, trying to make a shooing motion, which was awkward with the IV.
“We already called the Houndmounds and gave them our spot,” Kill said. His voice sounded cool as if he hadn’t just thrown away their big chance.
My eyes searched the room, landing on all the boys. They wore worried expressions, but I had a feeling it was for my condition and had nothing to do with the missed opportunity. How they could look at me with love instead of disdain, after I’d crushed their dreams was beyond me.
“There will be other ins for us, Faith. Wearekind of awesome you know,” Jet said, Amy was perched on his lap.
“I know you guys are awesome, and now I feel awful that I messed up your chance.” Tears slid down my cheeks, and when I tried to brush them away, I winced in pain, the IV holding me hostage. Kill used his free hand to wipe the tears from my face.
“Hush, sis, you're more important. Right now, your health is our main concern,” Van said, his arm holding Jessie to his side.
I gave them a thin smile. His words made me feel worse instead of comforting me.
“Besides, Faith, I'm the manager. I'll find us another chance; you just get better,” D added.
