Lunch time went great. Cody actually insisted me to turn the TV on. Laughing at his desire to hear the TV, I gladly turned it on. We spent the next couple hours joking and laughing like old friends. Even the doctor came in, completely amused by sudden friendship. When Dinner neared, the laughter died down.

"So I guess this is our final moments together?" he meant to make that sound funny.

"Geez, I'm not dying you know, just going...home." I reasoned.

"You really don't want to go, huh?"

"No, I really want to go home! It's just, AGH!" I groaned, "This stupid accident..."

"There you go with the blaming again," Cody interrupted me.

"Maybe you should become a counselor!" I snapped at him, he stiffened by my sudden outburst. "Sorry," I quickly mumbled, "When I think of never dancing again, I just..."

"Break?" He suggested.

"Yeah, I guess so, it's just difficult, you know?" I didn't want to meet his face, even though that made no difference to him.

"I know," he gave a sad sigh as if recalling some forgotten memory, "after my dad passed," he had to pause for a second to regain his composure, "I felt that every time I would meet my friends' dad's I would just break every single time. Though I still hurt over that, some things you'll never get back except old memories." I was about to ask him how mine and his situation are connected until he added, "But in your case,  have you considered to pick up your feet and start dancing again?"

"But the doctors said..." I started until he interrupted me again.

"Doctors say one thing, but God says another. If you put forth effort, I know you can start ballet up again." He interrupted yet again, but this time something else caught my attention.

"You're a Christian?" I asked. He slowly nodded my way.

"Yes, I hope that didn't offend you."

"Not at all, just...I-I didn't know that," I stuttered. Before the accident, sure, I went to church, hung out with Christian friends, even read my bible every now and then (a.k.a. for Sunday school lesson). But now, after the accident, I just lost hope. My dreams shattered. In a way, I hate to admit it, but I think that's who I'm actually angry at. "Listen, I appreciate your kind words while I was here, but, I think we should lose contact after I go home."

Cody sat silently, then slowly nodded, "Okay, that is what you wanted since we met."

Dad's phone vibrated, I looked at the text just as mom and Luke strolled in with a wheelchair. "Sorry if it's a little too early, we have..." Luke elbowed mom to make her be quiet. A look of secrecy passed in there eyes as mom glared at him, then understandingly nodded. "Dad bought a new cat! And the kids named her Jay!"

I rolled my eyes annoyingly, "Mom, we've had Jay as a kitten." The lie was ridiculous. 

"Oh...right..." Mom was at a loss for words. 

Soon  Luke spoke up, " Alright sis, let's go home, Jackie misses you like crazy," Jackie is our golden retriever, we only let him inside during the winter, but now, since the doctor will probably put me on bed rest for a few days, dad and mom might consider letting him stay inside with me. Luke helped me up into the wheelchair.

"Cody," Luke started, "thank you for accompanying my sister, i know she was a pain in the butt, forgive her if she has been."

I glared at him, "I was not!"

Cody chuckled, "It was a pleasure to know her the past two days," he then quietly turned his head in the direction he hoped I was in, "take care, Paige."

"You too, Cody," I mumbled as mom strolled me out of the room. I literally felt broken. Like I was being ripped away from something so special. I wanted to go back into the room and give him a proper good bye and possibly ask for his phone number if he had one. But that would just seem weird to mom and Luke. And since I've already told Cody I didn't want any contact information made my heart feel miles away from the nearest shore. 

We made it outside into the fresh autum air. On the way out, nurses and Doctors bid me farewell. Though I didn't want to go back to the hospital, I felt a feeling of lonliness. Alone from family, from Cody, especially from God.

---

The ride home, we exchanged only a few words. As we pulled up onto the ranch, something already felt suspicious. It was unusually quiet. Mom rolled me up onto our porch and Luke opened the door for us. Just as I was about to tell Luke to show me the way to my 'new' room, around 20 people jumped out of small tight places and yelled "SURPRISE!" I was more annoyed than shocked. Friends and family walked up to me and gave me awkward hugs. Being taught not to bring out your anger on others as a child, I forced on a smile and hoped this would all be over soon.

"How are you feeling?"

"We missed you!"

"Thank heavens your alright!"

The most common greeting was, "So glad you're back!" As if they couldn't live without me. Once everyone calmed down and starting chatting with one another, Lily came over to every small group to give them some refreshments. I'm guessing this was a welcome home party? Sure didn't feel like home. I sighed. Honestly, I don't know where I got this attitude. It won't be long before mom and dad find out. Luke stood beside me the whole time, talking to a friend of his from school.

I nudged him, getting his attention, "Can you show me where my room is?"

He nodded and rolled me down the hallway and past the livingroom into a seperate bigger room. It had perfect enough space for a wheelchair and later, I'll switch over to crutches. The room belonged to Jacob, my older brother who's in college right now. I'm sure they called him and asked for his permission. The room itself was a replica of my old room. Mom probably insisted on making it look like my old room to make me feel more at home. Of course there was a lot of awkward space, but I'm sure I can fix that once I'm up and walking again.

"There's a bathroom in here, in case you forgot, if you need anything, I'm down the hall." Without further ado, he left, closing the door as silence filled the room. For once I can finally be myself. Wheeling my self to my bed, I attempted to get on. With a couple trys and grunts, I made it to the top. Looking around the room once more, an inside hamock looking thing caught my attention in the far off corner. Coming into the room, you wouldn't notice it. One of the greatest hiding places it was for us kids. The hamock belonged to Jacob, I'm not sure why or what it's doing in my 'new' room. I hope Jacob knows about this. Like all older siblings, Jacob forbid anyone to come into his room, especially to touch the hamock while he's gone. Mom comes in here once in a while to clean the dust off things and occationally, to escape the caos happening outside these doors. This is also one of the rooms, besides mom's and dad's, that is almost completely sound poof. 

I laid on my bed, enjoying the silence. 

I was startled awake by a sudden knock, "Come in," I croaked out.

Emmalee tentavily opened the door. I quickly sat up. "How are you feeling?" She asked, keeping her head down low.

"I could have been better," I replied, "what are you doing here?"

"Heard about you coming home, so I wanted to see you."

I had to fight the urge not to roll my eyes at her, "I see."

Emmalee finally looked up and met my eyes. She briefly glanced at my cast, a look of guilt crossed her face. "Paige, look, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have begged you to go to that party. I knew about the dance and alcohol but I didn't know that one of the guys would have spiked my drink." I raised my eyebrow, but didn't say anything. "Paige," she sounded desperate to hear me speak, her eyes were starting to brim with tears, "please, I know this kills your career, but I don't want to loose my best friend."

"Best friend?" I scofted, "Em, this more than hurts me, I can't dance anymore! Dancing is my life! You know that!"

"Paige, I-"

I cut her off, "Why didn't you just tell me they were drinking? You know what? Don't answer," I stopped her from speaking, I just didn't want to hear her, "a best friend would warn her friend of the danger up ahead. Now because of this stupid *beep* accident ruins my life!" I clamped my mouth shut. That was the first time I've said a cuss word. I don't know how it slipped through. Emmalee stepped back a little. "I just want to be alone," I stated instead of apologizing. She made a slow nod and left, closing the door once more. I know I've hurt her beyond words, but she needed to know my feelings. I didn't want to tell her it's alright, and don't worry about it. I wanted her to know that this wasn't okay, and that I was indeed hurt, not just physically but emotionally as well. I just hadn't meant to bring it out on her. I fell head first into my pillow and screamed, muffling any sounds. Now, I could literally state that I, in a sense, hate myself.

Forgive me for a short chapter this time...I had to put a filler chapter to keep you guys from waiting. I'll try to update tomorrow, but no promises. Long chapters take up to two days while shorter chapters take up to a day.