Chapter 8

‘So, Georgia,’ I cleared my throat as I sat beside her bed, ‘I went on my date with Sam. It was brilliant; the best date ever.’ I glanced around her hospital room. ‘It was at Music Fleet. He had hired out the stage. I got to play there and we had a picnic and campfire; looked up at the stars and everything.’

I was extremely tempted to have a look at what was going through Georgia’s mind. But that would violate her rights to privacy... wouldn’t it? But what if helps her? I could find out what she saw or what made her walk out of the shop and follow Daphne and Reid. It’s better to have good intentions than to not help at all, right?

Scooting the chair closer to her bed, I braced myself by taking a deep breath and placed my hand on her forehead. Everyone stores thoughts and stuff differently. Georgia keeps hers in bubbles. In one bubble I could see her dreaming of what it would be like to be an angel like us. In another bubble, surrounded by many other bubbles, was a boy that Ace talks to. What was his name? I thought to myself and suddenly, as if Georgia had heard me and answered, I knew the boy was called Stephen. There was a lot of affection sent his way.

As quick as a bubble could burst, trouble floated in her mind. In a cloudy grey bubble were Daphne and Reid. We were back in the shop: Ryvre, Ace, Georgia, Daphne, Reid and me. I was talking to Reid and as they were leaving – when Ryvre and Ace started arguing with me – Georgia suddenly straightened up like she had been tickled or shocked by something and walked out in a trance. She was fighting herself – like her heart knew something her head didn’t. Georgia stopped in the road, looking around for Reid and Daphne, but she didn’t see them. When she turned back around she was hit by a black Mercedes Benz.

It was horrible to see what she went through. Another bubble that was a light green colour bounced next to the grey one. Ace had healed her so she had no broken bones just bruises; he numbed the pain until Hugh had stopped by. Hugh can manipulate your mind and cause or take away pain.

There was a sudden bubble attack diffusing in her mind. It was nightmare. I decided to leave her mind so I could comfort her and being suffocated by the grey and dark bubbles didn’t seem like fun.

Back in reality, I pushed back Georgia’s hair from her face and hushed her. She kept fidgeting and flinching; I repeated “its ok” and “it’s just a nightmare” and “it’s over now” but it didn’t help. There was a knock on the door, it opened a jar and Hugh popped his head round.

‘Hugh make the nightmare go away,’ I ordered desperately, ‘manipulate her mind.’

Hugh silently walked towards Georgia’s head and placed his hand on her head. His gift works at its best if he can touch the person. After a few seconds Georgia seemed to calm down and it looked like she was sleeping, instead of being in a coma

‘I took her thoughts of Stephen and made her dream about him,’ he shook his head. He didn’t like the idea of violating her privacy but it was better than letting her suffer. ‘I can’t stop the nightmare until she wakes up or overcomes it herself – depends on how bad the trauma is.’

‘Thanks,’ I said quietly, ‘I took a look in her mind.’

‘You did what?’ Hugh asked even though he had heard me correctly. ‘How would you like it-?’

‘I wouldn’t, I know. But I wanted to know why she followed Reid and Daphne and why she got knocked down.’ I explained to him. ‘I didn’t find out why but-’

‘See? You didn’t achieve anything.’ Hugh complained. ‘You did more harm than you did help.’

‘Actually, I found out that it was a black Mercedes Benz that had done the hit and run.’ I pointed out. ‘The police told me themselves that the accident had turned into a crime.’

‘Oh, good work,’ Hugh clapped sarcastically, ‘there’s loads of people who drive a Mercedes Benz.’

‘Well, at least it’s a start.’ I glared at him. ‘I don’t get what your problem is. Normally, you’d understand that I had good intentions and was trying to help.’ I stood up, took one more look at Georgia – who was sleeping peacefully – and walked out of the room.

It was almost one in the morning when I stepped out into the cool, crisp air. Majority of the family had gone home already – the rest were staying at the hospital a little longer – so I had no ride home. I pulled out my phone and dialled Sam’s number.

‘Hello?’ Sam answered tiredly.

‘Sorry to wake you up, Sam.’ I paused before I added, ‘oh, it’s Electra by the way.’

‘Electra,’ Sam sounded more awake now, ‘it’s alright. Are you ok? Do you need me?’ Isn’t he sweet?

‘I’m fine – well, stuck actually... Yes, I need you.’ I smiled at that thought, ‘do you have any idea how I can get home?’ I thought it’d be rude to ask him for a lift.

‘Where are you?’

‘Still at the hospital,’ I sighed at the fact that no one had bothered to think of me getting home, ‘I need a way to get home. Are the buses still running or do I have to walk?’

‘Wait there; I’ll come pick you up.’ I could hear him already moving. ‘You know the buses stop running at midnight and I don’t want you walking home alone in the dark.’

‘No, its ok,’ I said modestly, ‘I can walk – nothing’s going to happen to me – I just need to know the way home.’

‘Electra, I’m coming now. Just wait for me.’ Sam hung up the phone and by the sound of his tone it was clear that I had no choice but to wait for him to come pick me up.

My body started shaking from the cold, night air. When I got dressed for my date with Sam earlier, I thought I’d be home by now; tucked up in bed, eating chocolate and drinking a nice cup of tea. I didn’t anticipate that I’d be standing outside the hospital at one in the morning, shivering my butt blue.

After what seemed like a lifetime, Sam pulled up in front of me. I opened the door and got in. He took off his jacket and passed it to me.

‘Thank you so much,’ I said as I snuggled my freezing body into his warm jacket – that smelled a lot like him.

‘No problem,’ Sam smiled, ‘where are we heading to now? I can’t drop you off at the shop because the buses aren’t running and I don’t want you walking.’ I hesitated, causing Sam to add, ‘you can trust me, Electra. I’m not going to hurt anyone – or your friends and family. I promise you.’

I told him my address. I had to trust him. ‘You know I hate cheesy things...’ he nodded, waiting for me to finish, ‘... well, there is one crime you’re guilty of.’

‘Which is?’ Sam knew what line was coming next; he just wanted me to say it so I’d embarrass myself.

‘Stealing,’ I tried to stall it for as long as I could. ‘Please don’t make me say it.’

‘Ok, fine. But you’re guilty of the same crime. I am the victim in this case.’ Sam laughed.

‘How can you be so happy?’ I blurted out the question. It was meant to be a... a general wonderment.

‘How can I not?’ He counter-asked as he turned a corner.

‘Considering I woke you up and it’s...’ I paused to look at the clock on the radio, ‘...one forty-six in the morning.’

‘And I’m coming in to do some more work tomorrow.’ Sam interjected.

‘You know the shop is closed tomorrow, right?’ I looked at him and he looked so attractive when driving.

‘Yeah, but I thought I’d help out as much as I could.’ Sam glanced at me. ‘You don’t have to come in; take a day to rest.’

‘Uh-huh, about that...’ I was about to tell him about Reid and mine’s date tomorrow but my head started hurting, something was fighting it. ‘Ow,’ I gasped, ‘my head hurts.’

‘Are you alright?’

‘Yes, it’s just a headache.’ I lied and tried to act normal. I decided to not tell Sam about the date since it was less painful – both literal and metaphorical.

We drove in silence the rest of the way home. As Sam pulled up outside my house, he whistled, clearly impressed by the house. I unplugged my seatbelt but didn’t get out.

‘Nice place,’ Sam raised his eyebrows as it registered in his brain, ‘must be amazing to live there.’

‘It’s not.’ I put an end to that conversation. ‘Seriously Sam, how do you do it? How do you stay so cheerful, even in a situation like this?’

‘Well, it’s either come pick you up in the early hours of the morning or let you walk. And I’m not letting you walk because I don’t want to even risk anything happening to you. You never know what could happen. I would be so heartbroken, knowing I just let you walk out there, in the dark and allowed God-knows-what to happen and-’

‘Sam, I love you.’ I wanted him to stop worrying about me but the only thing I could think of to say was that I love him.

‘I love you too, Electra.’ Sam said, a little surprised by the fact that I had said it.

‘Thanks for the lift,’ I opened the car door and climbed out, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

I let myself in the house with my keys, ran upstairs to my room before I got the third degree from any family members. I threw my bag on my bed alongside my shoes and could hear Sam’s engine still running. I lifted up the net curtain and looked outside.

Sam was looking up at my bedroom window through his windscreen. I waved at him like a little kid waving at their parent whilst on stage during a school production. There was just so much warmth in Sam’s eyes and his smile was kind. I just pray that he isn’t a trap.