(Human by Dodie)

Hi guys! enjoy this happy chapter! Once again, I was torn between two songs. The one that came in CLOSE second is listed above if you want to check it out.

Darla H

I felt my eyes well up with tears as I read the article about nationals and the skaters that were competing. Nationals was this weekend. I should have been going to it. But instead, I would be lucky to get out of the hospital by then. I was frustrated and upset that my time to shine just fizzled into nothing.

Before my parents left for the evening this night, they knew something was up with me. They knew I was upset about nationals and they tried to make it better. They told me that there would be next year. And maybe there could be next year, maybe everything would be ok. But the road to recovery was going to take months. By the time I would be healthy enough to get back on the ice, which wouldn't be for another month or more, I would have to relearn a lot. It would be like starting from the basic freestyle levels again.

I heard a small cough that caused me to look up from my phone. I quickly wiped my tears as I smiled at Callum who stood at the door of my room. I was happy to see him here. I could use a distraction.

<>

"I hope I'm not stepping on any toes..." Callum said as he came into my hospital room. He looked slightly unsure of himself as he did so.

I frowned as my mind went to the worst. He published that article without me looking at it. It was causing more damage to my name. "What did you do?"

At that moment, Cami came running into the room with a smile. "He threw a little party for you," she said excitedly.

"Cami!" I smiled at her. I was surprised that she hadn't left for Nationals yet. She put the flowers on the table then sat down on the foot of the bed. She took off her lace-up black boots and sat cross-legged by my feet as she made herself comfortable. It was as if she always came here but I knew this was her first time coming to visit.

At that moment Kris, Tom, Quinn, and lastly Garret with boxes of pizza in his hands.

Cami smiled at the food and pushed herself off the bed and walked to Garret. "Oh my goodness, I'm starving," Cami said as she opened one of the boxes and took a slice.

I chuckled. I never thought I would miss her as much as I did. Everything happened so fast, I never did get a chance to tell her I was in here. I wondered if Callum told her and I wondered if she was mad at me. I had no intention of holding that from her, I hoped that she knew that.

"Aren't you going to help me find a place for these?" Garret asked with frustration as he struggled with the boxes of pizza.

"Nope," Cami said, popping the P. She sat back down on the bed and started to dig into the piece of pizza she had in her hands with a happy smile on her face. She looked completely content as she took another bite. I was starting to believe that she would never forgive Garret for what he did to me. As much as I felt bad for Garret, I liked the loyalty that Cami shared.

"Here, give them here," Kris said with a tired sigh. She took them off Garret's hands and placed them on a counter that had a sink in the corner of the room.

"Ok, who brought the cookies?" Callum asked the group that crowded into my small room. I held back a laugh, he reminded me of PTO mom as he walked around the room, commanding attention.

They all looked at me with smiles, but not pity smiles, they were happy, excited to be here. They didn't give me sympathy because I didn't need it. I was improving, I would be out of here in no time. Right now I just needed friends and they were here for that.

I smiled at all of them. I felt completely loved. I looked at Callum and mouthed thank you. This was exactly what I needed. I needed this feeling of connection that I hadn't felt in a while.

"I got them!" Tom said as he pulled out of his massive purse/backpack a container of cookies. "El, where can I put these? Oh, wait how about here?" Tom asked as he put them on a counter next to the pizza.

As the group started to dish up food and organize it, Kris threw me a smile and walked across the room to me. In the commotion, Kris and I shared a private moment. "I got you something," she said as she handed me a small gift.

I smiled at her as I took the gift box wrapped in gold paper. I quickly opened it and saw a golden skating blade pin that said 'Ellis da Souza, nationals' engraved on it. It was beautiful. This was going on my skating coat. I felt my eyes well up with tears.

Last week, I was so sure that Kris was against me. In fact, I was so sure everyone was against me. But they weren't, they were supporting me when I couldn't see it. They cared more about my skating. They knew that I was more then that. As if it was magic, Kris' and my bridge was never brunt and we were back to normal.

"I got this for you as soon as you placed at Sectionals. Even though you aren't completing, you still made it there," she said and sat down on a chair. "I'm more proud of you than I can ever share," she whispered.

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes as I got emotional. "I'm sorry," I said to her, knowing that would not solve the drama I had caused, but it was a start.

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I should have done things differently," she said and hugged me tightly. She pulled out of the hug and wiped her eyes. She sniffled and smiled lightly at me. "Puck El, I never cry," she said with a chuckle.

"Well puck. Sorry." 

She smiled. "I expect to see you back on the ice in no time."

I nodded as my attention shifted to Callum. He was slightly stressed as he looked around the room. He frowned as he realized that there weren't enough chairs for the group that came into the room. "We need more seats! I'll get some," Callum said as he ran out the door.

"El, want some Pizza?" Cami asked as she got another piece for herself. She tucked some of her curly brown hair behind her ear and smiled, waiting for a response. I hardly ever saw her hair down but I loved it when I did. She had some of the most beautiful hair I had ever seen on any person.

I nodded, although I wasn't hungry. "Yes please," I said as she handed me a plate with a piece on it.

"Oh my goodness, El, you should have seen Garret and his team today. They were practically begging us for the main rink," Quinn said as she took a piece of pizza for herself.

Garret leaned against the wall of the room, knowing he probably shouldn't have acted the way he did. "We weren't begging," Garret said, defending himself.

"No, I would call that graveling. Look, El, I got it on camera," Tom said with a chuckle as he handed me the phone to see the video of the team. I started to watch the video of Garret asking Tom and Quinn about the ice.

"Callum, what did I tell you, no parties," Allyson's voice rang out. I looked up and saw Allyson walking in with foldable chairs in her hands. She looked tired and slightly annoyed. She wanted to shut this down as quickly as it started.

I looked at her with pleading eyes. I needed this as a distraction. She couldn't shut it down when it just started to lift my spirits. "This isn't really a party," I said to her as I handed Tom his phone.

Allyson looked at me with a slight frown, making sure I was ok. She was worried about me. After all, I did just wake up yesterday morning. "Just don't stay here too late. Ellis needs her time to rest," she said finally as she put the chairs down in the room.

I nodded, feeling accomplished. "Thank you, Allyson," I said as I gave her a small smile as she walked out of the room.

"I told you, wrapped around your pinky finger," Callum whispered into my ear, making sure she didn't hear him.

I smiled. I was starting to see that.

"Oh, and El, after we agreed to switch rinks, Cami didn't get the memo and she started to skate around with the hockey team," Quinn said, continuing the story without a pause. She laughed at the memory as she unfolded a chair. She sat down and took a cookie from the counter that was beside her.

Cami blushed. "I was just in my mindset. I didn't even notice them at first," She said, embarrassed.

I chuckled at the story they shared. For a split second, I thought that they would pity me for being here with a shaved head and an IV attached to my arm. But it was like that didn't mind or even care to notice. I was still Ellis, I was still a figure skater, and I was still their friend.

For the first time in a while, I felt like I was myself again. Yes, I was in this hospital, but with all of my friends, laughing about something silly. I hadn't let myself do this in too long.

"So that was why you were late," Kris said as she looked at Cami with a slight frown.

Cami smiled at her. "I wasn't late. You were."

I changed my position in the bed so I was sitting cross-legged with Cami. I chuckled again. I took a bite of pizza and smiled at the story. The pizza was actually better than I thought it would be. I took another bite.

The conversations continued as the night wore on. We laughed together as we told stories and jokes. Soon the sun was gone completely and Kris had left an hour ago. I didn't want this night to end though. I wanted them to keep me company forever.

"Who brought cover your assets," Tom asked as he held a deck of cards in his hands.

"That was me," Cami said as she leaned back in the chair she was sitting in.

"Oh dang gurl! Smart thinking!" Tom said with a smile as he popped a cookie into his mouth.

"El, want to play?" Quinn asked eagerly.

"Of course!" I said as Allyson walked into the room.

Suddenly the party and light-hearted feelings left the room like a popped balloon. As I looked at her purple scrubs that complimented her dark skin tone, she reminded me that I was actually in a hospital. There was silence that fell on the room as she checked my IV and other machines around me. "El, you need to take it easy now," she said.

I didn't want this night to end. "But Allyson," I protested.

She shook her head. "You heard me," she said, putting down her foot like I was her child. "This party has gone on for three hours already. Plus visiting hours are almost over." She turned to Tom, Quinn, and Cami then said, "sorry guys, the party's over."

I threw them a sympathetic look. If I could have it my way this party would go on for another three more hours. "Sorry guys," I said to them.

Tom and Quinn shrugged at each other. "We have to study for a test tomorrow anyhow," they said as they started to get their things together.

"I guess I don't have her completely wrapped around my pinky finger," I said quietly to Callum as he held my hand.

He smiled with a shrug. "I still think you still do. Three hours is a lot of time that she let this go on for."

"El, remember, we love you like to the moon and back. Feel better soon, we'll talk later," Tom said as he blew a kiss to me. With that, Quinn and him left the room.

Callum smiled at me as he stood up from the chair he sat on. He handled my friends with such poise. It made me wonder if he was actually enjoying his time or just faking it. He stretched and yawned. "I have to get home too."

I pouted. "No..." I said as I refused to let go of his hand.

He smirked at me. "I'll be back tomorrow," Callum said and kiss me lightly.

I wanted him to kiss me harder but I could compromise with this. "Ok," I said as I let go of him, content with his response.

"Don't worry El, I'm here until my mom comes," Cami said with a smile as she sat back on the bed. She laid down and stretched.

I smiled at her. "Yay." At least I wasn't completely alone.

"I love you," Callum said as he kissed me one more time.

"I love you too," I said as he walked out of the room.

And then there were two.

There was silence as the two of us stayed in our thoughts for a moment. "Thank you," I said to her.

She shrugged. "For what? Callum planned all of this. He's something else, El. Wow."

I nodded. He was. What we had wasn't perfect by any means, but it was ours and I loved it. I was so glad that I had him in my life again.

She looked at the ceiling from the foot of the bed, looking upset. "I didn't know about the surgery until Callum told me," Cami said, turning the mood serious.

"It all happened really fast. I honestly didn't tell anyone," I said as I remembered the moment Jaimie brought me here.

She nodded as she rolled onto her stomach to look at me. "From now on, we need to make a pact. No more secrets." She held up her pinky finger. Without hesitation, I latched mine with hers.

"Deal," I said, knowing we could never break a pinky promise. Seeing this as my opportunity to try the promise I said, "so tell me about Jaimie."

Cami smiled shyly at me. "He told you?"

I chuckled lightly. "Of course he did. I'm his sister after all."

"That's ok, right? That we're dating?" she asked with concern.

I nodded. "Of course it is. It's about time something happened between you two."

Breaking us from this moment was a buzz to her phone. She instantly frowned at it, as if scolding it for speaking too soon. "Noooooo!" she exclaimed.

My disappointment swelled in me, knowing exactly what that meant. "Mom's here?"

She pushed herself up from the bed and nodded. She bent over and slipped on her lace-up black boots. She had to go. "I love you, remember that."

I chuckled. "I always will. Do good at Nationals for me?" I asked, unable to hold the hurt in my voice. I wish I was going with her.

She paused in mid-step. Not once did we talk about that while she was here. But we both were thinking about it. She nodded. "You'll be at nationals next year. I promise you that."

I nodded. Although I knew that the recovery road would be longer than I would like it to be. As much as I wished that Nationals would be an option for me next year, I knew that there was a possibility that it wouldn't happen.

"Watch it on Saturday. You'll know that both my long and short performances will be for you."

I smiled. "I love you," I said to her although I wish I was in her shoes right now. She didn't want to deal with the hospital or the fact that I would have to do weeks of therapy to recover. I wasn't sure if I would even be able to return to skating or be as good as a skater as I used to be.

She nodded then walked out of the room, leaving me alone.

And then there was one.