Song: 1234 by Plain White T's

Kodiak:

I can't believe she is that sick. I never would have thought she was in the hospital over getting a rash. I never heard of anyone being allergic to Chlorine. Honestly I figured she was just ignoring all of my messages because she was still upset about all of it. I hate knowing this is partly my fault, damn I should have never suggested going to the party. I'm trying to get homework done but all I think about is her. Maybe I should play the Xbox for a while, maybe that will get her off of my mind. I'm really trying here but all I can think about is her. Her soft lips, her crystal eyes that glisten when she looks into my eyes, her pale skin that has rarely seen the sunlight but now is covered in harsh bumps that irritate the hell out of her. I can't believe she is that sick. Then my phone dings and at first I just want to ignore it but I have a feeling that it could possibly be her and sure enough it is. My eyes go wide when she says that she is in the hospital. I jump up and throw my shoes on and look for my keys for my bike.

I jump on and fly to the nearest hospital, surely they don't have her anywhere else. I ask the front desk about what room number she is in. "I'm looking for Ophelia Mathis; can you tell me what room she is in?"

"Young man...are you a relative?" She looks down at the screen in front of her, debating on whether she should tell me or not.

"Yes...I'm her brother." I lie because I feel like if I tell her that I'm not related to her she will tell me that I can't see her and dammit I'm going to see her.

"She is in room 216." The lady smiles and I don't bother listening to whatever she is saying as I run off to the elevator. When I reach her room the door is shut so I knock because I'm not sure if I just go right on in or not. I hold a bundle of flowers in my hand. I thought she might like these because they don't really have a smell to them and that way she can enjoy them and not be over sensitive to them. I am shocked when her dad answers the door and comes out to meet me, shutting the door behind him.

"Kodiak."

"Mr. Mathis...I...I...I need to apologize for all of this. I never thought this would happen..." I start to tell him and he cuts me off.

"Look, my daughter means the world to me and her mother. If you plan on seeing her I expect you to be aware of her needs. You should know that she is very sensitive to things and allergic to a lot of things."

"Sir...I..."

"No you need to be quite and listen. That girl in there is sick. She almost died because of the little mishap of falling in the pool that she should never had been around to begin with and a party of all things. Don't you know she doesn't like to be around crowds, loud noises and..."

"Sir...I said I was sorry, it will never happen again. Please I'll do anything to make it up."

"Son...the only way to make this up is don't do it again. Do you understand me and I better not ever see her cry over you or whatever this is going on between the two of you. That is my girl; mine do you understand that. I will die for her, that is my job as a father to protect my little girl."

"Yes sir...I understand. Believe me this will never happen again. I can promise you that."

He pats me on the back. "Well go on in, I'm sure she wants to see you." Then he opens the door and I walk in right behind him. She is in the bed. I glance at the machines and then back at her. Her soft skin looks even more paler...if that is possible. She looks rough but damn she is still so beautiful.

After her parents leave the two of us alone, I keep looking at all the machines and can't believe this is the result of her falling into the pool. I can't help but notice how weak she looks. The door opens and I jump thinking her dad is coming back in to check on us but it is just the nurse. I don't really pay attention to her not like Ophelia does. As the nurse is leaving Ophelia is giving her a go to hell look. I think she just might be a little jealous. I can't help but laugh inside.

"What was that all about?" I ask her while trying not to laugh about it.

"Nothing...you...you...tell me. She was smiling at you...like...like she was going to eat you or something." She says all defensive and honestly it's kinda of cute the way she is all of a sudden jealous of this nurse that is way too old for me.

"Yeah! Ehatever."

"Awe come on. Tell me you didn't think she was cute."

"Uhm...not really my type."

"Oh! Well then what is your type?" She continues to go on about the nurse.

Do I tell her the truth; that she is the only one I ever think of? She is the first thing I think of in the morning when I get up and the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep. She has me wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it. She makes my stomach flutter and I have never been so happy like I am when she is around me. Her smile alone makes my heart melt.

"Well..."

"You really want to know what I like."

"Yeah...tell me what is...is...your type of girl?"

So I tell her, "You" and I watch her reaction. I don't know what happens as I watch all the color leave her body and then she is puking. "Are you alright?"

She shakes her head no while trying to cover back up the food and pushing it farther away from her. "You want me to go get your mom?" I ask her because I know it is the right thing to do. Her mom said if anything happens to notify her. I know its not from what I said...but the food that caused her to be sick.

But she shakes her head no again. "I...I...I'll be o...ok."

"Are you sure, you don't look so good at the moment?" It doesn't come out the way that I mean it and I can tell by her expression that I really hurt her feelings. I really didn't mean it that way. "I didn't mean it that way. You are beautiful always, it's just you really don't look well."

"I'll be alright."

"If you say so." I shake my head at her and pick up the remote to the TV. "So what do they have to watch around here?" I climb into the bed with her and hope that she doesn't mind too much that I am sitting this close to her. I feel her head lean against my shoulder so I decide to make it more comfortable for her and wrap my arm behind her so that she can lean in even closer to me. I am all into the TV and having her so close next to me that when I hear her father in the room I jump out of the bed and move far from her.

Her parents complain about the food that the nurse brought and her mom notices that she has gotten sick at least the one time. When she ask me about it, Ophelia glares at me hoping that I won't tell her mom that she actually got sick more than the one time.

The nurse comes back in and leaves with her mom. I would like to her that conversation. It must be really nice to have parents that care that much about you. However I am not listening to them because Ophelia is thanking me for not telling her mom the truth. "I don't like lying to your parents."

"You didn't...I did." She smiles. She is trying to get out of the bed and I don't know what she is doing but she starts to fall and I immediately catch her to hold her up. "What are you doing?"

"I...I...have to go pee."

"Here let me help you." I help her all the way up and walk her to the bathroom. I close the door behind her but stay close by incase she needs me again. Then when she is all done I help her back to the bed and we make it just in time before her parents walk back in the door.

"It's getting late and Ophelia really need to eat and get some rest. I'm sure you understand." Her father looks at me and I know he really wants me to leave.

"Of course..."I tell him; I look back over to her and tell her that I will text her later.

"Later...bye."

"Bye." I tell her but what I really want to do is kiss her good night however I don't think that is going to happen. The moment I am outside and getting ready to get on my bike I can't help but text her.

Kodiak: Good night. Praying you get better soon.

Ophelia: Good night. Thanks for checking on me.

It takes me forever to go to sleep that night. The next day when I get to school I go by all her classes and get her school work for the week. When I get to her house her dad opens the door and seems surprised to see me.

"Well...if it's not Kodiak...what brings you over?"

I look down at the few books in my hand. "I thought I could bring Ophelia's work home from school so she doesn't get behind."

"That was thoughtful of you. I guess it will be alright. She is up in her room." He steps aside to let me in. I follow him up the stairs to her room and he knocks before going in. "Ophelia...there is someone her to see you."

"OK."

When I see her she lights up the whole room with that smile of hers.