I woke up with a splitting headache. Trying to sit up, I groaned as an alarm rang and two nurses rushed towards me, gently pushing me back onto the head. Crap. I was in hospital.
"Are you okay, sweetie?"
One of the nurses smiled warmly at me, while the other one fiddled with the tube hanging out of my arm. I winced as it tugged slightly.
"I'm fine. What happened?"
"You were in an accident, honey. Do you remember?"
I rolled my eyes.
"I cycled to the park with Emma. Then the car hit me. I'm not concussed. Have you told my mum?"
The nurses exchanged a glance.
"We tried to call her, but there was no answer. Your friend said she's not very reliable sometimes?"
"No, she's not. Where's Emma?"
"The girl you came in with is in the relative's room. Your boyfriend is there too."
"I...what?? My boyfriend? You must be mistaken. I don't have a boyfriend," I replied, confused.
"He said his name was Daniel Hayden. Your friend told us he was here to see you."
I closed my eyes in disbelief. "She called Daniel? That little..."
"Actually, he arrived while she was being checked over. She can't have phoned him."
"Well then how did he know I was here?"
One of the nurses smiled. "I can go and find out, if you want?"
"Uh, no thank you. Can I talk to Emma?"
"Okay. I'll send her in."

After they left, I glanced around the room. There were a couple of other beds, one empty and one with a girl sitting in it. She caught my eye and grinned at me. I smiled shyly back. She got up and started to walk over.
"Hi, my name's Abbie. You okay? Sorry. That's a stupid question."
I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm Laura. How long have you been here?"
"Only a few weeks. But I've been in this hospital since I was eleven. In a coma."
"Oh my god," I replied, my eyes widening. "I'm so sorry."
She smiled. "It's okay. I woke up about six months ago. But I have to stay here for a while so they can keep an eye on me. Hey, I swear I recognise you from somewhere."
I frowned. "I don't think so. I don't get out much."
"It must have been from before. Maybe we went to school together."
"Yeah, maybe."
She sat down on my bed, taking my hand in hers. It was warm and soft, and made me feel safer than I had felt in a long time. We looked at each other. Her eyes were like melted chocolate, with tiny golden flecks in them. Suddenly I knew exactly what she meant. I felt like I had been looking into those eyes for my whole life.
The door banged open, and I snatched my hand from hers. She stood up quickly as Emma hurried into the room, glancing at me.
"Oh my god, Laura, I was so worried!! The nurse said you were going to be okay, but I wasn't sure. You were bleeding so much, Laura!"
Abbie stepped quickly back to her bed, sitting cross legged on it and watching us. I turned to Emma.
"I'm fine, Emma. Why is Daniel here?"
She frowned. "I don't know, I promise. I didn't call him; I didn't even know he was here until the nurses told me. I assumed he came to see you."
I sighed. "Can you ask the nurse to get him, please? He needs to understand I don't like him like that. He's just a friend."
She rolled her eyes. "Goddammit Laura, why? He's literally the hottest guy in school."
"I don't care. Please, Emma?"
"Fine," she sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she left.

Abbie picked up a book and started to read, looking up every so often and catching my eyes. I blushed.
"Friends, right?"
She smirked. "Wouldn't know. The only friend I ever had dropped off the face of the earth right before the accident."
"Well, now you have one," I grinned. She smiled and nodded at me.
We sat in awkward silence for a while. I was just gathering the courage to ask her something, when the door opened yet again and Daniel walked in.
"Laura, what are you doing here?"
"Uh, the accident? Isn't that why you're here?"
"Well, yeah, but why are you in a bed? Oh my god. You got hit, didn't you? It was you!"
"I'm so confused. I got hit by a car, yes. Emma said you heard about the accident and came to see me. Now you're acting like you didn't even know I was here!"
He swallowed. "Laura, I'm really sorry about the accident, but I didn't come to see you. I came to see my sister."
My mouth fell open. "Your sister? I didn't know you had a sister?"
He fidgeted nervously. "I haven't seen her for a while. But it turns out she put me down as emergency contact."
"Oh. Is she okay? Why is she here?"
"Uhhhh....she was in an accident. Like you."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Abbie stood up to open it, glancing at me.
Standing in the doorway was a tall girl on crutches. She had honey blonde hair and tattoos on her neck and arms, and a large cut on her forehead which was bleeding down her face and dripping onto her blue hospital gown.
"There you bloody are," she sighed, frowning at Daniel.
"Um, excuse me? Do I know you?" I was getting more and more confused by the minute.
She glanced at me, and her eyes widened. "Oh my god, it's you! Fuck, I'm so sorry babes!"
Daniel put his hand on my shoulder. "Laura, this is my sister, Skylar. She's the one who, um, hit you."
"Oh. The car. Right. Hey, you saved me too though! Emma wouldn't have had a clue," I laughed.
She nodded warily. "I want to become a paramedic. And you're right. She didn't."
I smiled. "Sounds just about right. I hope you didn't get too badly hurt."
"Nah, the crutches are just for precaution. And this stupid graze is only cause I don't have air bags."
She smirked at me. It was just then that I noticed her eyes. They were a deep gunmetal blue, lined with sooty lashes. I swallowed.
Abbie closed her book. "Laura, you look a little tired. Maybe you should rest."
I dragged my eyes away from Skylar. "Uh, yeah, I guess."
She smiled at me, pressing a button on the wall. A nurse hurried in.
"Yes, girls?"
"Laura's tired," said Daniel.
"Oh, of course. It's been a long day, hasn't it, sweetheart?"
"Mhm," I replied.
She turned to Skylar. "And you, miss. Shouldn't you be getting that head looked at?"
Skylar nodded, still staring at me. "Whatever. Goodbye, Laura. I'll visit again soon, yeah?"
She winked at me, before leaving, closely followed by her brother.
I could feel my cheeks reddening, so I looked at the wall anxiously. I heard Abbie stand up, placing her book on the small table next to her bed.
"Laura? Are you okay?"
I turned and smiled at her. "I'm fine. Thank you so much, Abbie. You're a really good friend."
She beamed at me, her dimples showing.
I patted the bed next to me. She came and sat down, brushing the hair out of my eyes carefully.
"How do you get to sleep in this place, Abbie?"
She looked down. "I don't." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I can't. Not since the accident. I'm always afraid I might never wake up again."
I took her hand and squeezed it gently. I could see how vulnerable she was, underneath the calm exterior.
"It's ok, Abbie. I'm here."
She climbed into bed next to me. I closed my eyes, smelling her warm vanilla scent.
We stayed like that until the morning.