GREEK TRAGEDY
::  xxii. | friends or foes

Chad, Ryland, and Lucas were all waiting in the waiting room. They were all scared, especially Chad. He hated sitting there and waiting, so he stood up and turned to the two.

"I'll be back, got a few calls to make."

As soon as he walked off to make his calls, the elevator dinged and opened. Who walked out was Deb Scott and Nathan.

Lucas was the first to notice, so he got up and headed their way.

He approached Nathan, "Hey."

Nathan turned around, "What you doing here?"

"That fire, Ashely was there too."

A confused expression came upon Nathan's face, "Why was she with Dan?"

Lucas shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."

Nathan nodded with a sigh. He soon was called by his mom and so, she and he continued to Dan's room.

Lucas headed back to Ryland where Chad had just made his way back over as well.

Chad sat back down next to Ryland, "Peyton and them are coming."

"Parents?" Ryland asked.

Chad's expression was cold and emotionless, "You know how they are. They stopped caring about her a long time ago."

The three continued to sit there and as they did, every couple of minutes some of their friends show up. The first was Peyton, then followed Alexa and Jay, coming Haley soon.

The last of them to show was Brooke and that's because she learned some news about the locker situation. But as soon as she showed up, the first person she went to was Chad.

"It's gonna be ok." She stood in front of him, reassuring him, "She's going to be ok."

Chad just scoffed, "You don't know that."

Brooke lightly squeezed his shoulder with a light smile before heading Ryland's way. She pulled Ryland to the side to have a quick chat with her.

"So, i know who wrote that on your locker."

Ryland's arms crossed over her chest, "Who?"

Brooke sighed, "Felix, but i handled it. He's history."

"I'm sorry, Brooke. I know you were growing to like him."

The burnette swung her arm around Ryland's shoulders, "No one bullies my friend and gets away with it."

As soon as those words left her mouth, the doctor approached the group. The two headed back over, worried about what was going to come out the doctor's mouth.

"Is there anyone in relation to Ms. Donovan?" The doctor asked.

Chad approached, "I'm her brother. Any news?"

"Let's talk privately son." The doc suggested.

The two headed near the front desk and that was when chad's mood completely changed from cold.

Peyton was the one to notice this change and she knew it couldn't have been good. She waited till the doctor walked off to approach Chad.

He avoided her question at first but because Peyton cared so much and Ashely is her best friend, she continued to pry.

"Chad, please tell me."

It took him a minute to find the exact words and when he did, the words came out like poison on his tongue.

"She's fallen into a coma. That's what." He then headed out the hospital because he wanted to be alone.

• • •

Peyton headed back to their friends and told them the news. Of course none of them were happy. Some were angry, sad, or just didn't know how to feel. However, they all knew they had each other and that they needed to be there for Ashely and Chad every step of the way.

"Fuck." Lucas spoke, "Where'd he go?"

"Home. I'm gonna meet him there." Peyton spoke calmly.

The group fell silent, sharing glances of sorrow with one another when they heard a familiar voice call out.

"Haley!"

She and everyone else turned in that direction and it was Nathan. Haley made her way over to him and filled him in about everything before Lucas eventually made his way over to them.

"How's Dan?" Lucas didn't really care all that much, he just wanted to know to get information about before the fire.

Nathan shrugged, "So, so. He's talking to the police. But it sucks about Ashely."

"Yeah." Lucas' tone was soft, "You think you can find out why Ashely was there?"

"I'll see what I can do."

Lucas headed back over to the group and after a few more minutes, they dispersed and all began to head home considering it was now early in the morning and school was only in a couple of hours.

• • •

Chad was laying on his bed, thinking about all the worse things.

What if she doesn't wake up?

What if there's complications during the coma?

What if she's never the same after she wakes?

He was so scared and the only person he could turn to in times like this was in a coma. Ashely was the only person he had and losing her would crush him in every way possible.

He can't imagine a life without his big sister and he doesn't want too.

His palms met his eyes, pushing them in to prevent tears because he didn't want to cry. Crying meant she wasn't ever going to wake up and that she was gone. So, he refused to do it. As his palms stayed glued to his eyes, his bedroom door slowly opened. He didn't care to sit up.

"Chad?" Peyton slowly walked into the room, "I'm here for whatever you need. Everything's going to be ok."

He abruptly sat up, "Would everyone stop saying that. You don't know that."

"Sorry." She mumbled.

"Peyton could you just go."

"Chad, I don't think you should be alone right now." She protested.

"Peyton ———— !"

"Ok." She quickly retreated, "I hear you. I'm gone." She then went and exited the room, heading out the house.

Chad was all alone again but that's how he wanted it.

At least for then.

• • •

Early the next morning, Chad did his best to quickly brush his teeth and whatnot before hopping in his car. He wanted to be by his sister's side all the time and nowhere else. So the hospital is where he obviously headed, not caring about breakfast or anything.

He immediately got out the car after parking and headed in as quick as he could. After getting her room number, that's where he immediately went. Once he approached her room, he was glad to see no cops around. He knew they would be asking questions about the fire and most likely are waiting for her to wake like Chad was.

He proceeded into the room and shut the door behind him. His eyes were glued to her the entire time, never even looked anywhere else as he walked up to her.

Chad pulled up a chair and sat by her side, reaching for her hand.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but I would really appreciate it if you woke up because just like me, a lot of people are scared." He whispered, "I can't be stuck alone in that house with our neglectful parents. I need you."

Just as his mouth closed, the door opened.

Ryland walked in, closing it behind her.

"Hey . . " Her tone was a bit quiet.

His eyes met her's, "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I could ask you the same thing." She walked towards the other side of the bed.

"My sister's here. Why would i be there?"

"Exactly." She briefly paused, "I don't want to argue with you. I just want to be here for you and Ashely. Is that ok?"

"Fine. But could you do something for me?" She nodded and he continued, "Tell Lucas thanks, but I don't want him around here. Whatever she was doing that led her here, he's the reason."

"What about Peyton? Cheating is a two way street, Chad."

His tone was a bit snarky, "I don't remember having a falling out with her."

Ryland awkwardly nodded. She didn't want to add anything else that could spark into an argument. Instead, she continued to sit there in silence with Chad, while staring at Ashely's unconscious body.

She was afraid but she really, really hopes her friend will wake up.

a/n:
any predictions ??
first chap of act 3 !!