Alexa's Point of View

I sat in the waiting room with Tarver by my side.

"I need to go call someone," I said standing up.

Tarver nodded his head, "Go on ahead."

I walked over outside and FaceTimed Hamzah.

"Hey Alexa," Hamzah smiled, but his smile quickly fell. "What's the matter?"

"It's Kathy. She-She might be.. dead," I tried to keep it together but broke down into tears.

"Wait what?" Hamzah asked. "Seriously. What happened?"

"Well Tarver and I-"

"Tarver?" Asked Hamzah.

"My boss," I said.

"Your boss. You talk like that?" He asked.

"Hamzah now is not the time for that!" I lectured him. "We went to go find her because she was late and the other day she called out and she's just been acting really weird. I found her in Delilah's room with a needle."

"Fuck," He breathed out. "Alexa. I'm sorry. I wish I can be there for you right now. I'm sorry I can't be there for you. What about Aaron?"

"He's uh.. I don't know," I said.

"You guys are good though. Right?" Asked Hamzah.

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded my head.

"Okay that's what I thought," He smiled.

"Huh?" I asked. "I didn't know you and Aaron are.. friends?"

"We play pc together now," Hamzah shrugged.

"Actually?" I questioned. "Wow. You two couldn't have gotten along while you were home?"

"I guess not," He shrugged and laughed.

"Whatever Hamzah," I playfully rolled my eyes. "Talk to you later."

"Alright," He smiled into his camera. "Text or call whenever you need something."

"Of course," I said winking before hanging up.

I texted Aaron to let him know what was going on.

Me: at the hospital with my boss. kathy od'd. gonna have to cancel for tonight i think.

Aaron: i'm on my way.

I weakly smiled at his text. I walked back inside the hospital and sat next to Tarver.

"You okay?" He asked.

"I don't know," I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"I know that must've not been so easy to see," Tarver said. "Kathy's going through a lot. But I'm sure she will be okay."

"I hope so," I said staring down at my feet.

"How are things at home?" Asked Tarver. "When your dad came a little while ago.. things seemed so tense. Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," I shrugged. "We had just found out he was having an affair. It's sent my mom into a bender. I can barely be home. I can't stand being around her or her beer bottles and crushed cigarette butts."

"I own this little cottage home near the high school," Tarver said. "A family rents out most of it. But there's a basement apartment. Fully furnished and was just renovated. It's nice actually. If you need a crash pad, that's one for you."

"Seriously?" I questioned. "That's so nice of you."

"I know things aren't easy for you right now," Tarver said as he opened his wallet and handed me the key. "When you turn eighteen, you can formally live there. I don't mind."

"That means a lot," I said smiling. "Thank you. Truly."

"I was seventeen once too," Said Tarver. "It wasn't easy."

"You can say that again," I said leaning back into my chair.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and there stood Aaron. He had a plastic bag in one hand and a McDonald's bag in the other.

"Hi Aaron," I greeted.

I hugged his waist. He couldn't exactly hug back since he was holding bags. But he kissed the top of my head making me smile.

"I brought you this," He said. "Hamzah said you like the number 6."

I laughed, "Yeah, thank you."

"And here are some of my clothes. I figured you'd want to be more comfortable," He said.

"Thank you Aaron," I said. "I'm going to go get changed."

"I'm going to head back to the diner," Tarver said. "Keep me updated Alexa."

"Of course," I smiled. "Are you sure you want to go?"

"I don't want to. But I think I have to. Samantha texted me, things are super backed up. Looks like I'm wearing an apron today," He said with a slight laugh.

"Alright," I said. "If you need me to come in I would be more than happy to."

"Alexa, take some time to take care of yourself. The diner will be just fine," He said but then tilted his head. "Okay maybe a little behind."

"Thank you," I said nodding my head.

He turned to Aaron, "She's a good one. Treat her well."

Aaron nodded his head, "Shes terrific. I know."

I shook my head and started walking away to the bathroom to change into his clothes. In the bag was a green hoodie with two small words embroidered near the shoulder. For pants, he gave me a pair of sweatpants. I put on the dark grey sweatpants and the hoodie before walking out of the bathroom.

"You look great," Aaron said before pulling me into another hug. "You okay?"

"They won't tell me how she is or what's going on," I said into his chest.

"I'll go ask," He said pulling out of the hug.

"They're not going to tell you anymore than they told me," I said.

"Just stay here," He said before the walking over to the front desk.

I sat down in the plastic chair and planted my feet on the ground. How was any of this fair?

I looked over to Aaron and tried my best to eavesdrop. He looked so angry as he looked at the people at the front desk, "..Are you kidding? She's all she's got right now.. No.. Well my girlfriend's been waiting since she first got here... I don't care.. Yes!.. Just tell her how Katherine is goddamn doing already!"

My eyes widened as I looked away so he wouldn't catch me staring. I kicked my legs in the hospital chair as Aaron walked over, "Handled that."

He sat in the seat next to me. As he sat he allowed his body to relax. His shoulder muscles were so tensed up.

"Relax Aaron," I said grabbing his left hand with my right hand.

He shut his eyes and exhaled.

"You don't have to get all worked up because of me," I said.

"It's not because of you, it's for you. And yes, I have to," He said. "I have to put my foot down with these people or they will just leave you in the dark and you don't deserve that."

"Katherine Espinoza," A doctor called standing up.

"Right here," I said standing up.

"Hi I'm Dr. Liao," She said. "She's on her way to stability. We used a naloxone injection and it helped her. She's will probably get released within a few hours."

"Can we see her?" Asked Aaron as he snaked an arm around my waist.

"Yes," Nodded Dr. Liao. "Third floor. Room three-forty-seven."

"Thank you Doc," Aaron said.

Aaron grabbed my hand as we went up to Kathy's room.

I knocked the door to see Kathy lying in her bed, fiddling her thumbs.

"Hey," I smiled as I opened the door.

"Hi Alexa," She said. "Hey Aaron."

"Hi," He said and waved his hand before shoving them both into his pockets.

"How are you doing?" I asked Kathy.

She shrugged, "I don't know. But I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it," I said.

"And thank you. I'm lucky to be alive right now. And it's all because of you," She said.

"I'm glad I could help," I said leaning down to hug her. "You just need to get better now. That's all that matters now."

"Yeah," She said. "My mom wants me to move back. To Texas. She wants to help."

"That's good. Right?" I asked.

"Yeah," She nodded her head.

"When would you be leaving?" I asked.

"Well my mom is on her way now. We're going to pack up the apartment and I'm going to leave," She said.

"Aw Kathy," I said sitting down. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you," Kathy said. She looked over to Aaron, "I'm gonna miss hearing about you. Treat her well."

"I don't plan on anything else," Aaron said smiling with his hands deep in his front pockets.

"Do you need help with the apartment?" I asked.

"Nah," She said. "She brought my brothers. Plus, you've helped enough. Don't you see?"

"But if there's anything else-"

"Shush Alexa," She hushed me. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'm gonna miss you too," I said leaning down to hug her again.