CHAPTER 27

~~~~~LILY'S P.O.V~~~~~

 My mum walks towards us holding Kiera's clothes in her hands. 'She has gone into surgery,' she says quietly.

'How long will it take?' Liz asks, taking the words out of my mouth. I watch my mum's facial expression trying to get an insight of her thoughts. Unfortunately for me, her facial expression is blank.

 'I don't know, it will take a while. You girls should go home, I'll stay here.'

'Mum, we don't want to go. We came here for a reason and we're not just going to leave.'

'Lily-'

'No, mum its fine, we're staying,' I say sternly folding my arms protectively over my chest. My mum sighs in defeat as she puts Kiera's clothes beside us. 'She needs some clean pyjamas, I'm going to head home and get it for her. I'm going to get her pyjamas from your wardrobe because I don't want to invade her privacy,' she stands up and I nod.

 'That's fine.'

'Okay, call me if anything happens. I'll be back soon,' she replies and I nod my head watching her go. I rest my head back on Rosabella’s shoulder as she grips on to my arm tightly. 

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A few hours later, Katie walks towards us. Her blonde hair is tied tightly into a messy bun. She's wearing a white hoodie, along with black leggings and white converse. 'What are you doing here?' I ask and she sits opposite us.

'Am I not allowed to be here?' She sarcastically asks. I lean back in my chair, crossing my legs and folding my arms.

'Katie, no one said that,' Liz replies.

 'Whatever Liz.'

'Katie-'

'I haven't come to argue with you guys,' Katie says cutting off Liz. I roll my eyes as I find that hard to believe. Katie notices as she sighs annoyed and walks into the female toilets. Rosabella looks at me but I break the eye contact as I look at my phone.

Has Kiera gone into surgery yet? -xoLuce.

I mentally scoff at Lucy's text but I find myself typing out a reply instantly. 

Yeah but if you were here, you would know. xLilx.

Her reply is almost immediate.

Shut up Lily, I had some stuff to sort out with Kara. -xoLuce.

Obviously. xLilx

Whatever. -xoLuce.

I switch my phone off, sighing at the conversation we just had. I notice that Katie hasn't returned yet. 'Hasn't Katie come back yet?'

'No, she’s still in the toilets,' Rosabella replies, answering my question.

 'What is she doing in there?'

‘Maybe you should check,' Liz replies. I bite my lower lip considering it before standing up towards the toilets. 

The toilets are empty, there is only one door that is locked and it has to be Katie. If it’s not then I have no idea where she went. I walk towards it, risking it as I knock softly. 'Katie, come out.' I don't receive a reply. 'I'm not leaving until you come out.' I say confidently. The door unlocks and Katie steps out. 

Tears are flowing down her cheeks. Her mascara is smudged and her eyes are red. 'Katie,' I sigh as I take in her sight. She passes me and walks towards the sink, taking in her reflection.

 'Why do you hate me so much Lily?' Her voice is small but is filled with so much emotion at the same time. I take a deep breath, trying to think of an answer.

 'I don't hate you.'

'Yes, you do. Don't deny it,' she replies as she opens the tap washing her face. The only thing I can do is watch her from behind.

 'Katie, I don't hate you. I just hate the fact that you'll spend all your time with Kara and then come running back to Kiera when you realise that she needs you.'

'I'm here aren't I?'

'Why are you?' I ask suspiciously and she turns around to face me. She leans against the sink and rolls her eyes.

 'Because I want to be.'

'Why now?'

'Why are you questioning my actions? Shouldn't you be pleased that I want to be there for Kiera?' I scoff loudly.

 'No because you'll be there for her once and then you'll barely notice her as you'll focus all your attention on Kara. I mean, she's going to be leaving at the end of summer Katie, doesn't that mean anything?'

'Well maybe if you didn't steal her all the time, other people would manage to hang around with her,' I shake my head at the immatureness in her statement.

 'Are you being serious?' She rolls her eyes as she turns back around. She brings her hands up to her eyes trying to wipe her tears. 'Katie, why are you crying?' I whisper quietly as I walk to face her putting my hands on her shoulders.

 'Because I don't belong here.'

'Katie-' she spins around, facing me. 'I don't, you know it and I know it. It has always you Liz and Rosabella. And now that I'm here, you're all making me feel as if it’s wrong. Like I shouldn't be here or something.'

'We didn’t mean for you to feel like that Katie,' I reply sincerely as I hold her forearms.

 'Yes you did. I'm trying here and all you're doing is making me feel like I don’t belong. I'm here for the same reasons as you Lily.' More tears flow down her cheeks and I can't help but agree with her. I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her in for an embrace.

 'I'm sorry Katie,' I whisper into her hair. She holds on to me tightly and says 'Me too.'

We pull away and I wipe her tears. 'What happened to us?' Katie asks.

 'You befriended Kara and I befriended Rosabella.'

'Me and Lucy are sorry, we've apologised so many times.'

'Apologising doesn't take the pain away,' I reply avoiding meeting her gaze. Liz walks in to the toilets and announces 'Your mum is here.' I nod and leave the toilets. I walk towards the waiting room and see my mum talking to one of the doctors.

 'She has come out of surgery,' my mum informs me as she notices my presence.

'Can we see her?'

'Yes, you can,' the grey haired man whose name tag says Doctor Alan replies. I turn around, realising that Katie and Liz aren't behind me but still in the toilets.

'Two minutes,' I say before walking over to where they are. I open the door and I watch them hug. They pull away once they realise that I'm watching. A small smile appears on my face. 'Kiera came out of surgery, we can go and see her.'

'Seriously?' Asks Katie. 'Yep, are you two coming?'

'Do you even have to ask?' Asks Liz smiling and I mirror it. 

We walk back to the waiting room and Doctor Alan says 'I'll show you where her room is.' I notice Rosabella sitting down so I pull her up and she smiles as she walks beside me. 'Mum, aren't you coming?' I ask as I turn around. 'I just have to make a phone call,' she replies with her phone in her hand. I nod as I carry on walking. 

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We stand outside a room, where we have a perfect view of Kiera. Her eyes are closed and she has many monitors surrounding her. She has tubes connecting her body to the monitor. Her chest rises and falls as she sleeps soundlessly. Her face is pale, paler than usual. Her lips form a thin straight line. The white hat that is on her head catches my attention. 'Why is she wearing a hat?' Katie asks, facing Doctor Alan.

 'Kiera demanded that she wanted a hat after the surgery was complete.' Katie nods and turns away from him.

'I'll be just across the hall if any of you need anything.'

'Wait!' Liz says. He turns around to face her. 'Isn’t she supposed to be awake if the surgery is complete?'

'All the patients that get this sort of surgery done wake up in their own time. You just have to give her time, she'll be awake before you know it.'

'Thanks,' Liz replies gratefully and he nods as he walks away.

 'Do you guys want to go in?' Liz asks, making eye contact with all of us. None of us reply vocally as we stare ahead.

 'I want to go in,' replies Katie, her voice a little shaky.

 'Me too but I don't want to go in alone,' admits Liz. Katie links their arms together and they step inside the room.

'Do you not want to in?'

'I'd rather stay here,' I answer Rosabella's question and she nods her head. Katie and Liz stand beside Kiera’s bed, not sitting down on the chairs that have been put for visitors. Liz takes a deep breath as she takes in Kiera's appearance.

 'Hi,' a voice I don’t recognise tears my eyes from the scene in front of me. A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes stands before me. 'You must be Lily,' she says. My eyebrows brew in confusion and it takes me a minute to realise that the woman in front of me is Kiera's aunt.

'Hi.'

'You didn't recognise me did you?' I bite my lip, feeling slightly guilty.

 'I'm sorry.'

'Don’t apologise, its fine,' she replies. She pulls me into an embrace and I return it. 'How is she?' She asks as she looks ahead. 'She came out of surgery a while ago and the doctor said that she'd wake up in her own time.' She nods her head as she looks at Kiera, probably feeling hopeless because that's how I feel. 

Katie walks out of the room rubbing her eyes, not noticing Rachel. Liz intertwines her fingers with Kiera's and I look away as Rosabella asks 'Do you guys want coffee?' I nod gratefully. She smiles before walking towards the cafeteria.

Katie notices Rachel once she stops rubbing her eyes as she gasps before hugging her. Rachel smiles before returning the embrace.

'Nice to see that you haven't forgotten me Katie,' she says playfully and I can’t help but smile. They pull away and begin chatting while starring a Kiera.

Liz decides to sit down as she removes her hand. Kiera's hand begins moving subtly but stops quickly. My eyes widen. I look towards Rachel and Katie to see if they noticed but judging by their facial expressions they haven't. I look at Liz and her eyes are currently closed so she missed it.

I narrow my eyes as I question whether I imagined it or if I really did see it.