HOSPITAL VISITS

Richie's heart dropped and his blood ran cold as he eyes read over the fatal word. 

"Maya! Don't eat that!" He shouted, smacking smacking the chocolate bar out of her hand. It was too late. 

"Shit!" Richie cursed.

Her eyes widened as she quickly turned to him, her facial expression was panicked. She pointed to her throat as tears started to build up in her eyes.

Richie's heart started to beat faster and faster as he stood up. He searched through his pockets frantically. 

"Oh shit, oh fuck, oh shit, fuck shit fuck.." His hands continued to frantically look for the thin object, "where the hell is it?"

Relief filled him as his hand landed on something cold on his inner shirt pocket. He quickly pulled it out as he turned to Maya. Her face had already become red and swollen, as well as her neck and throat. Tears were freely falling down her face as she began gasping for air.

Richie gasped lightly as he ripped the lid of of the small object and got on his knees. He was sure his breathing has stopped by the time he stabbed it into her upper thigh and pushed the button all the way down. He looked up at the girl and the panic quickly set in again. 

"Maya? Maya! Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Richie shouted as he stood up quickly. Her eyes had closed.

He darted inside the arcade, shoving a man out of the way as he ran up to the counter.

"I need you to call nine one one!" He huffed out breathlessly. "My friend just had an allergic reaction."

The worker's once bored eyes widened as he picked up the phone quickly. He barely caught the end of the conversation as he was already out of the arcade and by her side again. 

Those agonizing few minutes were torture for Richie as he clutched the girl, making sure she was still breathing. 

Not soon enough, the ambulance came barreling down the street. Stopping in front of the arcade two people stepped out of the back. One pulled a stretcher out as the other walked quickly towards Richie. 

He absentmindedly let go of Maya and they loaded her onto the stretcher. The first quickly put an oxygen mask over her face and the second looked towards Richie.

"Can I come? I need to come! Please!" Richie begged, stepping forward and clasping his hands together. 

"Relationship to the patient?" The first paramedic asked, skeptically. The second one whispered something to him, causing him to nod and motion for Richie to get inside the vehicle. 

"What happened?" The man demanded, working on getting Maya stable.

"I-I don't know! She ate the candy.. she's allergic to peanuts.. there were peanuts in it.." Richie mumbled, staring down at the girl.

"Did she have an epi pen on her?" The woman asked, kinder than the man.

"I do- did, I did" Richie answered. 

The woman nodded as they continued to ask about what had happened.

The ride to the hospital was a blur, and before he knew it, they were there. 

The doctors and nurses quickly took her into a room as Richie watched with his hands folded on the top of his head.

"Sir? Are you okay?" A kind Asian woman asked, bending down to meet his eye level.

"No! No I'm not okay! My best friend is in there! Is she gonna die? She can't die! I know it's just a peanut allergy, b-but she stopped breathing!" Richie rushed out, not breaking his eye contact from the door.

"Dear, we're going to do everything we can. Is there anyone we can call for her?" Richie nodded, as he followed the woman over to the phone. 

He dialed her dad's number and tapped his foot impatiently. 

"Bennett residence." David answered after the fifth ring. 

"David! David you need to get to the hospital right now!" Richie said urgently.

"What? Why? What happened?" David asked. Richie could hear a rustling in the background, signalling he was reaching for his keys.

"It's Maya." David heard the phone drop and a distant shout. He hung up the phone and turned towards the nurse.

"Thank you.." He mumbled.

"Oh, you're welcome, dear," She smiled softly "I'm sure your friend'll be just fine."

Richie nodded as he followed her to a waiting room. He sat down and looked around, trying to get his mind of things. 

Everything was too white. The walls and the floor were white, the paintings on the wall were few. There was a tall plant in the corner and a small TV was above it. A local news channel was playing, it displayed another missing kid poster. 

Richie sighed and shifted uncomfortably in the blue chair. The chairs were the only colored thing about this room.

Minutes felt like hours when David and Josh finally arrived. David walked up to the front desk and Josh quickly sped over to Richie. Well, as fast as he could on crutches.

"What the hell happened, huh?" He whisper-shouted, crossing his arms and glaring down at him. "You were supposed to be watching her!"

"She had an allergic reaction.." Richie said, not taking his eyes off of the TV.

"Well what the hell?" Josh huffed, flopping into the chair next to him.  "This is complete bullshit. She's been fine for three years."

"Two." Richie corrected "She's been fine for two years." Josh sighed in response, watching as David made his way over. 

"Well, we're signed in.." David sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He was worried, his only daughter was in the hospital. 

***

After two hours, which felt like days to the three, a nurse came out. 

"Maya Bennett?" He called, looking around the room. Richie, David, and Josh quickly shot up and ran over to him.

"She's awake and would like to see you." He said, smiling kindly as he looked up from his clipboard. Richie let out an audible sigh of relief as he quickly followed him to her room. The nurse stopped in front of A113 and opened the door. 

David quickly rushed to her side as he took her face in his hands.

"Are you okay, honey? How do you feel?" He quickly asked, turning her face side to side. Josh was next to her looking nervously over his father's shoulder. 

Richie stepped in and stood at the end of her bed examining her with a frown. She was in a hospital gown and there was an IV drip near her. 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired.." Maya shrugged, "What happened?"

"You had an allergy attack, honey" David explained softly, letting go. 

"Oh." She nodded, her head turning towards Richie. She smiled faintlu before speaking, Richie."

"Hey, allergies." He smiled softly and pulled up a chair next to her. 

"Richie!" She whined, leaning back onto the bed and covering her face with her hands. Richie laughed lightly, as he ran a hand through his hair. 

"I'm so glad you're okay.." Richie whispered, earning a slight nod from Maya. 

"You keep getting yourself into these situations, don't you? What even happened?" David asked gently.

"Well, the arcade guy was flirting with me.. and he gave me a free candy bar. He said there were no peanuts in it after I asked." Maya explained with a shrug.

"That little asshole." David mumbled "Did you read the ingredient list?" 

"Not really.. just briefly."

"Briefly? Maya, you need to be more careful!" Josh scolded, crossing his arms. "You could have died, you do realize that, right? If he hadn't reacted  like he did you could have died!"

"But, I didn't. I'm fine, nothing serious happened."

"Nothing serious? You must be joking!" Beverly scolded, as she stepped into the room. "Nothing serious? What the hell?" She frowned and walked over to the girl in the hospital bed. 

"I called her, too.

"Okay, so it was a bit serious, I guess, but.. I'm fine now."

"Maya-"

"I'm fine! I promise."

****

Maya had to stay the night, just to make sure everything was fine. David had gone to the bathroom, Josh was asleep in the chair next to Maya, Beverly had to go home, and Richie was still there.

"Rich?" Maya called, getting the glasses wearing boy's attention.

"Yeah?" He looked toward her and away from the comic he had.

"Why do you carry an epi pen on you? I haven't had an allergy attack in two years.." 

"Well, I do it just in case. I know it's been two years, but you never know, you know?" 

"Oh.. well, thank you" She nodded, smiling softly. "I guess I really could have died.."

"Anytime. Can't have you dying on me, now can we?"

"Nope," She laughed "'Cause you know I'd haunt your ass."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. My ass is yours to haunt." 

"Neither would I, dork."

"Loser!" Richie chuckled to himself as David walked back into the room.

Richie and Maya talked quietly until visiting hours were over, to which David kissed her forehead and promised to be back tomorrow.

"Okay, dad, love you.."

"Love you, too, sweetheart."

□□□□□□□

{ Word Count: 1547 }

{ A/n: Fun fact: I'm only allergic to one food. Floured tortillas }

{ Edited [ ✔] 8-25-19 }