Stranger

It was quiet again.

The kind of quiet that only comes after chaos, soft and empty. The air had finally stopped buzzing. Everyone had gone home: Mom with her fussing and worry, Dad with his quiet concern, June still sticky and trailing half a sentence behind her. I'd made sure to talk to her about candy long enough for her to feel appreciated, and it seemed to have tired her out. Leafy and Nadia, after promising they'd come back tomorrow, had finally taken the hint and left.

Now it was just me.

I sat on the edge of my bed, fingers idly picking at the hospital blanket, staring at the curtain that still hung between the two beds. The divider. The wall. The reason I hadn't said a single word to the boy on the other side.

It would be so easy to leave it that way. Pretend he didn't exist, keep everything neat and controlled. But... that ship had already sailed. He knew I was here. He gave my sister chocolate. He called me Red.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to just... say hi. I'd promised I would after all, right?

I stood up slowly, crossed the room, and paused with my hand on the curtain. My heart was pounding way harder than it needed to, which was actually kind of embarrassing. I took a breath, pulled the curtain back, and there he was.

I finally got a good look at him in the light, and oh my god he was gorgeous.

He was sitting up, earbuds in, phone in his lap. His hair was a shiny copper gold colour and it looked like it'd lost a fight with the wind. And he had a bandaid on his cheek now. When he saw me, he blinked, pulled out one earbud, and smiled like it was the most natural thing in the world. His eyes were big, and ocean blue.

"Oh, hey, Red."

I rolled my eyes, but didn't look away. "Why are you still calling me that?"

He shrugged. "You never told me your name."

I hesitated for just a second.

"So June didn't tell you?" I asked.

"Nah," he said. "She just told me 'my sister is next door and she's sleeping', and then we talked about candy".

I tried not to smile. I failed.

"Okay then." I sat down on the edge of the chair by his bed, arms crossed. "But you have to tell me your name first."

He grinned, leaning back on his pillow like he'd been waiting for this moment all day.

"Only if you promise not to fall in love with me."

I stared at him. 

"...Excuse me?!"

He laughed, not even a little bit sorry. "Kidding! Relax. I'm James."

"James," I repeated, blinking. Honestly, I'd been expecting something more... I don't know. Dramatic? Flashy? "Huh. That's it?"

"That's it," he said, grinning. He knew exactly what I meant. "Sorry to disappoint."

I narrowed my eyes, but couldn't help the tiniest smile. "Okay. Fine. Scarlet."

James blinked. "Wait...Scarlet?"

"Yeah."

He gave me a look, somewhere between amused and amazed. "So... your name actually is just a fancier word for 'red'?"

I crossed my arms. "Well, duh."

He burst out laughing. "That's incredible. I feel so validated."

"Oh my god, don't."

"Too late," he said, kicking his legs a little over the edge of the bed. "I'm gonna keep calling you Red."

I groaned, half tempted to walk off and pull the curtain shut again. "You're annoying."

"You're still talking to me," he said, smirking.

He was right.

We talked for a little bit more. I found out that Penny was his sister, and she was, in fact, June's age. We talked about the nurses, and the food, and my friends. The whole time, half of me wanted to run away, and half of me wanted to stay there.

Eventually,  cleared my throat, stood up a little too fast, and smoothed down the front of my shirt.

"Well. I should probably, uh...rest. Or something."

James just raised an eyebrow. "Right. Of course. Rest. Important stuff. See ya, Red!"

Was he mocking me?

I didn't wait to find out. I turned, walked back to my side of the room, and yanked the curtain shut behind me.

Then I sat on the bed and immediately reached for my phone. Leafy and Nadia had completely blown it up with messages.

Leafy: u alive

 Leafy: did u do it

 Nadia: how'd it go??

Leafy: Hello??? 

Nadia: Maybe she's sleeping?

They both went on and on. I texted them back.

Scarlet: i hate everything

The second I hit send, they were both typing away. I I swear to god, have they been waiting for me this entire time?

 Leafy: AHHHH

 Nadia: what happened

 Scarlet: He's annoying and I hate him and his name is James

Leafy: omg i KNEW it

 Leafy: is he hot

 Scarlet: no comment

 Nadia: that's a yes

 Leafy: that's a YES

Scarlet: i hate you both

Scarlet: June probably told him some really weird things about me, so even if I did like him, which I DON'T, I have no chance.

I locked my phone before they could reply and dropped it face-down on the blanket like that might kill the butterflies.

This was fine. I was fine. I had successfully interacted like a normal person and now I could go back to ignoring him forever.

Right?

Except now I knew what his voice sounded like when he laughed. I knew his name. I'd seen the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled, and how his hair stuck up in every direction like it had a life of its own.

And he'd called me Red.

I buried my face in the pillow, and screamed.

This was not fine.

(936 words)

Oh no this one's short!!

THIS IS NOT OK. I will make up for the shortness next time.

Anyway yayyy they're talking and the story is going somewhere!!! It's still cringe but uhh I'm getting better!!

And shout out to @KitRossTalento! Hi! 

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

~ Blue <3