When Matt and Enya arrived at the hospital most of the students there before had left or were leaving, but Lilleth, Sophie, Ashley, Erin, the twins, and of course Piper and Gen's family were still in the waiting room. A few hours had past by and Gen still wasn't back yet. Everyone was very worried especially Mira. As soon as she had seen Enya walk through the door, Mira rushed up to her as if to ask was she okay. Enya placed her hand on her shoulder and grinned a little telling her Gen was fine; Mira hugged her thankfullly. Enya and the rest of the gang called their parents to reassure them that they were okay, where they were, and give them an update on Joey's status. Nervously, Lilleth kept checking her phone to see if Gen had called or texted her; her phone glowed a 9:15pm. Lilleth slumped down in a chair placing her face in her hands; she was on the verge of tears.
Enya saw Lilleth and felt her pain. She walked over and sat next to her and asked,
"You okay?"
Lilleth looked up and replied frantically, "Where could she be? I'm worried sick En, she's never done this before. I don't know what's going on, I don't know if she's hurt, or doing something ridiculous. What's going on?"
"Matt and I found her a little over two hours ago, she was at a park swinging. Lilleth, she's fine, trust me." Enya replied
"You sure?" Lilleth asked
Enya sighed placing a hand on her shoulder, "I'm positive."
As soon as Enya said that, Gen walked through the waiting room door. "Hey everybody." Gen said solemnly
"Oh my gosh G!" Mira yelped as she ran toward her sister.
Derek and Stacey followed their daughter's lead and the family hugged each other.
Mira felt relieved to see her sister again, she was so worried, now she had her family back-- almost.
"Baby girl, we were worried sick." Derek said
"Oh honey, don't ever do that again." Stacey said hugging Gen over and over again
"I'll promise never to do that if you promise to let me breathe. You're kind of smothering me now Mom." Gen replied
"Sorry honey. I was just worried, that's all." Stacey replied
"Yeah, so was I." Mira butted in hitting her sister playfully
"Really now? Well, I'm starving can we go grab a bite Mom?" Gen asked her parents
"Yes then go home and get some sleep. Your dad and I will stay here with Joey. The doctors are still checking in on him." Stacey replied
"How bad is it?" Gen asked bracing herself for the news
"He hasn't woken up. Its not looking good." Stacey said solemnly and added, "If you want to stay home from school tomorrow I can understand, you don't have to go."
"I know, but Joey would want me to go. Plus, I have a concert in a few days and he would really be upset when he wakes up to hear I didn't go on account of him. Joey'll be fine, I can feel it." Gen replied smiling a little. "Alrighty Tid Bit, lets go get some dinner."
Gen and Mira said their goodbyes to their parnets as they made their way down the corridor to Joey's room; Gen turned to face her friends. Lilleth was the first to run and hug Gen and everyone else followed.
"You guys I'm fine. Really, I'm okay." Gen replied
"Gen you know, its okay if you don't make the concert really. Lilleth can do the soprano part." Matt offered
"Yes, I so could. Gen yo..." Lilleth began to insist
Gen held up her hand and stated, "Guys, I'm fine. Its tough having a sibling in the hospital but I've been through this before, I'll be okay. Promise, but I'm hungry. Who's up for a dinner run?"
The whole gang chuckled as Gen told them where they were going. They made seating arrangements for their cars and headed out of the hospital. Gen sighed as she climbed in the car with her little sister and friends; she really had the most amazing friends in the world. When she was sad they knew it, when she was happy they laughed with her, when she was in a foul mood, they knew how to cheer her up; they just knew how to adjust to her ever changing moods, they were always there for her.
"Hey guys..." Gen began as Mira, Enya, and Piper turned to look at her, "thanks. I really appreciate you guys being here for me."
"Don't sweat it." Piper replied
"Yeah Gen, what are friends for?" Enya replied
Gen smiled and put the car in gear. As they drove, Gen debated with herself in whether to tell the gang that she actually was in the presence of her admirer; she decided to tell just the girls. If the boys found out... she didn't want to think about that just yet. She just needed to deal with one pain at a time, the last thing she needed was for Brian, Ryan, or Matt to get on her case about this boy. But Austin was really amazing how could she hold in her little secret. Meanwhile, in the other car, the boys had a conversation all their own.
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"Matt where did you and Enya go to after G left the hospital? I mean, you couldn't have possibly gone with her, she wanted alone time." Brian asked curiously
"We... well... its not my place to say." Matt stammered
"Why not? What was she doing that's such a big secret?" Ryan asked
"I think if Gen wants you to know, she'll tell. She doesn't even know that Enya and I were there." Matt said
Brian huffed, "What's up with all the secrets. I mean ever since Lilleth and I started dating, she's been really secretive and I don't like it."
"Well, it was your choice to tell her that you guys shouldn't talk anymore. She's only respecting your request." Matt informed Brian
"Well still, I don't like the secrets." Brian replied
"You don't like the secrets or the fact that she's over you?" Matt asked bluntly
Brian thought for a while. Was he upset that Gen had moved on or was he just purely concerned for her? Was he jealous that Gen found someone else to tell her secrets too? Brian didn't care that she was being secretive at least he didn't feel like that.
"You know, subconsciously you can feel one way and not know about it. Then consciously you act out your feelings from your subconscious." Matt replied as if he was reading Brian's mind.
"Dude, you know I don't understand your book smart junk. Speak English man." Ryan replied
"It simply means, psychologically, Brian still isn't over Gen but he doesn't know that because the thought is tucked away neatly in another part of his brain." Matt replied
"So he's into G but he doesn't really know it." Ryan said cautiously
Matt clapped his hands and said, "Oh my gosh you're so smart Ryan."
"I'm totally over G. You're wrong Matt." Brian replied defensively
"Okay." Matt said plainly
"Dude, I'm serious. I'm over her." Brian said
"Okay, I believe you." Matt half lied
"You better." Brian replied emphatically
"Okay then." Matt replied throwing his hands up in surrender
"Sorry to break up your little fight, but their turning." Ryan chimed in
Brian followed the other cars into the parking lot of Applebee's, parked the car, and climbed out to meet the gang. Dinner was going to be great; Gen was keeping secrets, Matt believed that he still like G, and Joey was in the hospital. The night couldn't have gotten any worse then that.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
"Um... I gota go to potty." Gen replied coughing trying to get the girls attention
"I'm totally going with you." replied Lilleth catching on eying Enya
Enya got the hint, "Yep me too."
"I'm with you guys on that one." Piper added raising one eyebrow
"I need to let my legs breath." Ashley stated nudging Erin
"I need to retrieve some bath tissue my nose is runny." said Mira confused
With that, the girls all rushed to get up from the table. The guys were a little confused at the wierd behavior of the girls, they understood that girls traveled in small packs but that was more like a clan. Either way, the guys were left alone to there own devices. Lilleth pushed the bathroom door open as the group of girls shuffled in behind her.
Lilleth turned around and asked, "Gen, what's the matter? Why did we just leave like the Red Sea had been parted?"
"Well I had something to tell you and I didn't wanted to say in front of the guys cause I think they would've freaked out and jumped down my throat." Gen replied pausing to compose herself
"Don't leave us in such suspense. What is it?" Ashley said excitedly
Gen sighed, closed her eyes for a bit, and continued to say, "When I left the hospital I went to a park. I kinda just sat and swung for a bit. Well as I was wallowing in my pain, Austin texted me, you know, trying to cheer me up and all. When I told him what happened he was all like, where are you and I told him I was at the park, then he asked me which one and I told him. Me being the smart one I am, I was all like, you gona come and save me then he said or I'll die trying."
"Aww!" cooed Erin
"It gets better. So I'm still sitting on the swing and I finished texting him like an hour ago and I thought he was a no show. Just as I was about to get up-- he totally surprised me and covered my eyes; he still wanted to keep it anonymous. It was the cutest thing ever. Then we chatted for a bit and I said I wanted to swing some more and he offered to push as long as I didn't try to catch a peek which I totally agreed to. He pushed me so gently it was the sweetest thing. Oh and the best part, after a while he ran his fingers through my hair and sang to me. Do you know how relaxing that is to have someone play with your hair and sing to you in a soft tone? Try it, you'll feell like your floating on a gentle wave in the ocean." Gen rambled excitedly
"Uh oh, get it G!" Lilleth chimed in
"Aww how cute." Enya faked a little
"That's so sweet. Wish I had a guy to do that to me." Sophie pouted
"Shut up, I think there's more." Mira replied
"Is there Gen?" Piper asked
"Yes. He told me to go back to the hospital and spend time with my family and I'm like I don't want to cause I liked it out there then he's all like, I guess I should go first and I'm like yeah. Get this, he tucks some hair behind my ear and then he... " Gen hesitated
"What?" Lilleth asked excitedly
"Keep going, finish your story." Enya hurged
"... he kissed my cheek." Gen finished closing her eyes bracing herself.
All the girls looked at each other in awe as Enya's eyes got big in semi horror. How could that perve kiss her best friend? She wasn't happy about that one, she knew she should have stayed at the park a little longer, but what done was done, she couldn't change a thing about it. Gen opened each eye as she saw six pairs of beadle little eyes look at her.
"You can say something you know." Gen coaxed them
Breaking the silence, Lilleth screeched sending the girls in a hissy fit of comments and cooing. Gen just shook her head as she buried her face in her hands; she knew she shouldn't have told them but she did anyway; dinner would be interesting now.
"I'm so happy for you minus the fact that you don't know what he looks like." Lilleth chuckled
"Yeah me too! That was so romantic. Sorry, I'm a helpless romantic I'm all about cliche love stories." Erin piped up
"Yes, congrats girl. So I guess this one's a keeper?" Sophie asked
"No!" Enya interjected a little upset
"Why not?" Gen asked Enya in confusion
"You know nothing of this boy and your just going to surrender your virtue to him?" Enya asked with anger evident in her voice
"God no Enya. I'm not having sex till I get married. Austin and I are just talking to each other right now. What's gotten into you? Why don't you trust me my good judgement?" Gen asked
"Come on E, be happy for Gen." Sophie said nugging Enya
"I believe I should be the one frantic Enya, I'm her sister. She seems to be okay with this boy and nothing happened to her tonight so that says alot. Chill out." Mira replied
Enya sighed, "Sorry to seem so frantic. The last thing I want is to see G get hurt that's all."
"I won't. I'm a big girl, I can handle it." Gen reassured Enya
"Sure you can." Enya replied
Gen wrinkled her face in confusion to Enya's weird behavior just as she did with Brian when he made a big deal of her sitting near him instead of Lilleth. There was something strange going on with her friends and she had to get to the bottom of it, but first she just needed to last through dinner and taking care of Mira tomorrow. Things were getting interesting around here; nothing could top of this night and all its weird behavior it held.
