Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:14:18 -0400 From: walrus Subject: the swedish effect, chapter 5 Have you ever been in a hospital? Well, if you have, then you probably know what I'm going through at the moment. You know, fat nurses that act like you're their son, or food that reminds you of school lunches. Yep, all of that happens here. The town was still in shock over everything, and I won't lie; I was too. Of course, my parents never came up here one time to see me. It kind of made me feel sad, but you know, I should've expected it. It didn't really matter, either, 'cause Alyson, Lily, Rachel, Alister, and Anna came up frequently to visit Matt and me. We were in one of those cool rooms with a large T.V. Another bonus was that Matt and I were in one of those rooms with other patients, so it didn't really ever get boring. Still, there was that one problem itching at my heart the whole time I was there. I know that I love Matt, so why can't I just tell him? I mean, he was barely ten feet away from me, in obvious earshot. It would be so easy to just let the words out if it were anyone else, but not me. Never. It was like I'd move my lips to speak, but no words would come forth. I guess it didn't help that people kept coming in. I love that they care about us so, and obviously they couldn't tell that I needed alone time, yet I felt the need to be.. alone with him. Seriously, who proclaims their love for someone right in front of their friends? I surely wouldn't. So in all honestly, I never said it, and before I knew it, it was the night before we were to be released. Visiting hours were over, yet Anna still managed to get in. I assumed it was because she was Matt's sister, but you never know; Anna is convincing anyway. I pretended that I was asleep, telling myself that it was just so I wouldn't seem intrusive, but really, I knew I was easvedropping. The only light in the room was coming from a dim lamp on a small table near our beds, and I feared I actually WOULD fall asleep. Contrary to popular belief, hospital beds are comfortable, but that's beside the point, because just then, Anna started talking. "I talked to Alister." I heard her melodic voice say softly. "About what?" Matt's deep, soft voice reverbrated around the room. I had never really fathomed how he and Anna should be so.. close. But I also always assumed that I'd never understand, because I haven't any siblings of my own. "A lot of things.. but there's something you need to know." "What's wrong?" he sounded bothered. "I..." "Come on Anna, spit it out." "I'm in love with Alister." Her voice almost cracked. I was surprised I didn't gasp on the spot as well. "WHAT!?" Matt said loudly. "Shh! You'll wake Ryker up!" "I may have a fucked up my shoulder, but I only need one arm to--" "Be quiet, won't you? Why do you have to act like a dick all the time?" she whispered furiously. "I don't! And I don't appreciate you calling me that!" "Well, welcome to my world; I don't appreciate the thought of my brother cracking my crush's skull!" They successfully began to bring their noise levels down, but I could still hear them, those tricky dogs. Wow, did I just say that? I'm so weird. "You're in love with a guy that has treated Ryker AND me like shit for the past month." "Alister learned a lesson from the school shooting; didn't you?" "What do you mean?" "Matt, all of our lives could have ended that day. How do you think Alister would've felt if both of his childhood best friends had died, and the last words that he had had with them were, 'Do not talk to me, you filthy bug!'?" "IF he were human, he'd feel pretty bad." "I can't believe you." she said curtly, suddenly getting up. Matt grabbed her wrist softly with his uninjured arm. "Anna.. don't go yet." "It's just that.." I heard her swallow a few times. Was she crying? "I've been trying so hard to let you know.. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Having you and Alister despise each other day in and day out is almost like how it was when Dad--" "Hey, come on.." I saw Anna sit back down on Matt's outstretched leg, since the generically small beds didn't provide enough room for two. "Look sis, I'll get over it. You know how guys are.. we have to feel like we're better than the next guy." "You boys are so dumb." Her voice cracked just as before, however I was sure that if she were crying now, it was from joy. "We always will be." he grinned softly. "So hey.. about you and Ryker, then?" "I love him more than anything in this world, but how can I tell him that without scaring him off?" he asked rhetorically. I wanted to just jump up and scream my feelings out, but I decided that wouldn't be a good idea. "But Ryker isn't.." "Isn't what?" "He's more.. withdrawn, you know?" He sighed. "Yeah, you're right." It hurt to just lay there and not say anything, but I couldn't just butt in. "Why don't you talk with him?" she asked Matt. "That'll go over well. 'Hey Ryker, I'm in love with you. What's your favorite kind of ice-cream?'" "Not the best pick up line." She stifled a giggle. "I know. I may be gay, but I'm still a male.. ergo horrible dating skills." "I'm sure you're not that bad. Just give it time." "Yeah.. time." He sounded distant, as if he weren't really listening to Anna at all. "But hey, I should probably go. Alister's waiting on me." "I'm gonna have a talk with that boy-" "Yeah yeah, see you tomorrow." I saw her bend down and hug him. Hm, Matt's other arm still worked perfectly.. bad fantasies! Being a teenager sucks. Seriously, who needs all these hormones? Author's Note: Sorry readers, but I just don't have the time to continue writing with school going on. I've caught myself putting off studying to write numerous times, and I just can't do that.