Chapter 2: True Love
I am nothing if not persistent. Lindsay has made a point of telling me so more times than I can count. Getting free passage to the hospital in the ambulance with Kent was easy, as I was close to hysterical with the full weight of what happened finally hitting me. The paramedics probably just assumed I was Kent's girlfriend and let me stay with him.
Not letting him out of my sight once inside the hospital is a bigger challenge.
Hospital policy in Ridgeview is that only family members of the injured party can remain with the patient. When reminded of this by the secretary at the front desk, I lie as smoothly as I can and claim to be Kent's fiancé. No one bothers to look for a ring on my finger to corroborate the yarn, and I am allowed back with him. Someone needs to be there: I got a panicked text from Lindsay, relating how Kent's parents have been notified. That of course followed the disbelieving text, in which Lindsay thought that a slightly deranged Juliet was going Psycho again, rambling about how Kent was hurt and I, nearly so. I snapped Lindsay out of that real quick by taking a selfie in the ambulance, the look on my face clearly telling her to knock it the fuck off. Only then could she take me seriously. Somehow, someone had the presence of mind to contact my parents - a move I had completely forgotten about in my concern for Kent. I receive a ping from my mom, followed by a panicked voicemail enroute to the hospital.
Now, I am at Kent's bedside, simply waiting for him to wake up. And for others to show up. He is hooked to machines, the BEEP of the monitor telling me he is alive. Apparently, he died for just a moment in the chaotic ambulance before the response team revived him. I was too distraught to notice.
Seeing a space on the bed where I can comfortably sit, I scoot closer to Kent, bathing in his warmth - another sign that he is still here, with me.
"My poor hero," I murmur sadly, and I cradle his head in my lap, my tears falling onto his upturned face like sweet rain. Gently, I dip my head and press my lips to his.
It is as if my kiss awakens him. Kent's body twitches slightly, and I feel him groan under my mouth. "Sam..." His voice, though weak, tickles my lips.
I spring back, a little flustered, as though he has caught me in the act of kissing him. Then, I clap a startled hand over my mouth to stifle the sob as Kent jerks fully awake.
"You've alive!" I breathe, and with joy, I throw my arms around him, peppering his face with kisses again and again. And then, I really am sobbing. "You... you saved me..."
Kent just smiles. "You know, when I vowed to be your hero too, I didn't think I would have to clear such a high bar. Sam... what... why...?"
I place a finger over his lips. "Ssssh... don't speak..." Then I replace my finger with my mouth. He must have a million questions, and I will answer every single one, but not now. Now, just being together is enough.
I am still openly kissing Kent when the hospital room door bangs open to let in a crowd of people. In the lead, Lindsay stops dead in shock, so sharply that Ally and Elody nearly crash into her. It would almost be comical if they weren't catching me blatantly kissing a boy they all think is beneath them.
"You left Rob Cokran... for that?" Ally splutters.
"He saved my life, Ally," I reply simply, which doesn't really answer the question. Technically, I was making out with Kent McFuller minutes (and in my looping mind, days,) before he took my place in front of a moving car. "But, yes, he is my boyfriend."
Lindsay is smiling way too tightly - so tightly, in fact, that her clenched teeth almost don't seem to move as she gets out, "Are... are you serious?"
I hold her gaze, refusing to wilt. "Did I stutter?"
Lindsay now gapes like a fish, opening and closing her trap silently. "Cars... psychos... bowler hats!" she spits, the words disjointed and random. "You all deserve each other!" And she stomps out of the room seething, Ally and Elody dithering after her, though the latter sends me what almost appears to be an encouraging look over her shoulder.
"She'll come around," Kent chuckles, as though he has just watched an amusing YouTube video.
"Of course she will," I laugh, though in reality, I'm not so sure. Kent sees the best in everybody, but however endearing this might be, in the case of Lindsay Edgecombe, it is likely rather naive.
But then, Kent cranes his neck up to capture my lips with his, and suddenly nothing else matters. There is only us, and the relief that we will get to live another, brand new day.