I'm a Loaded Gun (Part 2)

The floor rattled under the force of weight crashing into it. In the blink of an eye, all three of us jumped to the door. I was half a second ahead of everyone else, and almost ripped off the handle. With her back to me, I rushed over to find her unresponsive. I shook her, screaming her name. Nothing. She was cold, but still alive. I pulled a blanket from the bed and wrapped it around her. I turned back to Ashley, finding Andy on his phone.

“They’ve got an ambulance on the way,” he stammered.

“Andy, let the paramedics in!” I shouted back. I heard his feet running down the stairs.

I could feel her begin to choke. She began to vomit uncontrollably. There was blood. I squished my eyes closed and tried not to gag. Blood still made me very uncomfortable. The smell of rust and salt penetrated my nose.

“I’ve got her,” Ashley said, and I felt him take her body from me. I peeked through my eyes and noticed Ashley had put a bucket under her head. I reached over and pulled up her hair, and tied in a bun with a band from my wrist.

I could hear talking downstairs. Two uniformed paramedics carried in a stretcher. I rushed over to Andy in the doorway. He took me tightly into his arms and held me like it was the last time we’d ever hold each other.

Siren was strapped onto the stretcher, and carried downstairs, Ashley rushing right behind them. Andy and I followed. I could see her being loaded into the ambulance and the doors closing behind them. I couldn’t be strong any longer. My knees gave out from under me. Andy held me, but we both sank to the floor. He cradled me in his arms as I began to choke on my tears. A hand caressed my hair, the other my side. My arms clamped around Andy as the ambulance began to wail.

“Shh, sweetie,” Andy strained. “It’s out of our control now.”

My face was embedded in his neck. I couldn’t lose my best friend. I’d lost so much, I couldn’t stand to lose my one anchor that I’ve had since I was young. God, please heal her. Save her. Let her stay with me, with Ashley, with all of us. The minutes seemed like milliseconds. I was lifted to my feet and next thing I knew I was back in our house. I must have cried out my contacts, because everything was blurry. The only tangible thing I knew was Andy’s body.

Somehow, I came to my senses. I cracked my eyes open, aware of the crusted gunk in the corners. I lifted my head. I was laying on top of Andy on the couch in the living room. His eyes were puffy, but closed in sleep. Resting back in place, I wiped away the dried tears. My whole face felt irritated. Andy mustn’t have been very deep into his sleep, because I could feel his heart beat pick up again and his hands slowly rub up and down on my arms.

“You must have cried yourself out,” Andy rasped.

“Have you heard anything from Ashley?” I croaked, my throat full mucus.

I felt the air get pushed out of his lungs, “Not yet.”

I looked up at him, “What time is it?”

He dug his phone out of his pocket, “Almost six.”

It’d been almost three hours. “Text him and see if he needs anything. I’d be willing to bet he hasn’t eaten and I’m probably gonna go off the wall if I don’t hear anything soon. I’m gonna go wash my face. I’m sure my make-up is all fucked.”

I climbed off of Andy and stretched my aching body. I felt his hands on my hips, and his lips against my neck, “You’re still beautiful, even with your mascara run down your face.”

I tried to smile, but just leaned into his body. It was enough for him to understand that I was moving deeper into my inner shell. He gave me a kiss on my cheek, and released me. I went to the stairs, realizing just how strained my body was. Each step felt like cement block was attached to my feet. I put on the water in the bathroom sink, before peeling off my shirt. I tossed it in the hamper and splashed the warm water on my face. It helped shake the grogginess. The blood orange face soap helped to refresh my face and remove the dried and run makeup. My eyes were still puffy, but the redness was receding. Andy leaned on the door trim as I dried my face.

“Ash said she’s in ICU. He says he’ll be fine.”

“No, if she’s in ICU that means she will be in there for a few days minimum,” I said.

“I was thinking we could swing by their place and get them some clothes and stuff,” he offered.

I smiled at him, “That’s a great idea.”

“I’m gonna change, anything you want me to get you?”

“Sure, just get me a t shirt and leggings.”

I just put my glasses on and brushed out my hair before putting it in a ponytail with my bangs out. I pulled off my shorts and walked into the bedroom. Andy was pulling on a pair of black basketball shorts. I saw one of Andy’s white Misfits shirts folded on the bed with my black leggings. I pulled the shirt over my head, smiling at Andy’s pale tattooed back. He slipped a cut off Metallica shirt on and looked over to me.

“Almost ready?”

I grabbed a pair of socks from my drawer, “Yeah, just need to get my converse downstairs and I’ll be ready.”

He grabbed his keys from my nightstand, “Alright, I’ll be downstairs.”

I grabbed my purse, tied on my shoes, and walked with Andy to the car. We drove down to their place and used the spare key hidden in the gas tank of Ashley’s Harley Davidson mini motorcycle display piece on the porch. I really didn’t want to go back to the bedroom since everything was still a mess. I refused to look into the bedroom, and instead went straight to the closet right inside the door. They had a huge walk in closet that was practically another bedroom. I grabbed a bag for Siren, while Andy packed one for Ashley. I grabbed a sports bra, three tank tops, and two baggy tank tops, zip up hoodie, two pairs of shorts, and a pair of yoga pants. Andy had already moved into the bathroom. I grabbed her toothbrush, hair brush, some ponytail bands, and poured some shampoo and conditioner into travel bottles. I tossed it all into the bag, which Andy refused to let me carry. We drove to the hospital and found a spot in visitor parking. Andy took my hand as we walked toward the entrance. He knew that hospitals made my anxiety skyrocket. Ashley texted us the floor and room number. Once inside the actual hospital, I was instantly aware of the smell of saline and alcohol. My skin was crawling. Andy gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. We took the elevator to the fourth floor and turned to the left.

Ashley was waiting in the lobby near the nurses’ station. He didn’t look alive. He was frozen like a statue. He was in a chair, head down, hunched over, elbows on his knees, and hands clasped together. His hair was covering his face.

“Ash?” I whispered as I crouched beside him, resting a hand on his arm.

He looked over, his eyes so red and swollen. “Hey.”

“Oh Ash,” I enveloped him in a hug, and he rested his forehead on my shoulder. “What do they know?”

He sniffled, “They don’t know yet. They are running a ton of tests. She’s hooked up to so many things and I have no idea what’s going on. They said they are doing what they can but that I’m not allowed in there right now.”

“Hey, hey, hey,” I said as tears began to leak over his lids. “Look, we brought you guys both some stuff. We’ve got clothes, bathroom stuff, and things for overnight. Have you eaten anything?”

“No,” he whispered.

“Ash, you have to eat,” Andy said. “Starving yourself won’t help anything. Do you want us to get you anything?”

“No, no. I’m fine. I’ll go to the cafeteria or something.”

Andy put an arm around him, “No, I know you won’t. Ash, go get something, or I’ll bring you something. At least get yourself a drink.”

He thought for a moment, “I could drink a coke.”

“One coke coming up,” Andy said as he stood up. “Anything else, man?”

“Nah,” he replied. He smiled as Andy patted his shoulder, before walking over to the elevator.
I pulled a chair up next to Ashley, and held his hand.

After a few minutes, a nurse approached us. “Mr. Purdy?”

His eyes shot up, “Yes?”

“Ms. Campbell is stable. We can allow you into the room now.”

“What’s her condition?” I asked hesitantly.

She looked to Ashley for approval, “She’s…she’s fighting. She was extremely dehydrated and parts of her stomach lining were weakened. We are slowly restoring her hydration through IV’s. We’ve administered medications to reduce the nausea, stop the vomiting, and are also restoring her sugar levels. We believe she passed out from low blood sugar, which can be especially dangerous during pregnancy.”

“And…the baby?” Ashley shuddered.

“He seems normal. We are also monitoring his vitals, but the doctor concerned. We might need to do some more tests,” she replied.

“Him? It’s a boy?” Ashley’s face blossomed into a huge smile.

“Yes, definitely a boy,” she smiled.

Andy stepped out of the elevator with a piece of pizza in one hand and a can of coke in the other.

“Can I go see her now?” Ashley asked.

“Yes, come with me,” the nurse motioned.

Andy shoved the pizza and drink into Ashley’s hand, “Not so fast, eat first before the pizza goes cold.”

Ashley grabbed the pizza, took a huge bite, cracked the can of coke, took a huge gulp, and set it on the chair before following the nurse down the hallway.

I laughed and put my hands around Andy’s neck. “It’s a boy.”

“Oh no,” Andy laughed, placing his hands on my hips, “I’m having terrible images of a baby in black leather and Harley rolling thing.”

I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought. “So you don’t want a son in black leather?”

“Our kids will be very stylish little rocker babies.”

“You’ll teach them to hold a tune before they can even talk,” I teased.

Andy hovered his lips over mine, “Maybe, but only if they have an angelic voice like you.”

“Shh your face,” I whispered before pressing my lips stronger against his.

Notes

Hi guys! Hopefully I can start updating once a week! I'd love for you to comment and tell me what you think so far :)