Welcome to America

"When will you get out?" Iasked. The guilt inside almost making me sick to my stomach.

"In a week or so. Not sure." I took a sip of water. "What's wrong?" I asked.

A week?.. I took a seat in a chair by her bed, and I looked down at my lap. "Nothing's wrong. I am glad you're okay though.. I was in the apartment when I heard a crash, then lots of sirens .. I had to walk to the hospital to see you." I said.

I looked over at her and sighed. "It was a three way collision." I closed my eyes for a minute. "But I'm one lucky girl because I came out pretty good."

"Yeah. I'm so relieved.." I said, looking at her empty water glass. I picked it up, and walked to the sink and filled it up, setting it back on her table. "Is there anything I can do?"

I shook my head. "Nah I'll be okay.. Thank you." I whispered, giving her a small smile.

I nodded slowly. "Okay..And.. I'm sorry about what I said earlier, that made you drive off like that..." I said. "I really didn't intend on hurting you like that."

I sighed. "Honey it was not your fault. I just happened to be at the wrong at the wrong time. Dont blame yourself.. And you did mean it, you know you did."

Before I could say anything back, the nurse came in. "Visiting hours are over now, you're going to have to leave." She told me, and I looked back at Lavender, and I sighed as I stood, and left without a word.

I watched her walk away and I sighed and took my medication. The next day I woke up, my head hurting.

I didn't go clubbing or do anything, really, I just laid back and thought about how Lavender was doing. I didn't want to visit her much, I thought she would thing I was annoying or something.

Some of my friends visited me but I didn't care. All I wanted was to see Marzia. Why doesnt she visit me? Is she mad at me?..

The next day I walked to the store and got some flowers, an then I walked to the hospital, and to her room. I smiled once I walked in. "Hey.." I said, setting the flowers down.

"Hi." I answered softly. I sat up slowly, wincing slightly. "What's up?"

"Hey.." I said gently, smiling. "I hope you like the flowers." I said softly, and I took a seat by her bed. "I've just been holding down the home." I said, and I messed with the hem of my flowy shirt mindlessly. "Are you okay?"

I nodded and looked up at the ceiling. "Yeah. Just hella bored." I said, sighing softly.

"A few more days right?" I asked her and I watched her as she looked up at the ceiling. "And then school starts.."

I sighed. "Its gonna suck.." I mumbled, glancing at her.

"At least its only a couple classes each day. And it starts later, and that's a plus.." I said. "And I have a pretty kick ass roommate to do this thing with."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks." I said softly. I sat up and took a drink of water.

A couple days passed, and I was there when she was released. She had to be pretty careful with a lot of things and had a list of medications.

"Let's get out of this shithole." I mumbled and we took a cab to the dorm. "I gotta get a new car.."

I hated that cab ride, I just hated cars in general. I did manage to stay calm the whole time, just not when the guy braked. "When do you think you will?" I asked her

I laid in bed and sighed. "Whenever i get the money I guess. I have some in the bank."

"What about insurance?" I asked her, sitting at the foot of her bed. "Careful.." I said, watching as she winced a little.

"Oh yeah.. I have that." I sighed and closed my eyes. Why do bad things always happen?

"Just wait until you do your claim and it all should be okay." I said, gently patting her leg before standing. "What do you want for dinner? I'll run to the store or something."

I sighed and shrugged. "Im not very hungry.. To be honest."

"Oh." I said. "I'm not really either.. Anything I can do?.." I asked, I had already cleaned the whole place twice when she was gone. Something I do when I'm nervous and such.

I shook my head. "Im fine. You should go out and have fun."

I looked up and shrugged. "I can't really. Not when you're here." I said softly, rubbing my arm

”Ill be fine. Schools about to start and you should enjoy your freedom."

"Okay. Well. I'm going to go for a walk.." I said, smiling at her as I stood. "I'll pick up some coffees on the way back. What were they called? The ones you got last time?"

"Frapaccinos." I replied, watching her warily.

A week or so passed, but we were already into college, only about two days in. I only had two classes, Art, and Photography. And then volleyball after, but wasn't really a class.

I was taking music theory and performing arts, and I also took German, like I did in highschool.

Lavender and I never saw much of each other, I just felt that there was quite a bit of unsaid things still lingering in the air between us. It was just a matter of who said then first.
"That's a really good picture.." I heard a guy say, standing behind me, and I jumped, and turned to look at him. "Sorry.." He said , smiling. I looked down at my camera, and at the picture that was on the screen. "Its fine.. Thank you." I spoke. "Wow, I like foreign girls.." He said, clearly noticing my accent.

"Lavender you need to chill. You used to be so much fun. Why are you so uptight?" My friend asked as we sat in my room. "Im not.." She slowly ran her hand up my thigh. "Let me loosen you up a little bit.." She purred. She used to be a fuck buddy of mine. But for some reason, I wasnt feeling it. "Stop." I said. "That Marzia girl has you wrapped around her finger.."

I nervously walked away, and our of photography, it being lunch now. That guy was big, and scary..And I heard footsteps behind me, and I knew it was him. No one was around.. I felt him grab me, and slam me against the wall. "Why you running? I didn't excuse you.." He said, and he yanked on my hair, exposing my neck for him to roughly kiss and bite at.. Then I kneed him in the crotch, and ran down the hall, and through the lunch room, I was freaking out, scared.. And I ran out the doors and back to the dorm.. The first thing I did was look at my neck. It was red and puffy, ugly hickies all over..

I jumped when the door slammed open, and Kristen looked at Marzia, amused. I got up quickly, walking over to her. She's freaking out.. "Honey, what's wrong?" I saw her neck. Hickies?.. I stepped back. "I see.." I felt slightly put out. I didn't know she was messing with someone.. I sighed. "I have makeup you can cover those up with.."