19 Felix

The pain was everywhere and at one point he wished he would just faint from it so he could escape the pain for a little while. If only for a couple of minutes. His head felt like it was split open, and his body felt like it was run over 3 times by a truck with spiky wheels. The doctors came in and out, nodding and smiling, saying he was healing so good. He didn't feel like healing "so good". He felt like shit. Morrow came by which was a relief and torture in one. He could see the pity, although she tried to conceal it. But he could tell. Her jokes didn't hold their sharp edge and her friendly punches were softer than normal.

His mom also came by which was… well, good? He guessed. He cried a lot. Talked a lot and told her what was happening. Not in detail but the main things. She also cried which was horrible. He never wanted to see that ever again. They also talked about changing schools. But luckily before they got to a final answer, they heard that Ben and T got expelled. Which was a surprise because Ben's father was highly influential but Felix guessed that they couldn't cover this up. Ben did get caught in the act, so there was no way of him getting out of here.

Policemen also came, for him to tell his side of the story. They also listened to Oliver who was in the bed across from him. Oliver wasn't badly injured, just a bit, and he got discharged sooner than Felix.

Days passed like that and slowly Felix felt coming together again. He still felt bruised but he could move his facial muscles on purpose which was a huge relief. One day Oliver came by.

He still had a big bruise on his face and his arm in a sling, but he was walking again. A hint of jealousy could be seen in Felix's eyes but when Oliver walked over the jealousy disappeared. Oliver's face was dull and gray, and he looked like he hadn't slept in days.

'Hi.' Oliver's voice was raspy and Felix could tell he had been crying.

'Hi.' Felix replied. 'You look awful.'

Oliver grimaced and stopped at the side of his bed. 'Thanks.'

'Why are you here?'

Oliver didn't quite meet his eyes and kept on looking down at his bedsheets. 'I just wanted to apologize, I guess. Although I warned you, you're still in the hospital.'

He got silent and Felix sighed. 'Well, at least you warned me. It was the least you could do, and you did just that.' He paused and Oliver looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole. 'But,' Felix continued. 'I owe you a thank you for saving me back there.' Oliver finally looked up and Felix smiled reassuringly. 'Thanks. I don't know what would've happened if no one did something. So, thank you.'

'Yeah, I'm not sure if I can accept your thank you, but you're welcome. Also, I've heard Ben and Theodore got expelled, and I will transfer to a different school too.'

'Why?'

He smiled sadly. 'This school doesn't bring me happiness anymore. For a long time, I followed Ben and Theodore around, and I'm involved in this mess. I hope I didn't bring you a lot of trauma.'

Felix scoffed. 'Well, to be fair you did.' Felix was sure Oliver did bring him some trauma, maybe indirect but still. He often played a part in Felix's nightmare. 'But,' He said again. 'At the same time, I realize now that you were just as trapped in the situation as me.'

They smiled at each other, finalizing the conversation and their past, putting it behind them. 'I hope you'll do well.' Felix said.

'Thank you, likewise. And again, I'm sorry for everything. If for one thing, I know what to do and whom to avoid, now.' Oliver bowed his head slightly and walked out of the hospital room.

Felix was glad Oliver had stopped by. They both needed to have some kind of conversation about all the events. A lot has happened and it all started with a drunk girl in his mom's car, not knowing how important she would become. He smiled fondly. He and Morrow needed to have a conversation about that one day, but today was not that day. He slumped back into the pillows. His pain medication had worn off.

The week after Oliver had said his goodbyes, Morrow came by again. She had been visiting him, almost every day, and today wasn't any different. She came in with chocolates in her hand and sunshine that filled up the entire room.

'Hi, lazy. You're still in bed?' She joked.

'Yeah, doctor's orders.' He added.

She laughed. 'Well, good news then. I just spoke with the doctor and he said you were allowed to go outside if you would stay in your wheelchair and you couldn't go further than the hospital yard.'

'Really? I didn't know he allowed it already.'

'Yeah, no I just spoke to him.' Morrow said, stressing the word "just". 'He was about to go in but once he recognized me he said I could deliver the good news. So here I am, delivering the good news!' She smiled brightly.

'That's great.' He smiled and felt something like adrenaline go through his body. Being in this hospital room has been both good and bad for his health. He needed to go outside and feel the sun again. 'Can you bring me my wheelchair?'

'Sure, sure.'

Morrow brought the chair over and made sure it was on the brakes before she helped Felix get in. He clenched his teeth, trying to cover up the pain he felt shooting up in his entire body. But he trusted his doctor's words and let Morrow do her thing. Once they were in the hallway of the hospital, Felix realized how long he had been in that room. Patients passed by accompanied by their doctors and nurses rushed through the hallway.

'This way.' Morrow steered them towards an elevator and she pressed the button for the ground floor. Now that Felix was finally out and about, he couldn't wait until he could smell the outside air again. Finally, finally, Morrow rolled him outside, and immediately he could feel the warm sun, hear the birds and smell the fresh air. He instantly felt better.

There weren't many people outside, just a few older patients, but aside from them, Morrow and he were the only people there. Morrow rolled him towards a half-shade, half-sun side next to a wooden bench.

Felix closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh air. 'Ah, I missed this...'

'You look a lot better already.' Morrow mentioned and Felix opened his eyes to catch Morrow staring at him. She smiled softly. 'Yeah, the fresh air is doing you more good than any medicine.'

He laughed. 'You're right. After spending so many days inside that room, I needed this. Thanks or I should thank the doctor really.' He coughed slightly. 'Finally, let me out of that room.'

Morrow grew quiet next to him, so he looked at her questionably. 'What's up with you?'

She just smiled with guilt.

It took a second for Felix to retrace his words. What was it that he said? He should thank the doctor instead of her? Is that it? He wasn't sure until it hit him. 'You never spoke to any doctor, did you?'

Morrow looked down at her hands, but he could see her smile.

'Really? Wow, you're really...' Laughter bubbled up and he chuckled. 'Seriously... Why did you think this was a good idea?'

'I was thinking you needed some actual air than the weird air inside the hospital. Also, in my defense, you could sit again. So, sitting in a wheelchair is not that different than sitting in bed.'

Felix sighed but he wasn't really angry. Not even close. He was grateful for Morrow to have him brought out here. He was pretty sure he couldn't stand that room any longer than a day anyways. 'You're right. I'm not mad, but I'm not sure the doctor can approve.'

Morrow raised her shoulders and said dismissively: 'Sue me. I'm looking out for your well and I'm not putting you in harm's way, so they can't do much.'

Felix chuckled and let the topic rest. Partly because he was agreeing with Morrow but mostly because there were better things to talk about.

'Can I-'

'Are you-'

They both started speaking at the same time and for a second they fell quiet. 'Ha, sorry.' Felix said. 'Go on.'

Morrow started first. 'Are you okay? Like I know this might be a stupid question to ask, but also with everything that has been going on lately.'

'I'm alright. Don't worry.' He smiled reassuringly.

'It's a bit too late for that now.' She said softly. Her voice was barely a whisper and Felix felt his heart stir in hope. Futile, he knew it. It had to be futile.

'What do you mean?'

Morrow chuckled but didn't elaborate. 'Don't worry about it. Just know that I worry about you and I hope that you're gonna be okay.'

Felix's heart bumped way too fast but also he was glad she didn't elaborate any further. He wasn't sure if he could handle it. His body was a mess and he needed everything to not change for a second so that maybe he could go back to the way things were. Although he wasn't sure that's what he wanted, it seemed like the best option for now.

'But I'm alright, really.' He continued. 'Oliver came by the other day and we had a little talk. Basically, it was him saying sorry and me saying that it was alright. But I'm glad we had that conversation.'

Morrow nodded. 'Yeah, that's good. It helps to put things behind. I heard that Ben and T have been expelled.'

'You're right. I'm glad they are gone and Oliver is changing schools too. He doesn't want to be at our school anymore. Too many awful memories.'

Morrow snorted. 'That's easy. Just going away whenever things get difficult.'

'It's alright. I'm sure he has been through a lot too. And to be honest, I might change schools too for the same reason.

'What?' Morrow's face shot to his and it surprised Felix that his mother hasn't told her yet. Felix knew his mother and Morrow texted, which was a bit strange when he first found out but not unpleasant. 'Are you really going to change schools?'

'I might, I'm not sure yet, though.' He scratched the bandaid on his face as it started to come loose. 'My mom and I talked about it and she said I could choose if I wanted to. I haven't decided yet.'

Morrow didn't answer right away. She looked at his face and smiled with a hint of sadness. 'Well, I can't stop you from going but I would miss you a great deal. So yeah, just so you know.'

Felix laughed. 'You're doing an awful job at not stopping me to go, you know?'

'I know.' She just replied. 'It's because it's true. I really don't want you to go, 'cause it would be very boring without you.'

He smirked and he could feel the bandages pull on his skin. 'Boring huh? Well, I might stay then.'