At War with the Bad Boy

Waking Up Mum

Georgia's POV

Thursday was pretty much the same as yesterday. Dan and I sat by Mum's bed waiting for some more news. We read magazines, we had snacks from the shop and we played some card games to pass the time. Having had no new news we left at around 9pm to try and get some sleep. We both haven't gotten much sleep over the past few days and we were exhausted. What good would we be to Mum if she wakes up and we're both to tired to help lift her into her wheelchair, or into bed. Once at home we sat in front of the TV watching a re-run of 'Friends', in our small but cosy living room. We had a two seater settee and one armchair in the corner. Dan had made us some toast, so we both curled up on opposite sides of the settee and shared a blanket.

Towards the end of the Friends episode Dan turned to me and said, "I think you should go to school tomorrow."

"What! Why?" I was shocked.

"It's your first week and you've missed more than you think. Plus you need your friends around you," He answered.

"But I want to stay with Mum," I begged.

"Mum is doing fine, there has been some improvement and I'll be there with her. If anything changes I can call you," He ordered.

"Please Dan, I want to be there. What if she wakes up and I'm not there?" I cried.

"The doctor has to pull her round from the sedation in order for her to wake up, so if they plan to do it tomorrow I will call you and tell them to wait until you get there." He said soothingly.

"But...." I start to say but Dan cuts me off.

"No buts Georgia. You have to go. Mum would want you to continue your studies. Do it for her." He says.

"Fine!" I sulk. "I'm off to bed."

"Goodnight!" Dan calls.

In my bedroom, I begin to change into my pyjamas and get into bed. I lay there for a few minutes just thinking about Mum and concerned about not being by her side tomorrow. My headphones were next to the bed on my chest of drawers so I put them on and listened to some music. About an hour later, I finally fell asleep.

Waking up startled thinking I was late for College, I grab my phone to check the time. 6.30am. I let out a sigh of relief and lay back down in bed for a few minutes. I messaged Hannah and Rachel to say I will be back in school today and asked if they could meet me in the car park. The last two times and only two times I've walked through those school doors I've bumped into Noah and today I just wasn't in the mood for him and his silly remarks. I got out of bed and jumped in the shower, then put on some black, ripped, skinny jeans and a yellow t-shirt that said 'Bite Me' in white writing, underneath a logo of black, open mouthed lips, with a tongue poking out. "If Noah decided to shout some stupid comment my way I'll just show him my top," I laughed to myself. Putting on my shoes, I thought about Mum. So I went downstairs to find Dan but he wasn't there. He was probably still in bed, so I grabbed some fruit and a bottle of water from the fridge and left for College. I stopped before locking the door to check my jacket was in my bag, even though it wasn't raining, I thought it might later. The sky was quite dark and full looking. I put my headphones on and started to walk to school. Halfway there I hear the honk of a car horn. Turning round I noticed it was Rachel. She pulled over and told me to jump in. I waved at Hannah in the passenger seat and jumped in the back of her red Mini Cooper. "I could really use a car," I thought to myself. Mum seemed to work all the hours under the sun, but we never had any money, especially to buy me a car, and now Mum is going to need to buy herself one. Hers was bound to be a write off by the way she looked when I first arrived at the hospital.

"You should give us your address Georgia, we can come pick you up in the mornings," Rachel suggests.

"OK, great, thanks," I reply.

"So how's your Mum?" Hannah asks.

"She's still the same, but the swelling around her brain is improving so fingers crossed they'll wake her up soon," I say hopefully.

"That's all very positive," Rachel says.

Rachel parks the car in the car park and we walk into the school together. It was lovely having friends to go to school with, it saddens me how things got so messed up with my last group of friends. I tell them I'll catch up with them later as I had to get to Math class and walked off down the corridor. I got to the classroom, I was the first one there, I picked a desk in the back corner and waited.

Then I hear him, "Alright slippy!" .

I rolled my eyes as he sat down at the desk next to me, "Please don't start, I'm really not in the mood for you today!" I snapped at him.

"Oooo, a bit touchy are we," He laughed and scrunched up some paper then launched it at me.

I picked up the bit of paper from the floor, threw it back at him and it hit him on the forehead. He scrunched up some more bits of paper and started throwing them at me, laughing harder. "That's it!" I thought and started throwing them back. One hit Jack on the head, so he started throwing the balls of paper at me too.

"Two against one! That's not fair!" I roar.

It was stupid but I was actually quite enjoying this. It did cheer me up somewhat, but I didn't want him to know that. Then the teacher walks in.

"RIGHT!" He shouts at us, "YOU THREE....OUT!" 

He points at the three of us, his face definitely wasn't a happy one. I tried to speak but get shut down, so packed up my things, accepting defeat and walked out the classroom.

"This is all your fault!" I yelled at Noah and stormed off down the corridor towards the toilets. Locking myself in the toilet cubicle, I began to cry. My emotions weren't to be messed with today. I couldn't stop thinking about Mum and if she was going to wake up. Drying my eyes and freshening myself up in front of the mirror I decided I would call Dan for an update. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialled his number. After one ring he answered.

"Hey. How's Mum?" I ask immediately.

"I was just about to call you. The doctor has literally just left and they're going to try and wake her up later on today," he said happily.

"I'm coming now," I tell him.

"Don't!" he said sharply, The doctor said they want to do another check at 4.30 and then decide when they're going to start the process, so you can come to the hospital once you've finished College," He adds.

"Can't I just come now and see her?" I plead.

"Being in school will keep you busy, but you can call me anytime ok?" Dan was trying to keep me focused and calm, therefore I agreed to his terms. Thinking about what I was going to do till next lesson, I realised I was thirsty and slightly hungry so took my jacket out of my bag and prepared myself to go out in the rain to the canteen. 

Running through the rain round the back of the school I hear someone shout, "Hey slip girl!" 

I turn my head and see Noah and Jack. I continued running, holding my hood over my head and I flick him my middle finger. I heard one of them chuckle. Entering the canteen I grab a coffee and a small cupcake, walk to a table and remove my soaking wet jacket, placing it over the back of my chair. At this moment it was peaceful. There was not another person in there, probably all in class not getting kicked out. I ate my cupcake and checked my phone in case Dan had tried to contact me. The chairs either side of me scraped across the floor and when I look up it's Noah and Jack.

"What do you want? Can't you just leave me be?" I snarl at them.

"Nope," Noah says proudly.

I stand up from my chair, to leave the canteen when I knock Noah's coffee off the table, all over his trousers. 

"Watch what you're doing you little b***h!" He shrieked 

"Leave me alone then!" I cry out.

"You owe me a coffee!" His voice was starting to scare me. "NOW!"

"Just calm down Noah, it was an accident," Jack says, trying to calm the situation unfolding in front of him

"Fine I will get your stupid coffee!" I shriek, wanting this to end. I thought if I got him the coffee that would be the end of it and I can get out of here away from him. With no idea what coffee he likes, I thought of getting him a plain black coffee and he can add the milk and sugar himself. I was not going back over there to ask him, just to get kicked in teeth for doing so.

Putting the coffee on the table in front of him, he looks at it and hollers, "BLACK COFFEE! REALLY?" 

"Well if you'd just got it yourself you'd have the coffee you like!" I yell at him.

The next thing he's on his feet, marching towards me. He towers over me with a menacing look on his face. I look up at him putting on a brave face, I don't want him thinking he scares me. 

"How dare you speak to me like that!" He screams.

"I'll speak to you however I like!" I tell him.

"You can get me a proper cup of coffee and then I want you to go buy me some new trousers!" He demands.

"Get them yourself!" I yell and turn round to walk away but he grabs hold of my wrist and pulls me back. I take my free hand and use all my force to slap him across the face. As my hand hits his face I notice people have entered the canteen and probably saw me do it. I look at Noah hoping he wouldn't retaliate. Thankfully he grabs his bag and tells Jack they're leaving. I let out a deep sigh of relief.

Feeling tears fill up my eyes I hear Rachel ask, "Georgia? What happened? Are you alright?" 

"Not really," I admit to her. Hannah and Rachel threw their arms around me and grabbed me tightly in a 3 way hug.

"Come and sit down and tell us all about it," Hannah says softly.

"I can't I've got a lesson to get to," I sob.

"No you don't, you're going to sit here with us," Rachel ordered me. "Hannah, go and get the coffees."

When Hannah came back with the coffees I told them everything that had happened since I first saw Noah this morning. They couldn't believe he was being such a d**k. 

"I have an idea," Rachel announced, "Come to the party Saturday and we'll come up with a way to get him back for being such a jerk."

"Girls I can't come to the party while Mum's lying in a hospital bed, plus I don't think it's such a good idea getting revenge on Noah. Don't you think it will make things worse?" I disagreed with her.

Hannah spoke up, "Maybe getting revenge will make him back off."

"I'll pick you both up in the morning around 10 and we'll go into town to look for something to wear to the party," Rachel says excitedly, clapping her hands together.

Being unsure of all this I say, "I'm going to be at the hospital in the morning. It wouldn't feel right going shopping. They're going to be waking her up later on today so I really want to be there tomorrow."

Rachel tells me we'll just be an hour or so and she'll drop me at the hospital when we're done. To stop them nagging I agree to go with them on the condition all goes well waking Mum up later. Happy with my answer they begin getting excited. I look at the time and tell them we need to get going to our next lesson, so I grab my things and we walk out of the canteen. Walking through the Drama hall doors, Hannah, Rachel and I went over to where everyone else was gathered. Rachel spotted someone she knew so me and Hannah chatted until the teacher arrived. Mr Owen the Drama teacher introduced himself and then spilt us into groups. Luckily Rachel and Hannah were in my group and as I look at them and smile, I hear Noah's name called. The colour drained from my face and I felt sick. I don't think I could handle him being in any more of my lessons. I was so glad when this lesson was over and I fully intended to finish the day but by the end of Drama I couldn't face it. So I Hannah and Rachel know I was going home and wouldn't be joining them for lunch, then I left the College and got a bus to the hospital. 

Arriving at the hospital 10 minutes later, I walk through the car park towards the entrance and I saw a little old lady having trouble walking. I walked over to her to see if needed some help. 

She smiled at me and said, "Yes please, dear."

I linked arms with her and walked her into the hospital reception area and sat her down on one of the chairs. I told the receptionist she was there and then said goodbye to the nice old lady.

"Thank you dear," She says and I walk up the 4 flights of stairs to Mum's room. Dan was sleeping in the chair next to her when I got there. Trying not to wake him I grab another chair and sat on the opposite side of Mum's bed and put my headphones on. I sat there listening to a random playlist I had created on my phone, via Spotify, for what seemed like hours, when the doctor walked in. He smiled and looked through Mum's notes, did a few checks on Mum and said they will be bringing her round from the sedation in about an hours time. I say thank you and decided to go down the lift to the shop to get Mum a few bits for when she wakes up. I pick up some magazines, a drink of orange Fanta, as it was her favourite and a balloon that said get well soon in big pink letters. Walking back in to Mum's room I notice Dan is awake.

"Morning sleepyhead," I chuckle.

"What time is it?" He yawns.

I look at my phone, "4.30."

"How was school?" He asks me sleepily.

"Fine," I lie.

We both sat there in silence for a while. Half hour later a doctor walks in, checks Mum's notes and walks to the bed to do his final checks.

"Right" he said, "I will just get a nurse to assist me and we'll start bringing her round."

Dan and I stand up and move next to each other as he puts an arm round my shoulder. We're both so nervous. The doctor and a tall, skinny nurse walk in and ask us to wait outside while they do what they need to do and said they'd be about half hour if we wanted to go get something to eat. But we both couldn't eat anything, we did go to the café though to grab some coffee, just to pass the time. Walking back to Mum's room was the most terrifying thing I've ever had to go through. What if she doesn't wake up? or what if she does and she's a different person to who she was? All these questions were going through my mind. I tell Dan to go in first and I followed behind him. I didn't look at Mum until I was next to her bed. She was still asleep.

"What happened?" I cry to Dan, "Why isn't she awake?"

I hear a voice from behind me say, "The sedation hasn't fully worn off yet. It's going to be a bit of a waiting game now until she wakes up." 

Dan and I sat there impatiently waiting for Mum to wake up. An hour had gone by and nothing. Another hour still nothing.

"C'mon Mum," I say agitatedly, "Move your fingers, your toes, anything!"

"Her finger moved!" Shouts Dan excitedly.

"Really?" I gasp.

"Yes, keep talking to her Georgia," He tells me.

"Ok....ummm.... Mum, can you hear me? Please wake up," I begged. Mum began to move her fingers and she was trying to open her eyes. 

"Go and get the doctor!" Dan shouted at me.

I jumped off my seat and ran out of the door looking for a doctor, a nurse, anyone. I start calling for a doctor and a nurse came up to me. "Mum's waking up!" I tell her.

She says she'll go and get the doctor so I go back into Mum's room to wait. Mum's eyes are now fully open and she's smiling. I started crying and pounce on her. I hug her tightly. She stroked the back of my head and I snuggle into her. The doctor came and asked us to leave the room while they checked her over and told her about her injuries, once they'd finished we were allowed back in. The doctor said Mum might not be able to talk yet as her throat would be sore, but that was fine, she was awake and showing improvement. 2 hours later, Mum was in and out of sleep and still not talking, we decide to give her some rest and go home to get some sleep ourselves. I told Dan about going shopping with the girls in the morning and that I had decided not to go now Mum was awake. I wanted to see her, but Dan told me to go and come to the hospital when we're finished, as she'll probably be sleeping a lot at the moment. I reluctantly tell him I'll go and that I will only be an hour max. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head with a chuckle.

Morning came, it was 8 o'clock. Rachel had text me to say she'll pick me up at 9.30 instead of 10 so I quickly jumped in the shower and threw on some skinny jeans and a plain, white t-shirt, then went into the kitchen to make some toast. Dan was no where to be seen, I thought maybe he'd already gone to the hospital or he was still sleeping. If he was sleeping I didn't want to disturb him, he needed some rest so at 9.30 I quietly left the house and locked the door behind me. Rachel was just pulling into the driveway in her mini cooper, so I jumped into the front passenger seat and off we went to pick up Hannah. Hannah's house was beautiful, nothing like my little semi-detached house. Her parents must have really good jobs, I thought. Rachel honked the horn and Hannah came out. She looked beautiful in whatever she wore. Her long, blonde hair, that she had curled, hung down around her face, she wore a dark blue, denim skirt with a black top and leather jacket. She looked so cool. I was feeling a little jealous of her slim figure. She must of been a size 8, me a size 10. I was skinny but I think she had a better body shape than me. Rachel however, who was also skinny and pretty with gorgeous olive skin, wore ripped, black jeans with a gorgeous blue, light knitted jumper. Her brown curly hair had been straightened and put into a half ponytail. I felt a bit out of place hanging around with these girls, but they were nice to me and they were my friends. We park in a car park near town and walk into the massive, 3 storey, shopping centre. The first shop we go to was called 'Luscious' and it had the most beautiful dresses. They were a bit too formal for my liking though and the girls agreed, so we went to the next shop, 'Hybrid'. This shop was more like me but the girls weren't fussed. I picked up a few items and asked the girls what they thought but the answer was always no. Too long or too casual. So off to the next shop. It had just gone 10.30 and I really wanted us all to find something to wear quickly so I could get to the hospital. After about the fourth shop we felt defeated, we just couldn't find the right sort of outfit. 

"Girls I really need to be getting to the hospital," I say to them.

"OK, one more shop then we'll drop you off," Rachel said. We all agreed.

In the next shop we managed to find loads of nice clothes and we couldn't decide which outfits to choose. We decided to try the clothes on, one person at a time, and show each other for comments. A bit like a fashion show. It was a great laugh. Rachel went first. She came out wearing a white lacey dress, but she looked a bit like one of those toilet roll covers. We laughed so hard. So that dress being a definite no, she went back in to the changing room to try the next one on. This time she looked amazing. It was a red, knee length, skater dress with a halter neck back, which wasn't too much or too little. Just perfect. Then it was Hannah's turn. She took about 5 or 6 dresses in to try on. They all looked lovely on her but there was one dress in particular that stood out for me. It was a bright blue t-shirt style dress that came above the knees. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, I thought she looked beautiful and Rachel agreed. Right, my turn. I had picked 3 out. A dark blue lacey one that came above the knee with long sleeves. A teal kind of colour bodycon that had thin straps and went to the knee. Lastly, a coral and white, maxi dress with a zig zag pattern on it that went to my ankles. The girls ruled out the coral one, but couldn't decide between the other two. They started asking me all sorts of questions like, what shoes was I going to wear with them? How was I going to style my hair? What sort of make-up did I own? In the end they picked the blue lacey one with the long sleeves. "Finally," I thought to myself. We bought a take away coffee from Costa on the way back to the car and made arrangements to get ready at Hannah's house tonight. Rachel dropped me off at the hospital and said she'd pick me up at 6.30pm. I tell her thank you, grab my bag with my new dress in and went up to see Mum.

When I walked through the door to her room, Mum was sitting up in bed chatting with Dan.

"Mum!" I scream excitedly and run over to hug her.

"Hello darling," She said croakily.

"How are you feeling?" I say while releasing her of my hug.

"I've been in better shape," She replied with a laugh and a splutter. I pass her some water.

"Looks like I'm going to be here for a while, how do you feel about going to stay with Gran?" She asks.

"I'm fine Mum, I can stay in the house and make sure it's ready for you when you come home. I'm old enough to look after myself," I tell her with a comforting smile. "Plus I'll be closer to you, I can visit everyday."

We spent the next few hours chatting about College and Dan's University, however I didn't mention the whole situation with Noah, I didn't need to worry her. It's not like she could do anything from her hospital bed anyway, and I definitely didn't tell Dan or he would have beaten the crap out of him. I didn't want to make the situation worse, plus I can handle him. Mum said she was starting to feel tired and we should go home to let her have some rest, so Dan and I walked to his car and we left for home. I was so relieved Mum was on the mend, it was 4 o'clock when we got home. I told Dan I was going to my room to have a nap before I went to the party later.

"OK," He smiles, "I'm glad your going, and now Mum's awake and doing well you can enjoy yourself without worrying so much."

I smile at him and walk up the stairs to my room. Throwing myself onto the bed, I pick up my headphones, put them over my ears and slowly drift off to sleep. The next thing my alarm is going off, I felt like I hadn't slept at all. It was 6pm and Rachel will be here in half an hour to pick me up. So I jumped in the shower quickly and washed my hair, I'd dry it at Hannah's when I get there, I'm sure she'll let me borrow her hair dryer. I threw on some joggers and a t-shirt to wear for now, put everything I needed in a bag, including my straighteners, and went downstairs to wait for Rachel. Dan was in the kitchen making himself some food and asked if I wanted any, but I declined, I told him I'd grab something at Hannah's. I hear the sound of a car horn, said goodbye to Dan and left.