"A girl's shopping trip? Absolutely! I'll be there soon to get you!" Jess sounded excited.
"Thank you. Can we check out the thrift stores? I don't want to use up all my savings."
"Don't you worry about a thing! I'll see you in 30."
With that dealt with, I went to say goodbye to my mom. I filled her in that I would be back to see her tomorrow. I told her that I decided to stay with Jess. I wanted to stay with Luka but how he made me feel, I decided it wasn't the right move for me. He didn't make me uncomfortable, but quite the opposite. Because I was able to feel those feelings while dealing with all of this had to mean there was something wrong with me. Then there were the Holloways. They've always been so good to me and my Family. Joel and Phil have done nothing but make me feel loved and safe. Jordan's actions towards me has me feeling uneasy around them right now. I know Joel and Phil would do anything for me, but the fact that Jordan is so mad and not talking to me is so unusual that I just can't bring myself to stay with them. I will have to face whatever I did wrong with him soon.
Kissing her forehead, I told her how much I love her. As I'm walking away, the steady beat of the machine start to go crazy. My mom's eyes burst wide open. Shock nailed me to the spot. I looked at her with complete surprise. She looked at me and yelled, "WATCH THE VAMPIRES!" She instantly laid back down, eyes closed, and the machines went back to a steady beat.
There was no way I heard her correctly? Watch the vampire? That can't be right. Soon, doctors came in to see what was going on. They asked me if anything strange had happened. I told him that she set up, looked at me, and mumbled something incoherently and then went back down. I don't know why, but I don't think it was right to tell them that she said something about watching the vampire. I probably didn't hear it right. So I didn't want them locking her up in a mental institution when she woke, if it was a misunderstanding. So I told him the truth for the most part.
They rushed me out of the room, saying we needed to run tests to understand the situation and that they would inform me once the results were available, so I complied, even though I didn't want to. I was so frazzled about what just happened, pacing back and forth in the waiting room. I didn't even notice Jess approaching me.
"You OK?" she asked
"No, but I just wanna leave," I state
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.
"Sure, but not here. Let's talk in the car. I just need to get out of this hospital for a while." I needed to leave and get some fresh air. Maybe some fresh air will clear my mind.
"Understood, let's go," Jess looped her arm through mine and locked elbows. I tried to let my mind go blank while she led me where we needed to go. The way my mom sat up and said 'watch the vampire' What the hell does that mean if that is what she said? Was she trying to tell me something? The panic in her eyes warned of something. Of what? I did not know.
I followed Jess out but I did not see her normal SUV. Her families SUV was blue. Why was she approaching a large SUV that was blacked out. A man opened the door for us to get in. Jess pulled me along inside with her, unbothered by the strange car.
"Dani, what's wrong? Why do you look so freaked out? She asked me gently, she didn't sit in the driver seat. She sat in one of the back seats with me. The man who opened the door and climbed into the driver's seat. He just sat there waiting. Her gaze roamed all over me. Concern filled her features. I felt guilty for making my best friend worry.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to worry you." I apologized.
"Just tell me I'm here for you," She smiled warmly.
"I don't know, it was just really weird. I was saying goodbye to my mom. I was talking to her like normal as the doctors suggested, letting her know what I was planning to do, stay with you, and that I was gonna come see her tomorrow. Then, as I was walking out, the machines all went crazy beeping, and she sat up and looked at me with wild eyes and said watch the vampire. At least, I think she said watch the vampire. I'm not really sure, and then she went back down, and the machines went back to normal." I told Jess everything. She has always stayed by my side. I know she wouldn't judge me. She never has.
"That would freak me out. Are you good?" She asks with care in her voice.
"No, but there's nothing I can do. The doctors told me to just wait until they run the test, and they'll let me know. That's why I just need to get out of there for a while. Because all I'll do is pace and worry."
"I'm so sorry," Jess tells me with her hand on my thigh.
"Thanks," I look down, feeling pathetic.
"Well, let me go distract you by taking you shopping, and you're not spending any money," Jess announces.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, confused.
"What I said, you are not spending any money today, it has been covered.
"Covered by who?" I know Jess herself didn't have much money, so where did she get it from? The Holloways were the most reasonable choice.
"By people who love you," she said with a wink.
I wanted to argue some more. But I was just so tired. I still haven't fully recovered. I still needed time to regain my energy. So I was willing to let her drag me away from the hospital to go wherever she had planned. As long as it was away from here. She told the driver we were ready, and he proceeded with the plan. I wanted to leave the hospital while I was able..
I hated the hospital more than I ever had. I always disliked them, but since my dad died, I dreaded them. Now, with my mom in there in a coma, it was even worse. I needed girl time with the only person who made me feel normal and wasn't making my life crazier than it already was.
"Jess, what is this about?" I asked her. Gesturing to the SUV we were in. It kind of reminded me of the SUVs that would be parked around the VIP section of the hotel.
"What's this? This is for you. I told you there was nothing to worry about." She smiled, and the way her eyes twinkled, there was more she wasn't telling me right now. "Okay, so we are going to the mall, and we can start with whatever clothing store you want to get things from. Then we can get some lunch at the food court, and then we can get some new bedding."
"Bedding?" I asked her, confused.
Oh yeah. I forgot! My parents made a room for you in the in the old computer room. I hope that is okay.
"I am okay with it, but they didn't have to do that for me. I was fine with the couch. or whatever was offered to me." I tell her. I felt guilty they did that for me.
"It's fine. My mom has been looking for a reason to make my dad clean it out. It's been more of a storage room since we all have laptops in each of our rooms now." Jess reassures.
"Oh okayy...." I couldn't believe they were being so nice. It always amazed me what Jess and her family would do for me.
"We already have a mattress, bedframe and matching furniture in there for you, Just need some personal touches and bedding." She smiles excitedly.
I couldn't hold it in anymore; I had to know how she was affording this. I know her family lives comfortably, but they are not rich. "How are you affording this?" I asked.
"I am not," she said wickedly.
"Then who is paying for it?" I asked, "Is it the Holloways?" I could see them paying even after helping me with my father's death.
"No, I made a post on the funding site to help cover the cost for you to be able to replace some of the things you lost. A lot of people donated." She smiles, all sorts of proud of herself. She was probably loving the shocked look on my face right now because, well, I was shocked. The town was very helpful when my dad passed. It wasn't much, but it did help. It wasn't that long ago, so I could only imagine what it could be. Would they even want to donate close to what was donated before? I doubted it.
"How much did people donate?" I had to ask. I was curious. Jess showed me the donation page, I couldn't believe my eyes, that couldn't be right, but after rubbing my eyes and looking at the phone again. Yup, my eyes were not lying.