Nobody Tells Me Anything

"And how are we feeling today, Miss Olsen?" the nurse asked me in an overly-cheery voice, clasping his hands together. My stomach lurched the millisecond I recognized him in the doorway.

"Just peachy," I replied sullenly. He laughed lightly in response.

"Oh, it's not so bad," he walked over to the window on my right.

"Here, this will help," he said, flinging open the shade. Bright sunlight immediately streamed into the room- right into my face.

"Ahh," I squinted my eyes closed and lifted my hand to my forehead for shade.

"That's much better. Not so dismal in here anymore, is it?"

"No." At least that much I could agree with him. Unfortunately, dismal had been fitting my mood perfectly, until this overweight, over-concerned, over-zealous, over-

"So, what fun activities are you going to surround your day with?" I just stared at him, wondering what his purpose on this planet was besides driving me to the brink of insanity.

"We have an arts and crafts day in the sun room this afternoon. Perhaps you'll join us."

"Perhaps," I replied in fake happiness, clapping my hands together like he had upon entering the room. Unfortunately, he completely missed my sarcasm.

"That's the spirit," He outstretched his hand towards me, palm facing up.

"Give me five!" It was all I could to not burst out laughing. My face cracked its first smile since I'd woken last night. My body still felt like it'd be hit by a semi truck.

"Umm.. yeah," I replied, lightly slapping his hand.

"All right! I would love to stay and chat, but there are other children who need cheering up around here. See you in arts and crafts." With that, he turned and exited the room. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to the clown entertainment that usually filtered through hospital rooms. Must be a budget cut.

"First things first.. oh, shit," I groaned, pulling myself out of bed.

Shit. Shit. Shit. It hurt with each step I took towards the window, when-

"What on earth are you doing?" A voice exclaimed behind me. I turned my head to see Sarah standing in the doorway, hands poised on her hips.

"Closing the shade," I replied slowly, confused at the amount of frustration in her voice. "Why?"

"Sit down, I'll get it," she said, pointing to my bed.

"Why the crabbiness?" I had no patience, feeling incredibly irritable myself at the moment. Nevertheless, I abandoned the window and crawled back into bed.

"Maggie, you shouldn't be just getting up and walking around, especially after what happened to you," she lowered her voice but continued to speak firmly. At least she shut the window shade before she sat down in the chair next to my bed.

"Relax, I'll be ok-" I started to say, when I caught sight of something very disturbing. "Sarah, what the hell is this?" I pointed to a tube that was..

Is that thing sticking of my arm? I stared at it. Tugging on it gently, I gasped at the small sting it left in my arm.

Guess so.

"An IV. Don't touch it either," she slapped my hand away lightly.

"All right, all right," I held up my hands defensively. "So.. um, why are you in such a bitter mood?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered softly, her eyes filling with tears. "You have no idea how worried about you I was."

"Hey, it's ok." I leaned over and hugged her gently. She didn't hug me back.

"Guess I'm a fighter, huh?" I grinned. It immediately dissappeared when I noticed a sense of hesitation on her face after I pulled away.

"Sarah, what's wrong?"

"Maggie.." she started, forcing a tight smile on her face. "I'm not sure if you knew, but you broke Justin's pelvic bone when you kicked him."

"Really? That's so awesome," I started to say, but I cut my sentence short when I saw the next look on her face.

"Didn't anyone tell you?" she stared at me.

"Well, I've been a little outta the loop recently," I replied sarcastically. "What?"

"You're being investigated by the police Mags." My mouth dropped open wide.

"For what?" I whispered. I couldn't believe it.

"His parents are suing you for assault and battery."

"They have no right!" I said again. After five minutes of swearing at the top of my lungs, I'd finally calmed down considerably about the situation.

My life is over, I imagined myself going to prison. And I look terrible in orange.

"Maggie-"

"I can't believe this! After what he did to me!?"

"Maggie, calm down." She tried again, for what seemed like the twentieth time.

"How on earth can I calm down!? I'm being taken to court, for God's sake." I pounded my fist against the rail on my bed.

"Not necessarily."

"How so?" I glanced at her curiously.

"Well, can you prove that he raped you?"

"I doubt it- six years ago?" Seemed pretty out of the question to me.

"True.." she thought for a moment. "Can you prove he provoked you at the dance club?"

"I have no idea," I buried my face in my hands, feeling tears stinging my eyes.

"It'll be all right." I felt her hand rub my back warmly. I couldn't respond, for soft sobs were all that escaped my lips. This is so unfair.

"It-it's just not fair," I whispered.

"I know. But it'll turn out fair in the end, I promise." She wrapped her arms around my shoulders protectively. The warm guesture only made my tears flow harder.

"Hey," a voice called from the doorway.

"The last thing I'd expect you to be on your first day awake is miserable." I lifted my face in the direction of-

"Mia," I smiled at my visitor despite my recent unhappiness.

"I have to run to work now Mags," Sarah said, checking the time on her watch. Patting my back, she assured me,

"I'll be back later tonight to talk."

"So what's new?" Mia asked after Sarah had left, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"Well, I'm awake. Sit down," I grinned, drying the corners of my eyes with the side of my hand.

"Thanks," she replaced Sarah in taking the seat next to me.

"What's new with you?"

"Umm.. not too much," she mumbled, her eyes searching the white sheet over my bed as if looking for a response. "We miss you at work."

"Already? How long have I been out?" I stared at her, thinking it couldn't have been that long.

"Only two nights." I sighed as she reassured me. "You scared us though."

"Oh, ok.. So you heard what happened?" I indirectly referred to the lawsuit.

"Heard? I was there," Her eyes sparkled.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, right before you kicked him." She had my immediate attention the second I realized she was talking about the incident with Justin.

"You were!?" I leaned over and hugged her shoulders roughly. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."

"Take it easy," she leaned away from me slightly, but with a smile on her face.

"Trust me," I grinned, happily settling back down in my bed. "So what's new in your life?"

"Not much, other than I broke up with Taylor last night." My jaw dropped open.

How interesting.

"Hey stranger," I heard a voice calling me faintly. I felt a small tug on my left arm, causing me to flash open my eyes.

"What?" I mumbled drowsily.

"Oh, sorry. Were you sleeping?" I turned in the direction of the voice and got an upclose view of Isaac's face.

"Ahh!" I screamed, sitting upright.

"Calm down, it's just me."

".. Ike?" I squinted at him.

"Yeah. Sorry for startling you."

"That's all right," I replied groggily. "What time is it?"

"About four in the afternoon," he replied after checking his watch. "Why?"

"Just curious," I settled back down in my bed with a grin on my face.

Damn, must've missed arts and crafts.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me the most commonly asked question of the day.

"Well, I was doing great until so rudely awakened from my peaceful and well-deserved slumber." I replied.

"Smart ass." At least he cracked a smile.

"Damn straight. Honestly, do you know what cookie dough feels like after you've flattened it out onto the counter with a rolling pin?"

"No," he laughed in response, sitting down next to me.

"Well, neither do I, but I can imagine that it's about ten times better than I feel right now." I sighed.

"Is it that terrible?" he asked softly, a look of concern on his face.

"Not unbearable," I admitted. "But I wouldn't go out and do it all over again if I had the chance. So what's up?" I was surprised to see him visiting me here. Not that I minded, anyone was better than that nurse from this morning.

"Just came to check up on you.." his voice trailed off. Examining his face, I realized he had something he wanted to talk to me about. His eyes gave it away in a second: they looked imploringly at me.

"Thanks. Now spill it."

"Huh?" he laughed slightly.

"Is it about Sarah?" I continued.

"Yeah.. how on earth did you know that?"

"Just because I wasn't conscious for a few days doesn't mean I'm brain dead." I grinned at him. "I knew you guys were seeing each other more than once before all this mess with me."

"Oh.." I noticed a slight shade of pink creeping across his cheeks.

"You really care for her, don't you?" I had to ask.

"Is it that obvious?" It was so cute: he couldn't even look at me. Even though..

"It is when I look in your eyes." I frowned slightly. "Ike, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Spill it," he cracked a grin.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Getting back into Sarah's life? I mean, yeah you guys went out, but that was an awfully long time ago. I mean, why would you want to mess up the good system she's got?" Ike stared at me for the longest time. Actually, it was only about a minute, but the intent with which his eyes bore into mine made it feel like forever. It suddenly dawned on him:

She doesn't know.

"We're just friends." he chose his words carefully.

"And that's fine with me." Noticing how he kept his eyes cast on the floor rather than mine, I didn't believe him for a second.

"Hey Rocky," A familiar voice called to me.

Not again. Can't these people that love me just let me sleep?

"Maggie wake up." I felt an all-familiar tug on the sheets wrapped around my body. Opening one eye and turning my head, I caught sight of my parents standing at the foot of my bed.

"Yo Adriene," I mumbled in response, sitting up in bed. "Hey guys."

"Hey yourself. How are you feeling?"

Damnit, how many times do I have to answer that?

"Fine.. sleepy," I corrected myself.

"You look like you've seen better days," Karen sat on my bed next to me. I flinched as she brushed her fingertips lightly against my sore cheek.

"I know." I sighed. "It gets better though." I felt my tears from earlier coming back. "You'd better sit down too for this one, Dad."

"What is it?" Gerald asked, sitting down next to me.

"I'm being sued for assault and battery by Justin's parents." I closed my eyes briefly. When I opened them, I expected to see expressions of shock written across their faces. Instead, I was surprised to see smug smiles on both of them.

"That's no surprise." Karen spoke up first. She glanced at Gerald and he nodded in agreement.

"People are always trying to rip each other off." He frowned. "You wouldn't believe some of the cases people have tried to get us to represent."

"Wait a minute hear.. Aren't you guys the least bit worried?" I wasn't expecting this reaction, to say the least.

"Not really. Cases like this come up all the time. Besides, have a little bit of faith in your parents." Gerald reached over and patted my knee reassuringly.

"Oh, that's right.. I knew there was some reason you guys became lawyers." I grinned. What the hell was I worried about? I realized, settling back down in my bed. My moment of peace didn't last too long though, for Karen had to open her big mouth.

"I'm just concerned they let that horrible boy Justin stay right down the hall from you here." She frowned.

"What!?" I received my second shock of the day.

"Well, he's being watched by security." That didn't help me at all. Great, now I'll never be able to sleep at night.

"We took the liberty of getting all your upcoming assignments from school as well." Karen picked up my backpack off the floor and threw it on the bed next to me. I could almost feel the weight shift in my bed underneath a huge stack of textbooks I imagined inside it.

"What?" So much for even a vacation away from school. Sighing inwardly, I leaned back in my bed and closed my eyes.