Kim stood with her arms crossed and her head bowed. Every so often she looked up at Justin, who looked just as uncomfortable. They answered more questions from the fire department and a pudgy police officer. They waited impatiently while one man took notes. Kim felt her irritation rise when the firefighter asked her the same question for the umpteenth time.
"Ok, for the fiftieth-fucking time, I told you: I got to her apartment and my boyfriend and I smelled smoke. We went inside and found her passed out in the living room with a burning cake in the oven," she replied, pissed off. How many times did she have to tell them that!
"Ma'am we're going to need you to calm down. We know you're upset and we sympathize with you, we really do, but you need to settle down. There is no reason for you to get mad, or curse," the firefighter stated.
Kim rolled her eyes and stomped her foot in a small rhythm. Someone she cared about was in trouble and they had her in here answering stupid questions. Questions she already gave answers to half an hour ago.
"Are you sure it was a cake. How do you know drugs weren't involved?"the officer asked, chewing and smacking his piece of gum loudly. Kim sucked her teeth loudly and felt Justin place his hand on her back. She shrugged him off and stared at the emotionless officer. He knew he was only trying to make her feel better, but she didn't want to be touched.
"Despite your belief that we're all drug addicts, there are some good people in that building. And, she's seventy-four years old for the love of god. She doesn't do or make drugs. She was trying to bake me a fucking cake for my graduation and she passed out. If you don't believe me then go check. It's still on the stove," Kim huffed out, trying not to flip out.
"Ma'am. This is a hospital; you need to keep it down. Just take a deep breath, calm down, and try not to answer using the 'f' bomb," the officer instructed. Kim exhaled loudly. Was he serious?
"I am trying to keep calm, but you two are making it extremely difficult to not say 'fuck' all the time. Didn't I just answer these questions? Why the hell am I even answering them again?" she asked, looking at the two people interrogating her. She tried to calm down while Justin brought his arm back to her shoulder. She didn't fight him this time.
"Ok, can we finish this another time? Obviously, my girl needs a break from all the Q and A," Justin chimed in for the first time. The two men in uniforms looked at each other, then at Kim, who was looking like she'd explode, and then at Justin.
"Fine, but this isn't over," the officer stated, handing her a card. "Call this number here later," he added.
"I'll get right on it," Kim spat out sarcastically.
"And, might I advise you to take some anger management classes," the firefighter added.
Kim watched as the two men left and turned around to sit in one of the empty waiting room chairs.
"Fine, but this isn't over," Kim mocked, taking a seat. "Fucking prick," she said, rolling her brown eyes.
Justin sat next to her and grabbed hold of her hand. They sat there in painful silence. The only noises in the room were the annoying tick of the clock on the wall, and the clanking of toys being dropped by small children.
Kim felt other eyes in the waiting room staring at her. She figured most of the people in the room heard the little interrogation that took place. She saw an older woman, maybe a little younger than Anita, look at her disapprovingly. Kim guessed it was because of her constant use of the 'f' word a few moments ago. It didn't matter though. That woman wasn't important to her, Mrs. Marshall was.
Kim watched as each person or group was called out by a nurse or doctor. As the many children left the room, Kim felt more and more anxious. People who had arrived before her were being called before her. She wasn't much of a believer in a higher power, but right now she was pleading and praying for Anita to be okay.
Kim fell asleep on Justin's shoulder and in that uncomfortable hospital chair. She had no idea how long she'd been at the hospital until she heard someone clear their throat loudly. She looked up to see a young nurse looking at her and Justin. Kim shook off the sleep that still had a hold of her and looked back at the woman. She gently nudged Justin until he too stirred from sleep.
"Umm, are you two the young people who brought that elderly woman in?" the woman asked. The woman was short with shoulder length red hair and thin lips. Her eyes were a deep green color and her face was framed by thick glasses.
"Yes," Kim replied, immediately rising out of her chair. Justin also got up and she took his hand in hers.
"Are you family?" the female asked, motioning towards Kim with her index finger.
"Yeah. Is she alright?"
"Well, I'm nurse Stone. I think you should know that she's conscious. She was somewhat confused when she regained consciousness, but she's better now. It looks like this was just a mishap with her diabetes," Nurse Stone exclaimed in a calm voice that sounded a bit rehearsed. Kim blew an audible breath of relief.
"Can I see her?" Kim asked, taking her bottom lip into her mouth.
"Unfortunately, visiting hours are up in about two minutes. You both can come back tomorrow if you want," the nurse replied, tucking some of her hair behind her ear.
Kim quickly glanced at the clock on the wall astonished. "It's ten already?" she asked incredulously.
"I'm afraid so, but you will be able to see her Saturday. Visiting hours start at eight."
"Umm, ok. Can you tell her I was here?" Kim asked, grabbing her jacket and slipping it on. She really didn't want to leave without seeing Anita, but she had to.
"It'll be the first thing I do when I go to check on her," Nurse Stone exclaimed. Justin and Kim politely said goodbye before leaving the hospital.
They got into Justin's car and sat there for a moment in silence.
"Do you want to come over to my house?" Justin asked, breaking the awkward silence. Kim looked at him and tried her best to smile.
"What about your parents?" Kim asked.
"They won't care. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time you spent the night. So yay or nay?"
"Yeah, I don't want to be by myself," she replied. He nodded his head and started the car.
When they got to his house, his parents were in the living room watching some stupid comedy movie. Justin led Kim, who was fighting off sleep, to his room.
"I'm going to take a shower really quick," Kim exclaimed, already stripping off her clothes. Justin watched her and immediately his thoughts turned lustful. He watched her beautiful hips move side to side as she walked towards his bathroom.
He took off his own clothes as he heard the shower water running. When he was down to his boxers, her climbed in bed and got under the covers. A few minutes later, he heard the water cut off and Kim emerged from the bathroom. She was wearing his bathrobe and she looked like the sexiest thing on earth to him. She went to his dresser and took out one of his shorts and one of his shirts.
"I'm gonna call Maria tomorrow. I can try to trade shifts with her," Kim exclaimed, slipping beside him on the bed. His arms automatically draped over her body. He felt Kim place small kisses on his chest and shoulder.
"At least she's conscious now," Justin stated, rubbing the small of her back. He looked down at her.
"I know. Thank God. I think that was one of the scariest moments of my life. Finding her on the floor like that," she said. "And it made me realize that life changes in the blink of an eye. Life is too damn short," she added quietly.
Justin held her tightly against his hard frame and buried his face in her beautiful neck. He kissed her there until she whimpered lightly.
"You mean the world to me," he whispered, leading his kisses up to her mouth. Justin nipped her soft lips before he felt her pull away. He could feel her looking at him even though the room was pitch black.
"What's wr--," he started.
