Listening to Niall
Chapter 16: Hospitals and clowns
We were driving to the next town. I was looking out the window with my hand hanging out.
Niall was looking ahead at the road sunglasses on, even though there isn't that much sun this time of day. It's the end of November and it's really warm which is really strange for Britain. Louis and Eleanor are sleeping in the back. We got to the clinic next to Campus but they were close. The girl working the desk said we should go to the one in the next town.
So here we are driving, making are way to visit the doctor.
I can feel Niall glancing at me but I keep my head turned to the window. I'm not mad at him. I understand why he's making me go, but I still don't feel like talking. I'm tired from this long and eventful day and I wish to crawl into my bed and go to sleep.
Demi Lovato was playing on the radio.
"Jamie" Niall says quietly. I turn my head to look at him but I keep quiet. I just sit and stare at his profile. He is Beautiful. He really is. That straight nose and that chine of his. Those eyes, those blue sparkling eyes. If I end up marrying this boy one day I wish our kids have his eyes.
"Jamie" He says again his eyes flicking to me and back to the road "So you did hear me" He smiled. I kept quiet.
"I get that your mad" He started
"I'm not mad" I sigh
"Maybe not at me but you are" He says
"No I'm not" I reach out and take of the sunglasses "There's no sun" I tell him.
"Remember that talk we had a long time ago?" I ask him after a while
"Which one?" He asked
"You know which one" I say "Well it's happening"
"No. you don't know that" He hisses at me
"Maybe not, but I'm just making sure you remember what I said" I look at his hands.
His knuckles turning white as he clenches the wheel. I can see the why he is tensing, but I don't care. This is my decision.
We finally get to that clinic. I wake El and Lou while Niall parks the car.
We get out, Louis' helping Eleanor, and Niall taking my hand in his as if we didn't have that talk a few minutes before.
"Hello" Louis says to the lady at the front desk.
"Hello there" she says looking up from the computer "What we have here?" she peeks at us from the rim of her glasses. I wish to reach over and pick them up the slope of her nose.
"My girlfriend here has sprained her ankle I'm afraid" He turn so the lady could see Eleanor holding on to his back.
"Oh dear" She gasps and brings a hand to her mouth. Niall and I look at each other with raised brows.
"Yes, oh dear indeed but that’s not all, my friend here needs to be checked by a doctor" Louis pointes to me. I take a step behind Niall, feeling uncomfortable with this lady's gaze
"My, my.. What is wrong with you my dear?" she gets up from her desk and walks over to me. This Lady is quite large, and she makes not only me but also Niall take a step back.
"I.. umm ahh.." I stutter
"Is there a doctor here? We drove a long way, we really need to see one" Niall says putting an arm around my shoulders.
"How sweet" She smiles at Niall gesture towards me. "Yes we have. Sit down over there and I'll get you some forms to fill out" She turns back to her desk to get the paper as we walk over to the far side of the room to sit.
As we sit and wait Niall and Louis fill out the forms asking out loud the thing they're not sure of. When we're done the lady gets the doctor. Eleanor goes in first. I lay my head on Niall's shoulder and Niall' lay his head on mine. The lady was looking at us from across her desk melting away. "Bet you she lives with loads of cats" I whisper to Niall who chuckles.
Eleanor and Louis come out talking to a little man with a thick mustache.
"Eleanor! I love the colour" I point to the pink cast on her foot.
"You must be Jamie" The little man smiled at me. He kind of reminded me of Mario from that computer game.
"Hi" I give him a weak smile.
"Come my dear, we don't have much time, Barbra here likes to get home in time for 'law and order'" The little man winks at me. I get up and pull Niall up with me. We walk into the doctor's office. I have a feeling he's a kids doctor. The clowns and balloons kind of gave it away.
"So tell me what is wrong with you" He sits behind his desk and looks at us. I look at Niall.
"Well you see, this morning I noticed a bunch of bruises on her arms and legs. And they look kind of bad." Niall says. He pulls up my sleeve for the tenth time today to show the doctor.
"Oh my, I see" HE looked at my arm "Did you fall?" He asked me
"Well, no" I say looking at Niall again.
"So what is it?" The doctor asked glancing at Niall with this weird look in his eyes. It hits me then, that with my glancing at Niall and Niall answering the doctor for me, it may seem that Niall inflicted the bruises on my skin.
"Oh no! Niall didn't give me these bruises" I say eyes wide open.
"This bruise looks like a finger print" The doctor pointed.
"Well yes, that one is, but not Niall's fingers, you see, it's from this guy at the party" I say "Never mind that's not the reason we're here. The day before we played American football" Niall cuts in.
"Ha you played with the young girl who was just here" The doctor was putting finally some pieces together.
"YES! so anyway. This morning she got up with all these bruisings to her skin and well it's a little disturbing since it wasn't a ruff game and she doesn't bruise easily"
"I see" The doctor said. "I'll be right back" He got up and left the room.
"This room gives me the creeps" I whisper
"Why's that?" Niall tilted his head to the side
"I hate clowns" I say. Right then the doctor comes back in.
"So do you know why people get bruises? Bruises are typically a result of some degree of injury to the blood vessels in the skin." He recites
"Yes I know that" I start saying but get cut off.
"But somebruising can occur when the blood vessels are weakened by diseasesand that’s what I want to find out" The doctor looked at us as to see if we understand.
"So, what does that mean?" I say looking at Niall
"Well I will send you to get a blood test" He said "Don't worry, it's nothing" He says seeing my face go pale.
"Send us?" Niall asked
"Yes you will go from here to the Hospital to get checked" He smiles. How is he smiling? Why can't he explain everything so I'll understand?
We are at the hospital. A nurse shows us to a room where I'm suppose to wait for a doctor.
Niall is waiting with me, but Eleanor and Louis are at the Hospitals cafeteria.
"Hello" A young looking woman walks in "I am Doctor Cohen, but you can call me Aimee" She says. She takes a seat next to us and not behind her desk. I like her already.
"So Jamie I understand you have a big amount of bruising on your skin" She smiles at me
"Well yeah, because of the football game" I say.
"That's what we want to check today. To make sure it is really just because of that"
"Can you explain what you are planning on checking and doing?" Niall asked Aimee.
"Yes. So as you know bruising could occur because of an injury, which is what we are hoping for" She starts "Or because of a disease" I finish for her.
"But what kind of diseases are we talking about?" Niall asked.
"Well it can be Scurvy, which isa disorder that is caused by lack of vitamin C" She says "Treatment involves including foods that are high in vitamin C in the diet and taking vitamin C supplements if necessary."
"And what are the other things you want to check?" I ask linking my fingers with Niall's.
"Well the other things are Arthritis, that can result with bruising, and you said your knees hurt"
"Yes but that’s from the game and I also run every morning" I tell her.
"Ok, and the last thing I want to check for is ALL" She looks at me
"What is that?" Niall asked
"A type of Leukemia" I tell him. But I'm looking at her.
"Yes, so what I'm going to do now is a bunch of physical checkups and then we will draw some blood for some blood work" she explains.
"How long am I going to be here?" I ask
"Hopefully only a few days" She says.
Aimee checks my joints for pain, she checks my neck stomach and underarm.
"Are you overly tired?" She asks
"Not much, just like any other student" I say
"So you don't suffer from weakness? Loss of appetite?"
"Well" I start
"She did faint the other week, and she doesn't eat much" Niall cut in
"Ni" I look at him
"Ok so I’ll have the nurse take you to your room and I'll come back to draw some blood for testing" She says.
I'm quiet the whole way to my room, I'm scared. I sit down on the bed. There are no other people sharing the room with me, which I am grateful for.
"Jamie" Niall sits by me on the bed "I think it's time to call you mum"
"NO way, She'll come here" I say panic washes over me at the thought of her coming.
I love my mum but my family doesn't deal well in Hospitals.
Niall called Liam asking him to go to my flat and get me some change of clothes and things I might need. Harry and him will head out here to bring the stuff over. Eleanor and Louis were just about to come up to the room, but the nurse came back.
"Niall" I say tears starting to fill my eyes. I can't help it. Just sight of a needle makes me cry.
"This is nothing really" she says taking my arm in her hands and cleaning the surface with alcohol. I'm sobbing now. Niall is stroking my hair trying to calm me down. "Don't forget to breathe Jamie" He keeps telling me. As she takes the cap of the needle I start choking.
"What is wrong with her?" She asks Niall
"It's a panic attack its fine" He says putting a hand over my mouth like before
"Close your eyes Jamie" He says to me. I do as I'm told trying my best to calm down.
I feel a little prick to my arm. I squeeze my eye shut knowing that if I open them now I'll faint. I bury my face in Niall's chest waiting for this to be over.
"Your blood is red" She tries to make me laugh. I can feel Niall shaking his head as if to say 'don't even go there'.
"That's it" She says. I feel her press down on my arm. I pick up my head and look up at Niall.
"All done" he kisses my wet cheek.
I get up from the bed. What a mistake! The whole room starts to spin.
"Jamie?" I hear Niall call me from far.
I hear voices. "Niall you have to call her mum! What if it is ALL? She should at least know that she took a blood test" That sounds to me like Eleanor, but she sounds different as if she is crying.
"Jamie doesn't want me too" Niall says
"It's not up to her right now".
I wake again. I think its early morning because I can feel some light coming in through my closed lids. Niall is talking to someone quietly.
"I don't know what I'm going to do if it is ALL" Niall said
"What do you mean? She'll do treatment" Is that Harry?
"No she won't" Niall sound frustrated
"Why not?" Harry asks him
"Because. We talked about it once. A lot of people in her family died from cancer and she said there is no point because you lose your quality of life and even if you do get better it almost always comes back"
"That is a loud of bullshit Niall and you know it" Harry said to him.
"Yeah try telling Jamie that"
I open my eyes and move my face to face them. They are sitting on chairs with coffee cups in their hands.
"I want coffee" I say in a weak voice
"Hi sweetie, how are you feeling?" Niall came and kneeled beside me
"I want to get out of here" I say
"Me to baby" Niall kisses my forehead
"Do I have tubes sticking into me?" I ask afraid to look
"No, El made them take them out, told them that’s what makes you sick" Niall smiled
"Where is she?"
"She Liam and Louis went to get some breakfast they should be back soon with food"
"How is she walking with a cast?" I ask remembering her pretty pink leg
"Wheelchair" Niall said.
"Just because Louie wanted to try it out" Harry laughed
"Hi Harry" I wave at him
"Hello love, how are you feeling?" He asked
As on cue Liam walks in followed by Louis wheeling in Eleanor.
"You're up!" Eleanor yells "Help me up to the bed" She tells the guys. Liam takes a hold of her and picks her up to the bed. El gives me a big hug.
"So Jamie, don't be mad, but I made Niall call your mum" She looked at me
"I only told her you woke up with bruises so the doctor sent us to do a blood test to see if you're lacking vitamin c" Niall said quickly before I get upset. It sounded familiar, them calling my mum, like I already knew about it.
"So she's not on her way?" I ask
"No" El and Niall answer together. I breathe out a long sigh.
Eleanor put an arm around me and lay her head to mine.
They tell me all about what they did when I was out cold.
"Good morning guys" We look up to see Doctor Aimee standing at the doorway
The room goes quiet.
"I have your test results" She says
Niall was looking ahead at the road sunglasses on, even though there isn't that much sun this time of day. It's the end of November and it's really warm which is really strange for Britain. Louis and Eleanor are sleeping in the back. We got to the clinic next to Campus but they were close. The girl working the desk said we should go to the one in the next town.
So here we are driving, making are way to visit the doctor.
I can feel Niall glancing at me but I keep my head turned to the window. I'm not mad at him. I understand why he's making me go, but I still don't feel like talking. I'm tired from this long and eventful day and I wish to crawl into my bed and go to sleep.
Demi Lovato was playing on the radio.
"Jamie" Niall says quietly. I turn my head to look at him but I keep quiet. I just sit and stare at his profile. He is Beautiful. He really is. That straight nose and that chine of his. Those eyes, those blue sparkling eyes. If I end up marrying this boy one day I wish our kids have his eyes.
"Jamie" He says again his eyes flicking to me and back to the road "So you did hear me" He smiled. I kept quiet.
"I get that your mad" He started
"I'm not mad" I sigh
"Maybe not at me but you are" He says
"No I'm not" I reach out and take of the sunglasses "There's no sun" I tell him.
"Remember that talk we had a long time ago?" I ask him after a while
"Which one?" He asked
"You know which one" I say "Well it's happening"
"No. you don't know that" He hisses at me
"Maybe not, but I'm just making sure you remember what I said" I look at his hands.
His knuckles turning white as he clenches the wheel. I can see the why he is tensing, but I don't care. This is my decision.
We finally get to that clinic. I wake El and Lou while Niall parks the car.
We get out, Louis' helping Eleanor, and Niall taking my hand in his as if we didn't have that talk a few minutes before.
"Hello" Louis says to the lady at the front desk.
"Hello there" she says looking up from the computer "What we have here?" she peeks at us from the rim of her glasses. I wish to reach over and pick them up the slope of her nose.
"My girlfriend here has sprained her ankle I'm afraid" He turn so the lady could see Eleanor holding on to his back.
"Oh dear" She gasps and brings a hand to her mouth. Niall and I look at each other with raised brows.
"Yes, oh dear indeed but that’s not all, my friend here needs to be checked by a doctor" Louis pointes to me. I take a step behind Niall, feeling uncomfortable with this lady's gaze
"My, my.. What is wrong with you my dear?" she gets up from her desk and walks over to me. This Lady is quite large, and she makes not only me but also Niall take a step back.
"I.. umm ahh.." I stutter
"Is there a doctor here? We drove a long way, we really need to see one" Niall says putting an arm around my shoulders.
"How sweet" She smiles at Niall gesture towards me. "Yes we have. Sit down over there and I'll get you some forms to fill out" She turns back to her desk to get the paper as we walk over to the far side of the room to sit.
As we sit and wait Niall and Louis fill out the forms asking out loud the thing they're not sure of. When we're done the lady gets the doctor. Eleanor goes in first. I lay my head on Niall's shoulder and Niall' lay his head on mine. The lady was looking at us from across her desk melting away. "Bet you she lives with loads of cats" I whisper to Niall who chuckles.
Eleanor and Louis come out talking to a little man with a thick mustache.
"Eleanor! I love the colour" I point to the pink cast on her foot.
"You must be Jamie" The little man smiled at me. He kind of reminded me of Mario from that computer game.
"Hi" I give him a weak smile.
"Come my dear, we don't have much time, Barbra here likes to get home in time for 'law and order'" The little man winks at me. I get up and pull Niall up with me. We walk into the doctor's office. I have a feeling he's a kids doctor. The clowns and balloons kind of gave it away.
"So tell me what is wrong with you" He sits behind his desk and looks at us. I look at Niall.
"Well you see, this morning I noticed a bunch of bruises on her arms and legs. And they look kind of bad." Niall says. He pulls up my sleeve for the tenth time today to show the doctor.
"Oh my, I see" HE looked at my arm "Did you fall?" He asked me
"Well, no" I say looking at Niall again.
"So what is it?" The doctor asked glancing at Niall with this weird look in his eyes. It hits me then, that with my glancing at Niall and Niall answering the doctor for me, it may seem that Niall inflicted the bruises on my skin.
"Oh no! Niall didn't give me these bruises" I say eyes wide open.
"This bruise looks like a finger print" The doctor pointed.
"Well yes, that one is, but not Niall's fingers, you see, it's from this guy at the party" I say "Never mind that's not the reason we're here. The day before we played American football" Niall cuts in.
"Ha you played with the young girl who was just here" The doctor was putting finally some pieces together.
"YES! so anyway. This morning she got up with all these bruisings to her skin and well it's a little disturbing since it wasn't a ruff game and she doesn't bruise easily"
"I see" The doctor said. "I'll be right back" He got up and left the room.
"This room gives me the creeps" I whisper
"Why's that?" Niall tilted his head to the side
"I hate clowns" I say. Right then the doctor comes back in.
"So do you know why people get bruises? Bruises are typically a result of some degree of injury to the blood vessels in the skin." He recites
"Yes I know that" I start saying but get cut off.
"But somebruising can occur when the blood vessels are weakened by diseasesand that’s what I want to find out" The doctor looked at us as to see if we understand.
"So, what does that mean?" I say looking at Niall
"Well I will send you to get a blood test" He said "Don't worry, it's nothing" He says seeing my face go pale.
"Send us?" Niall asked
"Yes you will go from here to the Hospital to get checked" He smiles. How is he smiling? Why can't he explain everything so I'll understand?
We are at the hospital. A nurse shows us to a room where I'm suppose to wait for a doctor.
Niall is waiting with me, but Eleanor and Louis are at the Hospitals cafeteria.
"Hello" A young looking woman walks in "I am Doctor Cohen, but you can call me Aimee" She says. She takes a seat next to us and not behind her desk. I like her already.
"So Jamie I understand you have a big amount of bruising on your skin" She smiles at me
"Well yeah, because of the football game" I say.
"That's what we want to check today. To make sure it is really just because of that"
"Can you explain what you are planning on checking and doing?" Niall asked Aimee.
"Yes. So as you know bruising could occur because of an injury, which is what we are hoping for" She starts "Or because of a disease" I finish for her.
"But what kind of diseases are we talking about?" Niall asked.
"Well it can be Scurvy, which isa disorder that is caused by lack of vitamin C" She says "Treatment involves including foods that are high in vitamin C in the diet and taking vitamin C supplements if necessary."
"And what are the other things you want to check?" I ask linking my fingers with Niall's.
"Well the other things are Arthritis, that can result with bruising, and you said your knees hurt"
"Yes but that’s from the game and I also run every morning" I tell her.
"Ok, and the last thing I want to check for is ALL" She looks at me
"What is that?" Niall asked
"A type of Leukemia" I tell him. But I'm looking at her.
"Yes, so what I'm going to do now is a bunch of physical checkups and then we will draw some blood for some blood work" she explains.
"How long am I going to be here?" I ask
"Hopefully only a few days" She says.
Aimee checks my joints for pain, she checks my neck stomach and underarm.
"Are you overly tired?" She asks
"Not much, just like any other student" I say
"So you don't suffer from weakness? Loss of appetite?"
"Well" I start
"She did faint the other week, and she doesn't eat much" Niall cut in
"Ni" I look at him
"Ok so I’ll have the nurse take you to your room and I'll come back to draw some blood for testing" She says.
I'm quiet the whole way to my room, I'm scared. I sit down on the bed. There are no other people sharing the room with me, which I am grateful for.
"Jamie" Niall sits by me on the bed "I think it's time to call you mum"
"NO way, She'll come here" I say panic washes over me at the thought of her coming.
I love my mum but my family doesn't deal well in Hospitals.
Niall called Liam asking him to go to my flat and get me some change of clothes and things I might need. Harry and him will head out here to bring the stuff over. Eleanor and Louis were just about to come up to the room, but the nurse came back.
"Niall" I say tears starting to fill my eyes. I can't help it. Just sight of a needle makes me cry.
"This is nothing really" she says taking my arm in her hands and cleaning the surface with alcohol. I'm sobbing now. Niall is stroking my hair trying to calm me down. "Don't forget to breathe Jamie" He keeps telling me. As she takes the cap of the needle I start choking.
"What is wrong with her?" She asks Niall
"It's a panic attack its fine" He says putting a hand over my mouth like before
"Close your eyes Jamie" He says to me. I do as I'm told trying my best to calm down.
I feel a little prick to my arm. I squeeze my eye shut knowing that if I open them now I'll faint. I bury my face in Niall's chest waiting for this to be over.
"Your blood is red" She tries to make me laugh. I can feel Niall shaking his head as if to say 'don't even go there'.
"That's it" She says. I feel her press down on my arm. I pick up my head and look up at Niall.
"All done" he kisses my wet cheek.
I get up from the bed. What a mistake! The whole room starts to spin.
"Jamie?" I hear Niall call me from far.
I hear voices. "Niall you have to call her mum! What if it is ALL? She should at least know that she took a blood test" That sounds to me like Eleanor, but she sounds different as if she is crying.
"Jamie doesn't want me too" Niall says
"It's not up to her right now".
I wake again. I think its early morning because I can feel some light coming in through my closed lids. Niall is talking to someone quietly.
"I don't know what I'm going to do if it is ALL" Niall said
"What do you mean? She'll do treatment" Is that Harry?
"No she won't" Niall sound frustrated
"Why not?" Harry asks him
"Because. We talked about it once. A lot of people in her family died from cancer and she said there is no point because you lose your quality of life and even if you do get better it almost always comes back"
"That is a loud of bullshit Niall and you know it" Harry said to him.
"Yeah try telling Jamie that"
I open my eyes and move my face to face them. They are sitting on chairs with coffee cups in their hands.
"I want coffee" I say in a weak voice
"Hi sweetie, how are you feeling?" Niall came and kneeled beside me
"I want to get out of here" I say
"Me to baby" Niall kisses my forehead
"Do I have tubes sticking into me?" I ask afraid to look
"No, El made them take them out, told them that’s what makes you sick" Niall smiled
"Where is she?"
"She Liam and Louis went to get some breakfast they should be back soon with food"
"How is she walking with a cast?" I ask remembering her pretty pink leg
"Wheelchair" Niall said.
"Just because Louie wanted to try it out" Harry laughed
"Hi Harry" I wave at him
"Hello love, how are you feeling?" He asked
As on cue Liam walks in followed by Louis wheeling in Eleanor.
"You're up!" Eleanor yells "Help me up to the bed" She tells the guys. Liam takes a hold of her and picks her up to the bed. El gives me a big hug.
"So Jamie, don't be mad, but I made Niall call your mum" She looked at me
"I only told her you woke up with bruises so the doctor sent us to do a blood test to see if you're lacking vitamin c" Niall said quickly before I get upset. It sounded familiar, them calling my mum, like I already knew about it.
"So she's not on her way?" I ask
"No" El and Niall answer together. I breathe out a long sigh.
Eleanor put an arm around me and lay her head to mine.
They tell me all about what they did when I was out cold.
"Good morning guys" We look up to see Doctor Aimee standing at the doorway
The room goes quiet.
"I have your test results" She says
I LOVED THE ENDING.... but haz is still alone... oh well
4/13/14