McDonald’s
LILY
“What’s going on?” I ask, confused. One second Mason was crying, holding my hand; the next thing I know, he’s gone and a doctor is standing over me.
My whole body hurts, and my mouth and throat feel so dry.
And where did Mason go?
“Where’s Mason?” I whimper as the doctor flashes a light into my eyes.
“He’s right over there.” She smiles kindly down at me.
“I’m thirsty,” I whine as the bed starts to move, making my body move to a sitting position.
I like it this way. I can see Mason standing against the wall, watching every move the doctor makes.
“You had a pretty bad accident,” the doctor comments, making me draw my eyes back to her. “What’s the last thing you remember?” she asks, grabbing a hold of a clipboard.
I frown and try to think back. I remember my parents leaving. I remember talking with Mason on the phone before the football game. I remember driving and then fighting with Mom.
“I was driving and my mom rang and yelled at me.” I frown.
“Do you remember why she was yelling at you?” she asks gently as she pulls something off my finger.
“Because I quit cheer months ago,” I mumble as another lady I hadn’t noticed before offers me water through a straw, which I happily gulp down.
“Do you know your name?” the doctor asks, and I roll my eyes at her. Of course I know my name. “It may seem silly, but I just need to ask some questions,” she replies, looking slightly amused.
“Lily Jane Bennett,” I reply, rolling my eyes again before answering her other easy questions like what school I go to, what grade I’m in.
“Now this one is going to probably seem really silly to you.” The doctor laughs to herself. “Do you know who they are?” she asks, taking a step to the side to reveal Mason and my dad of all people.
I frown as I look at my dad. Why the hell is he here? Shouldn’t he be working like usual?
“Lily,” the doctor says, and I flick my eyes to her before they land back on Mason.
He’s lifted his hand and is pulling on his bottom lip as he rocks back and forth on his feet. He looks nervous.
“That’s Mason.” I smile as I see his shoulders instantly relax.
His hand drops away from his mouth as he gives me a small smile.
“And the other person?” she asks.
“My dad,” I mutter.
“Okay, well, it looks like you’re healing really well. I’ll leave you to catch up and will come see you later.” She smiles before leaving with the other lady.
Once the door is closed behind them, I look over to Mason and my dad, who both haven’t moved. “What happened?” I ask, holding my hand out to Mason.
“You were in a car accident,” my dad answers and comes over to my right side to take my hand. “You nearly died,” he adds as Mason slowly comes to my left side and sits on the seat he was in before.
“I did?” I ask, looking at Mason, who gives me a slight nod.
“Your heart stopped beating twice. I was so scared,” Dad answers, making me frown. I just want to talk to Mason.
“What’s today?” I ask, wondering how long I was out for.
“Friday,” Dad answers, and I nod.
“So I was only out for a couple hours?” I ask, looking toward the window but becoming confused when I realize it’s daytime.
“It’s been a week, Lily-Pad.”
“I was out for a whole week?” I gasp, pulling my hand away from Dad.
“You didn’t want to wake up.” He shakes his head.
“When did you get here?” I snap, not really meaning to.
“Mom and I got here Saturday morning,” he replies gently, reaching for my hand again.
“Mom’s here?” I ask, looking around for her.
“I’ll just give you two some time,” Mason mutters quietly as he goes to stand up.
“No!” I quickly yell, feeling my heart rate pick up. I don’t want him to leave me. “Please don’t leave me,” I beg, feeling myself start to cry.
“I won’t leave,” he says, sitting back down and grabbing a hold of my hand. I instantly thread our fingers together.
“Mom hasn’t been back up.” Dad sighs sadly as he looks at Mason. “She said she’d come when you wake up though,” he adds quickly.
“I should go call her,” he says before slowly getting up and giving me a sad smile before he leaves the room.
“Was I really sleeping that long?” I ask Mason, turning my head to look at him.
“It was the longest seven days of my life.” He sighs, squeezing my hand gently.
“You’re growing a beard.” I giggle, noticing the hair growing on his face.
“I am?” he asks, looking surprised as he runs his free hand along his chin. “Huh,” Mason mutters before dropping hand down.
“You haven’t left, have you?” I whisper, squeezing his hand.
“Didn’t even cross my mind, princess,” he whispers back. “Brittany told the nurses she was your sister.” Mason smiles.
“She’s been to visit?” I ask, surprised.
“She’s been here every day. Same with Liam and Harry,” he replies.
“Harry?” I gasp, thinking I heard him wrong.
“Brittany called him after we got to the hospital. He’s really sorry,” Mason explains.
“What happened with the game?” I gasp, hoping Mason didn’t leave until after it finished.
“I don’t know.” He sighs, shaking his head. “Liam and I left before it started,” he whispers.
“You should’ve played,” I tell him pointedly. “I told you I needed that good-luck kiss,” he jokes.
“I remember.” I smile before my eyes drop down to the black hoodie I’ve been trying to steal from him.
“I did tell you last night if you woke up I’d give you it.” He laughs, noticing my gaze.
“Maybe that’s why I woke up.” I laugh back.
“You can have it when you get home,” he replies.
“Can you just kiss me now?” I demand, wanting to feel his lips against mine.
“Right now?” His dark eyebrows shoot up.
“You should’ve kissed me the second I woke up.” I pout, making him chuckle, and slowly move forward.
“If that nurse hadn’t pulled me away, I probably would have,” he whispers, brushing our noses against each other.
“Even with my dad in the room?” I whisper as his lips softly brush past mine.
“With anyone in the room,” he whispers back before gently kissing me.
My whole body instantly melts at the feel of his lips against mine. Just as I grab the back of his hair and try to deepen our kiss a clearing throat makes him pull back, making me whimper then pout.
“I just spoke to Mom. She said she’d come up tomorrow.” Dad’s voice fills the room, making me blush, but Mason just sits back in his seat as if nothing happened.
“She doesn’t have to,” I grunt, not wanting to see her after she yelled at me.
“She does.” Dad’s voice comes out low, surprising me.
The three of us stay in my room, Dad mainly carrying the conversation, constantly asking how I feel and that he is sorry he wasn’t here quickly enough, and me complaining I want McDonald’s.
“You have to wait for the doctor before you can eat,” Dad tells me for the third time, making me roll my eyes and Mason smirk.
“But I’m starving,” I groan just as the door opens and the doctor walks in, followed closely by Brittany, who has the biggest smile on her face.
“I heard you were hungry.” The doctor chuckles, and I nod enthusiastically. “You can eat, but if you start to feel nauseous, stop, okay?” she says, making me nod again.
“Good.” She nods before squeezing Mason’s shoulder and smiling at Brittany before she leaves.
“I can’t believe you’re finally awake!” Brittany squeals and wastes no time in gently hugging me.
“I can’t believe I was out for so long,” I complain, throwing my head back slowly.
“I got you a McChicken, fries, and I kinda drank the Coke on the way here, but I stopped at the vending machine and grabbed a bottle,” Brittany babbles.
She takes off her school bag and pulls out a McDonald’s bag, which I’m all but ready to pounce on.
“And I got you the same,” she says pointedly to Mason as she hands the bag over to me, and he rolls his eyes.
“I already ate breakfast,” he grunts as I start stuffing my face.
“Did he?” she asks, turning to my dad, who nods.
“Well, too bad it’s lunchtime,” she sasses and takes the bag off me and passes Mason some food. He just rolls his eyes again but starts eating.
“So Liam tried to leave with me, but the idiot got caught by Mrs. Southee and got lunch and after-school detention,” Brittany states as she sits at the foot of my bed.
“And Jonah said that Harry is going to come after school because he’s also an idiot who also gets caught trying to ditch and text in class.” She rolls her eyes.
“You spoke to Jonah?” I ask, surprised.
“Yup. I’ve been the messenger.” She giggles. “If I ask for girl time, are you going to tell me to fuck off?” she asks, fluttering her eyelashes slightly at Mason.
“Yes.” He agrees immediately.
“Knew it.” She sighs before winking at me. “You look so much better,” she states, her eyes wandering over me.
“I feel better now that I’ve eaten.” I smile, patting my belly. “How’d you know I wanted McDonald’s?” I question.
“Mason got your dad to text me, so I got what he said then found Sarah and begged her to let me feed you.” She shrugs casually.
“I’m going to let you kids catch up. I’ll come back before dinner,” Dad states before I can answer Brittany, and before he kisses my forehead gently, making me flinch slightly.
The three of us—well, mainly Brittany—talk, with Mason and me answering every now and then, for god knows how long.
I just know that school must’ve finished because a timid-looking Harry and Jonah walk in, stopping Brittany mid-sentence.
“Hello.” Jonah smiles, keeping his eyes on me as Harry stands awkwardly at the end of the bed beside Brittany.
“Hi,” Harry whispers so quietly I almost didn’t hear.
“Hey,” I greet back nervously.
“Well, you two have a lot to catch up on. Mason, come buy me coffee,” Brittany says, slapping her thighs and jumping to her feet.
“Mason,” I whisper, snapping my head to him. I don’t want him to leave. What if Harry yells at me again?
“I’ll get you a coffee,” Jonah offers, jumping to his feet and sharing a look with Mason.
“You two should talk,” Mason states, clearing his throat and getting to his feet.
“Please don’t leave me,” I beg, wanting to cry. He can’t leave me.
“You should stay,” Harry agrees, making Mason sit down again.
“I’ll get you a coffee,” Brittany says and blows a kiss as she and Jonah leave.
“It’s good to see you awake,” Harry comments as he moves to sit in the seat my dad and Jonah had been sitting in. “I’m really sorry, Lily.” He sighs when I don’t say anything.
“I shouldn’t have said what I did. It’s just, I don’t know. I was hurt you kept such a big secret from me,” he states, looking down at his hands, not even at me.
“After Mason and Liam left, Jonah came onto the field and almost hit me,” Harry mumbles, making Mason chuckle slightly.
“He made me realize that I was so happy you were happy with him until I found out it was Mason, and this stupid feud shouldn’t change that,” he explains, looking at me this time.
“Then he dropped that you were in the hospital and I rushed here,” he adds sadly, moving his eyes away from me to Mason.
“And since I’ve been forced to spend time with him, Cooper isn’t that bad.” He smirks, and Mason snorts.
“Anyway, I know it’s a lot, but I truly am sorry and hope we can go back to how we were…but if you don’t want to, I understand.”
“I need some time to think,” I reply, furrowing my brow. This is all so much to take in.
“I get it.” He smiles sadly.
“Jonah also told him he was stupid for not figuring it out earlier,” Mason pipes up, amused.
“Shut up,” Harry grumbles, making me look between them.
“Jonah said I was fucking blind not to put two and two together. Like the whole M thing, then the volleyball game, and that party.” Harry huffs.
“He knew.” I gasp, only half-surprised.
“Apparently.”
