9- Not Again

                                    

                                          


                          
"Trust your hunches, they are usually based on facts filed away below the conscious level." 
                          
-Dr. Joyce Brothers
                          
***
                          
I stayed at the hospital with Bella all day, well... when I could. 
                          
 The doctors dragged me away to a different room shortly after we got there. He said that my heartbeat increased dramatically and my breathing slowed, so they wanted to make sure I wouldn't pass out or something. The main thing I learned from this whole experience is that oxygen masks are very uncomfortable. 
                          
 "Court!" I heard the familiar musical voice of Alice Cullen cry as she walked into the room. I waved at her from my upright position, tapping on the mask with my pointer finger. 
                          
 "Holy crap, are you okay? I thought you were gonna pass out! Jasper wanted to be here, but he doesn't really do well with blood- you know how it is. Oh my gosh, are you okay? I know I already said that but-" 
                          
 I held up my hand, flashing Alice a thumbs up as I fiddled with the mask over my mouth. 
                          
 "No, honey, you need that! Please don't take it- okay, you took it off." 
                          
 I took a deep breath, thankful to rely on my own lungs again. "On the contrary." I began, my voice raspy. "I think that this is a n excellent learning experience for me. I mean, are you really living if you haven't been to the hospital at least once in your life?" 
                          
 Alice shook her head, a sad smile on her pink lips. "That is such a weird outlook on life."
                          
 "I know." I shrugged my shoulders, running the thin fabric of the hospital sheets in between my fingers. "But I have never been normal." 
                          
 My phone vibrated from inside of my pocket, and I slipped it out, pulling the hood of Jasper's sweater up. "It's Jazz." I informed Alice, coughing once deeply, a sound that threw my friend into a panic frenzy. "Put that mask back on right now!" She ordered, dancing over to me and fitting it over my mouth and nose. I rolled my eyes, focusing on the screen in my hand. 
                          
 Jasper: 
                          
 Are you okay? Please tell me you're not dead. 
                          
Jasper: 
                          
 Courtney?? 
                          
Jasper: 
                          
 Come on doll, if you don't answer I will break into the hospital. 
                          
 I couldn't prevent the smile that slipped on to my face at Jasper's over-protective nature. 
                          
Courtney: 
                          
I had a mild panic attack, I didn't get shot. Take a deep breath. 
                          
Courtney: 
                          
I would do that too, but the oxygen mask makes it hard not too.
                          
I gestured for Alice to come closer, she wrapped her arm around me and playfully pouted at the camera, while I flashed Jasper a piece sign. I grinned at the selfie from inside of the bulky mask, sending it to Jasper. 
                          
Courtney:
                          
I will take more then a couple minutes of barely breathing to get me.