Chapter Five:

Gold strings wrap around every pole. Silver lights hang upon the molding on the ceiling. Mistletoe is hung above every elevator as couples leave a certain floor. Red holly is taped on the desks’ corners. A big golden star hangs in the middle of the floors, and finally the Santa’s and elves everywhere you go.

Christmas just being around the corner brightens up this hospital. Thanksgiving in less than three days, and already the turkeys and pilgrims have already been stuffed away. And before you know it they’ll be having New Year’s Eve with innocent drinks. Oh, how the holidays give this place a little bit more peace.

Today Tommy will be discharge. His injuries weren’t as awful as his son, Oliver. Tommy’s were just a liver damage, broken arm, and a concussion that had to be monitor. Still, it’s a shock to see Tommy leave today. I thought he wasn’t going to stop by and wish me farewell, but as usual my instincts were always proven wrong.

Tommy came in strolling through my room with a cane as I sat watching more “Grey’s Anatomy”. He knocked softly on the open door. I turned to him shocked with a huge grin.”Tommy! You’re here; I thought you’ll leave without a goodbye!” I shouted out happily and rolled myself over to him.

Tommy grinned and sat on the couch next to me before wrapping his arms around me, “Why would I do such a thing, Dylan?”

“I don’t know. You were discharge about two hours ago.” I answered.

“Always looking at my file aren’t you sweetheart?” Tommy chuckled. “I was visiting my son, and telling him that I was going home today.”

“How did Oliver take that?”

“I take that as if you guys aren’t talking?” I didn’t respond to that. He continued, “Oliver, he didn’t take it that well. He was quite mad that he had to stay here alone without me.”

“Oh, I understand where he is coming from, but will you visit him quite an awful lot will you?”

“That sweetheart is what I promised Oliver, and also another thing that is heartbreaking for you to hear.” Tommy said.

“What do you mean?” I questioned confused.

“Oliver does not want me to visit you after this day, but I told him I shall never have the guts to do that. I said to him you were like another daughter to me.”

Nothing came out of me as this all sunk into my system. How could Oliver say such a thing? I didn’t do anything to him! This better not be about what happened that night of the tribute.

“Tommy, did Oliver say such things about why you can’t visit me?” I asked.

“He just said how you’re not my daughter, not family; you ruined everything that day you brought up my wife.” Tommy replied.

“I did not bring up Lu, Chief Andris did! He should’ve known that he shouldn’t have told things that make me want to know more.” I argued back.

Tommy chuckled and wrapped his hands in mine. “Sweetheart, Oliver’s promise I can break if you want me to. I just need to hear you say so if I ever have to end our friendship. You are in fact my family, Dylan.”

“No, Tommy. I think, no, I know Oliver would not be pleased about this.”

Tommy’s face looked broken, but I knew he knew what was best for us all until further notice. “Okay. So, I guess this a goodbye?”

“No, this is a ‘see you later’.” I corrected. He hugged me once again, kissed my cheek, and left without taking one last look before entering the elevator to leave.

Goodbye Tommy, until we see once again.

I want to get up and yell at Oliver about this promise he made Tommy swear, but I know that it’s useless. I know it won’t solve anything, nothing at all. If I were to roll out of this room to his and start yelling at him I could just imagine how it would all play.

I would come rolling in while he was moping watching the stupid television. He would turn to me disgusted and I would scowl and start yelling at him.

Me: How could you do such a thing?

Him: Do what?

Me: Tell your father he can’t see me!

Him: I never said that.

Me: Yes you did! Why would your father come to me and say that?

Him: Did he really say that?

Me: Yes! Now tell me why you do that!

Him: Just shut up and get the fuck out of here!

Me: No!

Him: Yes!

Me: No! I will not!

Him: Dylan, get the fuck out of my life!

Then I would slap his face and roll out leaving like a boss. Oliver and I will not speak to each other, but would give death glares to the other if we see them in our presence.

“Oliver.” I said as I rolled into his room without permission. He turned to me disgusted and rolled his eyes ignoring me. “Oliver, we need talk.” I said again with more anger.

“What?” Oliver hissed.

“Why would you ask such a big promise?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you do”, I spitted back at him.”Asking your father such a big favor you know he can’t fulfill.”

Oliver turned to me with such a devious smirk, “You mean the promise I asked him?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.” I responded.

“It’s none of your business.” He answered and went back to watching the television.

I rolled up to his bed and grabbed the remote out of his hand and turned the television off. “Hey! I was watching that!” Oliver yelled at me.

“Hey! And I was asking you something!” I mocked him. Oliver crossed his arms and pouted like a two year old. He looked in the opposite direction of me and I stood there grasping the remote in a teasingly way. “You can have it back once I know why you ask such a thing.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” He said.

“Fine, I’ll inform the nurse you don’t need the T.V.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“I would.” I said while twirling the remote between my fingers. Oliver stared at me then gave in with a defeated sigh.

“Fine, but first the remote in return for the answer,” Oliver replied. “Then shall I finish my show.”

“No, you’re a mind game playing weasel.” I told him.

“Guess then no answer then.”

I wasn’t going to give in. If I were to give him what he wanted he would ignore my request and finish what pleases him. A smart person would bribe him with something that’ll crack him in return of what he wanted. Although, what if Oliver doesn’t take my bribe, then shall I be in such a deeper hole then before.

“Here’s the remote. Can I please get the answer now?” I said giving in to his weasel mind. Oliver smirked and turns the television right back on just like I suspected.

“Thanks Dylan. Now can you leave my father’s and I’s business alone?” He said while flipping through the channels. “Or is it too tempting for you to handle?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just leave.”

“The first amazing thing you said all day.” Oliver said and chuckled.

“Ass.” I whispered as I turned to roll out of his room.

“What did you call me?” Oliver shouted out to me as I left his room.

“I called you an ASS!” I yelled in response. As I left I swear I could’ve heard him chuckle.

I returned to my room and stopped in the middle realizing my defeat. How could I do such a thing? Did I really think Oliver would be nice enough after I gave him what he wanted? Ridiculous. Oliver is a selfish, stubborn, asshole who gets whatever he wants.

The phone rang and I looked to it confused.  No one ever calls me this late in the afternoon. Not even my parents. They probably are watching their favorite television series, “Chef Off”. I rolled to the phone and picked it up on the third ring. I heard breathing on the other end and the first thing that came to my mind was serial killer.

“Dylan?” I heard a masculine voice ask. 

“Who is this?” I asked horrified.

“Oliver.” The voice responded.

“How did you get my number?” I said shocked.

“The nurse named Jen gave it to me.” He answered.

Jen is in so much trouble! “Oh. So, why did you call me?”

No answer.

“You there?” I asked.

“Yeah, still here.” Oliver said. “I just wanted to know if you still want to know the answer.”

Was he really going to tell me? Is it Christmas or what? “Hell yeah!” I screamed.

I could sense Oliver pulling the phone away from his ear in pain. “Okay, someone’s a bit too excited.”

I apologized. 

“I just asked my Papa to give some distance from you because it seems you guys were hanging out way too much. He was hanging around you more than he was with me. I thought if I got him to promise me not to be around you, then maybe he spend more time with me.” Oliver told me.

“Oh.” It was all I could muster.

“I bet you would understand this right?” Oliver asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Totally, don’t worry about Tommy and me.” I replied.

Oliver chuckled from the other end, “Good. Thanks Dylan.”

“No problem.”

“Good night.”

“Already leaving are you?” I said before I realized the words coming out of my mouth. I slapped my mouth in shock.

“Well…I can stay for a little longer I guess.” Oliver responded.

“Oh, no! You don’t have to.” I said.

“It would be my pleasure.”

“Seriously?”

“Cross my heart and swear to God.” Oliver joked.

“Okay,” I said softly. “It’s almost eleven, so if you get tired just tell me.”

“I should be saying that to you, Dylan.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “True.”

“I’ll stay on until you fall asleep if that’s you want.” Oliver told me.

I nodded my head not remembering we were talking on the phone. That would be nice for someone to be there for till I fall asleep once. “Please.” I asked.

“Okay, Dylan.” Oliver said. “Want me to tell you a bedtime story?” He joked with a hint of a chuckle.

“Whatever.” I said.

“Once upon a time, there was an ugly princess who had a curse of unattractiveness being born to a slut of a mother. She was put in a tower surrounded by beautiful women. She was put there because the Queen of Titsland didn’t believe a prince would accept her for her. So, one day she locked the princess in a tower and grabbed thousands of beautiful women to surround the tower and tempt the knights in shining armors away from the locked up girl.

“Every knight in armor that went to prove the Queen fell in love with one of the beautiful women. They didn’t make it any father than the bridge. Although, one day the ugly princess looked out her one window and sighed a sad, depressed sigh. From the corner of the window you could see the chalk marks on the wall marking the number of days she was held. 1,875 days the ugly princess was held away from the world. 

“On that one day the ugly princess looked out her window a prince from a dark kingdom came strolling in through the meadow before the tower. All the beautiful women looked to him awestruck. They never have seen such a handsome man to walk through this part of the land.

“He had midnight black hair that curled everywhere messily. His eyes were deep blue like the bottom of the ocean. He had a jaw that was crooked and a body of an Abercrombie model. He took away the breath of all the beautiful women there. His name was Draco Darko.

“Draco rode pass each women with his pure white horse. He came up to the door and jumped off his horse. Draco pushed the tower’s door open and strolled up the stairs to the ugly princess’s room. The ugly princess sat at the window facing opposite the door and drawing circles in the brick.

“Draco entered the room startling the ugly princess making her jump and face him. She didn’t see the beauty he held like the women below had seen. The ugly princess had seen him as a beast. The prince also had a curse. Draco had the curse of a beast. The only person who could see him as one would be the one to break the curse.

“’You’re a monster!’ She screamed. He went up to her and brushed a strand of hair out of her eye. ‘You’re unattractive to the eye of any men who lives in this land.’ Draco said. ‘And what are you?’ She asked. ‘A beast.’ ‘Does that mean you’re not a man?’ The ugly princess asked Draco. ‘Yes. So, that means I don’t see ugly in you. I see a beauty hidden within the inside.’

“When Draco had told the ugly princess the truth of what he had seen the curse broke and every bit of ugliness that had covered her turned into beauty. She was so flawless that even the women below couldn’t compete with her. The ugly princess looked at Draco finally seeing him not as a beast. She went up to him and held his cheek in her hands and said, ‘You’re a beast that has been caged inside and needs to be free.’ She kissed his lips and freed Draco from his curse.

“Two cursed royals broke each other’s curse and fell madly in love, and lived happily ever after, the end.” Oliver finished.

“What a beautiful fairytale.” I said yawning.

“Thanks.” Oliver replied.

“The curse can be broken from within by giving yourself up to your loved one.”

“Beautifully spoken.”

“Night, Oliver.”

“Good night, Dylan.” Oliver said and hung up leaving me there to let my eyes droop and fall into a deep sleep filled with magical dreams.