The doctor did some tests on Roselle, and it was confirmed that she had a grade two concussion, so she agreed to spend a few extra days in the hospital to be observed. She didn't mind much. She spent time relaxing. It felt good to finally stop worrying about Armani's wedding, Grandma Scott's commands, and Warren's threats.
Even with all this out of the way, there was something still gnawing at her, telling her something was wrong. She dug deep and buried that feeling in the far back of her mind, but it was always there, even if only slightly.
Armani, Michelle, and Dan would stop by sometimes. Roselle had also video called her parents. The Secret Service, along with Grandma Scott's guards, were also watching over her 'just in case'.
A familiar face walked in the room: Antonio, who was one of Eliot's bodyguards (that she met at that crazy poker game a few weeks back). He was wearing a suit though. "Hello, Ms. Reyes."
Roselle did a double-take. "Antonio? Are you one of the people Grandma Scott assigned to watch over me?"
He cleared his throat. "Actually, I stopped working for the Scott family and started working for the Secret Service. I applied nine months ago and was just recently accepted. It's a bit of an upgrade."
"Well, congrats."
"Anyway, I just came in to inform you that you have some visitors."
She assumed it was probably Dan and Michelle again, so she said, "alright. Let them in."
He nodded, and walked out of the room. Shortly after, Lily Strobe walked in with balloons and a cake box. "Hey, you," she said, strutting into the room and setting herself down on Roselle's bed.
Roselle facepalmed, and her headache was back. "Lily? What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to drop by and see how you're doing!" She was peppy and energetic, which was energy Roselle had never seen Lily give her before. "I got you a little something. Open it." She handed over the cake box.
Roselle opened it, and inside was a red velvet cake with the words, 'Thank you for putting Daddy in prison and saving me from an unwanted marriage'. There was also a rainbow. "Uh, you're welcome, I guess."
"So Ro, tell me how you're doing." Lily put her hand in her cheek, "I want to know every word." She stared at her attentively.
In a weird way, Roselle missed when Lily hated her. This overly-friendly energy was freaking her out. She decided to play along. "Well, actually, I think things might actually be okay this time. Recently--"
"Okay, great. Now let me tell you what's going on in MY life."
"Great. Tell me ALL about it. It's not like I was in the middle of talking or anything." She took her pillow and stuffed it in front of her own face, pretending to suffocate.
"Okay, so now that Daddy's like, gonna be a convict or whatever, my life has been so perfect." Lily dreamily sighed, gazing through the window. Then, she got up and twirled around in circles as she explained furthermore. "No one to tell me what to do, or who to marry, or say I can't party, and blah blah blah."
"Sounds like you're living the life. You must be really busy with . . . whatever you're doing these days. You don't have to waste your time visiting me." That was Roselle's polite way of saying, 'leave already.'
"But it's all thanks to you! I feel so free . . . Maybe when you get out we can go shopping and get manicures with your sister. You know, girl stuff."
"Well, you're welcome for getting into a car accident, but I ain't really interested."
"Boo!" The heiress pouted.
"If that's all you wanted to say, maybe now you can just--"
"Wait, I haven't even gotten to the best part!"
Roselle groaned. "Okay. What's the best part?"
Dylan walked into the room. "Hello, Ro," he addressed. "I'm really sorry I'm late, but I just had to use the bathroom for a minute."
"DILLY!" Lily ran into Dylan's arms at such a high speed that he crashed right onto the floor. She giggled and squeezed him.
"Oof!" he wailed.
They both stood up, and she held him even more. "Lily and Dilly are gonna be together forever!" The hearts from her eyes were practically jumping out.
Roselle cringed. "I don't think I'll ever understand this ship. Remind me how you guys got together?"
"Well, Lily's father had her go to a university in Canada a few years back," Dylan explained.
"Oh my God," said Lily. "I hated it."
"Canada?"
"No, university. Keep on telling our story, Dilly."
"Anyway, long story short, I was doing pretty well on my exams, and Lily took note. She'd visit my dorm room and ask me to do her homework and papers. At first I said no, but she cried and I felt really bad for her."
She giggled. "You were always such a simp, baby."
"It became a regular thing, and soon enough, I found myself always at HER door asking if she had any assignments for me to do . . . Somehow, I fell madly in love with her."
"And I just broke up with my ex, and I wanted to make him jelly, so I agreed to go out with him. It took some time, and I don't know why, but I finally found this little weirdo cute. The end!"
Roselle sat there in silence, soaking up that story. Her mouth was O-shaped, and she kept looking back and forth between the two. "That's the worst love story I've ever heard," she finally commented.
Lily flipped her hair. "Well, I know love isn't perfect or whatever, but no romance is like the movies."
"Okay, but try not to cheat on him this time." She took a sip of tea as if to say, 'but that ain't none of my business.'
"Omg. I've changed, okay?" She turned to her boyfriend. "Right, Dilly?"
Dylan rubbed the back of his head and blushed. "I hope so . . ."
"Anyway, thanks for visiting." Roselle waved. "Bye now."
He nodded. "Good to see you again, Ro. I'm glad you're alright, and I'm glad that we can rest easy now."
She gave him a warm smile. "Me too."
"Come on." Lily tugged on Dylan's sleeve. "Let's go have sex in the bathroom!"
Dylan jolted back at that request. "Lily!"
"Come on, let's go!"
The couple ran out of the room.
"Try not to get arrested for public indecency!" Roselle yelled on their way out. She sighed. "They're going to get arrested, aren't they?" she mumbled to herself.
Antonio came into the room. "You've got another visitor, Ms. Reyes."
She could only hope it wasn't another annoying one. "Who is it this time?"
"It'sā"
"Antonio?" Eliot asked, barging into the room. "Dude, I thought you moved to Florida."
"Actually, I started working for the Secret Service."
"Why didn't you tell me, bro? I was lonely!"
"You grandmother requested that I didn't tell you as to spare your feelings."
"I'm not a baby! Why does everyone walk on eggshells around me? That was messed up, man."
"My apologies."
"Screw you, man. I'm gonna talk to Roselle now. Go away."
Antonio nodded, and exited the room, leaving Eliot and Roselle alone.
"AHHHH!" Eliot punched a wall, and quickly took his fist back, saying, "ow, ow, ow."
"Uh . . ." Roselle raised a brow. "Are you okay?"
He took the seat next to her hospital bed and plopped down in it. "I'm so frustrated, Ro. Why am I always treated like I can't handle things? I can handle things!"
She glanced at his fist, which was sprinkled in blood. "Uh, you're going to have some hard time convincing me when you react like that, bud."
"Sorry, but I'm mad, dammit. I thought Antonio and I were homies. And you know what? My family has been acting especially weird lately."
"Weird how?"
"They've been extra protective and controlling lately. They're driving me nuts."
"Well, can you really blame them? You did hear what happened the other day, didn't you?"
He blinked. "What?"
"Oh, I don't know. How about a CRAZY PSYCHOPATH THAT PUT ME IN THE HOSPITAL?"
He widened his eyes and made himself small. "Oh yeah . . . That! Jeez, I almost forgot why I came here." He took out some crepes from his backpack and presented them to her. "Tada! I made these for you, Ro."
She snickered. "You really love trying to bribe me with food, don't you?"
Eliot gave his puppy-dog face. "You don't want it?"
"Of course I do. Gimme, gimme, gimme!"
He handed the crepes over to her, and she went to work devouring them right away. They were so delicious. Banana and strawberry bliss swirled into one amazing pastry. Could life get any better?
He laughed. "I'm really glad you're okay, Ro. I hate Warren! I'm gonna beat that guy up! Why would he hurt you like that?"
Roselle tried to speak, but there was so much food in her mouth that the only sounds that came out were muffled.