The Outcast - Chapter Fifteen

It's been four days, and Jordan shows no signs of recovering. He shows no signs of waking. I hate to say it, but I'm beginning to lose hope. Jazz is always optimistic, but I think it's beginning to become a struggle for her, too. She keeps talking like he'll awaken any moment, and I believed her at first, but now...I'm not so sure.

Sasha and Marina are doing okay at home, I guess, though they seem a little strange. But maybe that's just me, worrying about my friend. I'm not sure.

Jazz always lets me in no matter what time I come to the house, and allows me time alone in Jordan's room. I keep hoping he'll awaken soon, but my hope is fading, dying away. I don't want it to go away, but it is, and it seems there's nothing I can do about it.

School has been hard. McAllen's back now, but with bandaged ribs, and he likes to torment me now more than ever, especially since Jordan's not there. Some of the things McAllen says hurts, but I can't lose control of myself again. If I do, I'm facing time in jail, and I don't need to put that on Marina and Sasha right now. They don't need to deal with my problems.

As I enter Jordan's room around six in the evening, Jazz is sitting there. She smiles when she sees me. "Hey, Jordan," she says, and waves me over. "Look who finally decided to join the land of the living."

My hope soars. Does that mean Jordan's finally away? As I draw nearer, he blinks his eyes open and looks at me for a long moment, and then his eyes brighten in recognition. "Kyal...." he mumbles as a greeting.

I smile and stop next to the bed. "Jordan," I say for a hello. "How are you feeling?"

He closes his eyes. "Can't complain."

I frown.

He must sense it, for he says, "I mean I can't complain, Jazz won't let me."

I smirk Jazz's way. She smiles at me and winks, then turns her attention back to her brother. "Rest up and get better, cause I'm sick of caring for your sorry ass," she says. "Put me through that kind of worry again, and I'll kill you myself."

Jordan groans. "I just wake up and you're already nagging at me. Sheesh, I knew I should have stayed asleep," he grumbles. He opens his eyes and looks at me. "So, care to, ah, fill me in on what happened after I became one with the glass?"

His choice of words make it seem funny, and I find myself chuckling. "Well, he got you, and I got him. He's back at school now, but is damaged and is wearing a lot of bandaging."

"Hmm, serves him right."

"Yeah," I say, for I agree completely, though I think McAllen should have been more seriously injured. Personally, I want him to be crippled.

Jazz looks at me. "Kyal, I know you just got here, but I think we should let Jordan rest. Would you mind very much joining me for dinner and then maybe going for a nice walk? I know I could use a little fresh air."

I nod and say I'll do what she asks. She smiles at me and then looks at Jordan.

"And you," she says in a scolding way, "rest up and get back on your feet soon."

Jordan rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." but he closes his eyes and takes to resting like she wants.

As we exit the room, she says, "He's probably not feeling too good right now, otherwise he wouldn't have listened to me."

I frown for a moment, and then nod my head. At least he was resting, that was a good thing.

Maybe he'll be back to his old self soon. I hope so. I hope he doesn't have terrible headaches plague him like Sasha told me. I don't want that to happen to him.