Second chances; Seconds ticking by. //Cameo

[*]

That sound. I hear that horrible sound reverberating in my ears trys to tear me down just with the thought of what I had just done. My fist, with speed and unrenowned power behind it, has caused the entire crowd, for one split second to go quiet. It's as if the entire crowd is hanging on to that one very tiny, miniscule second when my fist hit that bone. When my fist created that sound that everyone knew I had broken her arm. I felt every single, tiny nerve in my body halt. My blood ran cold the instant I knew what I had done. "No!" My voice whispered out without a sound, yet the apparent look on my face was to tell the story to anyone who could see me. I had done exactly what Kayghna had done to me. I have left my opponent, my friend, broken.

The time seems to stand still. The sand through the hourglass halted in midair. The sounds drown out around me and I stare completely and directly into Gala's eyes as she holds her broken arm close to her body. "Guess we're twins now." She says though gritted teeth. I know the pain she is feeling. I can understand the way she's looking at me like she wants to cuss me out. The way she looks like she wants to scream. I shake my head, as I take another step back away from her, afraid to do any more damage to her when I hear the infamous announcement.

Kyanite will be advancing to round two!

Suddenly, the crown bellows out their applause. They force themselves to cheer for someone that has done the unthinkable. I want to scream out to them and ask them if they knew she was the closes thing I have to a sister. That she was the girl I had taken under my wing to help train; to teach. They don't care, but I do. Shoving back the fears, I know what I have to do. I close the distance between me and her and instantly wrap my good arm around her, to help stabilize her because she looks like she's about to collaspe. I could see her legs moving. Afterall, I used her weakspots against her like I would in a real battle. I did everything I was suppose to. What I trained for and now I regret every bit of it. Fate was cruel sometimes.

"Gala... I'm so sorry!" I get out to her, when I try my best to keep her from collapsing while she's under my care. I did this to her. I was going to take care of her. "Gala... let's get you some help?" Again, I say to her. I know she don't want the help, but I refuse to let her make the decision this time.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Gala Thomas
Age Thirteen
District Two

A chance to redeem herself and it's gone with one brutal hit to the arm. It's as if the entire crowd goes silent just to hear the sound of a bone breaking, maybe hopes for a scream as well? That the young career doesn't allow though she can feel one erupting within her; or maybe that was just her rib. Either way defeat takes over... Not only defeat but another one. Another opportunity to get to round two, gone. She stays cradling her wounded upper body, trying to concentrate on staying upon her feet rather then the loud cheers from all around.

The next thing to occur certainly no one was expecting, aside from fighters that is. Instead of Kyanite soaking up her victory, she goes to support her small opponent. The cheers seem to hush at the sight of this. At first Gala attempts to pull away, though she probably couldn't even if she really tried. She ends up sinking into her help, knowing she wouldn't be able to stomp out of this one like last time. Now was her time to put her trust within the one she was just fighting, how odd this match must appear.

"Gala... I'm so sorry!" Kyanite is probably the first to apologize after a round.

"Don't." Gala reassures weakly. There was no reason for Kyanite to say this, she did exactly what she was suppose to. She tries to take some of her weight off the older career but ends up just leaning in even more. Of course the next words to come out of the mature lips is to get the youngster some help. "No!" Even in her condition she finds a bit of spunk to protest. Just someone to lean on is enough. Every breath still carries this piercing pain, but her stubbornness was too much.

The first sight of a couple of nurses approaching automatically makes her tense and nervous. Her eyes plead for Kyanite to save her from this, but clearly that wasn't going to work. There was hardly any time to heal from the first match, and she was even more broken now. Quickly Gala pulls from Kyanite's support as the nurses reach closer. She wasn't going down that easily. Without the assistance of a crutch or a shoulder she doesn't make it more then three feet before two nurses are in front of her. Before she even has a chance to object to anything, she feels the same exact jab as she did after tackling Mason in the hallway.... and the identical feeling quickly joins with it.

"Really?" Gala rhetorically asks. It wasn't as if she was attacking Kyanite due to the lose. She just didn't want the help, even if it was needed. "Damn you." She mumbles as her eyes grow heavy.

"She's too damaged to cause as much trouble as she did last time." The nurse explains her actions to Kyanite, glad to only have one crazy. "She would of hurt herself more then you have..." Her voice trails off as she realizes what she was saying. Clearly the young career's opponent was not an enemy like Mason, but actually cared for her. "Sorry."

[*]

At the first words of my apology, I get a very stern "Don't" from her. Was that suppose to be out of anger that she is retaliating against me because of what I did or just not to apologize. Whatever is the underlying reason, I don't let it thwart me away from helping her. The moment my arm is around her, to aide her, she leans in more than I thought. She really was on the verge of collapsing. She really is badly injured thanks to me. She was fine after her first battle, full of spunk and bite, now, she's so much less than that. The thought of it wants to make me cry out for her for some reason. The crowd around me seems confused to see that the opponent isn't reveling in the glory of the win. Instead, she's showing more sportmanship than any other challenge has to the unfortunate one to not win.

However, at the mention of getting her help, sends the youngster into a fit with a verbal "No". I can't believe that she is as injured as she, still don't want the help. I can't understand that after what I did, she don't want me to make sure that she will do what she has to. Being a career and dealing with pain is one thing, but to accept the healing hands of someone in charge of making one better has to come with the territory. She's got a lot to learn because the moment the nurses begin making their way to us, she flips out once again. She pulls away from me in efforts to get away and I'm left with empty hands and left to suffer the consequences of her past actions with the nurses last time. They put the needle into her arm, and within a matter of seconds, she is toted off to be treated. What Gala doesn't know is the nurse actually blames me for what happened. Almost blamed me with my name and all before she caught her mistake with a sorry.

I shove past her the best I can, as the woman offers to look me over just to make sure I didn't bust up my arm anymore or get any new injuries. That is the last thing on my mind. I follow the nurses as they cart my young friend off to be taken care of and once again, I'm fighting with the nurses to stay by her side. I'm curious what Gala will say to me when she wakes. If she'll try to tackle me like she did Mason after her last battle. I'm sure, whatever she does, I deserve it. Even the harshness of her tongue. Then it hits me, Matthew will be down here soon. I just hope that he's made to stay away for a while so that I may have my time with Gala. I want to talk to her. I want to set things right with her. We went in with no hard feelings, though all the guilt has consumed me. Why must I hold all these emotions in?

The medicine that they put into Gala has kept her in a slumber for a while. Enough time that they were able to check her over, splint her arm, and give me a gentle pat on the back. I take nothing in though. I don't speak to them, even though they've given me an ice pack for my neck. The bruises that were fading from the fingerprints of Mason, now has a deep purple bruise on my collarbone from one of Gala's hits. I hold my hand on the pack though, and my legs drawn up close to my body. My casted arm back in the sling to relive the pressure of the weight of it.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. A sniffle.

A tear quietly escapes my eye. The water that forms at the base of my eyelid comes barreling down my cheek, showing the line of wetness against the dry. The fear in my mind that I've hurt her that bad that she still hasn't woken up and I've heard whispered claims of her rib punctured something. 'Not serious' but the fact that I actually let my fist ram into her ribs makes me that much more liable if anything happens to her.

Inhale. Exhale. Sniffle. Inhale.

Another tear follows the one before it and I fight with my emotions and I am more than happy that Matthew hasn't been in here yet. Maybe they are keeping him away until she wakes up or maybe they are giving me the time I need with her and hopes that she'll wake soon so that I may talk to her. Nothing but guilt and fear is running me right now. A nurse walks in and I watch her intently as she walks over to Gala and takes her blood pressure then checks a few other things on the monitor beside the bed. The constant humm of her heartbeat showing clear on the screen. It may be just a simple room, but the device is there when it's needed. I turn my head from the nurse when she gives me this solemn look of sadness. I don't need anyone's sympathy. I just need Gala to wake.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

The last thing Gala wanted is exactly what she gets, medical treatment and even a carry out of the area. At least she's drifting off to sleep, into slumber before they're even in a medic room. Breathing was decent, though heavier then usual, but understandable with the incident. They decide to keep an eye on her, at least until she awakes and they get the final damage. For once she doesn't put up a fight, or even have a sarcastic comment, but her entire life she's been most pleasant while sleeping. The nurses are even able to determine the extra impact to the broken areas most likely punctured something, though they stay quiet about it. Never before had they witnessed someone being so concerned over who they just fought. The extend of the puncture needed to be monitored before treatment could be given.

This time the nurses were smart enough to plan ahead, they're well done with checking the young career up and down, and are out of the room before she's able to wake up. Her identical twin stays outside the hall, knowing better to get caught in the crowd again. This time they're over the whole twin thing though. Gwen paces the hall, knowing better then to actually go in. One of the nurses had informed her that Kyanite was in there, but that Gala was doing decently. How furious she was over the fact that the one who had hurt her sister was the one in there, waiting to comfort her. To Gwen, even Matthew deserved that spot more then her....but then again she didn't understand everything going on in her twin's life.

Just brightness greets Gala as she awakes from a deep slumber. Her left hand reaches for the cover to pull over her eyes, but the swift movement of pulling her arm up along with the sheet brings a painful reminder of what happened. She slams her hand back down and notes to keep her ribs as still as possible. At least she's learned one career trick; bite hard down on a lip or cheek to prevent any screams. Showing weakness can be the greatest weakness. She wants to curl up, but knows better. Instead she decides to groan at her dislike of the location, just medical stuff surrounding her everywhere. Her eyes slowly adjust from the fog, but still she'd recognize that stuff blinded.

"Matt..." Instinctively she calls out for her trainer in a hushed raspy voice, pausing for a moment. No response. She's ready to curl up in a ball just to feel the pain. Alone, nurses, medical stuff. A shiver runs down her back at the thought of being alone. There was no way she could sneak out of her, as a simple turn made something extremely painful. "Kya..." Her voice sounds desperate by this point as she finally decides to use her eyes do some searching. Baby blue eyes scan the room until they fall upon Kyanite not to far away.

Gala simply stares for a second, until the tiniest smile comes across her lips. She's not alone. "Hey." Gala's voice is still soft as the rumble of her voice makes her entire chest ache. "Good job." She says sincerely and with as much volume as she can get out; a tad better then before. "You're gonna win this for me right?" She somehow pulls out a light joke, and even chuckles though it sounds more along the lines of an old smoker's laugh.

[Jack Lexington]

I just want to go home. Honestly I don't want to stick around to see how badly hurt my trainee got by my 'girl friend'. What I want even less is to face her because I'm fuming. Why did she have to do this? Why wasn't she more careful? She didn't need to break any bones to win. Points would have done the trick.

I'm on my way out of the building together with the mass of people but once I step outside into the cold air where the busses are shipping people home I can't get myself to board one.
"Fuck!" I mutter under my breath and kick the garbage can next to me.
There's no way I'm going to walk away while Gala, who ultimately is my responsibilty, is struggling so hard.
I look back at the building and wonder whether I'll punch Ky once I see her. I might.
So I turn away to go for a walk.
At least half an hour are spent walking and smoking until I finally make my way back inside the now almost empty building.
I take my sweet time to make my way to the treatment rooms hoping that she might have been transported to a hospital already.
Most of all I hope that Ky is gone.
I lift my hand to knock on the door but it swings open before I can knock and a nurse leaves.
"Is Gala in there?" I ask a little too grumpy and she nodds.
So I step inside, take a look around and find her in a bed at the far end with Kyanite sitting there and trying to make up for her fuck up.
As much as I want to be there for Gala I can't bring myself to close the distance because I'm afraid of what I might do or say to the older career.
From here I ask. "Are you okay, Gala?"
She looks like she will be...hopefully. "I'll come see you at home tomorrow."
Then I turn on my heal and shoot out of the room as I entered.

[*]

It's such a rare thing for me to cry. To have the salty tears roll down my face in front of someone, even if they were unconsious to the point that they weren't mentally aware of it. I never show my tears in front of anyone. Ever. My emotions are best kept under wraps where they should be. No girly emotions to invade the house of where my dad and brother live. They dont' care to see the tears and any form of wetness around the eyes was considered a weakness. I've learned to be hard after my mother died; until now.

Sitting here with Gala, praying for her to awaken, is about the hardest thing I had to do since I sat by my mother's side in her last few days. When the tears fell so often, that my eyes had finally dried up and wouldn't allow any more tears, only puffy red eyes at such a tender age of ten. Now, at sixteen, my eyes feel red. They collect salty tears in the corners for this girl that I've somehow bonded with to the point that I am sitting here with her while she sleeps under the medication to keep her still; because of what I had done. I move a hand up to my eye again, to rid my cheek of the rolling drop. I'm furious with myself and the whole situation.

I move my head downward against my knee, letting the fabric soak up the rest of the water from my eyes as I concentrate on the pain in my arm and the bruises. I want some form of physical pain rather then the guilt that spreads everytime my mind replays the last few moments. A sudden noise of a hand against the bed makes me stir. My head jerking upward to see the pained expression on Gala's face. She's awake.. thank God... Gala. I'm so sorry. My mind is already rushing into the apology before my mouth can go with it.

Then I hear as she starts calling out for Matthew and the jolt of his name sends panic through my system. I am not Matthew and she wants him. Not me. She knows I'm the reason that she's in this place and I can only think that I'm not wanted until my name comes next. Another jolt of guilt runs through me when her eyes open and she stares right at me. I give her a painful smile when she says "Hey" and a few other things. I nod to her when she asks if I'm going to win the pregames for her and since I'm going on to the next round, I will do what I have to in order to make sure that her defeat against me isn't going to go in vain. She somehow manages to chuckle slightly but stops with a wheeze. I shake my head slowly and before I have a chance to respond to Gala, the door barges open and Matthew's form instantly appears.

I don't know why, but I jump. I actually feel like a child being caught doing something wrong and I stare at Matthew when he doesn't even look at me. He stares at Gala and asks if she's alright. Before Gala could really even answer him, I open my mouth to say something only to get cut off with Matthew's next words. That he'd see her tomorrow at home and he's gone like that. Suddenly, I wish that Kayghna hadn't of dropped out of her games. Not only was I shunned by my father and brother, now, I have made the guy I've fallen in love with mad at me to the point he walks out on me as well. Everything is falling apart. I deserve it though. I know I do. How could I let my focus be severed like that and actually hurt not only Gala, but Matthew, too. I turn my attention to Gala after a moment, wipe away another tear and drop my head.

"Gala... I can't start to say anything but.. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened out there. I lost focus. I didn't mean to do that to you. I thought you might have moved out of the way. I thought we had it going well... " My words come out fast. A little painful in parts when my voice would get low. All the while, I could never fully look at her. To hurt someone who didn't deserve it, I manage to feel nothing but guilt and I know when to admit I've done wrong. "Gala... I didn't mean to."

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

How ironic that Gala's just as happy to see her opponent as much as her trainer, though both would of been amazing. Still a faint smile stays upon Gala's face after the sight of Kyanite, she's not alone. Once her vision becomes more focused she can see her visitor's puffy red eyes, and a few trails of where tears must of run down. What was wrong with Kya? Did Gala harm her just as badly, or was guilt overwhelming her? Due to the lack of believe the small career caused more pain the Kay, she went with her second guess. Instantly she's feels bad over the guilt, that was the last thing she wanted.

Before Kyanite has a chance to speak, Matthew barges into the room unexpectedly. The sight of the little one's trainer extends her grin even further, the pain was nothing compared to company. Having the two around was a good distraction, and in this case those are helpful for everyone. "Are you okay, Gala?" Matthew asks, and she nods her head with a soft yeah. There was something weird going on, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. The medicine was making everything confusing. "I'll come see you at home tomorrow." And before she has a chance to object, he's gone. What was that about?

Gala's eyes shift back over to Kyanite as another tears falls down her cheek. Right. He must be angry with how far Kya pushed it, if only he knew it wasn't her fault. Before the match, Gala was already broken, and had no business attempting round one again. The older female on the other hand is extremely strong, and smart, and deserved another chance. Even if it was out of the expensive of the youngest contestant, she was glad it happened actually.

"Gala... I can't start to say anything but.. I'm sorry. I don't know what happened out there. I lost focus. I didn't mean to do that to you. I thought you might have moved out of the way. I thought we had it going well... " Kyanite's voice is fast and covered thickly with guilt. The small one's heart drops just at the sound of her saddened friend. Didn't she understand it had to happen? That this was her chance to redeem herself? As much as Gala tries she can't force a smile to tell Kyanite it's going to be okay. Not because it wasn't true, but because it was impossible seeing someone she cares up hurt, and hurt over hurting her as confusing as that sounds. "Gala... I didn't mean to."

"I know." Gala cuts off the older career before she can continue to long winded apology any longer. It was hurting her more then any of the broken bones, or painful chest. "It was awesome!" She says with enthusiasm though her voice sounds like it's dying. "Did you hear how confused the crowd was?" The pain increases as if her tiny body's telling her she's getting too worked up.

Still there's a hint of sadness within Kyanite, and Gala wants nothing more then to proof to her it was all for the games. "I'm going to be fine, you know that." She tries to reassure, though she's not even sure herself. All she knows is that pains consumes her until the medicine kicks in. But she'd have to recover from this, she always does.

[*]

"Gala... I didn't mean to." The phrase comes out painfully from my quaking voice. I'm just curious, even with a heavy heart knowing Matthew just came and left, if she truely thinks I'm to blame and she hates me just as much as I was getting from Matthew. I could sense it from Matthew. I could tell he was absolutely pissed off at me. I don't know if it was for what I did or because I had taken the spot by her bed to await her to wake, but he left so quickly. He turned and walked out on me and Gala. Especially Gala of all people who didn't deserve this at all. She states she knows that it wasn't meant to happen and she even trys to convince me with a fact, but that can't do anything for me right now. I'm drowning in pain. I'm drowning in fear. The whole fact that she's laying in the bed instead of me is what kills me. I put her there yet she's cracking jokes. Is it that easy? Does she not hold any resentment for me at all? If it was the other way around, I'm sure that I would be furious with her.

I regain my old stance, pulling up one of my feet to my chest, but something takes my breath away and I remember that she hit me in the ribs as well as did Kayghna. It was nowhere near as painful as what I did to her. Damn this freaking training. Damn it all. My thoughts are vulgar and full of venom only to myself. For a few moments, I stare at the lines on my pants and at the threading stitches. Concentrating that hard is broken when Gala pipes up that she's goign to be fine and asks me for confirmation. I don't shake my head. I only look to her splinted arm.

"You know... what you said earlier. About being twins... Maybe when you get your cast, I can be the first to sign it?" I try my luck at a joke. All the time growing up, whenever someone would come in with a cast, signing it was one of the greatest pleasures to take away the pain. I want to take away her pain as well. I want to do whatever it takes to make what happened into a nightmare and wake up from it, but there's no waking up from this nightmare. Not for me. A minute later, I pull the ice pack from my neck and stand up and walk over to the small mini bathroom that is in this room. Just a toilet and sink, but above the sink is a mirror. Hesitantly, I pull the collar of my shirt down and get a full view of the purple hue that is taking over my collarbone. It matches nicely with the yellowing fingerprints on my neck. I stare at myself for a moment in the mirror before replacing the ice pack and going to stand at the foot of Gala's bed.

"Should be you, you know? In the second round. Going on to match with someone. To throw around a couple of knives or a spear at someone." I start running off at the mouth becuase I'm not sure what else to say. Instead I just keep spouting off about random stuff. Finally, I take a deep breath and move to sit at the foot of her bed, and pull my hand up to my cast and interlock my exposed fingers. "do you hate me, Gala? Be honest. Don't lie either. I can't blame you if you do. I can't blame you if you want me to leave and go get him back. But, you and I both know that Matthew is mad at me. I mean, he stormed in here... asked about you only... told you he'd see you at your house. He didn't even want to stay; not with me around. Do you think, he will stay angry at me for a while?" I bounce that question at her, dusting off a string from my pants.

A knock at the door meets with both of us at the same time and the door begins to open again. My heart drops for a split second thinking that Matthew was coming back but instead, I only see the white nurses outfit and I relax visibly.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

It was certainly not the first time for Gala to break something, and probably not her last either. After all she was the trouble maker of the family growing up, and if it wasn't falling out the tallest tree it's something else. But she never did have friends to sign in, though kids at school always did that. Giggling obnoxiously at some funny or cute comment they wrote. No wonder they were never fond of her, she found them as annoying as anyone found her. So Gwen would be an artist and draw something all around it like a tattoo, and each cast was better then the last. Now though Kyanite attempts pulling a Gala by pulling out something optimistic despite everything.

Still a large smile comes across the innocent, round face, along with obvious yes nod of her head. "Only if you write something funny." Gala comments, as if to say good job on the joke, A for effort. "Can I write something on yours?" She asks as her grin somehow grows even more. This is dorky, yet fun...

The change to happiness doesn't last long though, but who could blame her? It was awfully depressing with in any white, sterile room filled with medical machines and stuff. Gala's smile dies when Kyanite's does, hating that she was so upset because the young career practically ran into her attacks. Blocked a few, but didn't even dodge the others a little. The icepack that was nearly glued to where Gala had punched Kyanite, she finally removes, most likely because the icepack was now all water. She goes over to get a better look at herself and grab a new pack, but still the small careers gets a look at the damage she's done to her. But why did either of them have to be sorry over this? It was the pregames, they had to do that. It would of been embarrassing if it didn't go down any other way. They put on a better show then a circus ever could.

"Guess I got you good, huh?" Gala sighs and rests back within the bed. The more she works herself up, the more the pain arrives, she can put two and two together and do the smart thing. "And they declared you the winner." Pure sarcasm escapes, and Gala really hopes Kyanite's good at picking that stuff up... She hangs out with Matthew though, she had to by now.

It's not until Kyanite's back sitting at the foot of Gala's bed that she finally talks again, with a new icepack covering her nicely formed bruise. "Should be you, you know? In the second round. Going on to match with someone. To throw around a couple of knives or a spear at someone." Kyanite finds a different approach to the entire thing.

"You're kidding right?" Gala's eyes are large with shock. "That's even more mean then you putting me here." Please take that one as a joke. Gala plays a sorry grin upon her face. No wonder she lacks friends, her words don't usually come out right. She throws her head back with another sigh. "You know you're one of the best careers out there." Attempting to convince Kyanite of this was becoming impossible, but the little one was going to give it one more try. "I kicked Mason's ass more then yours...and you're even better with weapons." If anything the truth and facts would have to change her mind right? "Plus another match means another trip in here, I can't handle another hour."

It's more then just guilt over taking it too far though, as Kyanite has even greater fear over what Gala and Matthew now think of her. By now the young career had to of proofed her lack of anger towards the older one. But it seems as though she may be a bit more worried on what Matthew thinks though. The youngster bites down on her bottom lip to prevent a smile. "I'll talk to him, don't worry. He can't stay mad at you, it's not your fault." She explains, figuring by now she knew Gala did not hate her. That question was all directed towards Matthew, though she's not going to admit that.

A nurse gently knocks, but doesn't wait for a response to come in. They must of figured out by now what all is wrong, and that Gala's able to go home now. "Hey Gala how are you feeling?" She questions, once again checking everything though someone else just did that a little over thirty minutes ago.

"Great, can I go home now?" Gala cuts straight to the point, having no interest in the lady's kind words.

"We're actually going to need to be transferring you to the hospital." The nurse informs, and Gala's heart drops the pit of her stomach. That place is even worse then this place. "You're broken rib punctured your lung wh..." She stops herself, as the rumors of the young one's opponent was the one keeping her company. So instead of giving the complete details of the extra punch to the ribs causing this, she filters her words. "During the fight. It needs a minor surgery to make sure it properly heals itself, and you should be able to return home in a day or two."

[*]

"Can I write something on yous?" Gala asks to sign my cast, but the only thing that stops me is the lack of a writing utensil. I shake my head to Gala, pretending to feel around in each section of my clothing, both there and not there, to search for a pen, but come up short. I give her a solemn smile though for the situation.

"Fresh out of pens. Maybe, as soon as you get out of here in a little while, I'll sneak the permanent marker from the nurses desk and let you sign it? Will that work?" I ask her as everything starts to work it's way into order. My bruise on my shoulder as I go to look at it. The moment I go back to sit on her bed. Each little moment is my distraction away from what's going on in my life at the moment. Every little movement to keep me going makes my mind feel a little less bothered. Even when I go to sit at the foot of her bed, I didn't notice how she'd seen the bruise when I got a new ice pack to put on my neck to releive the burn.

"Nahh... Child's play. I've had worse then this before." I state, but that was usually in just one or two hits when it came to Jins. Just enough to put me into submission with him. I wonder now, if I was to meet up with him, If he would still have the same effect on me. Would he still hold the same amount of hatred toward him. I could take him, right? If he were to show up out of the blue. Could I manage to protect myself from him? I let my eyes wander over her figure as she lays there in the bed. I have no clue how much pain she is in, but the way she moves I can tell I've done more damage then ever, but little Gala always has to put in some form of a joke for me to react to.

"Haha, right? You totally got me." My voice shakes. The fingers on my good hand move like I've got the jitters from a day old empty belly. I just can't shake this feeling when it comes to seeing her in pain and in this place like this. And if it couldn't get worse, I try to make amends for what I've done by adding that she should have went on to the second round only to get a comment that stabs me. Even though her facial expressions try to evoke another emtion, I still hear the truth. "Sorry..."

From that moment on, I just listen to her. I let my ears take in the sound of her voice and the quietness when she doesn't speak. Until the nurse comes in. Things take a turn for the worse the moment that stupid nurse opens her mouth. Least she could have done was ask for me to leave or use different words, but the truth penetrates me through and through.

"Sur... surgery? Your kidding right, lady?" I state the moment I hear what she has to say. The words I try to repeat in my head to make sure I heard the same word and I get a very distinct, "Yes, I did say surgery. Her lung was pun..."She tries to tell me again but I jump up from Gala's bed and put my hands to my face, pulling the weight down on my cheeks to put this news through my head.

"No... I didn't hurt her that bad. I couldn't have. It was only an accident." Am I lying? I come out that word "Accident. The nurse tries to explain it again to me.

"With the force that was pressed up against her at the moment of impact, the broken bone..." She tries to explain again but fails when I start pacing. The woman looks at me bewildered and worried for a moment. I stop in my tracks, the tears returning before I wipe at them angrily. I can only stare after Gala for a few moments before I find myself walking backwards to the door. I slip out of the room in a hurry.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

For just a moment it's as if nothing happened. A small fight, like in a boxing ring with the contestants coming out with only a few bruises and scratches. Even better then that though, because the fighters are close. The little one that was hurt the most is the one to convince the older one of the fact everything's good, and finally she believes it. After all of the jokes and attempts to tell her she'll be okay everything's good. They even joke about the fight and how they both beat up each other equally, even if that's not how it happened. Gala's so happy to finally settle something, though it brutally ends as soon as the nurse speaks.

"Sur... surgery? Your kidding right, lady?" Kyanite questions as if the nurse was playing a prank on them. Honestly Gala couldn't even believe it herself. The pregames was nothing compared to her fear of the hospital. The small one stays speechless. The nurse confirms the bad news though they both know it's true. "No... I didn't hurt her that bad. I couldn't have. It was only an accident." Her voice sounds desperate as if she can take it away.

So many mix feelings go through the small career as she throws her head back against the bed in defeat. She was trying so hardly to convince Kyanite it was all going to be okay. Now though, she was going to the hospital. She could feel the back of her eyes burn with tears threatening to arrive. Somehow she holds them back though, biting down on her cheeks until she can taste that horrible iron of blood. Surgery? Suddenly it was all not okay. A night or two? Once again she slams her good fist to the bed, as if that'd make it better.

There was no getting out of this now. Gala could feel the horrible pain with every inhale she takes. This time she was unable to sneak out. She reaches for Kyanite's hand just to see her walking out the door. What happened? Gala didn't do anything. Yet the older female storms out of the door as if it's the end of the world. It almost feels as though time freezes as her only company walks out. The small career shuts her eyes tightly, as she digs as hard as she can into the insides of her cheek. She could feel her heart slamming against her broken ribs, as if Kyanite was her only way to ever escape this place. As if she's trapped forever.

With the fast beating monitor medicine automatically kicks in to calm the youngster, and to put her back to sleep; stress upon the lungs wasn't the best idea before surgery. She could still feel that sting of a tear forcing its way to her eye and down her cheek as she does her best to resist falling into slumber. "Leave me alone!" Gala yells at her twin Gwen walking into the room at her first chance of Kyanite leaving. It's her last wind and instantly falls asleep afterwards, but still it's enough to make her twin leave.

The medicine keeps the small career asleep well after the surgery. A few times she wakes up, wanting nothing more then to go back to her nightmares of the pregames, instead of being surrounded by a hospital room. Her sisters figure this is the perfect punishment for Gala, joining the pregames again even after their first disapproval. Even Gwen's too angry with her to visit. The first few times awaking lasts no more then a couple of minutes, and as much as she wants to pull away everything attached to her and the machines, she has to energy to.

Once Gala awakes to find a bit of strength she pulls all of the needles and what not keeping her monitors. It causes a load of pain but still she attempts to move from her bed only a few hours after surgery. She hardly makes it to the door before two nurses attempt to bring her back to bed. "Let me go!" Gala begs with a scream as if staying in the hospital was torture to her. The resistance just brings another shot, and another few hours of sleep. By the time she wakes up again, the pain and the memory convinces her to not do that again. It's not until Matthew arrives that she finally has company....

((OOC: And the end of thread, continues on another. Great one I'd say))