CAP: Dreams vs. Reality

[*]

"Kyanite? I'm sorry..." In the pitch black of night, I hear the voice of Gwen, but for some reason, I feel as if there's a blanket over my eyes. I can't see a thing, but I feel these hands touching my back and my shoulder. I feel multiple hands touching my arms and for a brief moment, I wonder why I can feel this strange coldness that runs up one of my arms. The chill lasts momentarily before it begins taking over my entire body. It starts just in my arm and intensifies ten fold when it reaches my shoulder. Then my heart begins to get suddenly frozen and from there, the rest of my extremities begin to have the same thing happen to them. The last part of my body to feel this chill is my face and it all circles around my head until it reaches the port of my cheek and I scream out in pain and drop to my knee in the complete darkness.

"Never lose focus again, Kyanite. Because you did that, you killed her. You killed my sister." Gwen's voice comes to meet with my ears again, making my scream stop abruptly when her body begins to visible with what's she's saying. Her eyes are nothing but red and swollen. Tears begin to fall into heaps at her feet. I shake my head furiously.

"I didn't. I didn't, I tell you. She's alive. She's well."

"How do you know? You ran out on her, remember? She died because of you." I get up from my knees and cross the distance over to her to get a better look at Gwen. She stays still, but the tears become larger with each drop.

"She can't.. you're lieing Gwen. Like you did when I first met you. YOU LIAR!" I don't even know what happened next, but I bring my fist up and go to punch her the moment she disappears, making me stumble and fall to the ground. I feel no pain though. I just feel the solid ground beneath me. I roll over to lay on my back.

"She's dead? Gala is dead?" I find myself saying as I look up to a small white dot far in the sky as it starts to get bigger and bigger. My eyes become heavy the longer I look at it, but soon enough, the small white dot begins to fade. "No! Don't leave me." I plead with the white form. I begin to sob.

A painful moan comes from my lips as my eyes begin to open suddenly. The crisp, white ceiling burns my eyes and I recoil from the bright hue of it. I lull my head to one side for a moment but feel something on my face that pulls when I do, so I return my head to the position where it feels comfortable. Behind my head, I feel the soft bump of a pillow and warmth on my legs of something; a blanket? I flinch when I try to move my hands though and get reminded of how heavy my left arm is with the cast. I'm back to reality. I take a few moments to let my eyes get adjusted to the light before I look down to see my right arm heavily bandaged, wrapped from my wrist to my elbow. Great! Just great. Another cast? I groan at the though of it all and keep still. My eyes close again, then open slowly. The fog of sleep weighing heavy on my eyes.

The images of Gwen suddenly comes to my mind and everything she said. Gala is dead? Without notice, my pulse begins to quicken on me. The moment of dread takes over as I begin to move to the side and feel nothing but jab of pain. Once again, I return to the position that doesn't make me flinch. "Help..." my mouth moves with the mumbled word but my cheek feels weird. My entire body feels weird like I'm floating or something. So, make myself think. I take a moment to think about the images I saw before I looked up to the bright white walls. It had to be only a nightmare. Gala couldn't be dead. I refuse to believe that. Though, why didn't I see her when Matthew tried to come after me right after my match? Could it be true? Matthew, was you trying to tell me something. Did... she die, Matt? TELL ME! I feel a pool of salt water forming at my eyes. I let the drops roll off my eyes without caring to wipe them.

I roll my head to the side again, despite the pain because no one responded to my word of help I spoke a moment ago, and see in the doorway of this very white room, the form of Gwen again, or at least I thought so for a moment. I blink back the water in my eyes, letting them flow down my face before I focus on the image again. This time, I see Gala. I see her staring at me. My first thought is my first words to her. "Am I dead?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Usually Gala was one to become angry easily, hold grudges forever, just as stubborn qualities hold. But seeing the guilt and pain within Kyanite before she stormed out of the hospital took her anger. Even if it did mean a night alone in the one place she despises most. The next day she even agrees with her trainer to stay another lonely night within the horrible hospital room if he'd take her to Kyanite's match. Knowing she'd probably try to escape, Matthew agreed to do so. Gala was disappointed every day Kyanite avoided her, feeling as if the youngster herself did something wrong. No one did anything if only the other two would understand that.

Despite her sadness of Kyanite's lack of visiting, Gala goes to her match with a huge grin upon her innocent face. After all the older female had promise to make sure the little one's defeat doesn't go down in vain. The battles with weapons is much different from unarmed though, with blood everywhere; Gala's unable to even tell where the actually cuts are with all of the red. She doesn't leave the edge of her seat as she screams and cheers as much as her broken ribs and lung allows. The weapons make the fight go by in a blink of an eye unlike the other fights.

Before Gala even has a chance to look to her trainer he's rushing down the stairs to get to Kyanite. Back to the field and the female's nearly off of it already. The small career sighs as begins her hobble to try to make it to them. She doesn't even both with the stairs as she leans over a rail to peer her head down in the direction they went. A good distances away she can see the two embracing, and then Matthew even brings his lips to Kyanite.

"I knew it." Gala whispers with a smile, everything was better now. A few words are exchanged with Kyanite's opponent, but nothing much. Then Kyanite pushes away from Matthew's comfort and takes the wall for support instead. The girls certainly could be sisters with how stubborn they both are. A sigh escapes Gala as she watches the nurses assist Kya, and Matthew stand back, probably unsure with what to do. What happened?

She wobbles down the stairs, but by the time she turns the corner everyone's gone. The nurses, Kyanite, Matthew, gone. Another sigh escapes as she continues down their path, hoping to eventually catch up. This crippled thing better go by fast. By the time she's outside their pulling away for the trip to the hospital.

((Somehow Gala gets to the Hospital, and finds Kyanite's room))

By now the nurses know the young career very well, and even assumes she's there for a checkup as she knows her way around. Though a strange look is upon there face to see Gala so calm and willingly going through the hospital. Still they say nothing, not even when she asks for directions to Kyanite's room. Well she does purposely go up to the one who had to deliver the bad news of the surgery, knowing she'd let her see Kyanite.

For a while Gala just sits there and waits, thankful to not be the one in the bed this time. At least by the time she arrived Kyanite was already stitched up, the blood all cleaned up and all. She sighs a few times as she watches the older female asleep, her expressions changing dramatically as something goes through her slumber. A few times the youngster dozes off, and eventually she finally decides for a stroll down the hall. Maybe she could snatch someone's pudding.

As soon as the sound of beeping comes from Kyanite's room, Gala's direction goes away from the thought of food and back down the hall to her friend. Certainly she had to be fine right? The nurses did say she lost a lot of blood, but she was always hooked up to something to help that... right? Panic runs through the small one for some odd reasons, even if she remembers that stupid thing going off whenever she got worked up during her visit.

"Am I dead?" Kyanite questions as her eyes fall upon Gala in the doorway.

"Do I look like an angel?" Gala jokes with pure sarcasm as she makes her way over to the chair besides Kyanite's bed. "Why would you think that?" She asks a little concerned, her joking expression quickly fading at the closer sight of the broken female. Before she was able to get a good look, but now it was different with her being awake.

"How ya feeling?" She asks as she takes a seat. Sure it was the most common question within a hospital, but she truly wanted to know. "Need me to steal any painkillers for you? I know they don't give enough." Still she's unable to resist a small joke, figuring if anything she may pull off getting a small smile.

[*]

My voice comes out with a bit more force then I could of, but it still came out with a slow slurring on my tongue to the blond. The response I get from her tells me instantly that my first assumptions of it being Gwen is wrong. It is truely Gala and as I look at her more, I see more and more that she's alive and well. Standing in the doorway, I see her mouth move and she begins to make her way over to me. As soon as she sits in the chair, I look down to her and give her a weak smile, then my lips return to the fine line. I bring up my bandaged hand and bend it to meet with my eyes, even though just the movement itself pulls the many stitches that had been used to close the deep, long gash. My fingers sweep across my right eye, then move gently across my left eye careful of the dressings that cover the injury on my face. I flinch though because of the swelling on my cheek beneath the gauze. I groan once again.

"I guess there wouldn't be pain if I was dead... so, I guess not." I finally say, a little late to her questions. Though, the second part of her question, I stray from talking about because it makes me think about the dream. I feel my heart drop for a moment and the monitor beside me spikes up a little bit but after a second returns to a normal rate. I let my eyes wander up to the numbers for a moment, making myself calm before I turn back to Gala when she asks a common question. I give a slight nodd to her and look to my hand as I begin to move it down to let it rest against blankets.

"Hmmm, can I think on that for a while?" I give her my answer and wait for a few moments to really start checking out my surroundings. "The pain is kinda the only reason I feel like I'm still alive, but you're welcome to steal it for yourself if you need it, courtesy of Kya." I tell her giving off a hint of humor in my lips. Almost immediately after that, I bring my arm backward a little bit to prop myself up, but my stomach begins to hurt as I do so. I lean back down quickly, closing my eyes and breathing through the pain for the moment. That's when I start to remember the pain that sent me to the ground though, when I was with Matthew right after my match. My stomach was killing me and before I knew it, the darkness had engulfed my consciousness. Was the injury that Mark made on me be the cause of that? The cut on my cheek and arm too?

"So, what's the diagnosis doc?" I ask Gala and force myself to roll over on my side despite the pain in my stomach. My backside is numb from laying for so long and I know if I don't move, I'll get more stiff. "How long have I been out?" I question her and begin to wonder about one more thing and I hesitate before I ask. "Has... Matthew been here?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

As Kyanite reaches more into reality, it's clear she gets more feeling of the pain as well. It's difficult to see someone Gala cares about so hurt, but the only way she could think of helping is by jokes. She wasn't a doctor, and certainly no magician, so her assistance was limited. The only thing that she could actually pull off that may take Kya's pain she has to consider. "Hmmm, can I think on that for a while?" She asks and the silence returns for a few moments. Already with her sleeping for so long nothingness was filling the air.

With boredom hitting Gala a while age she decides to entertain herself with following Kyanite's eyes as they scan around the room; trying to guess what she was staring at, though eventually she figures out the trail through all the machines. "The pain is kinda the only reason I feel like I'm still alive, but you're welcome to steal it for yourself if you need it, courtesy of Kya." Despite the sadness and pain surrounding her, Kyanite pulls out a light joke.

"Already got some." Gala comments with a small giggle, wiggling her jacket pocket with her good hand. "You sure though? It's not as fun seeing you in pain." She keeps the subtle humor, figuring it was helping even if only a little. "I promise you're alive."

The older career attempts at sitting up though she doesn't get too far before the pain forces her back down. "So, what's the diagnosis doc?" Kyanite questions the small one, bringing a smile upon her young face in the process. It was nice having the joking manner, toke away from the horrible place they were in...it didn't matter who was in the bed, the place sucks.

"I'm no doctor." Gala shakes her head with another laughter, this time an actual one instead of a mixture into her voice. "But I did eavesdrop, you just needed stitches. Lots of blood loss, but you'll recover." She smiles reassuringly, those rare dimples arriving whenever it's a happy-sad sort of grin. "You're a tough cookie."

"How long have I been out?" And of course the other questions begins, a small pause occurring before the next question. Gala doesn't answer one has she can feel the second one dancing on Kyanite's tongue. "Has... Matthew been here?" Of course the youngster had predicted that one before Kyanite even awoke.

"Quite a few hours...pretty sure it's the next day by now. One a.m at least?" Gala informs, figuring she should go in order...or maybe torture Kyanite for a second, as the other answer was more important. "Not yet. But I'm sure he'll be here soon." She pulls out a marker that she had though to grab on her way over, staying in the opposite pocket of the painkillers. "Figured now would be a better time then ever to do some cast signing. You've got a while before they're letting you out." She teases, very glad to be the one at the side of the bed this time. "Plus you're pretty famous now being the toughest female career, and I wanna be the first one to have it." This kind thing was a first, but at least she could mix it in with being funny. "You're the only chick to make it to round two." She tells, figuring Kyanite didn't understand why Gala would say that. It's true after all.

[*]

"Already got some." Gala giggles, shaking her jacket pocket. I have to stiffle a laugh though. She was just like Matthew already. A spitting image of the great one himself. Though, at the moment, I try not to think about him for long. I still think to the way he held me before I shoved him away. I must have hurt him when I did that, but I was still so full of anger at him, and add in the pain from the match and the surprise that he was actually there didn't help either. I had not even known he would show up after the argment and fight we had over the fight between me and Gala. That's when it hits me that even though I disappeared and walked out on both of them, they were always there to want to help me. Once again, I have to make myself feel guilty for the way I've treated them both. I've never had to experience friendships like this before. The only person that I got close to was also the one that bullied and hurt me growing up. Friendships never lasted with me and maybe that's why I was pushing Matthew away already? Because I was used to it happening to me.

Still, silence rings out from me for a moment, before I reach for the call button but hold off on pushing it. I've got a sudden need to use the restroom, but dare not do it right at this moment. The thought of going somewhere with a mirror is daunting. I can feel the swelling on my face even without touching it and I dread having to see the gauze taped on my face. I merely nod to Gala on the question of needing some of the morphling, but soon, I feel as though I will end up calling the nurse for it. The throbbing in my cheek is starting to bother me the more I talk, but I hide it externally.

"To be alive... hurts though. Guess, I can't win for losing right?" I find something else to humor the youngster with and move to my side and take a deep breath for a minute letting my body settle to the new arrangement. I look at the iv in my hand and the cord leading up to the liquid that drips slowly through the tube. I can only imagine they use that to keep me going since I'd lost so much blood as Gala describes to me. The stitches I can feel. Though, I wonder about my stomach. Why it hurts so much. The last I remember was my shirt was soaked through, but I'd not gotten a chance before I passed out to look at the damage.

"Hmmm... You don't say.. or rather listened..." and for the perfect moment after what Gala says, she makes a good comeback to what she said. "If I'm such a touch cookie, why do I feel so crummie?" I find somewhere deep within me that bit of humor that makes me actually laugh before I stop. My stomach hurts a bit and I allow myself a moment to put my hand to my abdoment to feel the thick bandages that cover it. I sigh heavily.

Gala explains how long I had been out for and I already wonder when they will let me go. I also wonder how long it would be before they come in checking on me. I have no clue what the schedule is for checking on patients, but pushing the call button is getting even more tempting with my need to pee. The fluids running through the tube is doing its job.

The second that Gala answers my question about Matthew, I have to literallyl close my eyes. I had ruined it between me and him and all because of the need to get back into the pregames the moment I lost my focus and hurt my only friend. The guilt begins to rise up in me again before Gala starts spouting off the cool thing about me being famous.

"The only girl who got to round two and got busted in three hits. I think that's more impressive. How many hits does it take to take down the only career female? One.. two... three... splat." I joke with her and let this curious smile take full on my lips. With that joke, I can't wait any longer and reach up to push the call button.

Looking at Gala, I begin to move to get up, pushing against the bed rather uncomfortably because both of my arms are pretty much useless right now at this time. How lucky was I, that I had to be the one to have both arms out of commission. I'd much rather be in Gala's position and at least I'd be able to use one of my hands for something so urgent. A moment later, a nurse comes in, and sees me trying to get up and she reaches my side within a second.

"Kyanite, you need to lay back down okay? Are you in pain? I can see about getting you something to take the edge off for you?" She chimes in as she tries to get me to lay back down but I shake my head.

"Restroom, please..." I beg her and she understands my need now, and actually helps me to a sitting position before she disconnects my line to the dripping solution. Without the assistance other than just to get up, I return a few moments later and she helps me lay back down again. She reconnects the tubing to the machine and pulls the covers back up to my hips.

"Thanks. Any chance I'll be getting out of here soon?" I ask her and she gives me a quaint smile.

"Always so eager to get out of the hospital. YOu and your little friend here must think we only give pain here. Well, you'll have to rethink that one. I'll be back shortly with something to take that edge off, alright?" She tells me as she exits and I stare at Gala again.

"I"m getting out of here in the morning, whether they like it or not... When... is Matthew's match? Do you know if he's mad at me?" I question her again.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

There's a lot of pain that comes from losing, both mentally and physically. "To be alive... hurts though. Guess, I can't win for losing right?" Kyanite gives off a slight joke though it has a bit of a sting to it. Gala shifts in her chair a little bit, as if to get into a comfortable position, though she feels a bit awkward. After all the older female made it to the second round. Losing and pain's a touchy subject all together at this point; and her young cocky spirit is unable to cover all of Gala's disappointment in herself.

"At least you're alive though." Gala comments, hiding away any of her sad thoughts about not having a weapon during any of the matches. How much that must of been. Though not having to get stitches from another person's blade made up for the fact. "Plus the one that supposedly one received a few stitches and blood-loss himself you know?" She attempts to cheer up by giving the opponent's damage; even if Gala didn't pay any attention to him.

"Hmmm... You don't say.. or rather listened..." Kyanite's voice sounds a bit better, giving the small one a relieving sigh. "If I'm such a touch cookie, why do I feel so crummie?" The play with words actually brings a chuckle to Gala, even if it was a way for the older career saying she wasn't feeling that great.

"Because you're in the hospital, duhh." Gala answers as if everyone hates the place as much as she does.

Even if was extremely dorky, Gala was certain convincing Kyanite she's amazing by being the only female in round two would work. It sort of does, but not as much as she was hoping. "The only girl who got to round two and got busted in three hits. I think that's more impressive. How many hits does it take to take down the only career female? One.. two... three... splat." Even though she's making fun of herself Kyanite puts it in a joking manner once again. Anyone else would probably hate not being able to have a straight conversation, but this was exactly Gala's language.

"SO!" Gala nearly screams, that tingling pain returning to where her lung was healing. Don't get worked up, relax. She has to remind herself. "You kicked Kay's ass, and mine kind of." She plays off, even though it was the other way around. "YOU made it to round two, you're a toughest female career out there." She over exaggerates the you, but was willing to do anything by this point to make Kyanite feel better.

The signing casts seem to get Kyanite's mind off of the bad for a minute, and she attempts to sit up to do so though pain clearly brings her back down. A nurse rushes in at that instant, probably being brought in by the machines monitoring Kyanite. After a couple of days in here, Gala's learned to ignore all of the annoying noises. She asks Kyanite if she needs anything, but she only request going to the bathroom. WIth help, the small one's only sitting there a couple of minutes before her friends back in bed. The last thing Kya asks before the nurse disappears is exactly what they would expect out of the small one waiting beside her.

"Always so eager to get out of the hospital. You and your little friend here must think we only give pain here. Well, you'll have to rethink that one. I'll be back shortly with something to take that edge off, alright?" The nurse shares, bringing in a bit of a humor herself with the stubbornness both the girls in front of her shared.

"You do." Gala mumbles quietly as the nurse makes her way out of the room. She turns her gaze back over to Kyanite, a weak smile spreading to her lips as if encouragement for her older friend.

"I"m getting out of here in the morning, whether they like it or not... When... is Matthew's match? Do you know if he's mad at me?" Kyanite questions as their eyes meet and the nurse is well out of the room.

"I'll help you." Gala offers rhetorically, because her goal in life is to cause as much trouble as possible. Plus if anyone was to understand escaping from a hospital it was her. "In two days I'm pretty sure." She informs the seconds question, trying to do her best to stay in order though they're all coming out at once. "And no he's not." Gala reassures, remember seeing them kiss and embrace early that day. "Trust me."

She averts her eyes for a few as silence fills the air. This place is so boring, just one of the reasons why is sucks so much. Gala turns her attention back to Kyanite, having nothing more to look at then some white walls and machines. "If I sit on the edge of your bed do you think you could sign my cast?" Gala asks, eager to have someone besides Gwen make a mark upon a cast healing another broken bone. She gets up and scoots on the bed, hardly taking up any room with her tiny disposition. With the marker upon the table beside Kya's bed, the youngster reaches over and offers it, as if saying she's there to help.

[*]

The nurse leaves abruptly after her required assistance to get me up for my need to use the restroom. I watch the woman's figure leave through the door, shutting it just so and quietly. It was so late at night, that I could tell just by the way the window behind the blinds seemed to express nothing but blackness. I sigh heavily for a minute raising a hand up to my face and grimacing with the light touch on the bandage. Just the thought of something to take the pain away is very tempting. I can't possibily wait for her to come back. It isn't till after my short trip, so I realize how weak I do feel after everything that has happened. How the blood loss has really effected my limbs and my ability to get tired so quickly. How the moment I got situated back in the bed did I feel releif.

"Laying down actually feels good right now." I say to Gala, watching for her expressions after she tells me that she'd help me escape this dismal place. I began to wonder what she did when she was made to stay here, too. Did she have the company like I did after I left. How horrible I feel for doign that to her. I"m sorry Gala. I was scared. I didn't know what else to do. The apology sounds good in my head, but I can't seem to voice it out to her. So, instead, I listen more to her when she tells me that Matthew isn't mad at me, but still hasn't come to visit me in the hours that I had been out of it. That kind of answer actually makes me feel sadness knowing that he took my pushing him away seriously. I guess I let my eyes show it for a moment to Gala before turning my face into the pillow and taking in a deep breath. I let the cool scent of alcohol and hospital fabrics penetrate my nose before I turn my head back to look at Gala.

"What ya looking at?" I whisper out but she doesn't answer me, but instead she asks if she can sit on the side of the bed and to sign her cast. I give her a wonderous smile. "Of course, Gala." I chime and while she gets up and gets on to the bed, I move over more so she'll be able to sit cross legged on the bed with me. Right now, I'm not really tired, just sorta hurting, but this is helping with that.

"Scoot further on the bed and get comfy, please. It's better than that chair. Oh, thanks for being a distraction, Gala." I say and with her help, she hands me the marker. Once again, I use my elbow to prop my body up, grimacing heavily until I'm up to a sitting position. It takes me a few moments, but with a straightened back, I begin to make my mark on her cast. The lettering I make is neat and precise, even if the bumpy surface of the cast isn't truely ideal. On the 'i', I put a small little explostion mark and then underline my name with a personal touch underneath of four little X' and O's.

"There we go. Now, it's your turn, G. Mind being the first on mine?" I hand her the marker and put my left arm out for her. "If the other one was a hard cast, I'd have to ask you for two signatures just so that would match, but can't do that on the guaze." While I wait for her to make her mark on my cast, I look at her, biting the inside of my lip.

"Why did you stay here with me? I mean, not even Matthew came here. Neither my brother nor my father didn't even come. I expected my brother at least, maybe, but... I didn't expect for either of you two to even be there at my match after the way I treated you both." I can't help but swallow this lump forming in my throat, but I take a breath and continue. "I didn't stay for you, so why did you stay for me?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

If there's one thing Gala good at, aside from causing trouble, it'd have to be coming up with things to do in the most boring of times. Within a hospital room it's difficult with limited things to come up with, but signing each other's cast is good enough for both of the girls. "Of course, Gala." Kyanite's voice sounds a bit happier despite all of the pain, and she even scoots over to give the small one a comfortable spot. "Scoot further on the bed and get comfy, please. It's better than that chair. Oh, thanks for being a distraction, Gala." She brings a huge smile to the innocent face sitting next to her.

"Any time!" Gala jokes though it is sincere, she'd sit beside Kyanite or Matthew for days in the hospital if needed. Though it'd get really boring. "Though do try to stay out of the hospital." She watches each curve and line as the career makes her mark on the cast, her smile not fading for a second as someone else besides Gwen finally writes something.

The marker's handed back to Gala, along with; "There we go. Now, it's your turn, G. Mind being the first on mine?" Kyanite offers up her own cast, and for a second everything's normal. Well for a career, only those females would enjoy signing casts more then painting nails. A shiver runs through Gala at the thought of that, and she's extremely thankful to not have a girly friend. "If the other one was a hard cast, I'd have to ask you for two signatures just so that would match, but can't do that on the guaze."

"No marker poisoning for you." Gala comments with a chuckle, after all she did want to Kyanite out of her as soon as possible. Even not being the one in bed, this place sucks. "My handwriting's not nearly as nice." She warns as she begins scribbling her name a reasonable size on Kyanite's cast. It feels so simple with only four letter, with two of them being the same. Nothing as cool as Kyanite. But she couldn't help her name. To make up for she draws a smiley face, heart, and peace sign nearly as big as her actual name. She smiles proudly at her work, even if it's not that great. "And plenty of room for Matthew." She teases as she caps the maker to prevent any marks in unwanted places.

"Why did you stay here with me? I mean, not even Matthew came here. Neither my brother nor my father didn't even come. I expected my brother at least, maybe, but... I didn't expect for either of you two to even be there at my match after the way I treated you both." The truth arrives with the next part, shocking Gala completely. She was completely used to people not owning up to things they did, and ignoring them all together. "I didn't stay for you, so why did you stay for me?" Clearly guilt still consumes her, even with all of the pain. What a horrible conversation that must be.

"Staying." Gala corrects as she doesn't budge from the bed, after all Kyanite did offer it with the addition that its more comfortable then the chair. That was for certain. She scoots over to the opposite end of the bed, her rib nicely bandage so no need to lean back. Bringing her feet up to the bed was certainly more comfortable though, plus makes a clear indication she wasn't going anywhere. She shrugs as she considers the second part, being very delayed from when Kyanite actually verbalized it. In a way Gala did have a little grudge against the fact she was left in the hospital alone for so long, Matthew didn't even stay longer then ten minutes. Now wasn't the time to be angry at anyone, especially the two older careers.

"I know how lonely and boring it can get in here." Gala gives another shrug. "Didn't want you to go through that." She keeps her eyes down, letting them dart back and forth between the two fresh signatures. "Plus you and Matthew are the only friends I got." Another shrug as she admits the stuff she considered stupid. Getting emotional, and sad wasn't her thing. She wasn't even sure where that came from.

So of course Gala suddenly changes the topic. "I'd say we should play cards, but you don't even have one good arm." Gala teases as she quickly shifts from the sorrow. "You sure you don't want any painkiller?' If she just kept spatting stuff off the conversation would have to change. She pulls out a couple from her pocket and takes one herself, offering some to Kyanite. Distraction. "So when do you think we can start training again?" One of them will have to do the job.

[*]

I finish signing Gala's cast and for some reason, I felt like it was hypocritical of me because I was the one that put her in the cast in the first place. In a way, it also felt like things would get back to normal for us both. Since my mark was on her cast, it was saying we were friends again. That all is forgiven. A wish of wellness to her while she heals with just the letters of my name to penetrate through the hard rock and send healing wishes down into her bone. Then the tables are turned even though she didn't break my arm. Kayghna did. Still, the same though goes through my head as wishing me well to heal fast. I chuckle slighty seeing how messy her signature is to mine, but I don't voice that opinion. I loved the signature all the same because it was the only marks to grace my cast. I do wonder, but throw the thought away, if Matthew would sign it. Both of ours. I shake my head to my inner thoughts and see her recap the black marker.

"I just can't imagine Matthew signing these things." I tell her honestly knowing he don't like the publicity of being around girls in the first place, but to put his name on a cast of two? It acutally amuses me a bit. I turn my cast inward to me to study the pictures that she drew just as equally as large as her own four lettered name. "Lovely, G. Just lovely. Thank you." I tell her with enthusiam before I got into a more serious discussion with my friend. I have to let the smile fade when I do it because the topic I'm about to lay out to her goes deeper into my skin then the cuts on my skin. I bit my lip through, causing me to taste a metalic substance before I voice out what I needed to know. It only takes Gala less than a second to correct me.

"Staying..." I nod to her, a faint smile forming on my lips at the present tense verb instead of me using the alternative. I wait for her to tell me and it doesn't take long at all for her to tell me like it is. Not only that, but she clearly makes herself more comfortable on the bed that I offered up to her claiming it was better than the chair. She brings her feet up, once again, showing that she isn't going anywhere. A jolt of pain shoots through my arm and I move it just a little to straighten it out and grimace as I listen to her. Now would be a good time for the nurse to come in with the medicine, but she don't.

"I know how lonely and boring it can get in here. Didn't want you to go through that. Plus, you and MAtthew are the only friends I've got." I nearly want to drop my bottom lip and let it gape open for a moment when I hear the last thing she said. That, both me and Matthew, were the only friends she had? That didn't seem possible at all. She was a strong young career. Her family loved her, I know? Her sister did for sure seeing as how she was her twin afterall, and she was there, even if she was late, for what happened after her match. It didn't seem possible that could be true for little Gala. I bring in my lip a little and bit solely on one spot for a second and advert my gaze away when she began talking once again, changing the subject. I didn't want to add to the moment of saying the same thing. I've only had a handful of friends myself, but my career training life didn't leave much room for friends. Though, they are the only two that have seemed to stick around for me. I guess we all three just seem to make an unimaginablely great trio.

And I leave it up to Gala to change the subject to make a joke about me being a full cripple without the use of my arms. Both of them wrapped and with casts. Both of them that is nothing but a pain to deal with because putting pressure on either of them is out of the question. It also means a great deal of time away from weilding weapons and throwing knives. A jolt of remorse comes at that moment when Gala said that though. I won't be throwing knives. I won't be doing weapons sparring. At least for the next two or three weeks, my right arm will still have the stitches on it. As deep as the gash was, I can only imagine my uselessness is going to get to me. My other arm will be out of commission for longer than that. At least a few more weeks longer than my right. I shake my head, feeling the pit of my stomach drop. What will I do now? As useless as I am... No use in training... cause I can't. What will I be able to do? I'd be surprised that my dad don't just disown me after this. I contemplate my future at my home.

"You sure you don't want any painkillers?"

I nod to her and watch as she takes one of the tubes of morphling and downs it in a second, but the moment that she offers me some, I hear a knock on the door and I use my casted hand to quickly knock Gala's hand down to hide the evidence. I give Gala a quick smile before the nurse comes in. I try to make it look as normal as possible, despite the grimace that is far from fake from the movements again my stomach. She notices it immediately, I see.

"Already sitting up, my dear? You doing alright?" She asks seeing Gala sitting on my bed and in her hand, she has two needles and some type of tube of medication. I give her small nod.

"Yeah, I was tired of laying down." I just give her that bit of information but she asks once again about how I'm doing.

"Are you in pain, Miss Ruze? Don't lie to me either. You careers are all the same. Afraid to admi..."

"Yes. And I'm not afraid to say I'm in pain. Not now." I look to Gala, honesty written all over my face. What can I say, after so many stitches and bloodloss, I'll take anything I'm given. I look to her when she hears my confession and puts one of her hands up as if she's defending herself from me.

"Sorry, wasn't trying to offend you Miss. Was just making a joke. Mostly, it's the guys that are stubborn and refuse the treatments. You? I can see a good head on your shoulders." She states and I can only think to myself that I was still responsible for putting that cast on Gala's hand. Good head on my shoulders... as long as I don't lose my focus. She takes the two needles and simultaneously injects the needles into the tubing line of my IV. Each of the medicine starts to go through my veins, creating this icy cold feeling to penetrate my body. My head spins suddenly with this new feeling. Must be a stronger form of the morphling... damn... One more second, and I feel the need to lay down.

"I need to lay down..." I state and the nurse is already helping me lay back, and the moment my head hits the pillows, the pain in my stomach and in my arm is gone. It's almost this numbing type of feeling. The icy cold tingling that's running through my veins.

"Miss Ruze, while I'm here, I'm going to check your stomach and apply this creme to it. It'll only take a second." I nod to her and look to Gala for a moment hoping that she'll turn away from seeing the wound.

"Miss, if you'll step out please for just a few moments?" She asks Gala, but I immediately voice out my opinion.

"She can stay." I close my eyes, getting lost in the euphoria of the morphling.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

"You never know." Gala comments to Kyanite's doubt of Matthew signing their cast. For some reason the pregames were bringing them together more then anything else. Seeing each other at their best of fighting, then hurt...it does something for any kind of relationship. After Matthew's first fight, it felt as if they were all truly good friends. Not just people to see at the career gym, but the ones to celebrate the good and bad with. "He gave me a hug for the first time after I got the surgery." She actually shares though she's not really one for it. But Kyanite was different, the little career felt a need to be honest with her. "Plus you know he likes you to." She even adds, remembering the kiss she witnessed them have after the older female's match. Matthew may hate girls, but he must have an exception for Kyanite and Gala by now.

A bit of regret sets it when Gala admits to only having the two friends, she probably shouldn't of shared that. What if it only discouraged Kyanite from being her friend? Though with the position they're in, the bond they've formed, that was had to unlikely. She could only hope for the best, and thank that the older career doesn't comment further on the subject. Instead she gently pulls the bottle of pills down as a nurse arrives back in the door. A smile grows upon the cubby cheeks as it was clearly protection from getting in trouble. Gala was just happy to be able to consume some first, even still her damaged body was covered in pain.

The nurse is surprised that Kyanite's sitting up, and says something else about how she shouldn't lie about being in pain. Apparently all careers do that, way to stereotype. But Kyanite easily admits to being in pain, and even gives a look to Gala as if a bit ashamed from not hiding away the pain. But why do that? This was no place to deny painkillers, in any shape or form. The young career does her best to give a reassuring smile, after all she did just down a couple herself. The hospital was simply an awkward surrounding.

For some reason the nurse feels the need to defend herself, feeling as if she said something wrong. All that matters is the fact that she injects the shots to reduce pain to Kyanite. It seems to immediately effect her to, as she request to lay back down and the nurse assists her. Before the nurse leaves she needs to check the stitches upon her stomach, apply some cream or what not. At first Gala's asked to leave for a little, though Kyanite says she doesn't have to. Of course the little one gives the nurse a nasty look for mentioning such a thing. For a second she's tempted to lie, say she's her sister or something, but the older career's request is enough.

At first Gala looks away, though she's unable to not look over at Kyanite's stitched up stomach. Now that it's stitches and cleaned up it doesn't look to bad, but still it's a horrible wound. For some reason the little one's only thankful that Kya pulled her out of the second round, even if a bit of damage came out of it. The punch to the ribs was at the beginning, and now with a lung that needs healing she couldn't imagine another fight. So another broken body part was almost worth it. Who knows how many broken pieces could of arrived from a weapon. Stitches seem as bad as surgery from her point of view.

After the nurse leaves it's clear that Kyanite's ready the drift back off into slumber. The entire time Gala stayed awake as she waited for the older career to awake, and now she was feeling the sleepiness as well. The pills were helping as well. Without eve the other she changes her position to lay next to Kyanite, though on her side as to give the broken career plenty of room. "Mind if I stay tonight, it's kind of to late to go home...promise to not take up to much room." She gives a slight smile because she already knows the answer.

[*]

"She can stay. She's family." I tell the nurse as she nods her head to me and allows Gala to stay. Gala, on the other hand, gives the nurse a nasty look for suggesting that she leave my room while she does the treatment on my stomach. I can't help but grin before closing my eyes and resting against the pillow that seems to ease some pain just by relaxing my body. I don't move much the moment the nurse pulls my dressing gown up to reveal the bandages and easily removes the taped down gauze. Looking down at the wound, it almost sickens me to see the redness that outlines the healing wound and the many indentions of where each and every stitch was placed to close up the gash across my midsection. I'm lucky that Mark didn't hit any lower but instead, he stayed just under my ribs. Either way, it's uncomfortable the moment that she begins to spread the cool cream over the stitches area and around the surrounding skin. I flinch with every touch, but keep my eyes closed hoping it'll be over soon.

"There we go, Kyanite. I'll come back sometime in a few hours to redress your arm and treat it as well. Get some sleep, dear. You need it." I nodd my head as I wait for the sensation of the pressure to leave me where she had retaped more clean gauze over the area of the stitches. With the gentle movement of my dressing gown now placed over my body again, she reaches for some gel that she rubs on her hands, checks the monitors and dismisses herself.

"If you need anything, just hit the call button." She tells me and I open my eyes momentarily to see her stare at me before opening the door and closing it back. The latching of the door is what makes me feel like I'm truely alone with Gala again. Freedom to speak again and not have to worry about her prying ears to listen in on our conversation and stuff.

"It's not that bad is it? My stomach?" I ask her, wanting to know the truth. Feeling it is one thing, however, seeing it on the other end is what I'm curious about. My curiosity is mainly to think about what Matthew will say the next time we are together. If the marks on my skin will ward him away from my once flawless skin. Even my face, I'm scared of what he'll think. The stiff part of my face due to the stack of gauze that makes it look like it might be worse than it really is, but is it? I've not looked at it. HAvn't wanted to. I'm actually scared to see what Mark has done to me. Two of the wounds are going to be able to be covered with clothes. Hidden underneath a veil but my vanity will always show and I know that once it heals, no amount of make up can take away the scar. I roll my head over into the pillow for a moment taking a deep breath before looking over to Gala. I can feel the powerful numbing sleep wanting to take over, but I want to stay awake. I want to keep my eyes open in case Matthew was to come, but still, the thought that I pushed him away earlier is weighing heavy on my heart.

"No. I don't mind at all, Gala. You can take as much room as you need. If you don't mind my snoring." I tease her although I know I don't snore. Curiosity of what she would say takes over me, with the left side of my lip curling into a smile. A moment later, after cracking my eyes open again and fighting against the morphling that continues to run through my system, I make a groaning noise.

"Gala... I feel horrible..." I tell her but quickly without hesiation continue cause I don't want her to think I'm in physical pain. "... I was so mean to Matthew today. After my match, I pushed him away from helping me. I think I may have hurt him. I don't know if he'll forgive me despite what you said earlier. I don't think he'll like me much when I see him next... if I see him at all. Do you think... that if I went to his match, he'll do the same thing to me? Push me away?"

The monitors above my bed beep with every heartbeat it records, the number of my pulse seem to lower just slightly reading at just seventy-two. I'm relaxed, but stressed about what I'm trying to convey to Gala, but would she really understand? She's young, but she also knows Matthew as well. She understands his dislike for the female population. "I was hurt... we had a fight the other day. We said some things... I was reeling off that. I didn't want him there with me. The last words I remember him saying to me before I walked out on him was that he was going to give back to me what I did to you and not hold back. The last thing I had said to him was that I hoped someone else would have to hurt me instead. Gala... why does it hurt so much?" I beg for her to tell me an answer and be honest.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

She's family. That rings through Gala's ears for a while as a small grin lingers on her lips. How would it of been to only have one sister? And to actually have a brother to look up to, instead of the stupid female hormones. Things would of course be a lot different, but no one could predict how. All that mattered was that Kyanite was willing to lie to keep the small career in the room. That was all that mattered, but that word family was something more, even if it wasn't meant that way.

The nurse doesn't take long to check upon Kyanite's wounded stomach and clean it up a bit with some cream. She checks on the monitors, gives some advice about sleeping, but all the words go in one of Gala's ears and straight out the other. They weren't directed towards her, and she could careless what a nurse thought. Something about being back in a few hours and to press a button if Kyanite needs anything is the last thing she says before finally leaving. A relieving sigh escapes the youngster with that lady finally gone. Her blue eyes find there way back to Kyanite, who also seemed to be happy about the clack of the door closing.

To no surprise the first words to escape Kyanite is about the wound she knew the little one wouldn't be able to not look at. "It's not that bad is it? My stomach?" She asks, causing only a shrug from Gala. It looked nasty, but she didn't want to say so. Lying was an easy task, but she also knew how the older career only accepts honesty.

"It'll heal." Gala reassures with another shrug. Everyone's so badly damaged, it brings up the question of when training was going to begin again. How long was it going to take for each of them to get back to the gym? Would it be different for them all? Will they grow apart with the lack of being daily careers? That was now sticking within the little career's mind though this was no time to voice it.

Of course Kyanite has no problem with Gala making herself comfortable on the bed and laying down herself. That's what sisters do, right? It was just nice having the tables turn because the little one wasn't going to budge from the room. She was there to help, fill up the silence, and make the horrible place a little bearable. "I'm a heavy sleeper." Gala comments to Kyanite's warning of snoring. By the laughter that follows, she was probably joking though.

There was intentions of sleeping until Kyanite does, that was Gala's current job. So if she wanted to talk, and whatever about, that's what they'd do. Except that the conversation wasn't really the young career's strong suit. Boys were only friends or enemies in her mind, without having an ounce of a crush or feelings for anyone. But that's what Kyanite wants to talk about, so she'd suck it up and put up with it.

"I don't really see Matthew as the sensitive type." Gala shares with a giggle, because the idea of Kyanite refusing his help cause him pain didn't sound likely. But then again she didn't understand the first thing about relationship. Before she has a chance to explain herself, Kyanite has a little bit more to say.

"I was hurt... we had a fight the other day. We said some things... I was reeling off that. I didn't want him there with me. The last words I remember him saying to me before I walked out on him was that he was going to give back to me what I did to you and not hold back. The last thing I had said to him was that I hoped someone else would have to hurt me instead. Gala... why does it hurt so much?" The intensity shocks the young girl, as she has to take a second to consider the questions. So much information, and she wasn't sure how to properly react. Why would Matthew want to give payback to Kyanite for hurting Gala? It was clearly an accident. Well besides the obvious of the little one being his trainee, she didn't quite understand.

"Because the morphing hasn't kicked in yet." Gala of course brings out a joke instead of a serious answer. She pulls out a weak smile, knowing that wasn't what Kyanite wanted to hear. She thought back to when Matthew actually went to visit her at the hospital, and the following day when he picked her up to go to Kyanite's match. Somewhere in that time the two older careers had fought, and Gala was left out of what happened. It'd be much easier if they filled her in, but it was too late to complain. There was someone hurting, and it was her job to do everything she can to cheer her up.

"Even with how angry he was he brought me to your match, and stayed." Gala informs, having yet to get to the important part. "Then completely forgot crippled me to get to you afterwards....it toke me forever to get here." Still a couple of jokes haves to be pulled in somewhere, it was the little career after all. "So of course you have to go to his last match. He may win the pregames!" She attempts to cheer up the mood a little, though her voice only raises a bit as sleepiness was taking over. "And you know he's not going to stay mad at you, just how you can't stay mad at him."

"If I was paired with Matthew, he would of kicked my ass even worse...Would you of been mad at him?" Gala asks, assuming the answer. "You guys just need to do a better job with training me."

[*]

It seemed to me that everything that has been going through my head for the last several days without either of them, that now it comes out hot and heavy. My emotions that seem to be all over the place; spilling over into Gala's hands even as young as she was. All I cared about was that she was here as a friend. She seemed genuinely concerned for the most part until the first thing that comes out of her mouth was a complete joke. I have to let her joke settle for a moment cause I was asking for honesty in my thoughts and honesty is what I got. "Because the morphling hasn't kicked in yet." As much as that answer was nothing what I wanted to hear, it does seem to make my roll my face over into my pillow just to escape the smile that was trying to tug on the corners of my lips. I roll my gaze back over to Gala beyond the edge of the pillowcase.

"That's not what I mean, Gala..." I tell her, my heart carrying this heavy burden and she was making jokes. then again, I have to remember that by joking, it's Gala's way of handling things sometimes. She's always been the jokester between the three of us. I would consider myself to be full of determination while Matthew is the muscles out of all three of us. What a weird combination we three are. Opposites attract more than just that. It brings together a tightnit group of friends. And I've screwed it up between me and Matthew. Damn me for being so stubborn... I let my eyes close for a few moments before I hear Gala speak up again. This time she explains more into how she got there. She tells me that Matthew brought her to the pregames tournament just to watch me and the moment that I had lost, he had forgotten the little career. That by itself makes me sad to think that after he got mad at me for what I had done to Gala, he just leaves her hanging there to come after me.

So, does that mean he still cares for me? Could it be that I prematurely pushed him away without even caring about what he thought? What he did to make sure Gala got there for me. As Gala says, he didn't even have to stay but he did. Damn, Ky... you screw everything up. I look down at the girl laying beside me on the hospital bed. She has no care in Panem about where she was needed tonight. Just the thought of keeping the little career as close as possible as friends can be, she knew that she'd have to make that vow. Next time, no matter what, she would be there for her in her time of need. It was not a debatable thing. Friendships rarely ever made it her way and not only did she have Matthew, but Gala seems to be filling that void that I have been needing for quite some time. Even her attitude keeps everything positive to the point that she practically demands that I should be at Matthew's match.

In the recesses of my mind, I was already going to go, but now, as if I'd made a verbal promise to the girl, I nod a 'yes' to her. "I agree, Gala. I have no choice. Matthew was there for me, despite what I did, I can just hope that Matt don't do the same thing back at me. I don't like that we havn't spoken in so long."

A couple of days may not seem like much to others, but to me, I feel absololutely lost without him by my side. I've gotten freakin spoiled to his touches and him just being there. I do'nt want to lose it now for the first time that some guy has actually went further than just a first date or just by meeting me.

I sigh.

"You guys just need to do a better job with training me." What she says completely catches me off guard. How could she say that? It's bad enough that I can't hardly train myself right now and here she is already wanting to start back. It's a horrible predicament. "We're both in casts and I'm full of stitches. I surely hope that you're not expecting me to start running around in circles and stuff? If so, go ahead - drop and give twenty-five." I actually give off a real smile. Behind me though, I feel the little guy in red creeping in, wanting to force his ways on me of still being mad. From this moment on, I take Gala's advice. I can't stay mad at him.

I stare up onto the ceiling tiles and begin picutring Mark and Matthew's fight. "He better win..."

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

The joke that the pain was due to the lack of painkillers kicking in yet doesn't really do with Kyanite too well. She gives little Gala a serious look and explains that that's not what she meant. Well she knew that, that's why she broke out with a joke. Serious conversations wasn't really the youngster's strong suit, hence the constant jokes in the worst of times...in most of the times. All other subjects are Gwen's strengths, hence her lacking any physically. So the whole boy talk's not Gala's area.

What Gala understood about Matthew and Kyanite was that they were together; whether publicly she wasn't sure, but still a girl friend boy friend type of thing. It's not the little one's position to say anything to anyone, though even still she has no one to tell. Aside from that she was in the dark though. Sure her older sister talk about boys and that sort of thing often, but for the most part she simply blocks it all out. Why Kyanite pushed Matthew away at the time she needed support the most, Gala simply didn't understand. Why she now has to think about it this much, debate over what to do and how she feels, just doesn't compute. This was how friends act though, right? Listen to each other talk about boys... So despite the lack of enjoyment in the topic, she doesn't stray from it.

Finally Gala makes a break through, and Kyanite even admits to agreeing. She has to repay Matthew by going to his match, just as he did for her. If only she noticed his rush to help her was a form of an apology, but for some reason with age comes with this blurry vision as Gala has summed up to understand. And they all say kids will understand more with age, she chuckles at the thought. Of course Kya's still worried of being rejected, more things to confuse the young career with. If relationships were this complicated she'd make sure to stay clear, though that was her plan before this anyways.

Apparently it's been a long while since the older careers talked. Another chuckle arrives from Gala that she attempts to keep down. She was hardly out of the hospital after their fight, and already it's Kyanite's turn for the bed. A long time? Yeah right, just another reason why being older just seems stupid.

"It's almost been three days." Gala comments, biting down on her inner cheek to keep away the giggles. "He'll be thrilled to see you at the final match, he's not a girl like you." Her voice becomes a little mocking for the last part because Matthew's famous signature is his dislike for females.

At least Kyanite catches on to the fact Gala was not going to allow a completely serious conversation. The older career even brings out a joke about ordering twenty-five pushups. With a giggle the little one shakes her head no, just as Kya said they're covered in damages. "Maybe next time." She says with a yawn and a subsiding laugh. There was no way she was doing pushups, not with three broken bones and a messed up lung. She closes her eyes to bring upon sleep at the thought of training. It'll be a nice wait, she just hates the thought of the other's being able to start again before her. How long does it take? Will the multiple breaks make it even longer, or will she heal just as quickly?

"He better win...." Kyanite's voice breaks her from these horrible thoughts of being trapped inside four walls as the little career heals. At least that wasn't going to happen yet. With one more battle to witness, healing will have to wait.

"He will." Gala comments as she begins drifting off into the exhaustion she's unable to keep resisting. If only she knew, but her optimistic mind bets upon her trainer.