Thank You for Saving Me {Jamie}

Jamie heard the sirens as he came to. The sound of footsteps running towards his head made him wince. He opened his eyes to see Joey looking at him. She must have called the police. He felt like his whole body was just a pile of broken bones. He looked up at her and mouthed the words “Thank you.” His mouth tasted metallic and no doubt there was blood everywhere around him. His vision started to get blurry.

More foot steps. Someone was lifting him. He heard wheels turning and the ground underneath him suddenly got a lot comfier. A thing was put over his face and he passed out.

The next thing he knew his eyes were opening to a white wall. Was he in Heaven? Jamie turned over and a sharp pain filled his chest. “Fuuuuck,” he groaned weakly. Nope, not Heaven. He looked down and saw a nice bandage around his chest. Broken ribs. Ow. He must be in a hospital. Hopefully they would give him an advil or something. He couldn’t have anything hardcore. That would be bad.

He heard someone breathing next to him and saw Joey. Suddenly the events of the night hit him right in the face. “Joey!” Jamie sat up quickly. Ow. “Are you alright?” He bit his lip-Ow-when he saw her purple one. And then something hit him even harder.

He had told the leader he’d come back and fight. He only had two weeks of his new life left before he’d have to become Peter again. Or he only had two weeks of his life left. They didn’t know where he lived but they’d probably find out. They had his new name. Shit. Shit. Shit. Jamie grimaced as dread filled his mind. This was soooo much worse than a broken rib.

"Hey, take it easy. I'm fine, you're a lot worse off than I am."

“Yea, but I’m used to it,” Jamie mumbled without thinking. He looked at Joey and saw a bruise on her cheek and red all over her arms. She didn’t do anything wrong! Why was she hurt?

“Well, that's another memory to add, right?"

Jamie coughed instead of laughing. She was joking right? He guessed it was a good thing she had some humor. He was basically void of all hope at this point.

"They got you really good, you had me scared for a second there. Drink, you lost a bit of blood, so you need to stay hydrated."

Jamie sipped some of the water and mumbled a thank you. “I’m sorry. I should have known not to be back there. Especially at night they’re—“

"I gave the police a statement, they'll come in for yours also. But what the hell was that about?"

Jamie took as deep of a breath as he could and thought about how to explain this. He supposed he should start from the beginning. Could he really reach that far back into his past? Maybe he should just give her the short version.

"I'm going to have a hard time believing that they just randomly decided to jump you and talk smack. But I think I have a right to know why I had a gun to my head and was threatened with the all-mighty-whoredom, Canvas."

“You’re right. They didn’t just randomly jump me. I used to be in like a gang cult thing. Before the—“ Jamie coughed and took the applesauce. “Before I had tattoos or anything. I was the gopher. I did all the runs and stuff. I used to be in drugs and—It’s really hard for me to-yeah. My real name is Peter but I decided to be called Jamie since starting Barrie and leave all of that shit behind.” Jamie frowned and suddenly lost his appetite. “I guess I’m screwed to die in a street somewhere. They’ll use me ‘til I’m dead or kill me. I’ve been sober for almost a year! By the way, tell the nurse to not give me any strong pain pills. Advil and ice will work just fine.”

"You can do something about it, Jamie. You dont have to let them be the end of you. You know the guys, right? I mean they can get locked up. And if they know where you live, you can chill with me until things calm down. It's time for a hair-change anyway."

Jamie smiled at Joey. She was so sweet and nice. Most of all, she didn’t judge him. She barely knew him and she was willing to put herself in danger to protect him. He couldn’t take her offer though. Joey had gotten away the first time but if the leader saw her again she was a sure as dead. He hated thinking like this. He was morbid Peter again, doing anything to stay alive.
“I wish I could turn those bastards in. Sadly, I don’t know them. The leader is the only one from my original gang that was there and he doesn’t tell anyone his name. I don’t even think he’s registered as a citizen,” Jamie said his voice having no emotion. He made a sad smile and poked her shoulder. “I don’t want you to change your hair for me or anything. I’m the one who got your lip messed up and you’re the one who saved my life.”

"I'll let the nurse know. I'll stay with you tonight, and I'll come back tomorrow if you want me to. I just met you today, but I'd say we've been through a lot together, right, Canvas?"

“Yea, I guess. Thanks… for everthing.” He totally wanted to give her a hug right now but he was pretty sure it would hurt both of them. He coughed some more and moaned a little. Coughing hurt like a mo’ fo. He opened his eyes and Joey looked ready to fall asleep.

"You're a good guy. You don't deserve any of whats happening. I'll help you, if you let me. Do you have a phone? Is there someone I should call to let know where you are?"

“No, not really. I have a phone but no one to call really. And I’m not a good guy. I just play one on TV,” Jamie said with deadpan. He pulled up his bedsheet and laid down. “Thanks for staying here. You’re really sweet ya know?” Jamie closed his eyes and smiled.

Jamie continued to hold a melancholy smile as Joey tried to convince him he was a good guy. “Okay, we saved each other,” he agreed. He slid down slowly until he was lying on his back. He usually slept on his side but that wasn’t going to happen tonight. Jamie really felt he deserved this. Like he really should have never left the gang because he couldn’t run from something that was his life. That was until Joey started talking again.

"You are a good guy. You just have a not so good past. What makes you good is that you didn't greet those guys in a smile. That you got yourself beaten up to give me a chance to get away. That you cleaned up your act, and tried to get out of that lifestyle. That's what makes you good."

“I never thought of it like that. I just wish I didn’t have to go back. I hated it. The only way I could get through it was with the drugs and I hated those too,” he mumbled frowning at the ceiling. He wanted to be a good guy and he didn’t want anyone to get hurt. He wished he could wake up tomorrow and go back to the park and swing that little girl or play hide and go seek with some of the kids. He wanted to “LIVE FREE” like his knuckles said. That’s the reason he got the tat. Now the only way he could do that is by not living at all.

"You're not so bad yourself, Canvas. This is the start of a very good, however bizzare of a start, friendship, I think."

Jamie chuckled. “I think so too.” He closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.

Jamie was not in his dorm room. That’s the first thing that came to mind as he sat up to get a drink of water. The next was, “OWFUCKOW!” but that came out of his mouth too. A nurse walked in and told him not to move. She came back with Advil and Jamie took it with his water. He laid back down and closed his eyes. That’s when last night hit him again. He moaned and looked for Joey. She must have left. Hopefully her lip was doing better.

Jamie let his bare feet hit the floor and winced from the soreness in his arms. He really needed to—He had no idea what he needed to do. Right now he really wanted to see Joey. She could help him figure out things. He didn’t expect her to stay though. Once the shock of what she really was getting herself into hit her, she’d run. That’s what Cleo did.

Oh, Cleo. Jamie frowned and knew she’d been pretty happy for his change. She’d never be friends with him now. He’d done all that stupid stuff to try and—He really had no idea why he’d kissed Cleo. Logic says it was because he was out of it. But even now, he’d want to. Not that it would ever happen or anything. Jamie was a lost cause at love. He only broke hearts and disappointed people.

He took his shoes out of the cabinet and attempted to put them on. He needed to get out of here.

"Exactly what are you doing, Canvas?"

Jamie frozed. He was totally hearing voices. There was no way—

"Let me recap for you, buddy. You got the shit beat out of you. Your nose is broken, and you were vomiting blood. You've got broken ribs, and you are bruised all to hell. You have to stay here to be monitered incase there's something else wrong with you. As well as you can't leave until the hospital releases you."

Now that she said that the pain started to rear its ugly head again. But Jamie didn’t care! Joey didn’t leave. She was there and planning on staying with her. He was so happy, he felt like singing. Sadly, his annoying broken bones wouldn’t let him. “You’re here.” He said with a smile.

"Now sit back down so I can give you lunch that doesn't suck as bad as hospital food."

“Yes m’am,” he said trying to salute. His smile faltered as pain shot up his arm but he was okay. He was totally more than okay.

"I will babysit the crap out of you if I have to. Don't try me."

Jamie took her hand and did something a bit rash. He walked towards her and kissed her on the cheek. Blushing a little bit, he sat back in the hospital bed and looked up. “You’re amazing Joey. I mean it.”

"I went to go let the nurse know about the advil, and went on a breakfast run. Or lunch, rather. I didn't know what you like, so I got that. I can grab something else if you're a vegitarian or something."

“No, no. It’s fine. I’m starved,” Jamie said. He started smelling fast food and his appetite came back. They never got McDonald’s last night. He guessed the pain kind of overrode his hunger. Now that the advil was kicking in he was worried his stomach was going to jump out and eat the bedcovers. That wouldn’t be very tasty.

Jamie’s smile faultered when Joey blushed. It didn’t seem like a good thing with her.

"Of course I'm amazing. Plus, you said you didn't have anyone to call or something. So I figured you were all alone. Figured it would be nice to have a friendly face around, right?"

“Right. Sorry—I just—I can’t hug you because of the whole broken rib thing and you’ve been so nice—and I—I can’t thank you enough really,” Jamie rambled on but couldn’t help but think Joey was growing on him. One thing was for sure: His kiss wasn’t just a thank you.

Jamie suddenly went silent and took his food. He ate a few french fries before Joey asked him how he was.

“I’m not in pain! I do kinda wish I could get out of here though. I’ve only got two weeks and stuff,” Jamie looked at the ground and spied his peace sign tattoo on his foot. He didn’t walk in peace last night. “How about you? That chair doesn’t love too comfy. How’s your lip?”