Tangled Love

"Bacon sandwich please, white bread and plenty of ketchup."

I hand over the exact change and take a seat in the hospital cafe as I wait for my order. Emily squeezing my hand had motivated me and it's like I had gotten a little ounce of my spark back. I'd realised how hungry I am and finally gave in to my rumbling stomach. I pull out my phone and add Tobias, Mum, Ivory, Trish and Aunt Myra to a conversation before texting them all.

Emily squeezed my hand today. The doctor's said it was good news but we shouldn't get our hopes up.

I send the text and took a gulp from my coffee, grateful for the instant jolt it gives me. I need caffeine and lots of it. When I told the doctor about Emily's progress, he warned me not to be hopeful as her hand moving could just be a reflex of her nerves.

I refuse to believe him, she'd squeezed my hand when I asked her to. Even if the doctors have given up on her, I haven't. For the first time in what feels like forever, I'm hopeful for the future. I smile and thank the cafe owner as she places the plate down in front of me, the glorious smell wafting in the air.

I've just picked up one half of the sandwich when a blonde sits in the chair opposite me on my table. She smirks at me flirtatiously before speaking —

and cute? Where have you

Her face is covered in an inch of thick makeup, five shades darker then her actual skin tone. She wears black eyelashes stacked ontop of her real ones and I lift my eyebrow at her, putting my sandwich back down.

eating this glorious bacon sandwich. My stomach rumbles loudly, filling in the silence between us and she giggles, nodding towards me.

asks, not taking notice of my facial features at all. If she had, she'd know I'm not interested at all, I'm practically scowling at the girl.

fills my mouth and take another

dramatically rolling as I realise she isn't used to

have probably played along and flirted back. Maybe even shared a kiss or two. . . eventually I'd give her my number which was in fact the number for a random pizza place.

was in the past now, I'm not interested in anyone beside Emily. She completely ignores my words and one of her hands rest on my arm

not

part of I'm not interested does she not understand?

"Aren't you Jake Melvin?" she purrs, getting closer to me. I can smell her sickly sweet perfume, the

to eat my sandwich which funnily enough is so much more interesting than her. She giggles childishly at my response, taking it as a joke