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 —

cute? Where have you been all my life?"

she is too. 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

sandwich. My stomach rumbles loudly, filling in the silence

all. If she had, she'd

mouth and take another bite, not caring if I look like a starved caveman right now.

and I have to stop my eyes from dramatically rolling as I realise she isn't used to being turned down. What she's doing in a hospital cafe completely baffles me.

past, I would have probably played along and flirted back. Maybe even shared a kiss or two. . . eventually

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

 this girl not get

 I'm not interested does she

smell her sickly sweet perfume, the

interesting than her. She giggles childishly at my response, taking it as a joke and