In Need of a Distraction (Aly tag Any)

[Aly Durrand]

[Character: Aly Durrand]
[Location: Hospital]

Aly had slept most of the night. The bullet had been lodged in her shoulder. A few inches over and it would have been her chest. Aly had been lucky considering. However, she had lost a tremendous amount of blood, but the bullet had missed anything major. So the only surgery needed was to remove the bullet. Her arm was going to be in a sling for about a month. Could be longer and then she might need physical therapy to get her range of motion back, but she was lucky.

The hospital had Aly on morphine so she was not really in pain. Aly had slept most of the night. She drifted in and out mumbling but mostly she slept. Finally Aly woke up to find her dad and step mom sleeping in chairs around her bed. She did not want to wake them. Besides moving was not an option. However, it did not matter because moments later her dad woke up, "Sweetie.....how you feeling?"

Aly smiled, "I could use some water. I feel fine. Light..."

Aly's dad got her a cup of ice water and smiled, "Must be the drugs. Don't get use to them." Her dad proceeded to tell her that Brit was okay and about the rest of the news. Aly wondered how Jas and Riley were. She would need to text them later. She still had one good hand. Finally Aly's dad and step mom left so Aly could rest. She thanked them for coming and grabbed her phone with her good hand and sent out two texts. Which was hard, but....

Aly closed her phone and turned on the tv. Nothing was on except news coverage of the memorial. So Aly decdidec she might as well watch it. She did not even know someone had entered her room.

Tag anyone who is at the hospital or anyone who would visit Aly

[Eddie O'Flaherty]

After a night of fitful sleep, Eddie finally decided to get out of bed. He had much more time to sleep, but he figured it wouldn’t be helpful at all. Plus, he had a weird dream that he didn’t necessarily want to revisit. It reminded him of certain things in Iowa that he didn’t necessarily want floating through his head on a day like today.

Though he didn’t know any of the students that died, he figured he should attend the memorial out of respect. It wasn’t number one on his list of things he wanted to do, though. In fact, Eddie generally tried to stay away from such things, as they only tend to make people miserable. He just hopes that when he passes people get together and have a good time remembering him.

The upside of the day was that not only was his dad letting him borrow the Lexus for the morning to get to the memorial, but he had also promised to finally take him car shopping that afternoon. No doubt his parents were feeling especially terrible after relocating Eddie to a school that gets shot up on his first day of attendance.

Eddie ran through the shower and got himself all clean and spiffy, then found his suit. This was the second time he was dressing up since he had moved to L.A., though the first time was a much more joyous occasion. But Eddie liked to look good, and in his suit he thought he looked about as good as he ever would. He checked his phone, and found he had time to make a quick stop before the memorial.

If Eddie were being completely honest with himself, there was an alternate reason for visiting the hospital than making sure Aly was okay. But Eddie had convinced himself he was just being a good guy and wanted to make sure the girl he helped out the day before was doing alright. Hopefully he did the right thing.

The attendants kindly showed him which direction Aly’s room was and it wasn’t a long walk down the hall. Eddie knocked lightly on the door and stepped in. Aly was watching the news. Eddie stood for a moment, not wanting to disrupt her. She looked much better than when he had first met her. There was a lot less red and a lot more color in her face.

“Hey, Aly. It’s me, Eddie. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I hope it’s okay that I’m here.” Eddie gave small wave, realizing as he opened his mouth that he didn’t really know her at all and that it may be weird that he just randomly showed up here. He was also secretly wondering where Brittany was.

[Brittany Barnes]

Brittany smiled as she rolled over and woke up that morning. After all...the previous day had to be a dream...Aly saving her life...getting shot...having sex with Evan in a hospital bed...none of that happened. It couldn't possibly have. But when Brittany looked at the clock in her room it was much later that usual. Why hadn't her mom woke her up when she'd overslept for school?

Confused Brittany got up and walked to her closet, hurrying since she was already late. But her closet was empty. Brittany stood there starting at the empty closet. It was real. It was all real. It all really happened. Her feelings were mixed. Aly had been shot and so had Zac...yet she'd lost her virginity... Brittany took a deep breath. By now she remembered the memorial. But Brittany wasn't going to go. Well, maybe she'd go. First she'd go to the hospital and visit Aly and check on Zac.

Not having any clothes, Brittany walked over to Aly's room. She did a quick search of the room but wherever Aly had hid the clothes...well, she must have really thought it through because they were nowhere to be seen. Brittany walked over to Aly's closet, making a face as she looked through her clothes. There was almost nothing in there that Brit would wear.

Figuring she should dress up for the memorial if she made it, Brittany grabbed a dress that was at least dark in color and a black cardigan to wear over top it. She didn't fit in Aly's shoes but still had her sneakers so figured that they would do. Thanks to leaving them in the living room the night before they had been safe from Aly's ambush. On the way back to her room, Brit quick checked them hamper to see if anything else had survived and there were a pair of cut up leggings...sure they'd been worn but they didn't really smell so no one would be able to tell they weren't clean.

She put them on and pulled her still yellow blonde hair back into a ponytail before grabbing her skateboard and heading out. She went to the hospital first, heading up to the floor that both Zac and Aly, and probably most of the other injured from the shooting were. Brittany saw Ian standing around and ran to him first, throwing her arms around the boy. "How's Zac?" she asked.

"He's sleeping right now...but they say he's going to be okay. He has to stay here a few days though..."

Brittany nodded. "I'll come back and check in on him later then," she said.

Ian nodded. "I think Aly's up. Someone else went into her room..."

Brittany nodded. "Yeah...let me go check in on her, but I'll be back...promise," she said. Ian nodded and Brittany gave him another hug before heading over to Aly's room.

"So Al, you really need to tell me where you hid my clothes, because I'm not sure when you'll be home again and raiding your closet isn't so much fun," she said as she walked into the room, looking at Aly laying in the bed, deciding she looked a little better than the day before, her eyes drifted over to the other person in the room. "Hey Eddie," she said with a smile as she leaned her skateboard against the wall of the room.

[Aly Durrand]

Aly was watching the news and sent her texts. Even though it took her forever, she realized she can use her other hand. She just has to bring the phone to her hand. She could use her hand but not her arms. So it still took her a while but she sent her texts. She was reading them. Typical Jasper. Nothing new there. She actually would not mind being harassed. Aly was about to reply back when someone walked in. So she put her phone away.

Eddie? It took her a moment to connect the dots. That day was kind of blurry to be honest. She could remember most of it up until she got shot. After she got shot it became flashes. She knew she pushed Brit out of the way. She knew she had been helped by guy she did not know, but the blood loss had apparently gotten to her.

"Eddie, no...it's fine. I have no where else to be." She said with a small laugh. It was funny to her and she could use funny. "So please come in...talk...distract...anything right now." She said in a voice that said she was really bored.

Aly was about to say something else when Brit walked in. "Are those my clothes?" Aly asked her. She scanned her step sister. "Those are not mine." She pointed at the leggings. "Thank god I was about to say if you ripped my clothes..." She said eying her sister, but smiling at the same time so Brit would know she was kidding. She laughed at what Brit said about her clothes. It still hurt to laugh, but still. She needed it. "Your clothes are in the last place you would ever look. So how is everyone? Anyone else I know get hurt...."

[Eddie O'Flaherty]

Eddie was about to open his mouth when suddenly a short (to most, not to similarly statured Eddie) young girl entered the room. He had wondered where he was and now his question was surprisingly answered! So far Eddie had seen Brittany twice before, and each time she was dressed oddly. This was the first time Eddie had seen her in anything remotely normal, and he had to admit to himself that she was a very pretty girl. However, all he got from her was a quick “Hi.”

The two quickly began discussing things in which Eddie had no comment. He hoped to be able to find his way into some part of the conversation, but that was hard between two sisters. For as many differences they had, the pair sure acted like stereotypical siblings, even down to arguing about borrowing one another’s clothes. Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

The conversation lulled slightly and Eddie figured it was best he left. It was way too awkward for him to stick around. “Glad to see you’re okay, Aly. I’ll get out of your guys’ hair. Feel better.” He smiled and nodded at Brittany. “Nice to see you, Brit.” With that, he opened the door and stepped out of the room.

[Brittany Barnes]

"Yes they're your clothes," Brittany responded instantaneously, as she placed her hand on her hip. "You hid all mine...what else am I supposed to wear?" she asked. As annoyed as she should have been about her clothes she found it hard to be mad at Aly. After all the girl had saved her life. "No, these aren't yours," she said, shaking her head when Aly pointed out the leggings. ""Looks like you missed something," she said, adding, "thankfully," under her breath.

Whether Brittany was still mad at Aly or not, they still had completely different tastes in clothing. That and Aly was considerable taller than Brit, so her clothes drowned her slightly. It wasn't that Aly was fat...she was anything but, however being taller she could carry more weight than Brittany could and still look just as thin.

"The last place I'll ever look?" Brittany asked. "Seriously...when are you going to come home? I need them back. You really don't want me raiding your closet, do you?" she asked, hoping that her step-sister would give in.

"Hurt...just Zac," she said, a little quietly. "I guess he's okay now, but he was shot in the chest so it was pretty bad." She didn't really want to talk about it or even think about it. It wasn't just that it meant her band would be on hiatus for a bit either, after all, Zac was there drummer, it was more that, he was also her friend. And maybe she didn't hang out with the guys as much as she used to since she started dating Evan, but she still considered them among her best friends and cared about them all tremendously, no matter how much she teased Zac in the past. It had always been all in good fun.

When Eddie said he was leaving, Brit looked over at him for the first time since she'd entered the hospital room. She hadn't meant to ignore him or leave him out of the conversation...she'd just had important things to deal with regarding her clothes.

"Hey...you don't have to go," Brit said, grabbing his arm at he started to leave the room. "Please don't leave on my account." Truth be told Eddie had probably witnessed the longest conversation that Brit and Aly had ever had. The girls hadn't gotten along from day one and had always avoided one another when they weren't pranking each other. Brittany was kind of glad the boy was there to break the ice. It would make it less awkward she thought.

Plus, the fact that he'd come by was really nice. Brittany wondered if he liked Aly or something. Lots of guys probably did so she wouldn't have been surprised if the guy who had helped save her had developed a thing for Aly.

[Aly Durrand]

"I really got you. I can't believe you did not even think to check my bathroom. They are hanging up in the shower." Aly said with a small smile as she laughed, "Ow...laughing hurts, but it feels good." She sighed. She needed a good laugh. Laughing meant a distraction. A distraction is what she needed. "There, now you know where your clothes are so you can leave mine alone. Besides I hate how you look in that dress....it might actually look better on you, but I did not just say that." Aly said kidding around.

It was obvious that the dress did fit Brit, but not in the way it was suppose to fit. Aly was taller, not to mention the bigger chest. On Brit the dress looked decent, but it was not nearly as low cut or a short as Aly wore it. However, it did look decent on Brit which was a good thing. It just meant they might not be able to share clothes. But why would they.

"Oh leave Eddie. Don't mind Brit, she is always stealing my clothes. She wants to be me so badly. I just had to give her one day." Aly said joking around. She was trying to act normal, but it was not working, but she was trying. Truth was Aly was still scared. She had a nightmare the night before, but now that she was awake it was better.

"I hope your friend is okay." She said seriously to Brit. As good or as bad it may sound, Aly understood how much Brit's friends meant to her. Just like Aly's friends meant alot to her. "And the idiot boyfriend...was I delusional or was he actually there yesterday...please tell me it was a delusion..I think he was actually nice..." Aly said to Brit. It was easy to be like she was, but she really did not mean it. She just want some sense of normal back. "Eddie please stay. I owe you for helping me."

[Eddie O'Flaherty]

The hand holding Eddie’s arm was petite. He stared at it, debating in his mind whether to go or stay. Brittany was just being nice, he thought, she wasn’t interested in him one bit. The only real girlfriend Eddie had was simple to get. They hung out a little bit and it just happened. He had to jump through a few hoops, sure, but what girl didn’t make a guy do that? This situation, however, was a lot different. Brittany was dating someone, and Eddie didn’t want to ruin that. So he didn’t want to be around her, things would just be awkward.

Bu then again, Aly asked him to stay too. It would be rude to him to leave. Aly seemed nice, so Eddie didn’t really want to upset her or make he think he didn’t like her. He also didn’t want Brittany to think he was a jerk. Damn. He had to stay.

“Okay,” he sighed. “I’ll hang around for a bit longer.” The short boy turned around and headed back into the room. He fancied himself an actor, so he better act like everything is fine and that he isn’t entirely uncomfortable. It’s a good thing Brittany didn’t seem like a flirty girl, that would just throw him off completely. The hug yesterday was weird enough, especially how good it felt. He hadn’t had a good hug from a cute girl since he and Jessie had broken up.

“So you two are sisters, huh? And you pull pranks on one another? That must keep things pretty exciting.” Eddie tried to laugh, but it came out a little hollow. His brother had always been pretty cool to Eddie, for which he was thankful. Tommy was always pretty protective of Eddie, even though they were pretty different. Family was big in the O’Flaherty household, and Eddie like that it seemed that was for Aly and Brittany. Even though Brittany claimed she hated her sister, she was there for her. That’s what families should do.

[Brittany Barnes]

"Seriously!" Brit said, "the bathroom?" She shook her head. Why hadn't she looked there? At least she knew where her things were now. She'd never have to wear Aly's clothes again. In fact just knowing where hers were made her want to run home and change before going anywhere else. She wasn't a fan of wearing Aly's clothes...not one bit. "Yeah I really don't think its possible for me to look better in it," Brit said, with a laugh now. Brittany knew she wasn't ugly but as far as looks went she'd never had the best self-esteem about herself. She didn't really view herself as one of the attractive girls that boys were interested in. She was still shocked that Evan was. As far as Brit was concerned, Aly was the pretty one. She was tall, skinny, still had curves, pretty. What guy wouldn't want Aly over someone like Brit? Okay, aside from Evan, cause Brit knew how Evan was and knew Aly wasn't his type. But for most normal guys...of course they wanted Aly. After all that was probably why Eddie was here. Brit was pretty sure it was because he liked Aly. She wondered if it was possible to help him out with it at all. She'd have to talk to him about it later when Aly wasn't in the room.

Brit was glad when Eddie said that he'd stay a bit longer. It meant that she didn't have to make as much awkward conversation with her step-sister. She was starting to see Aly in a bit of a new light but at the same time she kind of felt as if they didn't have enough in common to hold a real conversation for too long.

"Well, we're step-sisters," Brit clarified, laughing when he mentioned the pranks. "Well, usually I'm better at the pranking, but admittedly, Aly got me good this time," she said twirling her blonde ponytail and gesturing to the clothes she was wearing. Brittany still wondered if she could really get her back though. After all, Aly had saved her life. Sure there was the paper mache statue of Aly that she and Evan were going to make, but that really wasn't on the same level as what Aly had done...but could Brit go that far with her step-sister now? Unfortunately after Aly had saved her life...the answer would have to be no...

[Aly Durrand]

Aly nodded, "I had a feeling you would not venture into my bathroom. It sucked because I had to use my dads room to shower, but just looking at you...oh it was worth it." Aly said with a smile. The smile read mission accomplished. She had gotten Aly good. No one could have seen it coming. It was the sneakiest Aly had been. it too freaking forever. Aly had to sneak Brit's clothes out little by little before she would notice and then at then end Aly just had to make sure Brit was out of the house long enough.

"Thanks for staying Eddie." Aly gave him a smile. Such a sweet guy. Aly figured he felt the need to be here since he was there when she got shot. The fact he might have a crush on one of the girls in the room never occurred to Aly. She was too busy thinking of another guy on her mind, but that was besides the point.

"I begged my dad for a puppy and he brought me a step sister." Aly smirked. "This is the only time I will say this, and I swear if you tell that idiotic boyfriend of yours, then its war, but Brit does have more of a pranking bone in her body. I have never been involved in such games because I consider them immature and childish, but its actually kind of fun." Aly said laughing a little. Even talking about the pranks felt different. Aly was normally not so nice to Brit, but how could she not be. She almost died. had Aly not seen the gun, Brit might not have made it. Although Aly was intent on not changing anything about the relationship. That would be too weird. But some how they seemed closer.