He opened his eyes slowly and closed it instantly. He did not want to wake and discover he was at the hospital. Not again. Tristan hoped not as he had closed his eyes quickly the instant he saw the doctor standing over him. He was in no mood to be tutored by Ted. He shut his eyes waiting in vain for them to leave but then he began to feel bored about what he was doing and turned his face the other way opening his eyes hopeful no one would notice.
“Sir?,” the old man came closer to his bed said.
Alright purpose defeated but there were two things he would say he was glad about. He was not dead yet although he did wonder if that would be more peaceful and the second being that he was not in the hospital. He was tired of that place. The walls said he was home still at Norman. It was better that way as with the way those members of the press had been acting, they would capture even if he was being sneaked out of the place. He heard his friend clear his throat and gave it all up as he turned to face the ceiling. No way was he giving him the satisfaction of seeing him trying to dodge his unending lecture.
“Ted…. out with it.” he said trying to sit up.
It was tough as his head seemed to be spiralling in orbits. Okay he began to feel nauseated really and started showing the signs. Instantly Alfredo was by his said with a bowl like they had been waiting for him to barf all this while. The man assisted him by raising him up with one hand and he released the contents of his disturbing stomach into the bowl. He felt better now and realized that Ted had not moved an inch. Tristan forced himself up and as Alfredo was going to dispose of the goo, Ted only assisted by placing the pillow behind him before going back to his initial position. This time the obviously provoked doctor stood with his hands folded across his chest watching him like he was so criminal. Seriously this was becoming more uncomfortable than the press guys and paparazzi. The paparazzi especially. Tristan decided to play with words and demanded to know why Ted was acting up.
“Seriously Tristan, I’m acting up?,” the man asked him
“Yes you are buddy.” Tristan said
“Says the one who nearly died from acting up,” Ted shot back
“No man. I did not act up. I only…,” Tristan began
“No you didn’t, you only attempted suicide. Sounds like a noun for acting up,” Ted said getting angry now
“Alright you hold your horses. How was I to know it might have killed me?,” Tristan asked trying to act logical
“Seriously? You are want to play ignorant now?,” Ted asked him raising an eyebrow that seemed to be twitching. It was something with Ted when he was worried and scared. His anxiety could be seen boldly on his face like a postal stamp.
“Seriously Ted you’re acting like I’m one of your stupid lovers,” he said
“Oh yeah, well you are my patient which puts you on the top list of my lovers.” Ted said.
“Eww, that’s disgusting you know, me your lover and stuff,” Tristan said.
Ted made to think about it and then made a face too.
“Yeah, you’re right, it is disgusting but come on bro, I warned you to stay off it,” Ted said coming to sit on the bed beside him.
Tristan watched the doctor and could tell he must have caused him to worry a lot. He teased the doctor for sitting close to him like a wife would her sick husband. They laughed for a bit and there was silence. The impeding silence stretched a bit further as both men seemed lost in their thoughts. Tristan however was the first to break the long stretch.
“You know I miss those days.” he said
“The band, I do too. But we’re too grown now buddy.” Ted reminded him.
It was not the fact that he missed the days they played that hurt him but the fact that what had happened had led to the death of one of them. It still hurt like crazy and Tristan still blamed himself. If only he had not been stupid then all that would not have happened. Ted complimented the fact he heard he played the piano again. Tristan made a snort and said he did. The air was beginning to grow awkward between them and Ted rose up saying he needed to get going if he was going to beat his flight.
“Couldn’t you have stayed the night?,” Tristan asked him
“Ermm no. Other patients needed me,” Ted said
“I’m not your patient,” Tristan reminded him for the upteenth time
“Yes yes… you said so. It keeps skipping my mind. Forgive me sire but I would have to beg leave of you at this juncture.” Ted said picking up his already packed briefcase.
He reminded Tristan that he was not allowed to go anywhere near cigarettes not even the scent of them as he would not be nice when he comes back. Tristan teased that there was nothing he could do about it and of course his dear friend agreed. He promised that the next time he gets called up for that same reason, he was going to put him down like an animal. The men laughed and then Tristan was left alone in the room thinking.
A lot was going through his mind but somehow something or rather someone seemed to be interfering with his thoughts. What was with her the ever so non special one. He wanted to see her at that moment acting her always true to naivety. He laid on his bed for a bit and then looked at the watch beside him, it was quite late and certainly not a good time to begin looking for her. It was obvious he had been out for hours and who knows what might have happened if he had stayed out any longer. He smiled to himself as he recalled that he had collected her phone number from her dear friend. He could not see his phone anywhere around him and decided to wait for Alfredo to return. He stayed there for a while alone suddenly reconciling with the fact that he was a lonely man and it was beginning to tell on him. It was not like he actually cared about his loneliness but the fact that he wanted someone who certainly was not his type around him that moment. He could still recall the faint scent of whatever body cream or soap she was using. Lavender and really soft scented.
Alfredo returned eventually and told him that Ted had been sent to the airport and would be taking off anytime soon. Tristan nodded and then looked at the old man. He had been really wrong with how he treated the man earlier that day. He had gone far and yet it was still the old man beside him when he was dying.
“Did you call doctor Amanda?,” Tristan asked him
“Yes sir. I’m really sorry,. I thought… I thought…,” the man did not finish his words obviously out of fear of the outcome.
Tristan realized then he was the jerk of all jerks. Of all his staff, this man was the only one to care sincerely about him and the only one ever beside him. He sighed and asked Alfredo to stop apologizing. He went on to apologize for how he had acted out to him. The man’s eyes widened, he had never really seen Tristan tender an apology sincerely to anyone not even him. The young man was used to stepping on every toe and daring them to react in anyway to his actions. He was the total not afraid of anything kind of person. He smiled and told the man it was alright as he understood his distress. However, the psychologist was going to check on him very early the next morning.
Speaking of that, Tristan recalled his phone and asked where it was. The older man dug into his pocket and handed it over. Tristan smiled and wondered how stupid he might have seemed if he had begun looking around frantically for it. He took the phone and instantly found her name. As he looked at Alfredo, the old man took a brief moment to realize he had been dismissed and excused himself to go check on dinner.
Tristan called her up and for the first time of his life, seconds felt so long and unending. Claire did not take his call and he was feeling pissed. There was no way she would be asleep at that time unless she was a chicken. He redialed and it rang on for a long time that he thought she was not going to take his call. Tristan was beginning to feel stupid and wanted to hang up when she took it and her soft tone came over somehow soothing his soul.
“Hello?,” she said sounding like she was uncertain about who was calling
“Miss Willows, it’s your boss,” Tristan said enjoying himself
“Oh my, sir… good evening I guess..,” she seemed to have lost words and he was liking that he made her speechless.
He asked her to calm down and asked how she was doing. Claire hesitated over the phone like he had asked an unusual question. He did not blame her really as he knew he never really cared. She eventually gave an answer that she was fine and waited on him to say something.
“What’s your answer to my job offer? he asked.