The Gus Diaries

Part 137

Prom Season III
 

I woke up to stark white lights in an unfamiliar room. It took me less than a minute to realize I was in a hospital bed. I could barely lift my head, but turning slowly, from side to side, I saw Dad and Pop flanking my bed, sleeping in chairs.

I remember the first words out of Dad’s mouth. "What the fuck were you thinking?" He didn’t yell, but his voice was firm.

“Brian.” Even through my fog I knew Dad’s voice held more concern than anger, but Pop still felt the need to come to my rescue, as always.

“Justin, it doesn’t make any sense for someone as smart and well educated as Gus to make such a foolish decision.”

Pop huffed. “If that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black I don’t know what is.”

“Resorting to clichés to make your point, Sunshine?” I noticed the smirk on Dad’s face.

“If the shoe fits, Mr. Kinney.”

Dad snorted.

“Brian, look, I think he’s more focused. Can you keep the questions a little less like an interrogation?” Pop brushed his fingers across my forehead as if he were moving the bangs out of my eyes.

“Okay. Hey, Sonny Boy. Why did you pour pep pills down your throat?” Dad looked at me, then at Pop. “Is that better?”

Pop tilted his head. “Marginally.” Pop looked directly at me. “Gus, while I don’t agree with your father’s phrasing, I need to hear from you why you did this. We love you so much. You scared us to death.”

I closed my eyes, trying to organize my thoughts. “Lots to do, so little time. I wanted to be brilliant at everything school and work-wise, and still have time for a life.”

Dad sat on the edge of the bed and glared at me. “So you decided to rev up your engine artificially? That must have taken a chunk out of your bank account.”

“I saved a lot from working at Red Cape and freelancing for the local paper.”

“And you didn’t think you were already succeeding?” Dad shook his head. “How could you not know? Justin and I are always letting you know how proud we are. Hell, if it was up to him we’d tell you ten times at every meal.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a labored breath.

“Are you okay, Gus? There should be a doctor here soon; we pressed the call button as soon as we saw you were waking up.”

“I’m okay, I think.” I looked at them and could see the bags under their eyes. “How long have I been here?”

“Three days.” Pop must have noticed the surprise in my eyes. “You’ve been in and out but never awake enough to really communicate.”

“I remember you asking me what I was taking and then falling asleep on the kitchen floor.”

“You collapsed, Gus. You did not just fall asleep.” Dad ran a hand through his hair. “You fucking collapsed in front of us. It was one of the worst crashes I’ve ever seen -- because it was you.” He rolled his lips inward.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it.”

Pop offered a half smile. “Most people who are overachievers think they can handle everything. You know, it would have been okay to take a break from something if your obligations were getting to be too much.”

“Wanted to do it all.”

Before Dad or Pop could say anything more a woman with a stethoscope around her neck walked into the room. “Mr. Kinney, Mr. Taylor.” She nodded to both of them. “I was hoping when I answered the call that I would find that your son was finally coherent enough to hold a rational conversation.”

Smiling, Pop nodded. “We’ve just been talking with him.”

“Good morning, young Mr. Kinney. May I call you Gus?”

“Yes, doctor.”

“My name is Laura West. I know one of your mothers, Melanie Marcus. She’s an old school friend.”

Dad raised an eyebrow and the doctor was savvy enough to chuckle.

“She introduced me to a fellow law student and after a couple of years I married him.”

“A hetero household with a doctor and a lawyer at the helm. You’ve got it covered. Maybe you should pay Mel a finder’s fee.”

“She and I have joked about that many times, Mr. Kinney.” She immediately disengaged from Dad’s baiting words and refocused on me. “Now, Gus, I want you to lift your right arm.”

I did as she asked although my arm felt kind of heavy. She went on to have me do several other tasks and then began asking questions about the President of the United States, the year, my school, my sister, and on and on.

“Where’re my moms?”

“I believe Marie, Debbie, and a friend of yours, Marci, took them to the cafeteria for a coffee and lunch break. Your mothers have been glued to the other two seats in this room.” For the first time I noticed an empty chair next to each of my dads.

“How am I, doctor?”

“You seem fine, Gus, but I will have to do a further CT scan just to confirm there’s no permanent damage.” She listened to my chest with her stethoscope, then placed it back around her neck. “You were very lucky, young man. As to the drugs you were ingesting, with the quantities you were taking. you are very fortunate you didn’t have a heart attack or stroke. Instead, your body reacted before you destroyed it -- probably due to the fact that it’s not used to being given high doses of any medication since you’re in otherwise good health.”

“Can I go home?”

“Maybe tomorrow.” The doctor put her hands in the pockets of her white lab coat. “And you’ll be on restricted activity for another week. Just school and home. No additional jobs and no driving.”

“What about the prom? It’s next weekend.”

I noticed Pop’s eyes widen. He and Dad shared one of their knowing looks and I felt a shiver run up and down my spine.

“I don’t want you in an environment with that much stimulation for at least two weeks.”

“But the prom is next week!” I tried to yell. “Is this some kind of punishment you worked out with my parents?”

“No, Gus, I’m the only bad guy here; they had nothing to do with it. It’s for your health and ongoing well-being. No prom.” She started to leave the room, stopped, and turned around. “By the way, there’s only one person responsible for you missing your prom, and that’s you. Next time think before you decide to try being superhuman. It will usually blow up in your face.”

After the doctor left the room I covered my face with my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I’d fucked up my prom.

Dad gently touched my arm. “Sonny Boy, just be happy you’ll be able to finish school on time and your spot at CMU is safe.”

Holding my other hand, Pop continued. “And most important, you’re healthy.”

I tried to accept their positive attitude but I was so disappointed with everything, and especially with myself. What an idiot I had been. Why did I think I could possibly handle something sold illegally? Even that asshole, Jeremy, tried to tell me it was too much.

“Dad, Pop, where’s Jeff? He must be really mad. Has he been here?” I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer, but I needed to know.

Dad pulled back the curtain around the other bed. I hadn’t even noticed that I had a roommate.

There, asleep on the bed, was Jeff.

Pop sat on the edge of the bed. “He was so worried that he had Tucker race up to school and help him pack all his stuff as quickly as possible.”

“Then Tucker brought Jeff here and took the kid’s shit to their house. He hasn’t left you or slept once.” Dad glared at me.

“We finally convinced him he’d be useless to you, or anyone else, if he collapsed from exhaustion. He finally agreed to take a nap about an hour ago.”

Jeff began to stir. As soon as we made eye contact he practically leapt out of the bed. I was so happy he was coming right to me, until I spotted his furrowed brow and narrow eyes. “What the fuck were you thinking? I could kill you, but you nearly did that to yourself!”

I noticed Pop didn’t chime in to rescue me this time.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself, young man.” His arms crossed over his chest, Dad stood behind Jeff.

“Do you know how worried I’ve been? How worried everyone’s been?” Jeff brushed his hand over his face. He did look exhausted, despite his nap.

“We heard you were awake. What the fuck were you thinking!” Mem practically ran into the room, followed by Mom, Marie, Grandma Deb, and Marci.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” Mem was clearly pissed off.

“We were so worried about you, honey.” Mom’s soft voice was welcome, but I knew it was undeserved.

“Did you really think I fell for that vitamin crap?” Marci and Grandma Deb stood side by side, each of them with their hands on their hips.

I knew exactly what all of them needed to hear. “I’m sorry. I made a stupid choice and it nearly ruined everything.”

“You sure did make a stupid choice, Sonny Boy.”

“We’re all just glad you’re here to admit it and never do anything like that again.” Pop squeezed my hand and it felt warm and comforting.

I looked toward Jeff. He was still glaring at me, but hadn’t uttered another word since my room filled.

Dad must have noticed too. “Okay, everyone. There’s too many of us in here and it looks like these two need to talk. If you don’t all make too big a fuss, I’ll take you to the Starbucks next door so we don’t have to endure anymore of the hospital’s swill.”

I nodded my thanks to Dad, although it did hurt a bit to move my head in that motion.

After the room cleared, Jeff stood by my bed.

“Do you want to sit down?”

“I should walk out now.”

I bit my lip. “Please don’t.”

Jeff sat in the chair Dad had been sleeping in when I woke up.

“I really fucked up. I lost the prom.”

“I almost lost you. No comparison.” Jeff sighed. “But we really need to talk.”

“I know.”

[TBC]

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