Chapter 25

I hear several bikes and cars pulling in and I start to shake. I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. “ Don’t worry about them. We are going inside now. Once we are, I'm going to take you straight to your room and get you settled.” I nod. I feel us go up the ramp and a small bump at the door before we go inside. It is awfully quiet in here. Nobody is moving around. No music. “ I figured you didn’t want to meet anyone yet so I had the club cleared out for a few minutes.” Viper says. It is a very nice jester on his part. And he is right. “ Thank you.” He pushes me further into the club then stops. “ We are at the stairs, Lilly. I’m going to pick you again and take you to your room.” He lifts me up and carries me up six stairs to the second floor where they have rooms for club members. He walks about three feet I think before he stops. He shifts me and I hear a door open. It’s amazing at all the things I hear now that I never noticed before. He walks into the room and as soon as he does I tighten my grip on him. “ What’s wrong?” Viper asks. “ Someone is in here. Or was very recently. I smell two different perfumes and hairspray.” I say. “ It’s ok, Lilly. I had Anna come get this room ready for you. And I had Trina bring your clothes here. Those are the only two that have been in here since it has been cleaned.” He says. “ Oh. ok.” That makes sense. “ I’m going to set you on the bed and get you comfy. I’ll bring your things up in a few.” he says. He gently lays me on the bed and props me up on some pillows against the headboard. He lifts my leg just enough to slide a pillow under it.

I feel him move back once I’m settled. “ The bathroom is to the right of the bed and is fully stocked for you. I had a bar installed in the shower for you. Later I’m going to the store and get the light bulbs your doctor recommended. For today I’m going to have meals brought up to you. Tomorrow if you feel like it we can get you down stairs. There is a lock on the inside of the door so you can lock it when you are sleeping. There is a nightstand about six inches from the bed on your left.” I stopped listening to him after that because I heard light footsteps coming near the door. I don’t think it is a bunny since they usually wear heels for some reason. Viper must have noticed I stopped listening because he is suddenly by my side. “ Someones coming.” I whisper.

I hear a light tap on the wood by the door that I now realise was never closed. I stiffen but don’t move. “ One sec.” Viper says but I don’t know if he is talking to me or the person at the door. I hear him move to the door then a whispered conversation. I can’t hear what they are saying but I know the other voice is a woman. Then silence. Silence never used to bother me but now it does. After a minute I hear boots again then “ It’s me, Lilly.” As he comes into the room. He sits on the edge of the bed and says “ Lilly, Anne is outside the door. She is who you heard. She wants to come in and check on you. She says she won’t be happy until she sees you with her own eyes.” Anne is a wonderful woman. She was like a mother figure to me. She made all my costumes and would cheer every time she came to see me sing. And I miss her terribly but having her see me like this. I don’t know.

“ I don’t think it is a good idea. She shouldn’t see me like this.” I tell Viper. “ Lilly, I know you are worried. But you have to know no one is going to judge you. Nothing that happened is your fault. Most just want to know you are ok.” he says holding my hand. “ But that’s the thing Mr. Viper. I’m not ok. No one who will see me will know I’m not ok. I won’t be again.” “Lilly, I know you are worried. Yes, you have some injuries, some permanent but on the inside you are still our Lilly. That’s all that matters. Let Anna come in before she goes out of her mind. She has been worried sick.” I might as well get this over with. I know some people are going to be able to handle the changes that have happened to me. But they are going to have to at least get used to it. So I cave and nod.

I don’t make a move as Anne comes into the room. I feel the side of the bed dip and a hand on mine. “ Oh, Lilly. I have been so worried about you. After you woke up and wouldn’t let us in the room I was devastated. I wanted to be there for you. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone.” Anne says. I can hear the tears in her voice. It hurts me that I made her cry. I turn my head in the general direction of where I think her head might be. “ I wasn’t alone , Anne. Dez, Neil and the rest of the guys would stop by from time to time. But truthfully I slept so much I wasn’t much company.” I guess I didn’t turn the right way because Anne asks “ Lilly, why won’t you look at me.” Damm it. I misjudged again. “ I uh” I mumble. I don’t even know where to start explaining. It’s not like I don’t want to look at her. Luckily Viper saves me. “ Anna, it isn’t that Lilly doesn’t want to look at you. She can’t. And before you ask I’ll explain everything when we meet in a few minutes. There is a lot to go over and I only want to do it once.” I want to say something else to try to reassure Anne but all that comes out is a yawn. “ Let’s let her rest. And we will go downstairs to explain everything.” Viper says to Anna. She must have agreed since I felt her get off the bed. “ Lilly, I will come check on you after I meet with everyone. Probably about thirty minutes. And I’ll bring all your things up when I come back. I’m going to shut your door so you can rest in peace. “ Thanks, Mr. Viper.” I say in between yawns.

“ Just rest, Lilly. I will make sure you have everything you need. I’ll bring you up dinner in a little while. Do you need anything?” Viper asks. “ I’m going to need my prescriptions. And if it is not too much trouble, some popcorn. And I need that cream Dr. Ryans told us about for the cuts on my face. And could I have some flavored water?” I ask. “ Sure Lilly. We can get that for you. For now just rest.” Viper says. No problem there I feel my eyelids drooping already.