Possessions
Chapter 12
By: Makena
Billy strolled down to the front desk, taking his time in the search for Benji. Not seeing him in the lobby, he walked up to the front desk and waited for the receptionist to get off the phone.
"May I help you sir?" he inquired as soon as he had hung the phone back up in it's proper place.
"Uh, yeah. I'm looking for some one, I think he came down. He's 24, a little big, pink hair with some black spots? He was wearing black pants with zippers and patches and a black band t-shirt. You see him go by?"
The receptionist pondered for a moment and scratched his bleach blond head a little. "I did see him," he said finally. "He left. Couldn't tell you which way he went."
Billy sighed. "Oh well. Thanks." Billy turned and began to walk towards the elevator.
"Does he have a cell phone?"
Billy stopped and turned. "What?"
"Does he have a cell phone?" the receptionist asked again, picking up the phone and holding it out for Billy. He considered it before accepting the phone and dialing the numbers.
He received a ringing tone and he waited to Benji to pick it up. He sighed and glanced outside, noticing Makena quickly walking past the hotel. Billy looked towards the elevators and then back at Makena, confused as to how she had gotten there without him noticing.
He gave the phone back to the receptionist, thanked him, and ran towards the door. Makena was quickly disappearing down the side walk and Billy had to sprint to keep up.
"Hey," he breathed, finally catching up to her. Makena, startled, stopped and started at Billy.
"Oh - hi," she said. Billy smiled at her.
"Where are you going?" he asked her. Makena jerked her right thumb down the sidewalk.
"Bar. Wanna come?"
Billy glanced at her wrist, which was loosely wrapped in a strip of black cotton - something that looked like part of a shirt - and was moist from the crimson blood that was now slowly seeping out.
"Wha...?" Billy asked. "What the hell is that?"
"It's a strip of my tank top," Makena replied simply. "It's slowing the blood down."
Billy's eyes went wide. "Don't you think you should go to the hospital?"
Makena shrugged. "I was thinking about doing that after I've had a couple of beers or something. You know - numb the pain a little."
"Do you mind if I look at it?" Billy inquired slowly.
"Don't...!" she warned, but it was too late. Billy hadn't waited for a reply and had begun to unwrap her make-shift bandages when the slow seeping of blood quickened. Billy jumped back and examined it as Makena tried to tie it back up.
"Is that... is that glass?" he asked, his eyes wider then before. Makena nodded and tired the strip of cloth. Billy shook his head. "Come on," he said, firmly grasping her upper arm. "You're going to the hospital."
------
Joel stepped off the elevator and into the hall. The first thing he noticed was Paul, who was sitting on the floor with his back resting against his door and humming to himself.
"Paul?" Joel questioned, curious. "What are you doing out here?"
Paul looked up at Joel and blinked a couple of times. "Benji left," he began to explain. "Billy went off to see where he went... you didn't happen to see Billy in the lobby did you?" Joel shook his head. Paul sighed. "Didn't think so. I'm locked out of my room."
Joel laughed slightly and swiped his key card through his own door. "Come in," he said, holding the door open for Paul. He stood and smiled slightly in appreciation, brushing past Joel. They turned on the TV and were just getting comfortable when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Joel asked sweetly, trying not to sound too anoyed.
"Joel?" Billy's voice questioned from the other end. "Is Benji there?"
"No," Joel replied. "Paul said he dissapeared."
Billy groaned slightly under his breath. "Well.. okay." He paused. "Uh... I'm down at the hospital."
This caused Joel to bolt upright and Paul to tilt his head in confusion. "Is everything okay?" Joel asked, now worried. "What the hell happened?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Billy assured Joel. "There was just a little accident; Makena kind of... well, she didn't tell me, but she's getting stitches."
"Getting stitches?" Joel repeated. "Why? What happened?"
"I told you, I don't know!" He paused. "She said it was an accident."
"What was an accident, Billy? You're not making any sence!"
"Yeah - I know," Billy replied. "I'll explain later."
With that, the line went dead and left Joel as confused as ever. He hung up and glanced at Paul.
"What was that all about?" he asked anxiously with a worried expression on his face.
"Not a fucking clue."
------
Makena sat impatiently on the hospital bed she had been placed in, tapping her foot on the floor. Finally, a nurse entered and she sat straight up.
"Why am I still here?" she questioned. "Why aren't you releasing me? Why am I wearing this fucking dress that doesn't even have a god damn back?"
She paused as Billy entered, slightly uncomfortable. "Billy, why am I still here? I'm fucking fine now!" She held up her freshly bandaged wrist for Billy to see. He nodded.
"I know," he said quietly. Makena frowned, reading his emotions and thoughts he was not so quick to hide.
"Fuck me," she muttered. "You think I tried to kill myself, didn't you?"
Billy replied with a slight twitch in his shoulders and glanced at the floor. The nurse watched, absently pausing in her work.
"Um, hello?" Makena said, holding up her right wrist again. "I'm right handed! Why the fuck would I use my left hand?"
Billy sighed and grabbed her left wrist, viewing the deep gashes that had been made earlier that same day. Makena lowered her eyes and jerked her hand away.
"Don't touch me," she mumbled, turning away.
"That's what I thought," Billy said. "I think you should stay here for a couple of days."
"And I'm thinking no, okay?" Makena snapped. "If I'm not mistaken, Billy, I'm 24 fucking years old and you're not exactly some one who has authority over me." She paused and rested her head in her hands, rubbing her forehead. "I need a fucking drink."
"You're fine," he told her. "You're sober."
"I'm unpleasant when I'm sober," she told him. "Nurse! For the love of god find some one who'll get me the fuck out of here."
------
Benji sat at the bar with a basket of peanuts in front of him and an untouched beer. He had been so intent on getting a drink that he had forgotten how long it had actually been since his last drink and was hesitant to actually drink it.
The door opened and a flood of sunlight poured inside. Benji glanced up to see Makena walk in. A red sweat shirt was draped over one arm. Her tank top looked as if it had been torn off at the bottom and was showing a little of her navel. But the thing Benji noticed first was the bandage on her right wrist. He watched as she walked to the bar and paused when she saw him.
"Hey," she said, taking a seat next to him. "You're the last person I'd expect to see in a place like this."
Benji shrugged and cracked a peanut shell open. Makena observed his beverage of choice and cocked an eyebrow.
"Enjoying your drink?" she inquired. Benji glanced at his beer and quickly back up at her.
"I haven't touched it yet," he told her truthfully. Makena nodded.
"Can I get you anything miss?" the bar tender asked.
"I'll have a beer," she replied. "Thanks."
Benji glanced at her bandaged wrist again as the bar tender disappeared to retrieve Makena's drink. "What happened?" he asked her. Makena glanced back over at him and sighed.
"Look, it's on my right wrist so don't worry about it, okay? It was an accident."
"I didn't say anything," Benji said. Makena sighed. The bar tender returned and placed the beer in front of Makena who thanked him again and slowly began to drink. She glanced at Benji and put her drink down.
"Uh... I can't help but notice you watching me," she told him. "It's a little irritating."
"Sorry," Benji - who's mind was still on Makena's slow mental deterioration apologized. Makena rolled her eyes and quickly polished off her beer.
"I'm going to go," she announced to him, digging out a ten dollar bill from her purse and placing it under her glass.
"Had enough already?" Benji questioned. Makena rolled her eyes again.
"Hardly. I just prefer drinking by myself, so if you don't mind I'm going to go down to the store, pick myself up something to drink, and go back to the hotel room."
She turned quickly and left the bar. Benji sighed and turned to his own drink. He pondered for about two seconds before he downed it within a matter of minutes.
"Can I top you off?" the bar tender asked. Benji burped as silently as he could and shook his head.
"Tequila. Lots of tequila."