Coma Girl: part 2 by Stephanie Bond Read Free Book Online Page A

kill.
    “How are things with you and Donna?”
    Gabriel’s laugh was the kind guys share when they kiss and tell. “Great. She knows how to make me happy.”
    Hm… wasn’t Gina dating Gabriel?
    “Happier than Gina?” Nico asked.
    Gabriel gave another laugh. “They both make me happy in different ways.”
    “You’re playing with fire, dating two women who work here. One is bound to find out about the other.”
    “Not if I’m careful, and I intend to be.”
    “Man, I’m telling you, Gina’s going to want you to put a ring on it.”
    “No way am I getting married again.”
    Hadn’t Gina said he’d never been married?
    “The third wife did me in,” he added.
    What a rat.
    “Hey, over there’s the one they call Coma Girl,” Nico said. “I heard Keith Young blew a lousy .1 over the limit.”
    “So they’re going to charge him with DUI?”
    “Yeah, and maybe worse, depending on what happens to CG.”
    “Man, he’s been looking good in practice, too. Damn shame.”
    “Hey, maybe CG will wake up, too. Then he can pay a fine and do community service for the DUI, and we get a respectable season of ball.”
    “Let’s try,” Gabriel said.
    “Let’s try what?”
    “Let’s try to wake her up.”
    “Are you crazy?”
    “We’d be heroes, think of it.”
    “Okay, as long as you don’t touch her.”
    Thank you, Nico.
    They walked closer to my bed and I wondered what Gabriel had in mind. A loud clap sounded near my face. Then another.
    “Hey, Coma Girl, wake up,” Gabriel said.
    I don’t.
    “Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.”
    Cute.
    “That’s enough, man,” Rico said. “We’re done, let’s go.”
    “Hey, my sister said there are places that will pay good money for a picture of her. She’s famous, like Pokemon Go.”
    What the heck is Pokemon Go?
    “Forget it,” Rico said. “Dr. Tyson ripped everyone a new one a few days ago over some leaked photos. It’s not worth getting canned over.”
    “You’re probably right,” Gabriel said. “I wish she’d wake up, though.”
    Don’t we all.
    The door opened and closed. One less bed changed the acoustics in the room. I can feel Audrey’s absence, and I wonder if Karen and Jill are aware she made her escape.
    And then there were three.
     
     

August 20, Saturday
     
     
    “UGH, THE D.A.’S OFFICE asked us not to make a statement about Keith Young’s lab results.”
    Sidney is wound up today—she’s talking so fast I can barely understand her, but I almost don’t care what Sid is saying—I’m ecstatic because she’s doing my nails again. Which means the nurses will take it off again, and I’ll get to feel the sensation of touch again.
    “David is irritated, but says for now it’s best to comply. The good news is the piece I posted that you were not on the phone when the crash happened has two hundred thousand likes.”
    So if everyone else believes it, I probably should, too.
    Then she made a sound of frustration. “But how dare that Audrey girl steal your thunder by waking up first?”
    I totally agree. Although I heard the nurses say Audrey was making good progress through physical rehab and speech therapy, and I’m happy for her.
    “We got a little mileage out of it, though, by saying your presence has brought a new energy to the ward, with all the flowers and stuff people are sending. That allowed us to thank your fans and ensure the arrangements keep coming, which gives us more pictures to post on Instagram.”
    That explained the spike in flower deliveries.
    “I talked to Mom and Dad, and I’ve decided to sit out this semester.”
    Oh, no—I don’t want Sid to postpone her education because of me.
    “David’s going to need help with everything and I just don’t feel comfortable turning it over to someone else.”
    Ah, so David is the reason.
    “One semester is no big deal. Hopefully, you’ll wake up soon and everything will get back to normal.”
    A phone rang and Sid answered, “Hello.”
    She pushed up from the