Chương 4: chapter 4:Fiona’s Pov

The next morning, a nurse arrives just after breakfast and hands me two clear plastic bags. They stink. She raises the first one and holds it out for me to take. "Your hoodie and runners from the scene of the accident. Ethan dropped them off last night, along with your keys and phone, which were still in the pockets. He drove your car back here from the park rather than leave it there overnight." She holds up the other bag. "These ... are the mucky, wet shorts and top you came in. You need something dry to wear home, so I brought you something to put on instead." I wrinkle my nose before reluctantly taking the bag. I hope I don't smell as bad as that. "Oh God, yuck," I say as I look at the wet dirty clothes through the plastic. "Yep," she responds, obviously keen to get rid of the offending items before she hands me some green scrubs. "Thanks for these. Wait, he drove my car here? I was just going to get a taxi home." I stare at her in shock. "Perks of living in a small town, honey. I don't think he minded helping the gorgeous young lady who saved the life of his Al... best friend. It's the least he could do." A beep draws my attention to one bag, the dry one, and I fish my phone out of the bottom. As I thought, I just have one message, and it was from my boss, Greg. That sad fact perfectly sums up the state of my social life since arriving here. There's lying low, and then there is becoming a complete hermit, which is what I seem to have accomplished. Greg heard what happened and wants me to stay home tomorrow, which is fine by me. That news of my hospital stay has reached him in record time doesn't surprise me. I grew up in a small town just like Grey Ridge, and I know everyone has probably been talking about what happened. Living in a place where everyone knows everyone can be good and bad, but the strong sense of community that you just can't get in a big city is what I've missed most. I change into the scrubs the nurse brought me and throw on my hoodie and runners, keen to get home quickly for a long soak in a warm bubble bath and a decent sleep. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and grimace. My lank hair badly needs a wash and there are dark circles under my eyes. I tuck my bag of wet running gear under my arm, tempted to just throw them in the bin instead of dealing with the smell in my car, but money is tight. After visiting the nurse's station to sign some forms, I step out through the front doors and laugh to myself as I spot my little red hatchback parked in the first parking spot, as close to the front door as it is possible to get. How on Earth did he manage that? I thought I'd be wandering up and down the aisles of cars like an idiot, pressing my key fob until I spotted some flashing lights. Given how exhausted I am, I'm touched by the sweet gesture. Throwing my stuff onto the passenger seat, I'm sliding in behind the steering wheel when the front doors of the hospital slide open again. I glance over and see Ethan strolling out. His head snaps up immediately as though he could sense me there, and his smile disappears the second he sees me; the colour draining from his face. "Oh, hey Fiona," he calls out, an odd tone in his voice. He jogs over to me, glancing back over his shoulder twice, a tight smile on his face. It doesn't quite reach his eyes. It looks forced, and his demeanour is anything but relaxed. "You didn't have to do this Ethan. It was above and beyond," I say, gesturing to my car as we stand talking over the car door. "But I appreciate it, thanks." "No problem at all. We have to look after the new town hero," he jokes and glances over his shoulder again. He's positioned himself close in front of me, blocking my view of the hospital door as I try to peer around him to see what has his attention. He seems jumpy. "Listen, I have to go, but I'll catch up with you later, okay?" He winks before leaning over to give me a quick peck on the cheek and darting away. That's when I see a stunning, tall woman with long dark hair step outside pushing a man in a wheelchair. Ethan rushes to the woman's side and slips an arm casually around her shoulder, whispering something in her ear. She looks around frantically before locking eyes with me. Her face lights up with a massive grin even as Ethan takes control of both her and the wheelchair and hurries them away. Strange.