Jay POV
Hospitals smell weird.
It's like a mix of medicine, soap, and something sharp that stays in your nose no matter how long you sit there.
I had been sitting in Hex's hospital room for what felt like forever.
The heart monitor beside his bed kept making that slow beeping sound.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Every time it beeped, I felt a little better.
Because it meant he was still here.
Hex was lying on the bed, half asleep again. His arm was wrapped in thick bandages and there was another one across his forehead. The doctor said he would be fine, but he needed rest.
I kept staring at him anyway.
He was only thirteen.
And yesterday I thought he was dead.
Felix was sitting near the door, scrolling through his phone.
Ci-N leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
Calix, Hannah, Nathan, Carlos, Miguel, Yuri, Rory, Endrix, Eman, and Kit were scattered around the room in different places. Everyone looked exhausted.
None of us had slept much.
Then the door suddenly flew open.
I looked up.
And suddenly the room filled with people.
First came Mila.
Mila
She rushed straight into the room like she had run through the entire hospital.
"Where is he?!" she asked loudly.
Right behind her came
James
"We heard Hex almost died!" he said.
Felix groaned.
"Yep. News spreads fast."
Mila walked straight to the bed and stared at Hex.
"You look terrible."
Hex opened one eye slowly.
"…Thanks."
James shook his head.
"You scared everyone."
Before anyone could say anything else, more people came in.
Uncle Victor walked inside calmly.
Behind him came Aunt Serina.
Then Aries and Aunt Gemma followed.
And finally…
Angelo stepped into the room.
The moment he looked at us, I knew we were about to get yelled at.
Angelo crossed his arms.
"What were you all thinking?"
The room went silent immediately.
He pointed straight at me, Hex, and Keifer.
"You three!"
I opened my mouth.
"We had to—"
"Don't start. You had to save the day right," Angelo cut me off instantly.
I sighed quietly and shut my mouth.
Angelo pointed at Hex next.
"And YOU."
Hex blinked from the hospital bed.
"Yes?"
"You are thirteen years old! most people your age are in school not fighting "
Hex looked down at himself like he was checking.
"…Still true."
Felix covered his face.
"Oh no."
Angelo looked like he was about to explode.
"You jumped into a warehouse full of explosives!"
Hex shrugged slightly.
"In my defense… it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"CHARLES !" Angelo shouted.
I tried again.
"We didn't have a choice—"
"Jay," Angelo said firmly, "stop explaining."
I crossed my arms, annoyed now.
Keifer stepped forward calmly.
"Angelo, listen—"
"I AM listening," Angelo snapped.
"And what I'm hearing is that all of you nearly got yourselves killed!"
Nobody said anything.
Then Uncle Victor stepped forward.
"Angelo."
His voice was calm.
Victor placed a hand on Angelo's shoulder.
"They're safe now."
"They were lucky," Angelo replied.
Aunt Serina stepped in before the argument could start again.
"Alright," she said gently.
She looked around the room at all of us.
"You all look exhausted."
She pointed toward the door.
"Go home."
Felix blinked.
"…Really?"
"Yes," Serina said.
"Go freshen up. Eat something. Rest."
Felix nodded quickly.
"That sounds amazing."
Then Angelo spoke again.
"And then go to school."
Everyone froze.
"…WHAT?" Felix said.
I stared at Angelo.
"School?"
Ci-N immediately backed me up.
"Yes!"
Calix groaned.
"We literally survived an explosion !"
Angelo pointed at Hex.
"Not you."
Hex immediately sighed.
"Thank God."
Felix looked jealous.
"Lucky."
I stepped forward.
"But Angelo… can't we go next week?"
Ci-N nodded quickly.
"Yes!"
Nathan added,
"We need recovery time."
Angelo stared at all of us for a few seconds.
Then he sighed.
"…Fine."
Everyone straightened up.
"But," Angelo continued, pointing toward the door, "all of you go home."
"Change your clothes."
"Eat."
"And rest."
Felix grinned.
"Now that is a good plan."
I looked back at Hex.
He was already half asleep again.
I walked closer to the bed.
I walked closer to the bed.
"You better not explode anything while we're gone," I whispered.
Hex opened one eye.
"No promises."
I shook my head and smiled a little.
Then we all slowly started leaving the room.
And for the first time since the explosion…
everything finally