Paint Me a Smile

"Don’t give me that look," Charlie murmured, his face composed with a neutral expression for about two seconds before a shit-eating grin spread across his face; teeth showing and everything. There was no reason to hide it, since he was a terrible liar to begin with; especially around people he considered a friend, and Jamie was one of the few people he’s met around here that he would be sure to chat and hang out with outside of the hospital, if he was ever discharged long enough to actually go back to school.  An eyebrow arched high on his forehead as he listened to Jamie talk, his grin turning into a closed mouth smile; though his eyes were crinkled up at the corners; like he had just recived the best news ever. For some odd reason, he was always happy around the person who was currently eating the stolen M&Ms he snatched before running back to his room so the broken vending machine wasn’t blamed on him. “Oh, really? I don’t think that’s legal. Next time you need to ramble and just talk to someone during whatever, yell for me. I have nothin’ better to do, and I owe you for the other day,” he said as his fingers absently picked at the loose thread on the bedspread where he was sitting at; though he wasn’t pulling it out. Charlie lifted his head to look at Jamie and his shook his head, letting out a soft laugh as he moved his gaze for at the wheelchair for a brief moment before back at the man laying down. “Well, that’s kinda shit. It was your nurses’ fault, not yours. Though, I wouldn’t of called for my nurse to bring me my wheelchair, either. I’d say I forgot,” He admitted, shoulders moving up in a shrug at the question. “Dr. Whatever    her last name is nearly impossible to pronounce    started me on some medication to slow something with my pancreas, so I’m just waiting to see if it works or not. It’ll probably be the latter, but I still hope, y’ know? And then the vending machine.. All I wanted was a Twix bar.”

Jamie couldn't help but smile, watching as Charlie's expression shifted. That was one thing he truly enjoyed about the other -- he was just so expressive. It was great; it definitely served to liven up the otherwise boring hospital setting. When Jamie had woken up here after the accident, had hadn't imagined actually making good friends -- yet here he was, talking to someone who he could totally see himself being friends with outside of the circumstances as well. It baffled him, how suddenly 'awkward Jamie Averill' had morphed into a talkative guy. But really, it was all Charlie. He made speaking so effortless and carefree. With him, Jamie didn't need to worry about rambling or getting overly excited about something; the two just started up conversation and followed it wherever it might lead. "You don't owe me anything," Jamie smiled, running his free hand through his hair. Unbeknownst to him, he'd caused his sandy brown locks to stick up in an artful display of disarray; tufts sticking out at odd angles. "But I'll definitely take you up on that offer. Good company's a godsend with these kinds of things." He cast Charlie a genuine smile before subconsciously tilting his head to the side -- a habit Jamie had while listening to someone else speak. "They're all kinda hard to pronounce, and they rarely introduce themselves. I think it'd be better if we just came up with a system of simpler nicknames for them, honestly." He let out a quiet laugh, barely above the volume of a normal breath. "Don't doubt the medicine yet, though. I know I'll sound like a complete cheeseball here, but optimism really does work wonders." He paused before his eyes lit up with a bit of excitement. "Oh! There was this study done a few years ago on people who get migraines -- totally different issue, I know -- and they all got given different pills. Half of the group got the actual medicine, and the other half got placebos. Basically just pills with sugar inside. And it was really cool, how the study showed more of the people who got the placebos reported less migraines than those with the actual medicine. It kind of proved how instrumental belief is." Jamie shrugged slightly, his smile turning a bit more sheepish than his previous wide grin. "I don't know, I just found it kind of interesting."

Charlie rolled his lips together to try and hide the guilty smirk that was practically begging to spread across his face. “I didn’t do it. But the screaming of terror was me. It fell and    that’s the story I’m sticking with.” He said, a hand moving up to cover his mouth; though the amused sparkle in his eyes gave him away instantly. In reality, Charlie was wiggling the vending machine and he accidentally pulled it towards him. The rest is pretty self explanatory. ”Oh, no thank you, Jamie.” He said when he noticed he was offered some, hesitating for a moment before taking a seat on the edge of the bed by the lads feet. “So, anything interesting happen since we last spoke? Any nurse drama?”

Jamie's smile only grew as Charlie tried to conceal his smirk. "Oh, I'm sure you had nothing to do with it falling, though. That was probably all gravity." He cast Charlie a knowing grin, his own eyes twinkling as he popped a few more M&M's into his mouth. Jamie couldn't help but feel happy around Charlie; he was quite the character -- sarcastic, playful, fun. He was very easy to converse with. "Gosh, lots. Are they allowed to give me sedatives without me knowing? Because a few days ago, for some other test that took a while, they did. I think it was because I was talking a lot, but... They could've just told me to shut up a little," Jamie let out a quiet giggle. "But, oh well. I've been having a little trouble sleeping, so I can't really complain." He shrugged, crunching on another candy as he thought a bit. "Other than that, I don't think... Oh! Wait!" His eyes lit up as another happening with a nurse sparked within his memory. "I was supposed to go to some sort of counseling within the hospital to help me 'deal with my newfound limitations'," he used air quotes around the phrase, "yesterday. But my nurses forgot to leave my chair by my bed for easy access, you know? I tried to get across the room to get it, but it didn't really work. So... I kind of missed my session and got scolded for it." He smiled sheepishly, letting out a breathy laugh. "Let's just say my main nurse can fit a lot of expletives in one sentence. How about you? Has anything particularly awesome or dramatic happened?"

"Oh, good. Well, not good that you’re stuck with an IV cord forcing you to stay in bed because that really sucks and    I’m going to shut up.” Charlie said, pursing his lips together to form a thin line in the end to keep himself from rambling anymore than he already was. An eyebrow arched up high on the teenagers forehead as he watched Jamie’s reaction at the mention of chocolate, a grin curling up at the sides of his lips. “Well, here you are, then.” He said and crossed the few feet of the room, setting the unopened package of M&Ms on his chest. “Before you refuse, I didn’t pay for it. Something might’ve happened to the vending machine.. I just made the best of the worst situation?”

Jamie couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Hey, no, it's all good. No worries." His fingertips almost immediately found the package of M&M's as soon as Charlie placed it on his chest. "Wait..." Jamie looked up at the other boy, furrowing his brow and cocking his head ever so slightly to the side. "Was that the crash I heard earlier?" He toyed with the perforated corner of the packaging, his lips forming a knowing smile. "Well, hey, I get M&M's out of it, so I'm not going to conduct an interrogation." He gingerly tore open the package, popping a few M&M's into his mouth. He hummed happily at the taste before swallowing. "Mm. But, I will point out that it usually takes a lot for a vending machine to malfunction." He placed another M&M in his mouth before offering Charlie the handful that still rested on his palm.

"There’s no blood like    visible, right? I’m kinda squeamish n’ I’d rather not faint today. I have some M&M’s, though. Chocolate makes everything a lot less boring. You want some?”

"Nope, you're all good. They already took what they needed, so now I'm just tethered to the IV for their personal amusement." Jamie laughed under his breath, the sound hushed and melodic. "Ooh, M&M's?" His eyes immediately lit up, and he couldn't help the grin that brightened his features. "I have the world's biggest sweet tooth. You know that nursing rhyme about the house made of candy in the woods? I could probably eat that whole thing without breaking a sweet. It's... I'm practically addicted, honestly."

Aurie made a face. “I hate it when they decide needles are necessary. For mine, I don’t really need many blood tests or anything like that, but they seem to like to draw it frequently just because anyway. It’s kind of annoying actually.” She sat down in the chair by his bed. “So it’s not all bad, today then?”

Jamie hummed, definitely understanding Aurie's point of view. "I'm not supposed to need any at all, but they still insist upon it. I figure it's really not worth fighting back about, y'know? Because, on the off chance they suddenly come across something questionable, it might help out." He shrugged slightly, offering the girl a soft smile. "Not too bad, no. I got some more drawings done, and I planned out a bigger project. The only issue for me is going to be, later this week, convincing them to let me leave the hospital to paint this really gorgeous view of a sunset at a park not too far from here. Maybe I can get one one of the nurse's good side, though. We'll see. Anyway, how's your day going? Anything cool happening in the life of Aurie Hartman?"

"I wasn’t sure if you wanted people, but sometimes the testing is easier with someone else around to pass the time. Is it bad boring or just boring? There can be a big difference?"

"In between? I'm not really a needles person but so far, so good. I'm just glad they didn't try to give me a sedative like last time. They were apparently worried about me freaking out, but once they have the needles in it isn't so bad, I guess. I'm kinda dreading the checkup on my legs, though. It's always so awkward. Mostly just because they ask the same question that they know the answer to, over and over. But that's not until much later, so some company would be awesome, actually."

"I scared myself and looked up how long the human body can go without any sleep, and it’s ten days. I’m never going on Web.MD again after I read what happens during the days. Don’t worry ‘bout rambling around me, babe. I do it most days, myself. Just wait until I find something interesting; I’ll be spouting facts all day. You are sweet. I’m also really stubborn, so you may as well give up.”

"Web MD is the worst. I think I've had nightmares because of that site. They make the tiniest symptoms seem like the most horrible things. When I was sixteen, I convinced myself I was going to die because my legs ached all the time. Lo and behold, it was actually just a growth spurt. You can imagine how annoyed my parents were, ha. Yeah? Okay, cool. Because I'm like... this constant rambler, once I start talking a lot. Hey, I'm actually in need of random facts, so if you're ever needing someone to ramble to, totally come find me. What if I don't give up? What happens then?"

"And that’s why I usually don’t listen to ‘em. No-sleep type of deal, sadly. It’s been a couple days with, like, an hour of sleep. S’ not to bad yet. You’re sweet, Jamie. It’s my pleasure."

"I can barely function sometimes with my regular amount of sleep, let alone just an hour. Major props to you for still having the motivation to get up, honestly. Me, sweet? Well... I dunno about that, but thanks. I guess I try. Well. I don't actually try, but -- you know, actually, now would be a good time for me to shut up before I start rambling. Sorry."

Aurie licked her lips and gave him time in case he kept talking before saying, “I’m not sure death is ever fair. It’s too quick or too slow with not enough warning or drawn out too long. Overall, it just sucks.” She squeezed his arm to give him a tiny bit of comfort. “I guess all you can really do is remember and try not to be too hard on yourself about it happening.”

Jamie let out a shaky breath, bringing a hand up to wipe at his eyes. "Except it wouldn't have happened without me. If I hadn't been goofing around like an idiot in the passenger seat he would've had his eyes on the road and..." And the car wouldn't have crashed. It wouldn't have lost control and propelled Eric through the windshield, killing him on impact. His brother would be alive. "He didn't deserve it. He... He didn't deserve any of it, Aurie." Jamie's breathing hitched a bit as tears began to trail down his cheeks. "And here I am drawing him like it'll make a difference. But... it won't. Nothing will, because he's gone. No matter how many times I d-draw him, or think about him, or wish that he were here, he's never coming back. Never."

Taking a seat next to the boy, Emilie’s eyes darted up to the sky.  If she took comfort in anything, it was that the stars seemed to stay the same no matter what changed in her life.  After sitting in silence for a few minutes and embracing the solitude- she turned back to Jamie.  ”It’s beautiful isn’t it?- Every one of my problems seems so small in the scheme of things when I can look at a seemingly never-ending galaxy of stars.” A smile graced the girl’s lips in wonder and fascination.

Jamie cocked his head to the side just slightly as he listened to Emilie's musing, his own gaze flickering up to admire the stars that scattered themselves across the night sky, small pinpricks of life tossed askew against a blanket of black. "It really is. It puts things into perspective, huh?" He smiled softly, glancing over at her for a moment before looking back up at the sky. "When I was little, my family used to take an annual camping trip. We lived in Los Angeles, so it was hard to see the stars with all of the light pollution... But every year we'd drive out and spend a few days away from it all. My brother and I would point out constellations and stuff." Jamie's deep brown eyes remained trained on the night sky as he spoke. "And it's so true, that we're so small. When we were out there, away from the city... I don't know why, but I felt infinite."

"Eh. I guess. You’re very optimistic."

"Well, without optimism, what would be the point in carrying on? There's always at least one tiny good thing about something. Or, at least, I like to think so."

"S’ not just you, it’s everything. Sorry for being rude. I’m just     tired is all. I’m Charlie.”

"Hey, that wasn't half as rude as some of the nurses here, no need to worry about it. Oof, being tired isn't fun. Is it a medicine thing or a no-sleep type deal? Either way, I'm sorry you're not feeling great. You definitely deserve better, Charlie. I'm Jamie."

"Can you please stop that noise. S’ making me nuts.”

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't even realize I was tapping. I'll stop, yeah. But... is everything okay? You seem kinda on edge."