memories.

A miserable pause fills the room and Alan feels like he’s had the breath knocked out of him. “You..what?” A wide smile breaks out on Dakota’s face as she laughs, but then stops at the pain shooting through her ribs.

“You actually thought I forgot you?” He almost melts into a puddle right there on the tiled floor, so relieved.

He grabs her least injured hand, clenching it. “Never scare me like that again. I swear to God I will kill you in your sleep, Dakota.” Her nose squishes up as she giggles and he just shakes his head, a beaming smile appearing on his face.

“I guess you’ll take me literally when I say I’m a terrible driver next time, won’t you?” He nods before dragging a chair over to her bedside. “Alright, I’m gonna get the doc. Think you can manage to not injure yourself while I’m gone?” She shrugs before wincing at the soreness.

“I make no promises.”

“Come on, Sunshine. You have to eat.” Dakota’s bottom lip sticks out in a pout. “But I don’t want to! I’ve been eating stupid hospital food for six days. I am sick to death of undercooked and unseasoned potatoes.”

Alan can’t help but chuckle at her childish reaction. “Please? For me, babe?” She shakes her head back and forth, arms crossed over her chest. “Nope. Not happening, bucko.” He pulls his own set of puppy dog eyes and she falters for a second, but regains her steely gaze.

“Nuh-uh.” “Don’t make me get Cole to come force feed you like last night.” She winces at the threat, almost feeling the wrath of Cole again.

“Whatever, you aren’t getting me to eat this nasty ass food. That’s final.” He glances up towards the ceiling in defeat, as if it would tell him how to convince her.

“Okay, what if I get you your guitar? Will you eat then?” She presses her lips together, thinking it over.

She had been itching to play for days and everyone had told her she just needed to wait. And she was sick of waiting.

“Fine.”

“No, you idiot! That verse would work better here!” Alan laughs, not at all offended at her teasing. He pretends to be, though.

“What? Are you seriously doubting my song writing skills?”

She nods somberly before busting out into giggles. She tries a couple different riffs then ends up resting the guitar pick between her lips as she thinks over the lyrics.

“Here’s what I have so far. Sing with me, yeah?”

She plays what they had written down for the intro before launching into the verse. This was a fun, stupid song.

“Don't want to sing about boys
Or what they mean to me.
I'm too narcissistic for all the scenery.
My mood is never as bright as it seems to be
Transition from Jekyll to Hyde too seamlessly.”

She shoots Alan a grin as she flicks her hair back over her hospital gown clad shoulder.

“But if you can hear this, I've had enough
Of straight lines and heavy loads
I'm just not this tough.
After my kind of night that ends throwing up,
Once I clean up my mess with it, my white flag is up.”

She plays for a few seconds more before cutting off suddenly.

“And that’s all I’ve got.” He applauds politely. “Just one thing: I think that line would still work better in the second verse.” She sticks her tongue out at him.

“Shut up Allycat.”

It’s a few hours later before the reason they were in the hospital is brought up.

“Um, so what you said about your parents-”

“Don’t worry about it.” She cuts him off.

“But we need to talk about-”

“I said, no, Alan.” She moves to wrap her hands around her ribs, dismissing the conversation.

Notes

I figured you guys deserved a semi-fluffy chapter after the mess I've put you through these past few chapters. So on a scale of 1 to 10, how much do y'all hate me for making you guys think she forgot who Alan was?