Looking around he sees his two best friends slumped in the chairs in hospital room, looking around for a paper to through at them Gus's eyes open and he violently shakes Cado to wake him up.
" Come on man five more minutes please."
" No man now he is awake, I repeat he is awake go get a nurse or doctor quick." Gus said happily. The next few minutes were spent with doctors and nurses checking Tad up and down making sure he was responding to his medication and that the surgical site was not infected. After the nurse changed out his bandages and grabbed him some food and water they excused themselves.
" You guys are never going to believe what I saw while I was out." Tad said excitedly. Gus and Cado were looking at him with an amused face.
" Hey man we promised my cousin nothing like this would happen and now here you are in the hospital, luckily the police didn't take any blood samples to test for alcohol otherwise you would be going away right now." Cado said very sternly.
" Yeah man like what the hell were you thinking and the truck is going to be okay just a new windshield and radiator you're also lucky that branch missed every one of your vital organs." Gus said angrily.
" Don't get me started either. Another stunt like that and I'll be sending you off to military school." Tad's father said from the door way. Tad hung his head low and apologized to everyone in the room. His dad sighed in relief knowing his son was going to be okay.
" Okay you two get to school he will be here when you get done so please bring him his homework and give this note to the front office for me they are expecting you to bring it in." He said as he pat his son on the head and headed to work. The boys grab the note and their book bags and head off to school with a fist bump from the bed ridden friend. Tad was just about to close his eyes when he noticed a familiar face in the sunny corner of his room.
" Poseidon is that you?" Tad asked quietly, squinting his eyes and concentrating on the figure.
" Yes don't worry just watching and waiting get some rest." Poseidon said as he was cut off by Tad.
" No way man I need more, how can I get more of that…that feeling. How long have you even been standing there?" Tad said incredulously.
" Well I've been here the whole time, you are the only one who can see and hear me as of right now. Your dad is the only other person who can see me only because I revealed myself to him many years ago the first night he brought you home." Poseidon said. Tad looked puzzled "I don't understand ". Poseidon nodded but remained silent.
" How can I see you but no one else can? Did you do that on purpose?" Tad asked looking at him.
" We will have to wait and see if you can figure that out now won't we?" He said with a half smile. Tad chuckled a bit and then closed his eyes and began to concentrate on his surroundings and breathing. After a few hours he felt something deep inside his mind click and with a gentle sound he could hear running water in his mind and see it flow like a river and roar like the sea.
" I see it…I hear it…I feel it pulling and pushing me like the tides on the beach. Is this it? Did I just figure it out?" Tad asked in calm voice eyes still closed.
" That's it Tad hold onto that feeling you are drawing it out, but do not rush like everything else in your life you have limits." Poseidon said with grin. He handed Tad a cup of tea and the two sat in silence until Gus and Cado came crashing through the door.
" Hey man we are back and boy oh boy do you have a lot of homework!" Gus said while laughing.
" Come on man I'm not doing your homework too am I?" Tad asked a little dejected.
" Not just his but mine too, you owe us after all that stunt you pulled." Cado said sternly.
" You're right I do but only one class and it's only until I get out which if I'm not mistaken will be tomorrow afternoon." Tad said with sigh of defeat. Cado and Gus looked at each other and smiled.
" You'll never guess who asked about you today. Come on guess." Gus said eagerly waiting for a response.
" I don't want anything to do with her right now I know exactly who you are talking about. Tell her I need some space and time Im not ready to face her yet." Tad said hanging his head low. Cado elbowed Gus in the arm and glared at him.
" I told you not to bring it up man, bad timing."
" It's fine Cado. Oh by the way do either of you have my phone it wasn't with my personal belongings when I checked earlier?" Tad asked, but before he could look around Gus stuck it out to him.
" It's all charged up just left it turned off figured you didn't want me to go through it."
" Thanks bud, I don't know what I would do without you guys."
With that said he powered on his phone and to his surprise a few notifications popped up from the last couple days, some were from the freshman in his band section and a few from Niki. Tad ignored those and replied to the freshman in the order of which they were received. After settling that he locked his phone and began the homework his friends had laid out in front of him. Tad was able to finish the work right before visiting hours were ending and since it was late the boys left and promised to come pick him up from the hospital for school the next day. Tad's dad showed up a few minutes later and sat and chatted with him, Tad told him everything down to the reason why he ended up in this mess and apologized again for being so careless and reckless.
" Son I know you think life in high school is everything right now but once you graduate and start college life is going to change for you and your priorities will change as well, I've always told you not to dwell in the past and present look to the future and decisions that will help you progress past your present obstacles." He said smiling with caring tone.
" He is right you know." Poseidon said from the shadows. Tad looked up and nodded at them both. His dad said goodnight and left for the night Tad now feeling exhausted felt his body grow heavy and then his eyes closed.
" Off to sleep you go young man the first test shall be tonight. Good luck Tad stay sharp and keep your guard up." Poseidon said in a whisper as he turned out the light.