Lean On You (DNF) Book 2

Used to be Mine

There was a ringing in his ears, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He was awake, there was a chance, there was a way to make this all better. George had hope.

The hospital hallways seemed to get longer and longer as Nurse Lizzie lead George towards Clay's room. What would he say? Did he even want to see him? George could only think the worse, but he hoped for the best. The two turned the corner, Clay's door insight. George's feet began to move without a second thought, and he ran, swinging open the door.

Sapnap turned to look at him, his face screwed up in an expression of pain and guilt. What happened? Clay's mother was there to, holding Clay's hand and crying softly.

And Clay.

He was awake, lucid and sitting up. He looked as beautiful as the day George lost him. There was a stinging in his heart, it felt like the world was drowned out. His knees became weak. Did Clay...

"George-" Sapnap spoke first. George glanced at him quickly then looked back at Clay.

And then Clay spoke.

"Who are you?"

Three words. Three God damn words and George's whole world collapsed. The ringing in his ears because roaring and vicious, he felt like he would puke. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out, not even a peep.

"Clay, dude, this is-"

"George Founders. Im... a medical student..." Once he did manage to speak, his words came put smoothly with no hiccups. He forced a placid smile on his cheeks. Nurse Lizzie gave him a questioning look but remained quiet.

As he smiled awkwardly and introduced himself to Clay again, he couldn't help but remember the first time. The same confused, doped look on Clay's face. He thought distantly if he could say Clay was cute. Maybe it would bring him back

"This is the George you were telling me about?" Clay asked, tugging at his mother's sleeve.

His mother looked at George for confirmation, George shook his head.

Maybe it was better this way. In George's mind, they were broken up. If reminding Clay would bring him pain, George would rather carry the burden alone. He could erase all the pain and anxiety, the uncertainty of that year away from Clay, and maybe he'd be happier.

"Assistant Founders." Sapnap said sharply, grabbing George by the forearm. "I have a question for you. Outside." He didn't wait for George to respond before practically dragging his ass outside the room.

George's mind went blank for a second, he stared at Sapnaps hand wrapped around his skin, it burned and shivered at the same time. He thought of his father. He thought of yelling and crying.

As soon as the door swung close, and George and Sapnap were left alone I the hallway, George stared at his feet and braced himself to get yelled at. After all, that's all people had been doing to him the last few days.

"George." Sapnap breathed out and George flinched, squeezing his eyes shut.

Then, he felt a pair of arms wrap around him tightly, nearly cutting off his breathing. Sapnap... was hugging him. George was taken aback, scared for a moment before his fully embraced the hug. He leaned into it, burying his face in the crook of Sapnaps neck.

"George-" Sapnap repeated his name again, though it was softer, warmer.

"He was mine..." He spoke the truth. Clay didn't remember him, he didn't need to. The coolness of his voice melted into a river of emotion, overflowing with a summer rain. And he cried. "I had him, and- and-"

Sapnaps grip only got tighter. "I'm sorry." George froze. Sapnap apologized. No one... no one had done that to him. "Clay remembers you, he just needs a little more time."

Time.

The one thing George never seemed to have. But now days, it seems to be the only thing he had. Too much time to think. Too much of too little.