Before you knew

72.

The next day I get surprised by Clays family.

The fill the room one by one.
I just give them A surprised look, seeing how I just woke up.

Clays mom takes my hand and sits down next to me. 'We heard what happened.' She says with a sad look. 'I'm- sorry.... for getting, him, that close.' I say as I wiggle my way up a little. I want to move and sit up more but I can't get it done. 'Don't be sorry, sweetie.' She says as Clay walks over to my other side and holds me under my arms to move me up. I sigh at the comfortable position and give him a smile. 'Still, I feel-' 'no. You protected him. It's alright, you've been through enough.' She says as she squeezes my hand. Alyssa sits on the foot of the bed as  Clay moves aside to let Dianna sit on my other side. 'It's nice of all of you to come.' I say.

Tyler makes his way through his siblings to hand me a rose. I smile at him. 'This is for you!' He says happily. 'Thank you so much.' I say back as I take the rose from him. I notice that Dianna has her eyes on the glass rose on the nightstand next to her. 'Nice right?' I ask. 'It is.' She says. I take it off and hand it to her. She inspects it carefully. 'Where did you get this from?' She asks. I point behind her, wanting to spare the air with not talking. She looks at her brother and he scratches the back of his neck. 'You gave her this?' She asks. 'I did, yeah...' he says. 'Sweet.' She says before laying it back down.

'How are you feeling?' Clays dad asks. 'Tired.' I say with a smile that matches. 'I bet. If we're too much for you you should say so, we don't want to exhaust you.' He says. 'Oh no, that's okay.' I say. I glance at Clay as he sits in the windowsill while staring at the ground. 'How are all of you?' I ask.

Right when Alyssa wants to answer, a nurse steps in. She seems surprised at all the guests. 'You look famous with so many visitors.' She says. She notices Clay. It's the nurse I had when I first woke up, and she was blushing when she talked about Clay back then too. 'I'm here to change your bandages.' She says. I nod as the others make room.

Clay and Dianna stay as the other wait in the hallway. 'So are you family of Amelia?' The nurse asks. 'No.' Dianna answers as the nurse cuts the bandage that wraps around the top of my chest and my shoulder. 'So You're friends?' The nurse asks. 'Yeah, Well my brother is her roommate and kind of her boyfriend, and I'm his sister and I hope Amelia's friend.' Dianna explains as I suck in a breath as the cold air stings on the wound. The nurse chuckles 'interesting.' She says at the confusing answer. Clay nudges Dianna in annoyance for what she said.

When she's done with putting the new bandage on, she cleans up the stuff 'I'll be bringing your food up soon.' She says. 'Alright, thank you.' I say. She nods and smiles. She glances at Clay one last time before leaving the room.

Clay's family goes down to the cafeteria, but Clay stays. He sits quietly. 'Clay?' He looks up as if he's surprised that I'm around. I'm playing with my food 'what's wrong?' I ask. 'I don't know how to help you and it's bugging me.' He says. 'You've done more then I could ever ask for, Clay.' He looks up, knuckles white as he grips the windowsill he's sitting in. 'It's not the same, that was for my own egoistic purposes.' He says. 'Come on. You flew to the Netherlands for me. You arranged that break to the Netherlands in the first two months we met. You've always been so respectful and careful with me, I can't begin to describe it. And now. You let my family stay in our place, just them, while you go back to your old house.' I say. 'Egoistic.' He repeats. 'And besides, you wouldn't have been shot if you we're still with your sister in France.' He says. 'You can't blame that on yourself. I left France knowing the risks.' I say.

He stays quiet and looks away.
'I shouldn't have been so selfish.'

I sit up straight, straining myself to let him know this is all bullshit to me. 'Clay.' I say in a serious voice. He dares to look at me. 'You're the most giving and loving person I know. You're not selfish for whatever reason you think, so stop pissing me off by saying that.' I tell him.

He quickly gets to his feet when I flinch and he helps me lay back down. He sits down on the bed. 'Isn't it selfish to want a person to yourself. To want them to be yours and yours only.' He asks. 'Depends on how far you take that.' I say. He meets my eyes, eyebrows furrowed. 'I see the way men look at you. I get annoyed by people having an interest in you because I don't want them to take you from me-' he stops talking when I place my smaller hand over his. 'Stop being an asshole to yourself will you.' I say. He lets out a chuckle and looks down.

'You never seem jealous, or how I feel.' He says. 'I haven't seen you around women besides your sister and mom.' I say with a strained chuckle. 'Fair enough.' He says. 'Besides, I'm not interested in anyone else so sort whining.' I say before stabbing my food some more.

He laughs before grinning 'anyone else.' He says. He laughs again 'yesssss! She's not interested in anyone else!' He says way to enthusiastically. I shake my head with a smile.

Dumbass.