Saving You

ONE

Victoria...

Stable.

Stable, but I still brace for the storm.

It's been about a week and a half since Charles was taken to the hospital. Since their mission.

I'm still a little upset - I know I shouldn't though - that I didn't know the gravity of the situation.

And in all, it's been a little over a month since the Cruz brothers saved me. Since my life changed.

Right now, I'm clinging to Aaron's hand while we walk through the clean, dim halls of the hospital.

Aaron has filled me in on how he's been doing. He says that Charles is really mad about all the paperwork he has to do, and even more angry that he can't leave until sunday.

"Hopefully seeing you will calm him down. He's been a bii-"

I gave him a small glare.

"-a bull. A fat, angry bull, sorry."

"Maybe I'll take him off your hands." I smiled, and skipped ahead of him.

I heard Aaron chuckled behind me as I read the room numbers in my head. I came to the right one, and without warning opened it.

"Charles!" I almost screamed, but I knew better.

"Oh - Tori." He smiled.

I took one of the two plastic chairs and brought them next to the bed.

The biggest smile (I could feel it) was on my face, and one pulled on him too.

Then my view changed, and my eyes skittered further down the blankets.

I saw his stomach, wrapped in clean white bandages. There were a few other patches up injuries on his chest, on his arms. I didn't know anything further, I didn't ask either. That would be weird.

"I'm going to be fine, Tori." He said softly, just as the door clicked.

I looked up at Aaron, who's eyes couldn't keep on one of us.

"I know." I replied. "Too bad for your stomach though."

"Abs too." He mumbled, and I felt my face warm up like a stove.

It was strange though; I didn't say it yet I still felt embarrassed. Maybe becuase it was on topic?

"How's summer going?" He suddenly asked. I lit up at the effort for conversation.

"Well, right now it's a little boring. And sad. Ethan keeps checking on me, and he freaks out if he doesn't know where I am.

"Noah is teaching me how to sleep for... five, hours? But I dont think that'll be useful anytime soon.

"Jacob, David and Liam arent really talking to me." I pouted and looked at Charles. He just smiled sympathetically.

"On the bright side, Logan is going to teach me how to this thing to the toilet with coke and-"

"Okay! I think I'm going to be talking to Logan later." Aaron interrupted, and I laughed at his half faked anger.

While my laughter eased, Charles took my hand, held it gently like I was glass.

I snapped my head to him, to his smile, his same bright blue eyes. Like the bottom of the horizon.

"I've got news." He said. "I couldn't get it through, becuase of this," he gestured to his bandaged torso, "but I'm going to be your legal guardian now."