Pretty Boy

Chapter 24

I sat with Adam's parents in his hospital room, watching him drift in and out of sleep. He was hooked up to a bunch of different machines, occasionally muttering in his sleep.

"I don't understand why he would do something like this." His mom sobbed into her hands, her husband asleep against her shoulder.

"He was upset...because of me. I apologize."

"Mom!" Adam sat up, a bright smile on his face as he pulled the breathing mask from his face. "You came to see me, that's so cute!"

"You tried to kill yourself." She scoffed.

"But it didn't work!" He stood up and held both arms out, pointing outwards and laughing. "I'm invisible!"

"You're quite optimistic." She sighed, smiling softly and wiping her tears away. "Did you have good dreams?"

"Actually no! You tried to eat me and dad wouldn't help save me."

"Adam you're missing the point." I sighed. "You tried to overdose."

"Shuji! Good morning!" He turned to me, the smile still showing on his face. "How's that emotional unavailability?"

"How was the suicide attempt?"

"Great." He sat in my lap and pecked my cheek. "But now I'm hungry so can we get out of here?"

"No." His mom stood up and pulled him away from me. "You're going to the mental hospital they recommended. I will not lose my child!"

"Thanks for caring so much." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "But I'm really hungry so I'm gonna sign out and talk about this later!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me out to the front office, making sure to sign out before he walked into the nearest restaurant and sat down. "Sit."

I sat with him "I'll pay. Get whatever you want."

"Yeah, I know you will." He leaned on his fist. "Geez...I'm so exhausted. I can't wait to get to the dorms so I can skate."

I let him order but got nothing for myself. He got three different meals and chocolate milk. As soon as it arrived, he started stuffing his face. "Slow down, you'll choke."

"I'm starving." He scoffed, voice muffled by the food in his mouth.

After a few minutes, his parents ran over and sat with us. His mother grabbing his hand. "Adam. Don't run off like that."

"I was hungry."

Though Adam looked so happy, I could tell something was off. His face looked content but...I had a feeling he had a lot to say that he couldn't manage yet. "Sweetheart, we need to talk about this."

"Talk about what?"

"Shuji said it was his fault." She glanced at me. "Did something happen before you tried to overdose?"

"Yeah. We fought. But we made up, right?" He glared at me, to which I quickly nodded. We hadn't made up in the slightest and I knew he was still really mad at me.

"I don't want you two to see each other anymore. It's become toxic." His father sighed. "So Shuji...I hate to ask this of you but please stay away from my son."

I stood up and placed enough money to pay for the meal in front of Adam. "I understand."

"I don't." Adam grabbed my wrist before I could head out to my car. "I don't care how you feel about the situation, Dad. But I won't just leave him."

"Adam, if I have to force you away, I will. That boy is bad for you."

"I care about him." He said sternly. "So the answer is no."

"Adam. Don't make it difficult." I looked down. "Just do what he says. He's right."

"I'm an adult. I can make my own choices and my choice is to stay with him."

"He said it himself." His mom agreed. "He told you he's bad for you. Isn't that what you told me?"

"You know what's really bad for me?" He asked, standing up. "Parents who won't trust me. What I did wasn't his fault, I did it because I don't want to die by the hands of heart complications. I'm not suicidal, I just don't want to be in pain and exhausted all the time. I don't need you to be there for me, but I do need you to trust me."

"I need you to trust us too." His father frowned. "We want to keep you safe."

"If I have to say this in front of Shuji....fine." He let go of me and took a deep breath. "He makes me happy. Even when he's being a jerk, my heart feels light. When I'm upset or I feel lost, he gives me a reason to find myself. When I can't sleep, he stays awake with me and when I'm hungry, he cooks for me. He loves me... which is something I couldn't ever do for myself. So I won't abandon him no matter what you tell me."

Idiot. Don't say this now!

"Adam- ", I tried to stop him but he turned to me, making me stop talking as soon as I saw the tears running down his face.

"Every morning, I wake up but I know that one day I won't. You're the reason I even want to. If I listen to my dad now....I won't ever feel as amazing as I do right now. I'm lonely when you're not around and when you are....it all goes away. So please trust me on this and stay."

"I told you before." I turned away and sighed. "I'm only gonna hurt you. So just stop it already."

I tried to walk away but he grabbed my hand. I didn't hold it, I just kept trying to pull it away without even facing him. "Stop saying that!"

"You're gonna get hurt."

"Shuji!"

"I won't stick around to watch it happen." I tightened my hand around his, which I could feel made him flinch. "I won't-..." my words started to tremble, making me hold his hand even tighter. "I won't watch you cry again."

"You're so sure you're going to hurt me that that's exactly what you're doing. If you don't want to see me in pain then why do you keep trying to leave? It's possible you'll hurt me but...leaving makes it completely certain."

"Do you like making people cry?!" My sister screamed at me, tears pouring down her face. "You're so heartless that you enjoy it, is that it?!"

"...I hurt everyone who loves me." My breath hitched.

My mom grabbed both of my wrists and yelled in my face, crying her head off. "Why would you say something like that? Why would you....why would you say that to me when you know I miss him?!"

"Everyone..." I let go of his hand, arms falling to my sides. "I won't watch it happen to you too."

That's the last thing I said to Adam before I drove to the dorm and packed my things. I then went home, laying in my room as he blew up my phone. I just powered it off and buried my face into my pillow.