It's Not an Existential Crisis

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

*****DAN'S POV*****

I stormed through the back hallways trying to find the bloody service elevator. I just wanted to go back to my room and lie down before I did anything stupid. I kept my head down while my footsteps echoed within the bare walls.

"Hey Dan!" I heard a voice from a little far away. It was Caspar...

I didn't respond and turned the corner sharply. I was not wanting to talk at all.

"Dan! Don't run from me!" He jogged to catch up to my side, "Want to go hang out?"

His huge smile disappeared when he noticed my expression, "Are you alright?"

"Go away Caspar..." I said sternly.

"Dan, what's going on? Why are you acting like this?" he pulled my arm to slow me down. Just like before, I did not respond.

"What's wrong Dan? I'm over here trying to be a supportive friend and you keep shutting me out just like before-"

"Everything is wrong, okay?!? Is that what you wanted to hear? My girlfriend is in a coma on the other side of this bloody country and this whole thing happened thanks to her fucking idiotic ex boyfriend and he practically got her killed so he should be the one who should be in that hospital bed, and not my Ariella..." I felt like I forgot how to breath while my eyes burned with a variety of emotions. I have never been this angry around any of my friends, not even Phil.

Caspar was in in complete and utter shock, "I- I'm sorry man. I didn't know..."

"Now where is the lift?" I bit my lip from breaking down in front of him.

"To the left," He pointed not taking his eyes off me.

Once I got back into my hotel room, I didn't know what to do. His name repeated through my mind.... Austin... Austin...AUSTIN! It was his fault this whole entire time, and I couldn't believe that I felt sympathy for the person in the other car when it was him- the man ruins everything. He ruined Ari's mental state when she caught him cheating; he has scarred her; he ruined her car; he ruined her chance to move to England; he put her life on the line. For God's sake, why does everything wrong in my life at the moment lead back to him?!?

I looked around my room. I ran my hands through my hair- I would have done anything to get his name out of my head.

I stood in front of the circular mirror hanging over the desk. I looked at my reflection- my eyes were red along with my flushed face. The vein in my forehead was rising on the surface of my skin. I closed my eyes. All I could envision was the car crash with his little black car off to the side and Ariella laying still in her bed with the heart monitor beeping. The beeping grew louder and louder...I couldn't take it anymore. The sound became deafening- I needed it to stop before I went completely mad. I grabbed whatever was in front of me and smashed it against the mirror. When I opened my eyes, everything was silent as shards of glass descended in front of me. I stormed out the patio and rested my head on the railing. Breath Dan.... Just breath....

I heard the front door open with a small gasp. The footsteps grew closer as I heard him step over the glass.

"Dan?" I heard a quiet voice hesitantly sat behind me.

"Phil- not now..." I lip began to quiver. I looked straight ahead so that he couldn't see me in my weak state.

He silently walked out of the doorway and rested his arms right next to me, so that he was looking out at the view.