Lies of Lush (Matthew Lush F.F.)

Chapter 18

A/N it's been so long! I am so sorry guys! A lot happened since I last updated. I won't go into details.

Summary up to this point: Matthew left the hospital, Nick is mentally weak. Liz drove him home from Matthew's old home.

Third POV

  "I'm glad you aren't with him. He hurt you, baby." Liz said as she nuzzled into Nick's chest. "I know... But I also miss him." Liz felt uncomfortable knowing that Nick wanted his abusive ex back. It made her want to get up and leave him, or get him special help.

   "No you don't. Quit rose covering the bad stuff that happened. He HURT you! I'd never hurt you."

   "I know that, Liz." He replied, sitting up slightly, causing the blonde to move away. "Turn up the volume, I can't hear what they're saying." Liz demanded. Nick scowled at her, but complied to her wish. "Can you change the channel? I hate news."

   Before he could grab the remote he noticed a familiar face in the TV screen. The same face he saw at the hospital. The same face he'd been worrying about- York.

   "No, no, don't let it be..." He murmered to himself. Liz turned the volume up, seeing her lovers concern.

   "York Clemmons, four year lung cancer patient, was found hanging by a rope in a closet in the hopsital he had been residing at. His parents are devastated by the news. According to professionals, York had less than two months to live at the stage his cancer was moving to. In brighter news, baby penguin plays with newborn baby-" the news reporter was cut off.

   Nick flipped the Tv so it was silent and got to his feet. "Oh my god."

  "Who was that? Do you know him? Was he your patient?" Liz glanced at the brown haired boy in front of her.

   "I shouldn't have left! If I would have followed him down that hall, he would have lived! Dammit!"

"Babe...?"

  Nick slammed his fist into the wall. "Stop calling me that! I'm the reason he's dead!"

  "N-no you're not." Liz reasoned, "he would have done that if you talked to him or not."

   "Don't say that! Don't you ever-" he stopped, unsure of what he was saying to her. The girl who saved him from his abusive boyfriend. It must be hard for her to have such a weak boyfriend. "I'm sorry. I need to go to the hospital. Do you want to talk when I get back?" Liz's scared expression changed to a small smile. "That'd be okay. I'll see you later. Be careful, okay?"

   The brunette scurried away, wearing dark washed skinny jeans and a light blue tee shirt. He felt underdressed for what he was about to do. He knew exactly what he should do though.

   ****

   "Our son is dead, our precious baby boy! And you expect us to pay these bills!?" A woman with thick black hair screamed at the receptionist. "He died at your hospital!"

  "Ma'am, a lot of people die in this hospital." the receptionist snapped, not looking up from her work. "Let me rephrase this in a way you're tiny mind will understand; our son killed himself in your hospital, due to your shitty staff!"

   "Hey!" Nick said loudly. "What happened to York was not this nurses fault, if anything it was mine. So yell at me. Go on."

   "And how do you know my son? Are you his doctor?" The mother questioned. Her husband sat, playing games on his phone, not concerned with the situation around him. "I'm a nurse here. And I knew York." The mother crossed her arms. "And you're taking the blame for his death? Are you willing to pay us back in his wrongful death?"

   Nick thought about that. The guilt he had built up inside him was killing him. He was willing to give his whole body away at this point, anything to end the guilt pulsing constantly through his mind. "Yes ma'am. I am." She sucked in a breath, pursing her lips. "I'll see you in court, then..." York's mother glanced at his name tag, "Nick."

   Some doctors and patients were staring. They probably heard about York. What they didn't know was how awful his parents were. Everyone saw Nick as the bad guy, including himself.

  Once back at his home with Liz she had him sit at their small kitchen table, a cup of tea in hand. "Baby are you okay?"

   "Yeah."

"Why are you feeling so guilty then?"

  "I'm not feeling guilty." he scowled down at the brown substance in his steaming mug. "I'm an ex detective, don't lie to me." Liz sassed. "I'm not-" but he could tell she wasn't believing the b.s. coming out of his mouth so he stopped, changing his next thoughts completely. "I have good reason to be guilty; someone is in jail because of me, someone is dead because of me, all the people I meet keep getting hurt. That's why I've been pushing you away." He admitted, feeling quite exposed.

   The blonde girl, who was originally pinned against the counter, decided to sit across from her mate. His head dropped, hands holding himself up. "I'm pathetic. Liz, leave."

  "Nick, no you're not." she argued, "it's okay to... Struggle, in this kind of situation. Someone you knew well passed away."

   "Liz... Please." he begged, not moving to see if she would comply. She wasn't use to Nick acting out of fear, nor anger, nor self worth. The two stayed sitting like that for the rest of the night. Nick, not moving his hands from his face and Liz rubbing his back, whispering sweet nothings into his ears.

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Genesee Lake Park

  "Sweet, sweet freedom!" Connor chuckled at his boyfriend. "I'm glad you're out. You didn't deserve to be locked up, I love you." He kissed Matthew's cheek gingerly. "Babe!" Matthew fake whined, pouting and leaning closer to Connor. His boyfriend laughed, pressing his smooth lips to Matthew's soft rough, needy lips.

  Connor was able to date Matthew while he was in prison. They met at a doughnut shop and just clicked. Connor didn't mind that he was arrested, since he was locked up for minor charges. It wasn't like he killed anybody. He honestly saw nothing wrong with stealing. Compared to other things Matthew could have done, what is stealing?

   "To celebrate let's do it." Matt suggested. Connor grinned against his cheek. "God. I have missed you. What are you going to tell your fans? It's been a year since you made a video."

   "Hmmm, year long vacation? We just got back from Fiji and are so sorry?" Matthew wondered. "You think they'll buy it?" Connor asked anxiously, "yes babe, don't worry!"

  Suddenly, Matthew's "I'm so Lucky-Lucky" ringtone sounded. Connor and him were at a deserted meadow filled with wildflowers. The two were situated on the hood of Connor's red mustang, just chatting, catching up since Matthew was just released that day. The ex-con snapped his phone open.

   "Hi!" Matthew greeted. "Meet me at Crown's Cafe tomorrow at ten." the person on the other end of the line growled. Before Matthew could respond, the line went dead.