I Want You

Chapter Nine

"Stubborn (adjective): Having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so."

"I know what stubborn is!" Armand pushed my phone away from his face.

"Then you should know that you're presenting a severe case of it."

"I am not."

"You are."

We've been in his room for about half an hour and he won't let me help him. The same thing happened at the hospital, he didn't want to let me change him but as soon as the nurse threatened to do it herself, he mumbled in an annoyed tone that he would let me help him.

Armand needed to change again because he spilled soup all over himself. Eating with the hand he wasn't used to frustrated him.

"If you try to change yourself, you'll end up hurting something. Don't you want to heal soon?" I crossed my arms over my chest and started down at him.

"Of course I do, but I'm not a child! I can do this." He shifted on the bed and his cheeks were getting rosier by the second.

He's embarrassed.

I wanted to coo and cuddle him, but I don't want to make him even more uncomfortable.

"I know you can do it yourself, love. But I don't want you to go through unnecessary pain. I'm here to help." I gave in and sat next to him, leaning my head on the shoulder that wasn't bruised, and held his hand.

There was a long silence. We just sat there, me staring at our hands and him staring straight ahead. I could feel the tension in him, something was battling in his mind and I didn't dare interrupt. So I waited.

I could hear the TV from the living room. Maeve must be watching it as she cooks. The woman just keeps cooking and putting things in containers. Maybe she's sending something back to her husband, I don't know and I don't really want to ask. I might get hit over the head with the wooden spatula like Armand.

She decided to also stay until Armand was better. It was a bit unsettling as she watched my every move, but I was beginning to find her a bit amusing. Under all that hard exterior and what not, she was fun. I'd caught her trying not to laugh at something ridiculous Armand said earlier, and her commentary always has me on my toes.

Maybe once we really get to know each other, she'll open up more and then we can really be friends.

"I don't want to be a burden." Armand said suddenly and I sat straight up to look at his face.

"What?" I shook my head before he could repeat himself. "Armand, you're not a burden. You'll never be a burden."

"It's just-" he sighed. "I can't help but feel like one. I don't want you to feel obliged to stay here, I know you have your life and I'm just keeping you from doing what you do."

"No. Hey, look at me." I waited until he did. "I want to be here. You're part of my life I'd never want to leave behind. You're hurt Armand, and I want to be here to help you any way I can."

"But your school work and your job-"

"I already talked to Mrs. Harvey, she's letting me bring the painting to restore here. I plan of getting everything I need to work with here tonight. I just need to run to the store to grab some plastic so I don't get paint over your floor. And I'm bringing my school work here too." I saw his face soften and I had to place my hand on his cheek and rub it with my thumb. "I'm taking over your guest room, love. Between your mom and I, you don't have to worry about anything but getting better."