What If I Can't Forget You?

{24}

Alex's POV

I spaced out again, walking back to the waiting room.

I should have known he would do that. I should have known that seeing him wouldn't fix anything. He hated me, and I was hopelessly in love.

That was just it. I didn't care about Ian anymore. The last few hours changed me, and I didn't give a shit about him. I wanted Jaime. I wanted him more than I ever had before.

"Alex. Alex!" I didn't realize for a moment that Vic was trying to get my attention.

"Huh?"

"I said, did you get to see him?"

"Yeah, the nurse let me in. He was sleeping, though." I decided that it was best to keep our little conversation to myself.

"Oh." He looked a little disappointed. "Well, can we go in, then?"

"You'll have to ask, but I'm sure she'd be okay with it as long as he's unconscious."

"Okay." He sighed. "I just want to see him. I just- I just want to see that he's really okay."

We walked to where the others sat, moping in their uncomfortable chairs.

"Guys" Tony said. "I just talked to the nurse. Jaime is being discharged tomorrow. He only has a broken shoulder and some cuts, and he's going to be alright."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. (Except me, of course. I already knew.) We were achy and exhausted from the night, and wanted to go back to the hotel and crash. Vic hesitated.

"Guys, I think I'd rather stay here tonight. Just to be with him. I..." He trailed off.

"We understand." Claire said softly, intertwining their fingers and pecking him on the lips.

"I love you." Vic mouthed, his face inches from hers.

"I love you too." She mouthed back, kissing him again. I envied them.

"Okay. You guys get going, I'll call you if anything comes up."

We nodded, turning and following Mike down the elevator and to the van.

Vic's POV

I quietly walked down the hall towards his room, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible as I slipped inside.

He was asleep, just like Alex said. He looked alright, thank God. Still, it broke my heart to see my best friend lying in that hospital bed. I sat in a chair at his side, reaching out and holding his limp hand.

"Hey, Jaime-Time." I whispered to him. "I was really worried about you. You mean so much to me. I can't- I can't lose you. I'm so glad you're alright. I love you, man." I sat in silence for a few seconds, looking at my brother lying there.

"That was so gay." He mumbled, cracking a smile without opening his eyes.

"You little shit!" I yanked my hand away from his. "I thought you were asleep."

"I love you too, man." He said, sitting up and looking at me. His hair was a complete mess and he squinted like he had a migraine. "Thanks for being here. I don't remember anything, really. Just passing out on the street. Guess I fell on my shoulder weird?" I laughed, and he stared at me, confused.

He was serious? I looked into his eyes, searching for any signs of humor, but there were none. Oh my God, he really doesn't know.

"Jaime." I said, slowly. "Last night, you flipped one of the set vans on I-7. You're lucky you survived." His jaw went slack and he stared at me in disbelief.

"No..." He dropped back on the bed. "No, no, no. Oh God, I'm such an idiot. Vic, I'm so, so sorry. I didn't know..." He stared, miserable, at the wall.

"It's okay, Hime. What matters is that you're alive." He looked back at me.

"You guys searched for hours and stayed here all night, just to see if I was okay?"

"Of course."

"You don't understand. I kicked Alex out when she came in to see me. I didn't realize..." He trailed off. "Oh God, I'm going to puke."

I quickly handed him a bucket sitting near my chair. I rubbed his back as he retched, then found some paper towels in the bathroom to clean off his face.

"God, I feel like shit. I owe you all an apology." He said, quietly." I don't know how you got through last night. I'm sure I scared you all a ton." I nodded.

"You sure as hell did. No one more than Alex, though. You should have seen her. You almost drove her insane."

"I did?"

"She hasn't been the same, Jaime."

"I miss her, dude."

"You know what? I think you should forget about Ian and just tell her how you feel, Hime. I think we all need a little honesty sometimes, even when it's really raw and hard to say. Vulnerability is one of the most beautiful parts of a person."

"I don't know if I can."

"But I'm right, right?" I smiled. He gave a shy grin and looked at his hands.

"Yes, Vic. You're right."