angel baby (heavy editing)

30.5

      Oliver sat in a corner looking watching everyone come and go. Not to sound cliche, but he hated being in an hospital environment but then so do most people. He couldn't sit still. He didn't understand why he was still there. Sure, Kathy fainted in his arms and he had taken her to the nurse's office and when she wasn't responding, Derek had ordered him to call an ambulance. The whole school had been alerted. He had followed the ambulance with Chris. He had also heard what the doctor said. If the surgery wasn't done on time, Kathy would die. Why was he still here?
Lia had returned from wherever she went looking ten years older. He didn't have to look twice to see that she had been crying. Perhaps, that was why she left, so that Chris wouldn't see her cry.
Chris.
Chris was another story entirely. Currently, his mother was begging him to eat something. (They had been at the hospital for about two hours. It felt longer) Derek had gone and gotten them all food to eat but Chris was refusing to. In fact, he stared into space as if nobody else existed. Oliver could only imagine what would become of him if Kathy didn't survive. Their bond was special, alright. He felt pity for him but also annoyance at him. He was annoyed because his mother was going through hell and he wasn't cooperating with her. Bond or not, Asperger's or not, that was very annoying. Lia had a lot on her plate already and at that moment, Lia turned and caught his eyes and whatever she saw in his eyes made her stand as she advanced towards him. His heart beat at an irregular pace.
This is why he stayed. He wanted her to acknowledge him.
She stopped next to him and took the vacant seat. They sat in silence for about a minute until Lia spoke up,
"You've been here all day, you should go home and rest"
Oliver didn't say anything. What could he say? She was right.
"Thank for saving her life. If you weren't with her when she-" Oliver saw she was going to cry again. He shifted uncomfortably.
"You indulge Chris too much" Of all the things he could have said: Kathy is going to be fine. Can I help in anyway? Do you need a hug? Will I ever have a place in your life?  It was that he said.
She looked at him confused.
"What?"
"He's making you more miserable. You don't need that right now"
"I- he doesn't- Chris is different. It's not his fault"
"I know that but why can't he be on best behavior today?"
"Oliver" That was probably the first time she said his name. "It doesn't work that way. Your life is different from ours. You've probably never had to go through any of this. His sister is on her death bed, he's allowed to throw all tantrums he wants"
Oliver wanted to be hurt by her statement but she was right. He couldn't understand what they were going through. He hadn't experienced anything like it and even though she wasn't saying it, he could tell she was struggling financially. He doubted she could afford the surgery cost. He felt sick to his stomach. He knew nothing. He had been sheltered his whole life, spoilt rotten. The way Lia said ours just showed she would never acknowledge him as her son, not really and rightfully so. They were from two worlds apart. He felt like he would throw up any second.
"I'm sorry", he said. Apology was the only thing that made sense.
She looked at him and smiled a bit. In a situation like this, she still managed to smile at him. How he hadn't threw up his guts on the tiled floor was a miracle.
"You have nothing to apologize for"
She looked away from him to Chris. He wondered what she was thinking. Did she mean what she said about Chris? Was she regretting raising him? Did she wish Oliver was her son instead?
He was a terrible human being but he could help. He had the means. He could ask his mom or dad. The total cost wouldn't even reflect in the family's fortune. They wouldn't even feel it.
"I-" he started to say but Lia was standing up and a second later he realized why. He saw Lena walking towards them. Something in his vomit filled guts told him whatever news she came bearing would change everything.

(A/N: So an extremely short chapter but double update. Enjoy! Thanks for reading!!!)