Die In California

4

Rook's POV:

"What happened? I heard a bang, and didn't think Devyn woulda rolled outta bed yet." Pops tried to joke as he came in, making me glare at him as I sat back down in the chair, rubbing my hands over my face.
"I-I'm goin' to grab a drink." Mom quietly spoke before disappearing. Great. I'd scared my own step-mom. Pops sighed and stood by the door for a few moments, judging my behaviour, before leaving me alone. Thank fuck for that.

I sat and prayed for her, praying for her to heal, to recover, to open her eyes. I'm not religious, but fuck I was about to get on my knees for that man to work his magic. I'd do anything.
"Devyn, I don't know if you can hear me, but please. You gotta hang on. I'll make it up to you, I promise. I'll do anything. Hell, I'll leave if you ask me to. Just please wake up. Wake up so I can prove it to you that I'll do anything for you. Please. Just a little sign is enough for now, DJ. I'll take anything at this point. I need to know you're okay. Just- please wake up. For me." I begged, resting my forehead against her tatted arm as salty tears soaked the bedsheets below me.

"You okay now, bud?" Pops softly asked as he came back into the room, about an hour later. I didn't have the energy to acknowledge him, or even try to hide how much this was ripping me apart. "You really frightened your mom back there." He sighed, taking a seat on the other chair. I closed my eyes, guilt washing over me as more tears spilled. "I know this ain't what you wanna hear, it's cliche, I know. But it's gon' be alright." He tried to reassure me, giving me the usual fatherly talk, but I don't think anything would work at this point. Except Devyn opening her eyes.

I spent all of my time in Devyn's hospital room, more specifically the chair beside her bed, her hand in mine the majority of the time. I wore the same outfit for 4 days, I had barely eaten or slept, I hadn't spoken a word to anyone but Dev, and I was a complete mess. There's no sugar coating it here. Yet, she wasn't showing any signs of waking up any time soon. Every single day, every night, I prayed, begging for her to wake up. But nothing. The big guy above us did nothing.
All I longed for was to go back in time, to when everything was fine.
I should've taken Devyn to Cleveland with me. Or just not gone.

"Hey, Rookie." Someone called out as the door opened. I'd been in the hospital for about a week, yet to move from my slumped position on the uncomfortable blue armchair. I didn't bother to look up from Devyn, since I had my chin resting on my arm on the edge of the mattress. "You okay?" They hesitantly asked, unsure of what my reaction would be. I'd passed the point of giving a shit about anything and everything.

A hand was placed on my back, prompting me to grunt in response. "Alright, you need a shower. We'll be right here if there's any improvement." I was dragged up off my seat by my friends, all of them carrying me to the bathroom as I tried to fight against their hold. But it was useless. I was too weak. "FUCK YOU KELLS!" I yelled as I heard the bathroom door lock. Guess I had to shower.

I sighed and punched the door, getting my anger out as usual. I coulda really done with some drums to beat the crap out of, but a door would do. Then I stripped from my dirty clothes and showered, letting the water burn my skin and soothe my aching bones. I stood there in silence, the water dripping down my body as I stared ahead, completely numb to the core.

After a while I decided to finally scrub the grime of the last week off, cleaning up then changing into the clothes the guys had brought for me - grey sweatpants, a black hoodie, white socks and some white Nike trainers. I ran a hand through my damp hair that was flicking up on the ends, quickly shaking it out before knocking on the door, waiting to be let out.

"She's completely fine. In fact, no different." Kells smiled as Slim opened the door, but I just walked straight past him to the chair that Kells was now sitting in. My chair. I shoved his shoulders, letting him fall to the floor as I sat down in my chair, looking back at Devyn again. "Motherfucker." Kells mumbled as he went to sit with the others on the couch.
"Now go to sleep, Rookie." Dub teasingly petted my head, receiving a glare in response as he held his hands up in surrender and backed away from me.