I LIVED FOR YOU • Fab Moretti

Chapter Two

"You little bitch!"

I flinched, closing my eyes.

"Look at me, you whore!" John exclaimed.

"Mr. Casablancas, please..." Fab tried to interfere, before the man could continue his abuse in the hospital hallway.

"Zip it, Moretti!" John spat, still facing me. "Of course, the day after you re-enter his life, this shit happens! I knew you were evil. And I let you stay in my house!" he yelled.

"Mr. Casablancas, let me explain," I choked.

"NO! I don't want to hear it. I want you out, far away from Julian," he said.

"I know, Mr. Casablancas," I said, this time more firmly. I looked up at him. "I only came here to say goodbye."

John straightened his back, nodding curtly, as if he had just reluctantly agreed to a negotiation. 

"Go on, then," he said. "And then I want you out."

I nodded silently, looking down as I turned on my heel and entered the hospital room. 

Julian, once again unconscious, laid in a deep sleep with his mouth slightly agape and a tube under his nose. 

I frowned down at him, holding back tears as I came to his side, pushing the hair from his head, and kissing his forehead softly.

"Goodbye, Jules."

Clenching my jaw and closing my eyes, I squeezed his hand one more time before turning around and walking out of the room, straight past Mr. Casablancas and Fab. As I finally reached the dark night outside through the sliding glass doors, I heard someone behind me.

"Claudia!"

I turned my head and saw Fab jogging to keep up with me. Stopping on the sidewalk, I allowed him to catch up, and awaited whatever he had to say.

"Well?" I asked. Fab sighed, looking around.

"Are you okay?" he asked finally. I rolled my eyes, mostly out of exhaustion.

"No," I said flatly. "Anything else?"

"Where even are you going?" Fab asked. "He made it sound like you were staying at their house."

"I was."

"So where are you going?"

"Dunno."

Fab looked down at me while we stood in silence, only with passing cars and people who didn't even seem to see us. 

"Well, I'm not just going to let you go," he said. I inhaled deeply. "Claudia, you're so far from sober, it's 2 A.M., and it's 40 degrees out. Julian would want me to keep you safe."

"You don't know that," I said sharply, crossing my arms and facing the road, looking for taxis, even though there were none in this hour and this area. "And I'm done doing what Julian wants."

"Fine," Fab said. "But for the love of God, just let me help you, then. For me."

I reluctantly raised my eyes to see his genuine expression, his melted brown eyes.

"Just come back to my place. Crash on the couch until morning, when we can figure something out," he said.

"OK." 

-

Fab turned up the radio, and I heard a Smashing Pumpkins song playing as I felt myself sink into the soft cloth seat of his car, watching the soccer ball charm dangling as it hung from his rear view mirror.