My ex-boyfriends dad

42

I could hear lazlos faint voice still talking into the phone but I couldn't hear much because my phone was faced down on the floor. I ran in the room to ace who was just sitting on the couch and he looked at me, "we need to go! Now!" I said and he could see the complete panic on my face. My heart was racing and my mind was fuzzy. Ace didn't hesitate, he didn't even ask why he just got up off of the couch and ran to his room to put on clothes.

It took him 5 minutes tops before he was out of his room with his keys and his phone in hand. "Now!" I said and he ran to the door to open it for me. I walked out of the door and quickly got into the car. Ace closed the front door behind himself and went to the drivers side of the car and got in, "which hospital?" He asked and I realized Lazlo never told me the name of the hospital but it didn't matter because I had to get there and soon.  I just guessed the hospital and blurted, "Local." And he nodded before starting the car and backing out of his driveway. He started to drive and Xqthe ride was pure silence but I knew he wanted to know. "It's Keaton." I said and he understood. He didn't bother to pry because he figured it wasn't really any of his business.

-
Time passed and we were finally at the hospital. Remembering that Lazlo never game me much information about why Keaton was in the hospital I didn't know what level of panic to put myself on when I entered the hospital. My mind was racing with the many possibilities of why he would be in the hospital but all of my thoughts were drastic and crazy as I had no hint of what was going on.

I got out of the car in a hurry and ace did as well. He followed me inside the hospital and the first place we went was the waiting room. We immediately started looking around for Lazlo. Ace found him first and walked over to him. Lazlo was staring at a wall and bouncing his leg because he was anxious or at least that's what it seemed like. Lazlo stood up when he saw ace and oddly enough he pulled ace in and hugged him. I was staring at the pair as they hugged feeling odd about it. They pulled away from each other and started talking and they looked over at my in sync . Ace signaled me over and I walked over feeling anxious about any words what would come out of either of their mouths about Keaton.

"Wha-?" I said and ace said, "shooting." . My first thought was who the hell would shoot Keaton and why? It didn't really make sense but maybe I was overthinking it and maybe he wasn't the target. Wrong place wrong time type of situation. I didn't know what think I was so conflicted. I just sat down in one of the chairs and both men sat on either side of me rubbing my back to give me comfort. "Where did he get shot?" I asked not knowing how I would feel about any answer given.

"Shoulder and thigh." Lazlo said and I looked at him, "do we know why?" I said as I just had to ask but he didn't say much back he just shook his head giving me my answer. I guess it would be up for Keaton to tell me how this all happened once he got out of the hospital assuming he will. "How are you?" I asked Lazlo and he cleared his throat before speaking, "confused. I mean I'm just trying to cope and get through this I just got the call and I rushed over here it happened so fast." Lazlo said and I noticed he started bouncing his leg again which was giving me a sign he was nervous thinking about it all.

I placed my hand on his thigh and started to rub it. The bouncing had reduced itself but not completely. "He's not gonna die that easily." I said to Lazlo and he laughed a little, "you're right.. and I'd rather him not die before we tell him..." lazlos voice faded as he said that because he was referring to the fact that he hadn't told Keaton his father was boning his ex. "I'm a shitty father huh?" Lazlo asked and ace spoke up, "your not the worst father in the world, remember that." He said and Lazlo turned to ace, "thanks man." He said and ace nodded flashing Lazlo a smile in the end.

After a while of sitting the in hospital a doctor finally presented themselves calling for Lazlo. Lazlo immediately got up and walked over over to the doctor and I'm assuming it was to let Lazlo see Keaton because Lazlo looked back at me asking if I would be good and I just nodded. The doctor led him off and I was sticking around with ace. There was silence between the two of us but it was silence you couldn't read. Couldn't tell if there was tension between us or if this was a calming space silence.

I didn't want to stop whatever was going on so I didn't speak but ace place his arm around me pulling me closer to him, "I know you still care about Keaton...you don't have to stay strong in from of me if that's what your trying to do." Ace whispered in my ear and I took a long and much needed exhale before burying my head in aces shoulder and drowning it in tears. "Who would shoot him." I spoke but my words were muffling against his shoulder so he couldn't respond as he was unclear of what I said. He just continued to rub my back giving me any comfort he thought I needed.

I was bawling my eyes out for the next 10 minutes until a doctor walked over to me and ace. Ace tapped my shoulder and I forced my head up from his shoulder to look at him and he tilted his head towards the doctor. I turned about and almost jumped if it wasn't for the fact that I numbed myself with all the wailing and crying I had just finished doing. I wiped my eyes and the doctor spoke, "Keaton has requested to see you." The doctor said and I smiled weakly "I don't know if I'm ready to see him just yet." I said and the doctor smiled lightly and nodded,

"no no. Not you. Ace.." The doctor said looking over at me and I raised my eyebrows, "ace?" I asked and the doctor nodded confidently, being sure that Keaton requested ace. I pulled away from ace and sat in my seat and he stood up, "why did he ask for me?" He asked with shock engraved in his voice.

"Says he wants to talk to you and Lazlo. Alone. So unfortunately nova he's requested for you to stay out here."