Illicit Affairs ~ A Chris Motionless Love Story

Chapter Eighteen - Bobby-pins Are Enemy #1

CHRIS' POV
I groaned and rolled over to check my phone that was constantly going off. Who the hell is even calling this late? Surely it's not Scarlett, she's usually out by this time. I checked the notifications, it was Scarlett, Hailey, and Bryan.
10 missed calls from Scar
3 missed calls from Hailey
6 missed calls from Bryan
Text Msg from Scar: Chris, please pick up.
Text Msg from Scar: Someone is in my house.
Text Msg from Hailey: Get to hospital ASAP!
As I read through the notifications my heart raced. The last message came in five minutes ago. I leaped out of bed and pulled on a pair of black joggers and a black shirt, and then slid on my Vans. I bolted out the door, grabbing my keys and wallet on the way.
When I swung into the parking lot I was met by Bryan who was smoking a cigarette right outside. He only smoked when he was stressed, so already I was panicking. I slammed my car door shut and ran up to him. He put the cigarette out on the ground and gestured for me to follow him. We started a fast pace walk down the hallway in the hospital.

"She's fine, but she's injured. They think she has a fractured wrist from where the intruder fought the gun out of her hand-"

"Gun? She's not shot, is she?"

"No, a bullet was discharged but it went through the wall in her bathroom. The cops are trying to dig up dirt on the intruder. We're thinking it was just a senseless break in, no motive." Bryan stopped outside of a door. "Chris, it's okay. She's not mad at you." Bryan could see straight through me. He opened the door and Scarlett was laying in the bed, asleep. She had a few bruises, but I really wondered how the other guy looked. Did he have any? Was he killed? Did he get away? Hailey was leaning back in a chair next to Scar's bedside watching videos on her phone.

"Well it's about fucking time," she muttered. I pulled a chair up to the opposite side the bed. "Scar is gonna be out for a minute. She was pretty exhausted and in a lot of pain, so they gave her some pain medication." I looked over and realized that Scar's right wrist was swollen and red, she had a few red spots that would soon be bruises on her beautiful face, and her collarbone had a small gash on it. As I looked over and took inventory of the injuries I could see, guilt crept up on me. I should have been there for her, I shouldn't have thought to take a step back for a night so I could think about things, if I had been there she wouldn't be hurt. Just then the doctor walked in, who, once again, was her ex, Noah. I groaned audibly and he walked up to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Can I talk to you in the hallway, Chris?" He asked. I found it odd, but I agreed, and followed him out the door. I stood there with my arms crossed in front of my chest, and he looked down the chart. "I didn't want to say anything about it in there, but there are signs of attempted rape. I knew she'd be embarrassed, and I know Hailey is crazy, but I know you're her 'friend'. Someone needed to know." Fuck. I sighed and looked down. As if I needed another reason to feel bad for not being there. I could feel the tears welling up, tears of remorse but also tears of anger. "Chris," Noah spoke softly, "as much as I'd love to blame shit on you, it's not your fault that you weren't there, just like it's not Scarlett's fault that this happened. Please, just keep her safe." He turned and headed down the hallway, probably off to another patients room. He was the last person I'd expect to offer me kind words, and oddly enough, it gave me chills. I brushed it off, and walked back in with the debate of whether or not I tell Bryan and Hailey what he'd just told me. However, if she hadn't mentioned it to them she probably didn't want them to know.

"Is everything okay?" Hailey asked, looking up from her phone.

"Y-yeah, we were just discussing how she's doing."

"And? Is she okay?"

"Yeah! He said she's doing great, just fine." Hailey glared at me, but it felt more like she was trying to dig in my brain. She could tell there was information I was withholding, but I wasn't going to tell her. I gripped onto Scar's hand tightly, and gave the top of it a small kiss. I kept it to my face, feeling close to her that way. My eyes stayed on her, watching her breathing pattern, making sure nothing was off in the slightest. There she was, my everything, my whole world, laying in that hospital bed. The anger I had felt about the situation had simmered down, though if I ever found out who did this I'd be sure they get the maximum punishment.
I sat in that chair all night, watching her, waiting for her eyes to flutter open. I wanted nothing more than to gaze into them right now, have her tell me everything is okay. It was noon when she finally woke up.

"Guys, can y'all give us a few minutes?" I asked of Bryan and Hailey. They walked out, obviously exhausted, and I gave Scarlett a warm smile. "Eventful night?" I asked her. She let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, you should see the other guy." She held up her fist. "I'm okay, Chris, really. I mean, the guy is pretty fucked up." I smiled through the minuscule amount of tears I had, then leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there, Scar. This wouldn't have happened if I'd been there." She squeezed my hand as best she could.

"It's okay, Chris. I'm going to be okay."

"And you know about the?" She nodded her head and looked down.

"That's when I'm pretty sure I inverted his dick back into his body with my kneecap." It was good to see how she was handling things on the outside, but on the inside I knew she was just as frazzled as I was.

"Scar, I've been doing some thinking. I can't live without you. I just can't. Now, I'm not asking you to marry me or anything, but I need you by my side. Publicly, behind closed doors, across the country. I want you there. I need you there-" I was cut off by a commotion in the hallway, and then the door swung open. A man who stood about two inches taller than me with gray hair hidden under a ball cap barged in, and walked straight over to the bed.

"Dad, now is not a good time." This is not at all how I envisioned meeting her father.