Promise Me | Noah Sebastian

Chapter Two

All I could think about when I woke up was that it was bright. My eyes were slow to focus and the illuminated lights above weren't doing me any favors. There was beeping to my right as well as a hanging bag of fluids running into my wrist. I knew where I was before I could question it, but I didn't know how I got here to begin with. The last thing I remembered was talking to Noah.

His name jumpstarted something in my brain, clicking it into place as I searched frantically for a phone. Before I could though, I noticed a sleeping figure next to me curled up in a chair. My breath stopped as tears formed once more at seeing my best friend sleeping next to me. Suddenly, everything was okay in my little, broken world. For the first time in a while, I smiled. Relief suddenly flooded me as if I was allowed to feel it.

He stirred in his chair, his height being too much to sleep comfortably before brown eyes were on me. "Jess, thank fuck." His hands were in mine instantly, my head laying with his on my bed. "Shit am I glad you're okay. When you stopped talking, my heart stopped. It fucking stopped and-I'm so glad you're okay."

I let my hand run through his hair lazily, my body figuring out how to move again. All my limbs felt asleep, weighted. "You're here,"

Noah nodded beside me; unshed tears ready to spill. "I told you, didn't I? No matter where the hell I am, I'll always run to you." He began coddling me slowly, brushing my strawberry strands from my face as his eyes overlooked every detail he could take in of me. Shame immediately bubbled within me. I wanted to go home.

"Man, if this is all it took for you to visit, I'd have done this sooner." The joke was lame and honestly horrible, but he smiled with defeat and shook his head regardless of how tactless it was.

"I think the fuck not. Next time just call like a normal human and we'll go from there."

A nurse walked in soon after, Noah still holding my hands as if I'd disappear if he didn't keep me close. I couldn't blame him. I did almost disappear.

"Miss Moreno? I'm glad to see you're awake. I'm Penny and I've been taking care of you these past few hours. How are you feeling?" Noah leaned back so as not to get in the way as she checked my vitals and pulled a flashlight to my eyes.

"Honestly, I'm just really tired." I replied honestly, throat still dry.

"It was lucky your friend here called you in. To my understanding, you got most of everything out, but we still had to give you a small dose of Naloxone. You're looking good now, so we should be able to get you discharged within the hour."

"Thank you," was all I could say. What else was there? Sorry for trying to kill myself and then regret it soon after? Thanks for saving my life even though I was dumb for trying to lose it?

"There is still the matter of what is to happen from here. Normally with attempted suicide, the patient is advised to take a class or be monitored from a type of sponsor till–"

"–I can be trusted again, I get it." I finished for her to quell the awkwardness that was becoming my life. Well, I did it to myself. It's not like there was another person to blame.

"That's already been taken care of, Penny. We appreciate the concern, however." Noah stated politely, gripping my hand a little tighter than before.

Penny smiled at us. "You have a really good friend here, Miss Moreno. The fact that he was in California when he made the call and flew out as quickly as he did..." She shook her head with adoration, "I took pity on him when they wouldn't let him back due to the family rule. But if you have it handled, I believe you. I'll get your paperwork ready and be back soon."

The nurse left us alone a second later, my eyes searching Noah's at what the hell he was talking about. As if he read my mind, he said, "We'll talk about it later when we get you home."