Heartburn (Matt Tuck/OFC)

Chapter 11

Arial

I woke up the next morning sitting in a chair next to Padge's hospital bed.

After the ambulance had arrived the day before, we were rushed to the hospital. I felt hopeless as I watched the paramedics rush his unconscious body into the E.R. 

I was thankful for Matt. Since we didn't have time to be awkward, he was being really supportive and was of big comfort to me. 

And now I sat in that uncomfortable chair, watching the only thing I had now, crumble. 

Why he did it i'm not sure. 

Maybe he didn't think of me, maybe he didn't care and wanted to take his life anyway. 

The thought of MY brother having those kinds of thoughts made me fall apart on the inside.  

But I had to resist, I had to hold on and convince myself that everything would be ok.

I laid my face on the palm of his hand and whispered to him that everything would be fine.

Matt came in, smiling weakly at me with his arms wide open. I smiled back and walked to him, squeezing him tightly once I reached him.  

He kissed the top of my head.

"Let's go get some breakfast love, you need to eat." He whispered against my hair.

I shook my head in refusal and let go. I looked back at Padge's limp body, then at Matt, and shook my head again.

"I can't." I whispered.

"Arial, seriously babe. I know you don't want to leave him, but he's in good hands, he's going to be more than just well taken care of. He'll be fine. You'll be fine, I promise." He said stretching his large hand out for me to take.

"M-Matt....I can't." I said a bit louder looking back once again at Padge.

"Arial.." He said sternly. I could tell he was already getting tired of my arguing.

"Seriously, look at yourself, you look sick, and you need to relax. I've had a chat with the doctor and he assured me that Padge was going to be ok, it doesn't help to starve yourself, now come." He said taking my hand in his.

"Y-you promise?" I asked shakily. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Pinky promise." He assured me stretching out the pinky on his free hand and wrapping it around my own.

I hadn't actually noticed how close Matt was until the hospital was out of sight. 

But he didn't same as phased by our closeness as I was feeling. 

Once again, I felt like the little sister.

We went to the nearest McDonald's. 

As we walked to the table with our food in hand, I couldn't stop the words from spilling from my mouth the way they did.

We sat directly in front of each other, and I just felt the need to ask him and get it all over with.

"Matt...what are we?" He stopped pouring the syrup on his pancakes and opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"I mean, we kissed, and we almost had sex, twice.....and then you just stopped talking to me, and you were acting all weird, and I just can't help but think that maybe you regret kissing me, maybe I did something wrong, and if I did tell me because I'm dying to know, this is killing me, it has been for a while and I just...
I'm rambling. Sorry."
I apologized and looked down, flushed, instantly regretting every word I'd just said.

We ate in silence for a while, until I figured Matt had finished putting the words together in his head.

"It's OK love. I know I haven't been the best, but I've just really been trying to sort my mind out. I don't know anything anymore and I just need to figure out whats going on in my own head. I don't know what we are...but don't you dare think for one second that I regret...well, you. Because I certainly don't, like I said, I just need to get my shit together."  

He spoke with such sincerity and honesty, I felt like diving into his arms, but I knew it wasn't the right time, and I'd probably end up regretting it, like always.

"Then, can we be nothing.....but act like we're something?" I asked smiling. I needed him, and if he wasn't ready for a relationship, than we would need to come up with something to keep me sane while he straightened his life out.

He chuckled as he walked to the trash bin and disposed of what was left of our breakfast. We walked to the exit as I waited for his response.

"Like...friends with benefits?" He asked taking my hand as if it were an automatic function in his body.

"Yeah...I guess."

"I mean....are you sure? I have no problem with that, but we need to set boundaries, you know....where the 'friends' line gets crossed."

"Okay....I'd say...no sex? For me I guess that's where the 'friends' line gets crossed....or what do you think?"

"Fine with me. No sex then. It's settled." He said flipping his sexy ass hair.

No sex huh?....Damn.

We made our way back to the hospital. 

When we got back to Padge, he was awake.

I ran to his side and cried, happy tears of course.

"God dammit Padge! Are you dumb?! I mean,I know, I know, you didn't choose the thug life, it chose you but I swear..." 

I yelled trying to put humor in this overly-depressing situation.

He laughed and playfully slapped me. 

He was still very weak, his hand barely even touching my cheek when he went to slap me again.

"No but seriously though, don't ever fucking do that to me again, you hear me? Neveeerr." I said wiping away my last tears.

Matt didn't say anything. He just hugged Padge as tight as he could without hurting him too much.

"Arial sweetie...and Matt too....I'm.....s-so s-sorry." He said, his voice breaking with each word.

"D-don't...we'll talk about this later, right now.....you need to rest." I said struggling to maintain my composure.

I sniffled and stood up just as the nurse came in. She greeted us silently then read something on the papers clipped to the clipboard she was holding.

"Well Michael....looks like you'll be spending the night here again, you'll just need a couple more shots and the doctor wants to monitor your heart rate. 
But if you're lucky you'll be home by Friday" She explained

I smiled and was relieved I wouldn't have to be in that place for longer than a week.

"But I'm afraid visiting hours are over, you are more than welcome to come back at 4." She said politely as she ushered us to the door.

"See you in a little bit." I called out to Padge before taking one last peek at him.

"What are we supposed to do until four?" I asked Matt as we exited the building. 

It was barely 9 a.m.

"I think I have an idea." He whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. He winked as he took my hand.

I bit my lip and explored in my head all the possibilities of what Matt meant by that.

But I definitely knew what I wanted it to mean...

Only three words were on my mind as we crossed the street hand in hand.

Friends

With

Benefits.