When I Met You

Chapter 19 - Chelsea's POV

I had formed a bad habit of waking up in unfamiliar places, recently. That morning I woke up in an uncomfortable hospital bed with tubes strung everywhere. I felt weak, but far better than the starved Chelsea I had become acquainted with. She was a liability waiting to happen, and I could assume that was exactly why I was here. I tried to keep her out of my life and far from my well being. However, when shit hit the fan, she always made an appearance. I hated that side of me.

Fuck. If I'm here, where is Blake?

"Good morning, sleepyhead." The rugged brunette lifted his gaze to mine. Gorgeous. Even his tousled hair and groggy morning voice was gorgeous. He wore a tight grey t-shirt that sculpted his torso perfectly. In other words, if I hadn't already seen him shirtless, then there wouldn't be much left up to imagination. Dark jeans hugged his hips. Stubble began to show on his chiseled jawline. I promise I wasn't trying to stare, but there was a lot to admire about his masculinity. He could be a model, if he wanted to. My thoughts were interrupted with a familiar, warm chuckle. "You done gawking?" Fuck. Pull yourself together, Chelsea.

"I-uh I wasn't. Not much to gawk at anyways." I said matter of factly.

"Uh-huh." He smirked. "Well, it wouldn't be fair for me to say the same, considering your-" Fake cough. "uh-condition."

"Sure. I feel like you wouldn't spend the last-" I paused, because I genuinely had no idea how long we've been here. "Uh-whatever here with a less than pretty girl."

"That's where you are wrong, sweetheart. I never once called you pretty." I loved Nick's company. He made everything so easy. I could speak to him like a normal human. We could joke and I didn't fear for my safety.

"Ouch." My hands immediately shot up to my chest as a reflexive continuation of the gag. "That hurt, Nick."

"Oh, please, Chels. We both know you're gorgeous." He wiggled an eyebrow, but I don't think he was joking anymore; even though he put on that show. Did Nick really think I was gorgeous? No. Of course, not. I had to be overanalyzing the situation.

Probably weird to leave my jaw dropped that long. Close your mouth, Chelsea!

"Pfftt, as if." I sputtered.

"Chelsea. You don't have to believe yourself, now or ever. However, trust me when I say I think you are the prettiest girl I've ever seen." He sealed his lips as if he had more to say. Did he have more to say? What did it matter, if he did?

My cheeks flushed, but I hoped he didn't notice.

Hospital staff entered several times throughout my visit. Nick and I didn't say much to each other either. A mere thirteen hours after our arrival, I was discharged under the condition that Nick made sure I ate at least two nutritional meals a day and I avoided high-stress environments. It seemed like a fair enough agreement, but first I had to contact Blake.

He must be worried sick about me, but I couldn't be more wrong by that assumption.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Panting from the other line caused me to worry immensely. "Blake?"

"Oh. Hey, Chels." He managed in between breaths.

"Everything alright?" Something seemed suspiciously off about him, but it was difficult to place over the phone.

"Ohhh." Was that a fucking moan? "Just fine." The next part was muffled and I couldn't quite make out, but his next response was starkly the contrast to earliers. Calm and Collective. "Mom and Dad picked me up from the hospital. Said you had to go shower and change, before returning. Harp said you didn't ever make it home." Fuck. He was pissed. Thankfully, he had no clue about my whereabouts. His tone shifted as I winced at Harper's name. "Where the fuck have you been, Chels? You made me worried. No calls. No texts. Have some decency and respond next time! I mean it, Chels. I love you. You shouldn't do that to people who love you. You know better, baby." The correct response would be to apologize and beg for his forgiveness but to be quite frank, I didn't have the energy. I had just spent the last few weeks in the hospital, tending to him. I knew what he did, but I felt guilty because he was dying and he was supposed to be the love of my life. It just didn't feel like that anymore. It felt exhausting and more like heartache than love. He cheated on me and I spent weeks in the hospital by his side. The least he could do was hear me out.

"I'm sure you do." It was snarky and I didn't care one bit. Maybe it was spite. Whatever it was, I didn't care. I wasn't going to let him push me around anymore. If he wanted things to work, then things were going to be different from now on.

"I'm sorry." He scoffed.

"You heard me, Blake." Was I being too bitchy?

"You're sure I do, what? Chels?" Irritation suppressed by the obnoxious gritting of his teeth.

"Love me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" An intense growl pulsed through my ear.

"It means..." Compose yourself. "I'm not a fucking idiot, Blake. I know you've been sleeping with Harper for god knows how long! And whoever you were fucking before this call. I don't want to think about the other countless women you've fucked behind my back. Yet, I was there when you were dying. Where were your other whores, huh? But when I was in the hospital... You didn't give two shits."

"I'm not dealing with this, right now. Not now, Chels." He sighed in annoyance. Well, fuck you, Blake Veleno!

"It's not an option. It's now or never, Blake." I stated, firmly enough to stand my ground.

"Really, Chels. That's awfully petty."

"I don't give a shit, if you think I'm being petty." My voice began to shake. Don't let him get to you, Chelsea. He's not worth it. That's when I realized I wanted nothing to do with him.

"You'll regret this, Chels. Nobody will love you like I do." Maybe, but that wasn't for him to decide anymore.

"Bye, Blake." I hung up the phone and blocked his and Harper's contact in my smartphone.

The feeling was hard to describe. It was like breathing clean air for the first time, but emotions quickly drowned my newly founded freedom. Turning it into nothing more than regret, guilt, and loneliness.