Forever and Always

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

I woke up and it was a little after four in the morning. I want Caleb to be okay, but if he is then what am I going to do about Dalton?

I sat in the chair and just looked at Caleb. Seeing him like this makes me want to cry, but I won't. I held Caleb's hand in mine and gently squeezed his hand. I know he's in a coma, but I could have sworn I felt him barely squeeze my hand back. I ran to tell the nurse what had happened, but she just told me that it was probably just my imagination. She told me that if something actually happened that I could come get her.

I fell back asleep and when I finally woke back up Caleb's parents were in the room with us. I was starving, but I didn't want to leave Caleb.

"Charlie, you should really go home and get something to eat. Your parents are worried sick about you. We'll call you if anything happens," Mr. Smith said to me before helping me up out of the chair and walking me to my car.

I hugged him and thanked him before getting into my car to leave.

CALEB'S POV

I had woken up to Charlie holding my hand. Well I wasn't exactly awake. My body won't do anything I ask it to. I can barely hear and I drift off a lot into what feels like an endless sleep. I don't really feel anything either. I can just barely feel Charlie's hand in mine. I thought I felt her squeez my hand. I have to let her know that I know she's there. It took all of my energy to just barely squeeze her hand before I started to slip away again. I barely felt her hand leave mine and then come back. I drifted off again into that strange sleep that I can't describe.

It's like I'm not in my body. I have trouble thinking straight and I can't move. What had happened to me anyways? I can stil sort of feel Charlie's hand in mine, but then I couldn't anymore. Where is she? I need her with me. It wasn't long until I slipped back out of my half conscienceness.

CHARLIE'S POV

I sat in my car for a few minutes before I went up to the door and rang the doorbell. Dalton answered the door in his sweatpants. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but it's okay. I slept on the couch expecting you'd be here sometime soon."

"Well I'll make breakfast. I would have gone home, but I didn't want to answer all the questions I know they have."

"Charlie. It's okay. I understand that what you're going through is hard on you. You're always welcome here."

"Thanks Dalton," I smiled.

After we fixed breakfast and ate. I sat down in the corner ot the couch and Dalton plopped down near the center of the couch. He was still shirtless and I slid over next to him. Dalton wrapped his arms around me gently and I could feel the warmth coming off his body.

I was quiet when I said, "They're removing his life support tomorrow." I looked at my hands and felt the tears rolling down my face.

Dalton pulled me closer to him and gently rocked me back and forth. I looked up at Dalton and he was looking at me. I held his gaze for a few minutes before I leaned in and kissed him. His arms were around my waist and he pulled me impossibly closer. i wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. There was something different about the way Dalton kissed me, but it was a good different.

What am I going to do if Caleb wakes up? Well I'll marry him of course, but then what about Dalton? All this thinking is making my head hurt. I'm engaged to Caleb and I'm making out with my best friend. I pulled away from the kiss and looked down.

"What's wrong Charlie?" Dalton said with a look of worry in his eyes.

"I'm engaged to a man in a coma and I'm making out with my best friend."

"Charlie, I don't know everything and I don't know Caleb very well, but from what you've told me I can tell that Caleb would just want you to be happy.

"I know, but I still don't feel right about this."

Daton and I spent the entire day together, but he didn't kiss me again. When I left Dalton told me that I could come back when I was done at the hospital if I wanted to.

I sat down next to Caleb and took his hand in mine. It was almost eight and he looked like he was comfortable. A nurse I had never seen before came in. I figured she had the night shift or something.

"Charlie, he's hanging on for you. That car wreck should have killed him, but he's still alive because of you. I know this is hard for you, but you need to let him go. He's not going to come out of this coma and if you let him go then it will be easier for both of you. I prmise."

Tears were running down my face, but I knew she was right. I stared at Caleb for a few minutes and when I looked back at the nurse she wasn't there. I stood upo and kissed Caleb for the last time. "I'll love you. Forever and always," I whispered gently and then I left.

I wasn't going to be at the hospital when they took his life support off. I had only been gone for an hour so I went back to Dalton'a house. He immediately opened the door.

We sat on the couch and I told him about the nurse and how I had let Caleb go. By the time I finished my story I was sobbing in Dalton's arms. It took me a while, but I finally quit crying. I still didn't want to go home though. I told my mom I was staying with a friend for a few days. I was exhausted. The only bedroom was Dalton's and he let me sleep there while he slept on the couch.

Dalton told me I was welcome to anythign of his so I just pulled on a T-shirt that came down to my knees. His bed wascomfotable and I fell asleep quickly.

I woke up screaming and I was in Dalton's arms. "Shhhh. Charlie, it's okay. You're okay. It was just a dream," he whispered in my ear.

"Someone was trying to take you away from me like Brendan took Caleb. I tried to find you, but I couldn't."

"Don't worry. No one will take me away from you. I promise."

I nodded my head and Dalton asked, "Better?"

"Yes, but will you stay with me?"

"Of course I will." Dalton climbed under the comforter I was under and I slid over next to him. Dalton wrapped his arms around my waist and when he did I felt like nothing in the world could hurt me. I fell asleep in his arms and didn't wake up again.