The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 48 (Hailey's POV)

You know what I feel? PAIN. THE ONLY THING I FEEL IS FUCKING PAIN AND IT SUCKS MONKEY BALLS.

If you were wondering.

Its kind of hard to think straight since I have to concentrate on not breathing too hard or try not to sneeze or cough or yawn. And its pretty damn hard. But I vaguely remember something Patrick had told me when I was in between the worlds of consciousness and unconsciousness. He had said he loved me.

I wanted to say it back so bad, but I just couldn't get my mouth to work, and I felt so bad about it.

I glance up in the darkness of the hospital room, seeing Patrick asleep on the couch next to my bed. He and Cheryl had stayed, but there wasn't enough room for the rest of the guys, so they stayed on the bus in the parking lot. I can't sleep no matter what I do, and I'm feeling a burning need to be closer to Patrick.

I look down aggravatingly at the IV in my arm holding me back. You know what- fuck it.

I grab the needle and jerk it out, cringing slightly in pain. Slowly, I try to sit up, but the pain in my chest and ribs becomes almost unbearable. My breathing becomes rapid and shallow as I wait for the pounding in my chest to cease a little, but it doesn't stop. Moving around makes it worse, and it was a mistake to try to sit up farther, and a strangled noise escapes my mouth.

Slapping my hand to my mouth, I hear Patrick groan in his sleep.

"Hailey?"

Fuck. He opens his eyes, rubbing them. Then he sees me sitting up and he jumps up from the couch, stumbling over to me.

"Hailey, what are you doing sitting up?"

"I wanted to lay next to you," I say tightly, and he just frowns at me.

"You could have woke me up, and I would have came to you."

"No, I didnt-"

"Shh," he interrupts me, helping me back into bed, and he slides in next to me. I immediately feel much warmer with his body pressed next to mine, and I rest my head against his shoulder.

We just lay in silence for a while, our breathing becoming in sync, when I get up the courage to say what I've been planning out in my head.

"Patrick?" I whisper. He hums in response, my ear vibrating slightly against his chest.

"I love you."

I feel his heart literally skip a beat, and I grin in the dark.

"Really?" I can hear the smile in his voice.

"Yes, really. If it wasn't true I wouldn't tell you."

"I love you too, Hails."

"I know." He chuckles.

"Don't get arrogant on me."

"Hey, come on, we were having a moment." I pout at him.

"When do we ever have moments that are completely serious? My hair was blue when we kissed for the first time, for Pete's sake."

I start giggling uncontrollably, even though it hurt like a bitch.

"What?" he asks.

"For Pete's sake."

"Holy smokes, what is it with you and Peterick? Its weird, since you're dating me."

"Hey, you always provoke it. And I've always been a Peterick shipper way before I met you."

"Still, its weird."

"Calm down, Pattycakes, if Pete tries anything with you don't think I won't chop his dick off. You're mine."

I feel the warm rumble of his laughter, and I fall asleep to the steady rise and fall of Patrick's chest, wondering how the hell did I get so lucky?