"...what happened?" I asked, not remembering anything after Travis saying he caught me with Landon... woops. Everyone just stared at me blankly, and I got no response. "Is anyone gonna answer me?"
"Hey baby, are you okay?" Landon asked, sitting on the edge of my bed. "The doctors said you might not remember anything, do you remember who I am?"
"I'm fine, and of course I remember you, Landon!" Everyone let out a sigh of relief until I asked what happened again.
"Hey bud, remember me? Your bestest pal?" Tom asked, to which I replied, "Of course, Tom. And Mark I know that's you, so if anyone wants to answer my question now, that'd be great... MARK WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!" I saw a black and blue circle forming around his eye and dried blood by his nose. I really don't remember anything.
"Well, um... I got into a uh,... fight..." Mark replied, which struck me really hard, considering Mark was a lover, not a fighter. "And before you ask with who, it was with Travis... You see, yesterday, the band broke up because when I punched the wall when Travis came looking for you at my house, I broke my hand and I couldn't go on tour. Travis pretty much called us all idiots and left the band, threatening us that if we found a new drummer he would sue us. Is this too much for you?" He asked, generally concerned about my well-being.
"No, just... why did Travis come looking for me? Did I leave him?"
"Well, yeah. You did. You walked in on him with another chick and just took your stuff and left. I guess he expected you to come back a few hours after, but you never did, you stayed at my place. Good choice, by the way. So, anyway he came looking for you and I lied saying that you weren't there when you were really upstairs sleeping. He pissed me off so I punched the wall, broke my hand, and couldn't go on tour, which I already said the result of. When you found out about the band breaking up, naturally, you thought it was all your fault. So you apologized to Travis for leaving and said you would come back if he rejoined the band, and he did. So he picked you up, and this is where it gets bad..." Mark seemed legitimately angry the closer he got to this part of the story: how I ended up in the hospital.
"Want me to take the story from here?" Landon asked Mark, and Mark nodded in agreement. "Okay so after he picked you up from the hospital, he took you to his house and questioned you about me. Do you remember what happened with us?"
"Didn't we get into a huge fight and I didn't talk to you for like a year?... Why are you here?"
"Alright so you don't remember the past few days... Well we saw each other at the park like two or three days ago and we made up. I told you a lot of things about my year and how I was depressed and-"
"OHH I remember that!" Tears started to gather in my eyes as I remembered Landon confessing his love for me and telling me how miserable he was without me, and how awful I felt for not speaking to him for so long.
"Shhh... baby, don't cry. It's over with, we're here now, it's okay. Alright?" I nodded and hugged him. "Want me to keep going?" I nodded again, wanting to hear why I'm here. "Alright so when he questioned you, you said no, you haven't been seeing me, which we now all know is a lie. Well he saw us sitting together at the park on the bench one day and he was very jealous and angry. He apparently called you a liar and punched you square in the face and knocked you out... Which is when he called Mark. He said that the deal to join the band again was off, and he wanted nothing to do with any of us anymore. He told Mark to come pick you up and when Mark went over there and saw you like that, unconscious and on the floor, he beat the shit out of Travis and left him there."
"Travis put up a fight, but he deserved every single fucking hit he got, and I don't regret anything I did. It's just so fucked up that he's done that to you for so long, and I just let it happen and acted like I didn't know anything. I'm so extremely sorry for everything he's done to you, okay? Are you okay, Caryn?" I had no words to anything these guys were saying to me. Tom just sat there clenching his fists, just as speechless as I was. I felt a single tear stream down my cheek, and I knew it just left a path for many more tears to follow. Mark came over and hugged me, whispering apologies into my ear as I sobbed onto his shoulder. "Can we have a minute here, guys? Do you mind, Caryn?" Mark asked, wanting to be alone with me. I have no clue what more he could possibly say, but I allowed him his moment. Landon kissed my forehead, and Tom gave me a big hug and they left the room. Mark sat where Landon was sitting, on the side of my bed. "Look, I know there was a lot you had to hear today, and I know that this isn't a good time to be asking you for anything else, but I have to let you know what your options are. Getting back with Travis is not an option, okay? Anyway, I know it's weird to hear about me fighting someone. It's weird to even remember it myself. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's something I had to do. Caryn, I just needed to protect you and keep you safe from any harm that came your way. I didn't know why I suddenly felt this way about you, it's really never happened to me before. I just thought that you should know how I feel about you, and there's only one way I could say it, not words, not music, but this..." The next thing I knew, Mark's lips were pressed against mine, and I didn't like it one bit. We were friends, and I didn't want this to happen. His lips were really soft, but I just couldn't do that, it wasn't fair to anyone, especially me. "Mark..." I said, as more tears escaped my eyes.
"I can't do this Mark, I'm sorry. It's really sweet and all, but think about it. Travis was one of your good friends, and I'm his ex. I already ruined your friendship, I don't want to anymore. I just... I just... can't do this. I'm so sorry." I said in between sobs. "I just, I'm in love with Landon. Can we just be friends? I'm sorry." I cried more, and Mark looked sad, but fine.
"Caryn, no worries. I knew it was a long shot, I just figured I'd tell you. I'm sorry for kissing you, but you and Landon are truly perfect for each other. I'll let him have his moment with you, and then I think visiting hours are over. I'll still be back here tomorrow, because if you need me as a best friend, I'll be here. I'll see you in the morning." He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room, motioning Landon inside. Tom came in and hugged me goodbye saying that he'd be back tomorrow, and left me alone with Landon.
"Hey beautiful."
