I'll Stand By You

Chapter 6

Over the next few weeks, I stopped eating again. All I thought about was how that wreck was my fault. How if I had never met Cory, that girl would still be living. Every single time I'd try to eat I'd throw it all up.

"Delaney, are you.." That's all I remember Cory saying before waking up in a hospital.

I opened my eyes slowly, so that my eyes could adjust to the light. When I could see properly, I looked around the room and the only person in the room with me was a very worried looking Cory.

"Cory.." I spoke softly.

"Delaney! Thank God!" Cory stood up and walked over to me. "Delaney, why? You were doing so good." Cory asked as he sat beside me on the bed.

"Because Cory, I'm the reason it all happened. It's my fault everyone hates you now. I throw up everytime I eat because I worry so much."

"But it's not baby." He started.

But when he called me baby, my heart began racing and I couldn't hear a thing. I think he noticed I wasn't listening because he stopped talking.

"It's my fault, I accept that. It was my fault I got in that car and drove. Everyone should hate me. Please, start eating." He finished.

I couldn't talk so I just nodded my head in agreement.

As Cory sat there looking at me, I could tell he actually did care about me. He really did want me to get better and stay that way. As I thought about how much he cared for me, I began crying.

"What's wrong? What'd I do?" Cory asked all at once.

"I'm fine, I've just never had someone care so much." About the time I said that Aiden walked in.

He walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. I didn't know whether to be angry at him for being an ass or to be sad because we weren't as close anymore.

"Delaney, I'm so sorry. Cory, can I have a minute alone with her?" Aiden spoke.

"No, Cory stay. Aiden, Cory has been the only one that has been here for me. So, whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him." I told him.

"Oh, um okay. Well, I wanted to say I've been a pretty shitty friend lately and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting so pissed off when I see you with him. I'll put Cory's past in the past, I want our friendship back Delaney." Aiden let out.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, I want my best friend back." He paused and looked at Cory. "Look man, I'm sorry for being such a dick, I just don't want to see you hurt her again. I want to start over, if you want." He finished.

"For Delaney, yeah." Cory spoke softly.

I smiled over at him.

"When you get out of here, we'll hang out. But right now, I have to go to band practice. I'll see you." Aiden told me then left.

I spent the next week in the hospital, to get "better". Cory had spent the majority of his time with me in the awful place. Aiden came by a few more times and it seemed like he was really trying with Cory, which made me happy.

Tonight, Cory and Aiden want me to come to a party with them. They said they want to celebrate me being out of the hospital.

I gave in so we were on the way to Aiden's friends party. Cory wasn't too sure about it at first, being everyone hated him so much, but then we found out it was in a different town. No one would know Cory, so it'd be like old times for him.

"Delaney, come on. It's time to leave, you're such a girl." Aiden whined outside my bedroom door.

I laughed at him and continued putting my makeup on. Aiden and Cory had been waiting only ten minutes and they were both bitching to go, that's boys for you.

Aiden went straight for the drinks when we arrived but Cory and I decided we'd stay sober for the night.

"Come on, let's go dance!" I smiled.

I grabbed a cup of pepsi off of the drink table after Cory and I had danced to a few songs then went to the bathroom. That's the last thing I remember before waking up to Cory saying my name over and over.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Cory asked as I sat up. "Let's get you out of here you're bleeding." Cory said as he picked me up.

I didn't know why everyone was telling him to put me down though. Aiden rode with us and we dropped him off at his brothers house then went to Cory's.

"Why don't I remember anything, Cory?" I asked as he wiped the blood off of me.

"I don't know, someone must have put something in your drink." He looked worried as he spoke.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothin'."

"Cory."

"They..they think it was me. They think I hurt you."

"I know it wasn't you, don't worry about them."

He had his head bent down as he wiped blood off of my arm, that's when I lifted his face up with both of my hands. I began leaning in to kiss him but he pulled away quickly.

"That's not what you want, Delaney. I don't want you to do something you're going to regret."

"Well, um, I better get going."

"Can you stay for a little bit, watch a movie?"

I smiled at him and nodded.

Cory put in Country Strong and sat down beside me on the couch. I felt the need to be close to him so I snuggled into his body. With my head resting on his chest I could feel his heart beat. He put his arm around me and placed his chin on the top of my head.

"I'd never hurt you, Delaney." Cory whispered.

"I know."

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