In a Downward Spiral (Book One)

Chapter Twenty Four

I find that picture to be really quite beautiful.

Natalia's POV

The hospital room door opened and I looked up. Shock took over my body as I looked in the direction of the doorway. My eyes widened and my heart rate increased.

"Dylan," I said. "What're you doing here?"

He walked toward me. "I can't see the most important girl in my life?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "You haven't been at school for weeks. What happened?"

He sat down next to me and grabbed my hand. "My old man needed help around the house, so I dropped out."

I glowered. "You dropped out? Why would you go and do a stupid thing like that?"

He chuckled. "It doesn't really link up with what I have planned for my life."

I swallowed hard. "So, you're going to pop in my life just like that?"

He shrugged. "I guess." I pulled my hand from his grasp and crossed my arms. "Hey, don't be mad, Nat."

I looked away. "You're one of my best friends, Dylan. You left.... You left Julie and I."

He wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Hey," he said. "I'm here now. Don't cry."

"But there's so many problems with that that you don't even see."

He furrowed his eyebrows as confusion hit him. "What do you mean?"

I sighed and played with the blankets. "You're the reason-"

"What the fuck are you doing in here?"

I looked up. Shit.

"Dylan, you have to go," I whispered.

"Why?" he asked. "I have every right to be here."

Parker walked toward him. "You need to stay the hell away from my girlfriend," he growled.

"Natalia's my friend," Dylan said with ease. "I'm not going anywhere."

Parker clenched his fists. "There's something you need to know about me. I don't like you, so you better leave before I break your neck."

"Ooh," Dylan said with a laugh. "Is that a threat? Are you being bitter because I kissed Natalia first?"

I opened my mouth as if to say something, but Parker cut me off.

"Shut your fucking mouth, you little low life piece of shit. Getting a girl to cheat is nothing to be proud of." Parker stepped closer to him. "Touch her again and you're dead."

I looked at the bedspread as the argument progressed. I didn't want two guys fighting over me. Especially when I was dating one of them. It didn't really make sense.

Dylan stepped closer to me and leaned over, planting a kiss on my cheek.

My eyes widened and I pulled myself away, looking at Parker.

He looked infuriated. His face was growing red and he was breathing really hard. He stared Dylan down.

And that's when it happened. In just two steps. In one swift punch to the jaw. Parker sent Dylan to the floor.

I stared at them both; Parker standing over Dylan as he coughed up blood and tried his best to get on his feet.

Parker pulled Dylan up by his shirt and stared him in the eyes, challenge in his own.

"Don't touch my girlfriend again, got it?" Dylan nodded and a victorious smile grew on Parker's face. "Good. Because you don't want to know what I'll do if you lay a finger on her again."