Serendipity

27

Luke was laying there with tubes coming out of him everywhere. There were so many machines he was hooked up to. I covered my mouth as I walked to the edge of his bed. He looked so lifeless.

"Luke." I whispered, my voice breaking. I tried to quickly wipe away the tears that ran down my face but there were too many. I sat in the chair next to his bed and held his hand. I stroked his hair with my other hand.

"Come back to me, please." I cried. Ryder kicked a chair across the room and frustratedly ran a hand through his hair.

"This wasn't how it was supposed to go." He whispered staring at Luke. A single tear fell down his face. He quickly wiped it away before rushing out of the room.

Bryce was squatted in a corner with his head in his hands. He was crying. I looked around the room to see everyone was crying. I turned my attention back to Luke.

"Its gonna be okay, he's gonna come back to us." I said looking at Luke.

"Yeah, he's tough he'll be fine." Landon agreed. He wiped his tears away and stood beside Luke gripping his other hand.

"This is my fault." Drew cried breaking down.

"If I hadn't been such a dumbass you guys wouldn't of had to rescue me and he'd still be alive." Drew cried harder.

"Shut the fuck up! Stop feeling bad for yourself and pull it together. You're right this is your fault but you're wrong about him not being alive. He is going to be okay and if you don't believe that then there's the door." I said to him in disgust. Drew sniffled as he left the room. He was unbelievable. It was so selfish of him to have his own pity party when there was still hope.

"Anyone wanna go to the cafeteria?" Peter asked. His eyes were red from crying.

"Yeah let's go." Landon said as Bryce stood up to follow them.

"I'm gonna stay." I said. Bryce nodded his head before everyone left. Once they were gone the only sound in the room was the beeping of Luke's machines.

"You know the whole time in the waiting room all I could think about was how I've never told you I love you. You tell me all the time but I've never said it once. I just want you to know I really do love you, and I need you. So please come back to me because we're not even close to finished yet." I said squeezing his hand.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but visiting hours are over." A nurse said walking over to Luke's bedside with a chart. I nodded my head. I really didn't want to leave him. I wanted to be here when he woke up. I stood up from the chair and kissed his cheek. I squeezed his hand one last time before turning to leave. Right before I let go Luke squeezed my hand back. I gasped

"Oh my god he squeezed my hand!" I exclaimed looking at the nurse. She pulled out a flashlight and checked his pupils.

"This is normal, to have muscle contractions, there's a good chance it was just a reflex." She informed me. I refused to believe that. This was hope. This was him letting me know he was fighting. I didn't start an argument with the nurse, I just nodded my head and left the room.

•••

I went to the cafeteria to sit with the rest of the boys. They were quietly eating when I got to the table. I sat next to Bryce.

"The nurse kicked me out, visiting hours are over." I sighed. No one responded.

"The most amazing thing just happened. I was about to leave Luke's room and right before I let go of his hand he squeezed mine. He squeezed my hand! If that doesn't give you hope that he'll be alright I don't know what will." I smiled at them. All of their expressions immediately brightened. All except for Drew's.

"That doesn't mean anything it could of just been a reflex that just means he's not brain dead which we already know. There's still the same chance that he'll never wake up." He sighed as he ate another chip. I snatched his chip bag away from him and threw it across the cafeteria.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!? Youre acting like he'll never wake up, like you don't want him to. He risked his life to save you're stupid ass and frankly I think they should of let you rot there. He is ten times the man you'll ever be so take your negativity and get the fuck out. The least you could do to repay him is have hope and youre so pathetic you can't even do that. Why are you even here!? Just leave!" I yelled at him. I was enraged how dare he say that when its obvious that what we all need right now is a little hope.

Drew glared at me before shaking his head.

"I am grateful! I've known Luke since I was 3 years old! He's one of my best friends, you don't think I want him alive!?" He yelled back at me.

"Okay guys let's cool it, we all care about him equally." Ryder said.

"No we all don't, she's just some love sick puppy that probably won't remember him in a few months! She doesn't know anything about him! She has no right to be here yet alone tell me that I don't care about him!" He screamed at Ryder.

"How dare you! I love Luke more then you've probably loved anyone! He's the only person I have!" I yelled back as I stood up from the table and looked down at him. I was 3 seconds from punching him.

"You stupid bitch! You don't know anything about me or who I love! Get the fuck outta here!" Drew yelled standing up too. I clenched my fists at my sides.  Bryce stood up next to me.

"Let's calm down here okay, Drew take a walk." Bryce said pointing at the door. Drew glared at us before storming out the door.

"Well that was...something.." Landon said filling the awkward silence.

"We should go home, we can come back tomorrow." Ryder said standing up. Peter and Landon stood up with him.

"I'm gonna stare here, in the waiting room." I said turning to leave.

"Emily no, I told Luke I'd look out for you so you're coming with us. There's nothing you can do in that waiting room that can't be done at the cabin." Ryder said. I really didn't want to leave Luke but Ryder had a point. I nodded my head before following them out of the cafeteria.

The car ride was quiet as we all thought about Luke. I made sure to sit in the passenger seat so I wouldn't have a chance getting stuck next to Drew.

I was so worried about Luke I didn't know what to do. I really wanted to believe that everything Drew said about Luke squeezing my hand was a lie but it wasn't and that hurt so bad. I don't know if I could ever love anyone else the way I love him.

I was all too aware that I hadn't even know Luke for a month yet but I was head over heels in love with him. At first I thought this was just a bad case of puppy love but its so much more. My heart aches because I feel so strongly for him. I know all of this seems crazy but I believe when two people are meant to be together time was a just number.

I knew the cabin was about an hour away from the hospital so I leaned my head against the window. The cool glass felt nice against my face and soothed my headache. I let my eyes slowly drift closed as thoughts about Luke swam through my mind.