Fragile // Sequel to Torn

21. |

// Ethan's point of view //

We finally arrive home after the interview and I'm so tired it's not even funny. Apparently the hot tub was installed today. I'm excited to try it out but I don't think that's going to happen tonight. I get out the car and slowly make my way over to the front door. My ankle hurts more than it did this morning, but I'm dealing with it. I eventually make it inside but trip on the mat, landing hard on my injured foot.

"Oh my fuck!" I swear in pain, leaning on the wall. Jakob is the first one to rush back to me, placing his hands on my hips but moving them as he realises. He probably moved too quickly, but Chris didn't seem to notice.

"Are you okay?" He asks, walking over and standing next to Jakob.

"Y-yeah, I'm okay." I stutter, but it hurts more than I'm letting on. It's been almost two weeks since the incident with Dad and this is still going on.

"You know what? I'm taking you to the hospital." Jakob announces.

"It's dark," I protest, trying to walk passed them but limping obviously. "It can wait until morning."

"No, you're going. Chris, can you please stay here and make sure everything's okay?" Jakob insists.

"Yeah, alright."

Jake walks away, probably going to get his keys since we drove in Chris' car. I'm left there with Chris, waiting for someone to break the silence.

"Is he still with Ashley?" He asks. My heart skips a beat.

"Um, I don't know." I reply, looking down.

"Oh, I thought you would." He says, but something in his tone confuses me.

"Why would I know?"

"I dunno, you seem closer." Chris shrugs. Then Jakob comes back around the corner so I can't reply.

"Let's go." He announces, holding out my crutches to me.

// Jakob's point of view //

Ethan doesn't talk much while we're in the car and I'm starting to get a little worried. Last time he shut me out we were close to breaking up. I'm going to be patient this time and I'm going to work out what's up. Then he suddenly breaks the silence.

"We're too obvious."

"What?" I ask, way too quickly.

"Chris asked whether you were still dating Ashley." Ethan explains quietly.

"What did you say?"

"I said I didn't know! And then he said that he thought I would, so I asked why." He sits up a bit, not quiet anymore.

"Then what?" I ask, starting to get worried.

"He said he thought we seemed closer." He drops his tone back down again.

"But that's okay, right?" I question. He completely ignores me though.

"Do I really have to go to hospital?"

"Yes, you need X-Ray's and its after hours." I reply.

We pull up outside the hospital at 10:05. I help Ethan out of the car and inside. There's only two people lining up at the reception so we only have to wait about ten minutes. The receptionist hands me the paperwork after I explain the situation and we're taken to a different room to wait.

•••

"Ethan Karpathy?" A doctor announces two hours later.

"You'll stay here, right?" Ethan asks, generally looking scared as he stands up.