The Bad Boy Hero

Chapter 20

My eyes didn't burn as much when I blinked them open, the white room looked golden as the sun set through the box window I saw when I turned my head slightly. Jasper was asleep in the chair next to the bed his usually tamed curls unruly, his skin pale and tired looking. His head was in an awkward position I knew he's moan about later, but he looked sweet and innocent as he snoozed. I smiled and it hurt but I didn't care. Everything hurt it wasn't a surprise. Why was he still here? I asked myself again as I watched him sleep soundly looking handsome as he did. He suddenly yawned wildly and shifted so he was looking around the room, his eyes red raw even after sleep he looked me over then carried on around the room maybe not realising that I was awake. He then jumped, doing a double take as he looked back at me. "Hi." he breathed

"Hi," my throat croaked and he quickly got me a drink of water that was sitting idly on the table over my bed. He helped me to take a drink holding me tightly so I didn't ache anymore than I already was. As he laid me back down his nose brushed mine slightly. I was about to say something more but a Nurse came in and jumped out of her skin when she saw that I was awake. She gave a frown to Jasper, for probably not telling her I was conscious, before coming to ask me a million questions about how I was feeling.

"We can finally get this one out of our hair." she motioned to Jasper who was once again sat comfortably in the chair legs handing over the arms.

"You didn't say I couldn't stay," he rolled his eyes but they didn’t leave me for a moment, like if he looked away I’d disappear and it would all be a dream.

"We suggested it but you're boyfriend doesn’t take hints," she fluffed my pillow and I was about to correct her but as soon as I shook my head I winced and she started talking about pain medication when all I wanted her to do was leave so I could talk to Jasper. "We’ll get you all sorted in a jiffy, I better go tell your mum you're awake," Jasper let out a sigh and the nurse gave him a look before she left

"What was that-" my throat croaked and Jasper nodded to show he knew what I was about to ask

"I may have had an little argument with your mum," he grinned “but I’ll tell you about that later,” he dragged the chair closer and captured my hands in his “Now I need to tell you how angry I am with you,” he tried to dampen his smile, eyes still looking over my face searching for answers “why didn’t you tell me it was getting bad again?”

“I didn’t want you to get hurt,” I croaked and tried to swallow, Jasper was about to say something more but the door opened again and my mum came in whimpering slightly

“My baby!” she cried and I groaned she was so dramatic “Are you ok? How are you feeling? Do you want some medicine? I’ll go get a nurse.” She squeaked, it was the first time I had seen her in months and she looked as tired as Jasper only that could have been from work for all I knew she was in her uniform with her blonde hair pulled up in a tight bun on the top of her head, she was incredibly pretty and incredibly annoying.

“Mum shhh,” I groaned “headache,” my head was perfectly fine, probably the only part of me that wasn’t aching.

“Oh I’m sorry darling!”

“What are you doing here?” I frowned

“What do you mean what am I doing here?” she frowned “you have been in a coma for 2 weeks, you have a broken arm, 4 broken ribs and you have been stabbed and lost so much blood you had to have a transfusion and you’re asking me why I’m here?” Well I guess that does mean she would be here... but still

“Whoa I got stabbed?” I turned to Jasper with a laugh that made him grin “who’s the bad arse now?” he grinned but when my mum gave him a seething look looked back to our clasped hands.

“I guess you can leave now,” Mum said almost accusingly

“Nah he’s ok he can stay,” he laced his fingers with mine and I gave them a squeeze

“Annalisa,” my mum sighed

Jasper stood and kissed my temple “I’ll be back soon,” he promised before heading out of the room. I wanted him to come back already but mum was giving me a hard look and I knew she meant business

“How could you not say anything?” she began to rave “How could you not tell me? Your mother,” I was about to argue that I hadn’t seen her since god knows when but she looked me over in the hospital bed and started bawling again. She sat herself on my bed her head falling into her hands as she sobbed.

“It’s alright mum,” I gently patted her head with the hand that Jasper had been previously holding

“No, it’s not, it’s my fault!” she sobbed, did she want me to tell her it wasn’t her fault?

“I didn’t die, it’s all ok.” I promised this only made her cry more. “Mum just stop crying, I’m not crying and I was the one who got stabbed,” again this was the wrong thing to say. She wailed some more and buried her face in the blanket that covered me. “Mum,” I complained

She looked up and sniffed unattractively “Do you blame me?” Partly

“No, mum, its ok,” I assured her, she gave me a hug wetting my shoulder and making me ache in the process

“It’s going to be different now,” she sobbed “just you and me,” that did sound good, it really did but I just wished it didn’t have to take me being hospitalized for her to realise it.

“I’m really tired mum,” I gave her a squeeze

“Ok, I’ll go get the nurse so she can give you some pain relief,” she felt my cheek for a moment, eyes watering before she headed out of the room. I leant back on the pillows sighing and Jasper slipped in again, I noticed how tired he was, he sat back down taking my hand in the process with every blink my eyes got heavier, he brushed the hair from my forehead then caressed my cheek

“You’ll be ok,” Jasper promised his voice so low it was almost to himself.

“I know,” I smiled sleepily eyes already closed “cause you’re here,” I fell back to a dreamless sleep.