Bringing Them Back- An R5 Fanfiction

Chapter 17: Picking Up the Pieces

I left my eyes closed, and listened. Partly because I was trying to figure out who's arms I was in, and partly because I was too tired to open them.

"Don't you ever want to be the overprotective boyfriend? Why didn't you chase her?!" I heard Ryland's voice, and evidently he was the one holding me in his lap, carefully pressing me to his chest.

"I do, but the girl was an old friend from grade school. Somehow she got past security, and she was all over me." Ross's voice spoke up from somewhere around me. He choked on his words. "Ry, you don't understand. She kissed me like that. I had nothing to do with any of those kiss marks. Sarah saw all of that, and there's no believable explanation." I heard a zipper, and then I felt someone-probably Rydel- carefully combing through my matted, alcohol covered hair.

"Just-" I felt Ry hug me tighter, wrapping both of his arms around me. "I've tried so hard to protect her, you know. She's our angel. You're lucky if she ever forgives you. If she does-" Ryland cut off, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice when he continued. "Treat her like gold." A twinge of jealousy hung in his voice when he added, "Be the boyfriend I wish I could be to her."

His final words hung in the air. Ross didn't talk, and neither did anyone else. Silence. I thought back to when Ryland and I were in the accident together. The way he protected me from the glass. He was always calling me to his hospital bedside, but was never able to tell me anything. Even when I thanked him for saving me, and I kissed him. The images flooded my thoughts, and in the end all I could see was him blushing after I left the room. Ryland. He has a crush on me. He can't love me because I go out with his brother. Ryland. My hero, my bodyguard, my brother, is in love with me.

The van stopped, and everyone loaded out into a hotel lobby. I opened my eyes slowly, and Ryland automatically took notice. "Can you walk? Or would you rather have Ross carry you?" Ross was standing across from Ry, his eyes bloodshot.

"I can walk." I shot a glare at Ross, and I wasn't surprised to see Ryland glaring at him as well.

"Well, I'll send Rydel up with you. I need to talk to Ross for a minute." I nodded. I knew what it was about. Rydel led me-with her arms around my shoulders-to the hotel floor where everyone was staying. I booked three rooms, and Rydel led me into the empty one for Ross and I, and headed out. I sat on the bed and waited. Five minutes passed, and Ross came in, walking right over to where I was.

I looked into his eyes, and pulled my hair back behind my ear. He stared right back, guiltily. I was the reason for his bloodshot eyes and straight face. He pulled my scarf off, then my tank, making no effort on my bra, or my shorts. He didn't want me naked, so I let him do what he wanted. He had a plan, and I wasn't going to make things weird.

His arm held me beside him, and led me into the bathroom. His hazel eyes stared into mine, almost as if understanding what I must've been going through tonight. He turned the dials for the shower, and felt it as it warmed up. It didn't take long, and he held my hips as he stepped in with me. He was just out of the range of the shower head, but I was right under it. As the water soaked my hair, he moved in close, kissing me softly and combing out the tangles in my hair. He moved me forward by an inch, so that only my head was in the water, and wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me steadily. I held his waist as well, keeping steady, and he grabbed the shampoo and worked it into my hair. The shampoo was washing out when he placed his hands behind my ears and along my jaw. His eyes met with mine for a minute, and he rubbed his lip against mine until coming back for a peck on the lips.

When he pulled away, I pressed my wet forehead against his chest, and the tears came out. I was torn. Ryland loved me, and maybe even more than Ross did. But then again, Ross was the one that was a mess. I never got a good look at Ryland, but Ross's eyes were bloodshot, which I can only assume was from crying. The way he looked at me was inexplicably guilt, as if he was the reason for the girl. I knew the truth, but he didn't know that. He must really believe that I hate him, when in reality, I'm relieved that he loves me so much that he's that terribly afraid of losing me. Ross washed away the conditioner in his hands and hugged me. I soaked his clothes, but I don't think his idea was to keep them dry anyway. We stayed like that until my conditioner washed out, and he turned off the water.

Stepping out, he reached to his right and pulled a towel off of the rack. Carefully, he wrapped it around me. Then he held me by the hips and led me out. His arms held the towel around me, and when we got to the bed, he turned me around so I was facing him, then held my hands as I sat on the bed. He left me for a minute to get a wet washcloth, and kneeled so he was eye level. The blood at the corner of my mouth from the busted lip lingered there, and he reached up to wipe it away. I didn't realize the tears still falling freely, and he wiped those away as well. Then he got down to my knee level and cleaned my knees. I thought they were skinned, but there was really a gash there, which he covered with band aids from his pocket.

The washcloth was returned, and he sat beside me, holding the towel to my shoulders, and pulling me closer to him. I turned away and moved to the far side of the bed, my back to him. He followed, with a hand on my arm. When I finally settled into a little ball position, he hugged me and pressed his chest to my back. Giving up on keeping my gaze, he settled with his nose just behind my ear, chin to my shoulder.

"Ross?" I turned my head slightly, and he moved so that he was looking into my eyes.

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm sorry....I should probably tell you that I heard your conversation with Ryland in the car. I thought it was something else, and I know that you meant every word of what you told him." He frowned. I decided to leave out what I knew about Ryland.

"No. I'm sorry. I should've called security as soon as I saw her. She was crazy, and I knew she was only there to take advantage of me."

"Wanna start over?" I asked. He nodded.

"Hey Sarah, we're going on tour!" He smiled at me.

"No way!" I laughed. "I love you Ross."

"I love you too, babe." His face was an inch away from mine, staring into my eyes. Throwing an arm around his neck, I pulled him down and when our lips touched it was like magic. I never wanted it to end. I ran my hands through his hair, and for a minute I could see the fireworks. When we did break up the lip-lock, it was both of us, breathless. The hazel of his eyes pleaded for more, and I complied. His hands climbed my back, pushing me closer, and holding me to him. I tilted my head slightly and went in. However, I could feel my eyelids start to droop, and before long I fell back onto my pillow, asleep.