Miserable

25

(Back to Joy's POV)

I sit on the chair beside Troy's bed. The doctors said his injuries won't kill him, but they'll surely change his life.

I can't believe I was stuck in place while he fought. For me. I should've at least helped him. Covered for him. Talked to delay time. "I should've done SOMETHING." I say for the nth time.

"Joy," Mom's arms hug me from behind. "It's not your fault. Troy wouldn't let you fight. He's gentleman enough to know that he can't put you at risk. You've been through too much."

I let the tears continue to fall. Ever since he became unconscious, I cried hard.

I had told him not to be sorry for saying "I love you." I mean, how can anyone apologize for that? It has such a beautiful meaning.

Once he was unconscious, James and Tyron looked at me. But with different expressions. Tyron with confusion and James with shame.

I walk up to them, finally snapping out of my daze, and I slapped James and kicked him in the-most-painful-part-of-a-guy-supposedly. I did the same to Tyron except I kicked him and added a few punches before the random guy who hit Troy stopped me.

"Why would you care if I hit him?" I yell.

"I get your mad, but please. Enough pain." He nods his head over to where Troy lies and I sigh.

"I'm sorry for hitting your friend. The brakes wouldn't work for a few seconds." He explains shamefully.

I take a deep breath. "I forgive you. But be more careful next time. And be glad he isn't dead." I say so coldly that I scare myself.

He nods in understanding. "I'll accompany you to the hospital."

"Better be sure those breaks are working or else you'll injure nurses too." I snap.

He nods.

"We'll go too." James says.

I turn on my heel. "No. If you go, go another day. Not today."

"But-"

"Or else I'm gonna ask the doctor to inject you with-"

"Joy!" I turn around and see mom walking towards us.

"You were taking too long and-" she gasps as she sees Troy's unconscious body, the stranger guy with a car, and the two boys.

An ambulance arrives and Joanne starts crying.

Jade, her parents, and Rich stay silent the entire time.

The monitor starts beeping and Troy groans.

I wait and see him try to sit up.

"Don't. Don't sit up."

He squints his eyes. "Joy?"

I smile. "Yes."

He hugs me and I hug him back.

"I'm sorry for not helping you. For leaving you alone. I'm sorry for getting you into all this." I sob.

He strokes my hair. "Hey. Don't be. If doing this means being in your life and you in mine, I'm more than happy to do this for you."

I cry at that.

"Sorry for being cheesy." He says laying back.

I shake my head. "Don't be."

The door slams open and James and Tyron walk in.

"Why did you do that?" Tyron asks breaking the silence.

"Do what?" Troy asks.

"Why did you push us aside? Why do you care if we get hurt? Why didn't you just let us die or get hurt?" He nearly yells.

"I acted on instinct."

Tyron gets frustrated.

James stands beside Troy's bed, ashamed.

"Why are you looking all shameful James?!" I say.

"I-I didn't think my brother would get hurt like this?"

"Isn't that what you wanted?" My voice, slowly rising.

He buries his face in his hands and mumbles, "It wasn't supposed to go like this."

"What wasn't?" I nearly scream, with tears rolling down my face. "What's wrong with you? At first you're all mad and out for revenge then you get all soft?!"

He starts sobbing. "I-I'll tell you later."

Tyron stares at Troy and Troy stares back. Tyron then turns on his heel and leaves.

There's commotion in the hallway once he's out and Rich runs out to see what's happening.

He comes back. "The police. Th-they got Tyron."

James head jerks up and a relieved expression fills his face.

I look at him, confused.

He takes a deep breath. "Time to tell you the whole story."

Mom, Rich, and Jade stop talking. And Joanne says goodbye to Jade's parents over the phone. They decided to stay at home and look after the two girls.

"It started that one day when the record got robbed..."