My Darling ♥

chapter 27

Josh's POV

uggh. my head is pounding. I sit up and opened my eyes.

I'm on my bed, under the covers. when I sat up an ice pack fell off my forehead and landed in my lap.

I groaned and I heard footsteps rushing down the hall. bree appeared in the doorway.

"mom! he's awake!" she yelled happily and ran over to me. she tackled me and hugged me.

more footsteps rushed down the hallway. my mom appeared in the doorway. she sighed and put her hand over her heart.

"thank God, you're okay. we've been worried sick. we were going to call the medics if you didn't wake up in a few more hours"

"how long was I out?"

"a day and a half" bree answers "Lizzy was the one the that found you"

"Liz! is she okay? what happened that night? all I remember is getting a text from Jaden and then it all went black"

"you mean blank?"

"No, black. I passed out, I guess" I said "so you say Liz found me?"

"yeah, she's been crying ever since she found you. it's weird, I've never really seen her cry before you guys had your fight at the party and stuff. that's why she came here; to apologize to you"

"she did? where is she? I need to apologize first! I-"

I heard more footsteps. slow, quiet. her head popped into the room and I smiled at her. a tear slipped out of her eye and she slid down the door, covering her face with her sweater sleeves.

I got out of bed and went over to her. I sat down next to her and put my arm around her.

"shh, it's okay. everything's okay now. it's alright. please, stop crying" I said slowly, but that only made more tears come down."shh, baby. it's okay"

she shook her head and wiped her eyes. she looked up at me with tear stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes.

"did you sleep at all last night?" I ask, examining her.

she shook her head again and sniffled. "I did something bad" she whispers.

"what was it?" I ask and she shakes her head again as another tear escapes her beautiful green eyes.

"i- i-.." she chokes out. she shakes her head and her eyes fill with more tears. one by one, sliding down her soft cheeks.

"shh, it's okay" I say and gently wipe at the tears with my thumbs. "you don't have to tell me right now. we'll talk about it later. for right now, I need a hug. and I think you do too" I say and stand up, extending my hands out to her. she grabs hold of them and I pull her up off the ground. I pull her to my chest and wrap my arms firmly around her. she cries into my chest and I stroke her hair a few times.

I look over Liz's shoulder and I see bree and my mom smiling at us, it looks like they're almost in tears as well.

Liz's stomach growls and I let go of her.

"come on, let's get some food in you and clean up. we can still make it to school for the last few periods" I say and she nods.

"um, Josh. look at her. I don't think she's ready to be out in public just yet" bree says and my mom nods.

Liz sniffles and wipes at her eyes and nose. "No, he's right. we should be at school" her voice is scratchy.

"oh hon, I know. you love school. you live and breath it, but look at you. your eyes are blood shot and puffy, your cheeks are flushed and it sounds like you smoke three packs a day. you've had perfect attendance ever since preschool. I think you've earned a day off" bree says and Liz opens her mouth to protest but I pick her up, bridal style, and carry her to the kitchen.

she doesn't even try to get out of my grip. she's too weak from crying.

I set her down on a chair at the dining table.

"food?"

"No thank you"

"drink?"

"water, please"

"coming right up"

I fill a glass cup with water and she gratefully takes it. "thank you" she says.

"pay up" I say and lean down to kiss her but she dodges it with her cup. I wait for her to finish her drink and try again but she dodges it again. I sigh and get out a pan, eggs, cheese, Bacon bits, diced Ham, orange peppers, cinnamon and pancake mix.

I make myself an egg, cheese, bacon, ham and orange pepper omelet and a couple of cinnamon pancakes for Liz.

I set the plate of pancakes in front of her and she politely says "No thank you" and pushes it towards me.

her stomach growls again and I push it back to her. I give her syrup, peanut butter, nutela, butter, jam, etc. everything you need for pancakes. I'm pretty sure she likes her pancakes with peanut butter spread on top of the pancakes and then drizzled with boizenberry syrup.

I make it like that and put it all away. I hand her a fork and knife, then sit down to eat my food.

"how did you know I like my pancake like this?"

"I know things"

"it's not even breakfast time"

"there is no given time when you can and can't eat breakfast"

".. my mom used to say that"

"Liz.. i- "

"No. it's okay" she says "I'm gonna walk home and get ready for school" she changed the subject.

she got up, grabbed her bag from our coat rack, slung it over her shoulder and walked out the door.

I looked down, she didn't even touch her pancakes.

I got up and ran after her "wait, Liz!"