It's Not You, It's Me (Book Two) #Wattys2018

Angry You

I wake up earlier that Avi and Amy. My dads' friend was able to let us sleep in an empty room, so Amy and I shared the bed and Avi slept on the chair.

I woke up shortly after sunset. I adjust Avi's blanket and get my things. I decided to leave early because I don't want dad to come home to an empty house after an all-nighter.

I leave a note, explaining why I had to go and asking Avi to call me when they left the hospital.

I want through the hallway and suddenly glance at the waiting room, and see Theo, asleep.

I go up to the receptionist, who had been here all night. She looks at me, with that motherly smile, and then glances at Theo sleeping and then back at me.

"How long has he been here?" I ask her, calm and feeling a little guilty for not realizing his presence earlier.

"All night long." She answers. I look at her, trying to see any signs of a lie. There are none.

"Oh." I say. "I thought he had left. We, umm, we had a fight and I thought he left. I kind of asked him to leave."

"Yeah, I know." She says. "That was when he went to the cafeteria. He came back with a bunch of snacks, but when he arrived you and your friends were in the room talking or sleeping or somethin', the poor boy was so upset. We had a conversation and he gave and some other nurses all those snacks. He's gotta be the nicest boy I've ever met. He loves you, you know?" Her black hair is divided into a million thin braids. Her black skin is healthy and beautiful. Her lips are full and lovely, with a light gloss.

"Thank you." I tell her, and turn around.

"My name is Gene, by the way, honey." She adds, and I turn around and smile.

"Thank you, Gene."

"Toby?" I hear, and turn back around to see Theo, his eyes barely open. He cracks his back by raising his arm and comes up to me.

I smile and lay my hands on the back of his head and neck. "I thought you went home."

"Can I take you home now?"

"Theo, why did you stay?" I insist.

"I told your dad I'd take you home. Can we go now?"

I sigh. "I'm sorry I asked you to leave."

"Yeah, so am I."

"That was mean and uncalled for, and I'm sorry." I add.

He sighs. "His mom died, you were upset. I forgive you. But please don't do it again, alright? I'm not... I'm not gonna leave when things get hard, Toby. I love you, happy you, sad you, angry you. But if sad you or angry you doesn't want me around..."

"I do, I do, that's not it at all. I just— didn't want Avi to have more things to get upset about. It wasn't really about you.,

He sighs and kisses my forehead, then holds my hand. "Let's go home."