Coming Home

Chapter 19, Fully Aware

"What happened to me?"
"You were sleep deprived and hadn't ate anything in a few days. You hit your head and fainted but your body wasn't strong enough to wake you back up. They had to use a tube just to get something in your system. It took awhile but with the help of fluid it digested. Things looked good from there and then the nurse told me it was only a matter of time before you woke back up," Peyton said calmly.
"Oh wow. I haven't had anything for three almost four days straight. I couldn't think of food because of luc, it made me sick. Just thinking that he could potentially not wake up was.." I trailed off in thought. "But I'm really really sorry for scaring you like that, I don't know if I would've been able to breathe if the roles were reversed."
"I know, sis, I know," she pulled me into a hug. 
*knock* *knock*
"Come in," Peyton yells while breaking the hug.
Haley enters the room.
"Oh my god, you're awake!" She runs over and hugs me.
"Hi," I say with a smile.
"God I could just squeeze you to death."
"Oh please don't, I was already close enough over the past week or so," I say with a chuckle. However, earning two stern looks. "Too soon?"
"A little," they both say in unison. We all start laughing. "Wait where's Brooke?"
"On her way. I told her to get some rest," Peyton says.
"Oh, that's okay. Whoever is here and awake, could you send them in?"
"Alright well that's my cue. I'm going to go Kiers, I'm glad your okay," Says Haley.
"Wait don't, why are you leaving?"
"Nathan and I aren't together."
"Well than I have something to talk to him about. Please bring him in here. Peyton. I'd prefer to chew his ass out alone."
They both laugh and leave the room. A few minutes later I see Nathan's face. Maybe the light reflected on his eye weird but it reflected when he saw me smiling at him.
"..Nat"
"Kierston," he breathes coming over and hugging me. "It's been a really rough week."
"Oh I know Nathan, I know. It's okay, I'm here now." I run my fingers through his hair as I bit my lip to prevent the tears from falling. Nathan pulls away. I look down at his feet at my bedside.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Kierston. I really liked you so I noticed how you act. I care for you enough to know that something is bothering you."
I slowly bring my eyes to his, "I, erm, I saw her."
"Wh-" he abruptly stops. "Paisley?"
I nod. "She was... beautiful."
He smiles, "she gets that from her mother."
I blush. "Flattering me won't get you out of the the deep shit you're in with Haley."
He groans. "I know, I really screwed up with her."
"Nathan, what happened?"
"I might've said something that I shouldn't have."
"And that would've been?"
"When I first started talking to her it was just to get back at Lucas."
"Oh my god, Nathan. That's horrible."
"I know and I feel so awful about it. I really like her. I didn't think I'd fall for her but I did."
"Then you have to tell her that. Do everything that you can to tell her that and in the most sincere way possible."
He smiles and nods.
"Well. What are you still doing in here? Go, go now!" With that Nathan Scott walks out of the door. Now I can finally talk to Lucas. I call the nurse in and she says that they want to keep me here to watch for another 24 hours.
"Do you know the patient in room 304 on floor 3?"
"Lucas Scott? Sure he was one of my patients."
"Was? As in past tense."
"It's supposed to be confidential. But yes, he was discharged just this morning."
She walks out of the room. I look at the digital clock beside me, it reads 2:45. He must've wanted to sleep in his own bed. If the roles were reversed I mean I would want too. But to be honest, how could I? Just leaving him in the hospital like that and not even checking in.. unless he just doesn't know. Peyton comes back into the room.
"Hey sis."
"Peyton, did anybody tell Lucas that I was hospitalized?"
"Ehrm, no. The doctors said that the stress on his heart could cause him to go into cardiac arrest."
"What?"
"You don't know?"
"His heart really took a toll from the crash. It's really weak, they didn't think he would make it."
Those words, they ate me alive. I started shaking and hyperventilating. "Please, go get me a water." I manage to get out. I've never seen Peyton move this quick before. Within 30 seconds she's back in the room.
"You're okay Kierston. Just breathe and drink."

After the panic attack I feel really drained.
"You need to get some rest."
With that I close my eyes.

I sleep for 3 hours.

"BEAUTIFUL, YOU'RE AWAKE." I hear as I open my eyes.
"Hi handsome. When did you get here?"
"As soon as I heard. I'm so sorry that I didn't find out until today. I should've known something was up when I hadn't seen you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you or..."
"My heart can take the stress of you babe. I can handle you and I can take care of you. I wouldn't be able to handle you leaving me or not knowing if you are okay or not."
"Lucas Scott."
"Yes?"
"I loooovveee yoouuu," I say exaggerating the vowels.
He chuckles. There's that smile I have missed so much. "But I need to tell you something," I say gripping my wrist. Lucas looks done.
"Paisley. I've always wondered about that tattoo."
"A couple years ago, I was in this really bad relationship. It was so horrible and I should've realized that it was bad do me sooner, but I didn't. What I did find out, was that I was pregnant. I wasn't showing and my period was super irregular so I never really was sure if I could use that as a sign. To be honest, I never was worried about it until the headaches and this one craving I had. It was a Twix. I ate them all the time when I was young, to the point where I get sick eating them now. At that moment though, I just knew for whatever reason that I was pregnant. So I took a test to conform it & tell my boyfriend. When he got home, he was drunk and it started a fight. It had never been so bad and before I could process what was happening, I was on the ground. I remember the pain, there was so much of it. Most of all, was the fear of losing my baby. Well I did. I was four months along, going to have a baby girl. Her name is paisley. I never knew you could miss somebody everyday that you never even got the chance to meet, until her.
Now was something I never had seen, Lucas Scott in tears.
"Kierston, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine how horrible that was or even still is. I hate this guy for hurting you. I can't even comprehend the.." he sharply inhales. "I'm here for you, and I'm not going to ever hurt you. I'm not going anywhere."
His fingers lightly trace the tattoos. I kiss him and his fingers intertwine themselves in between mine.