Aquiver (Sequel)

Civilized

Aquiver ~34

•Charlotte Carpenter•

"Fruit bowl, chicken soup and fries with a drink of Apple juice," Ethan says to me as he places the food onto the table of the room. He had just came back from the cafe to grab me some food since I'm still not feeling too well. He also gets something to eat for himself.

"It smells so good. Thank you," I say lightly as he sits down and takes his food out of the bag. I use the remote to the bed to have me sit up so I can bring the table towards me.

"How are you feeling now?"

"Tired and a small headache." Ethan nods as he takes the two pills he was supposed to give me right before I eat.

"Thank you for finding me out there Ethan. Really." He half smiles and nods.

"Don't get used to it Carpenter. Just a one time thing."

"What?" I look up from my food and he sighs.

"Just... nothing. Forget I just said that."

"You and Hayes tend to always do that," I sigh tiredly.

"I'm sorry... it's just... I'm not supposed to be here and I shouldn't be helping you." I suddenly lose my appetite. He shouldn't? I feel so useless by his words.

"You don't have to stay with me," I say quietly looking at him sort of hurt. I thought we were getting somewhere that was at least civilized.

"Charlotte..." I hear guilt in his voice.

"Everyone leaves. It's fine. I shouldn't have thought any different with you. You hate me."

"I don't actually hate you..." I don't say anything since I don't know what to say to him. We're going to college together and I'm stuck with him since he's Hayes' friend and teammate. There's no avoiding him. It will just go back to him being an ass. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I know we're in a hospital."

"Didn't stop you from ruining a nice civilized conversation for once."

"This isn't easy for me, everything will be taken away. You wouldn't understand."

"Then go Ethan."

"I can't now, I just promised Hayes I'd stay with you. For Christ sakes, you were just in a life threatening accident!"

"Why are you raising your voice at me?" I look up towards him to see eyes are fixed on me. "You brought up that you can't be here. I'm just trying to make it easier for you."

"And I'm still human Charlotte. I am scared shitless if my aunt or cousin finds out that I'm here with you right now or even being near you right now. You don't understand."

"Your aunt and cousin?" What is he talking about and why would he be scared of them?

"I've told you enough. Please eat your food."

"Maybe I can help you."

"You can't help."

"I could try?"

"Drop it!" He glares at me and my heart races and I feel my eyes widening slightly. I look away from him as he begins to speak again. "And you wonder why I don't listen to Gray. He lost a great deal of things this past year. Did he ever tell you what happened to him once my aunt found out about him hanging out with you?"

"No," I answer softly.

"You should ask him sometime. I wasn't going to follow his path to losing everything I've worked long and hard for..."

"What does your aunt have to do with anything and what cousin?" He closes his eyes frustrated and lets out a sigh. "And what do you mean by not wanting to 'follow his path'?"

"We're not talking anymore about this," he mumbles.

"Just tell me. You've already spilled some of the info. You might as well tell me the rest," I challenge him. There are times when he flips my switch completely.

"You're lucky I saved you! Quit asking because it's not worth telling you." I roll my eyes at him and he glares. I turn my head the other way so I can face away from him. I ignore my grumbling stomach, because I'm stubborn.

It's silent for a few minutes before I hear a shift from Ethan.

"You should eat," he mumbles.

"Sort of lost my appetite."

"You haven't eaten all day. How exactly do you lose your appetite?" I turn my head quickly to glare at him, but I flinch from the pain in my neck.

"Ow," I say weakly from the sharp pain and bring my hand to the back of my neck. My lips quiver slightly from the pain and thinking about how tired I am.

"Are you alright?" I notice Ethan worried and he's a little closer to the bed. I shake my head slightly and suddenly a million different emotions hits me from the past week. "Is... there anything that I can do for you?" Tears are fresh in my vision and I pull my hand to only blink from the brightness.

"Stop pushing my buttons Ethan. I'm human just as much as you are." I let out. "I swear between Hayes, Jacob, my brother and you, I'm a complete emotional mess. You guys tire me out."

"I'm sorry. I'll try to be better about this for right now. Eat something and rest. You've lost quite a lot of blood today and starved. Is there anything else that I can get you?"

"Can you ask for ice for my neck?" I wipe my eyes with the tissue Ethan hands me and he nods using the button to call the nurse. He looks guilty and worried. Soon my nurse comes in and Ethan asks for ice as I began to eat the food he brought up here. She comes back moments later and I thank her.

"Here," Ethan says standing up taking the ice from my hand. "I'll help." I sat up slightly away from the pillow and he brings the ice to my neck as I slowly lay back.

"Thank you." He nods and sits back down. He begins to eat and I return back to eating my clam chowder. We enjoy the silence as we eat our food.

~

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