Him & Her

Ch.34

Ch34

"You can go home, you know. We'll watch over him." Brandon told Elizabeth.

"I don't really need anyone to watch over me." Cole replied, "I'm fine."

"If I'm not mistaken, that's what you said before we found out you have pneumonia." Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

Brandon was sitting in the seat on Cole's right and Elizabeth sat in the seat on Cole's left. A nurse had gotten them two extra chairs. The third one was occupied by Cole's mom, who stated blankly at the tv screen. She sat near the big window.

Brandon rested his feet on Cole's bed. "Where's Henry again?" he asked.

Elizabeth copied Brandon and replied, "He said he was going to get something to eat with Matilda."

"They've been gone for a long time." Cole pointed out.

"Well, it's Henry." Elizabeth smiled.

"Come on man, get better soon cuz there's this new movie coming out and it looks awesome." Brandon smiled.

"Oh ya, I'll just tell the pneumonia to get out of me because there's a movie I have to watch." Cole said.

"Exactly." Brandon smiled and leaned his chair back.

Elizabeth smiled. She glanced at Cole's mom. She was slightly rocking back and forth in her chair. Elizabeth wanted to tell her that she was right. This time she wasn't seeing things.

She looked back at Cole, who really did seem to be getting better in an impossible amount of time. The dark spots beneath his eyes weren't as dark anymore and his cough wasn't as persistent. The color was coming back to his skin, his lips were no longer blue.

He smiled, which made his eyes light up and he lay back on his pillow. He took Elizabeth's hand in his and slipped his fingers into the spaces between hers. Elizabeth smiled at him. Cole kissed the back of her hand. Elizabeth moved closer to him and leaned her forehead on his. She closed her eyes and he kissed her forehead.

When Elizabeth sat back in her chair, she saw that Brandon had been looking away. He looked back at her and smiled weakly. Elizabeth had forgotten that he had liked her; he still probably wasn't over her.

Suddenly, Cole's mom stood up and whispered, "Arthur." She had tears in her eyes. She glanced at Cole, who had looked over at his mom, panic in his eyes.

His mom shook her head and said, "Cole. Arthur. Here."

Cole stared at his mom with a look that was so close to hatred, Elizabeth was a bit afraid. Brandon stood up and looked at Elizabeth with a raised eyebrow. Elizabeth shrugged.

"Mom, Arthur isn't here." Cole snapped.

But he was.

"Here." Cole's mom sobbed.

"You're seeing things again." Cole replied.

But she wasn't.

"No." she said, "Here."

"You're crazy." Cole said, his voice full of anger.

But she wasn't. It wasn't fair for her. Elizabeth had to say something, but then tears started to fall from Cole's mom's eyes. She ran out the door.

Elizabeth stood up.

"What's wrong?" Cole asked.

"I..." she glanced at the open door, "I just want to see if she's ok."

"Liz, you don't-" Cole started to say.

"I'll only be a second." she said and rushed out the door.