Forever

Chapter 17: Astray

April 13th, 10:30am –

"Sorry about that, doll. Promise it won't happen again." Chris flashed Y/N a small smile before shooting a nasty glare straight at Sebastian, while he wiped away the sweat on his forehead. "Get out."

"Wh-what? Chris, man, you've gotta be kiddi-"

"I'm not. You're not welcome here, clearly. Now please, leave, before I have to kick you out myself."

Sebastian didn't even try to fight him on it. He gave one more glance in Y/N's direction, noticing how she had buried her face in Downey's chest, and walked out without giving Evans a second look. As he stepped into her living room, he saw Tom and Anthony sitting. Tom noticed him, motioning to the front door while Anthony kept himself busy on his phone. Sebastian took the hint, and walked out, not wanting to start anything else. Is this how it's going to be now?

12:45pm –

Sebastian had been sitting in his hotel room for the past hour, trying to come up with some way to talk to Y/N again, alone. But he knew it'd be impossible, considering that practically everyone was with her at any given time, now. As he continued to rack his brain for ideas, the loud buzzing from his phone pulled him out of his trance. He picked it up, noticing the caller ID.

"Well, this is a surprise."

"Believe me, I didn't want to do this. Evans put me up to it."

"Not shocking. I was hoping to hear you'd had a change of heart over all of this, but I guess not."

"Ha, yeah, right. You've fucked up big time, Sebastian." He winced at hearing Anthony using his full name – he only ever used it when he was fed up with Sebastian, and that was practically never.

"You don't think I know that?"

"No, I actually don't think you do. Because if you did, you'd understand that everything you've put Y/N and Chad through – the fighting, the screaming, all of it – is not something that can be forgiven easily. Have you forgotten what happened during the press tour? Your little drunken accident, where you nearly got Chad and yourself killed?"

Sebastian winced again, subconsciously rubbing his left shoulder, which Chad had dislocated during their fight. He tried to forget that night, the fight, all of it, because it wasn't something he wanted to remember.

"Well?"

"No, I haven't forgotten. I know, Anthony, I know that all the shit I've done over the past few months and weeks has been vile and unthinkable, but what would you do when the love of your life won't admit she loves you too?"

"Sebastian, don't start with me on that shit, you know what I think about all that!"

"And you know I'm right, Anthony! You know it as well as I do, Y/N loves me!"

"Even if that were true...I made a promise, Stan. I'm not about to hurt her more. She can't take it. Not now. That's what you need to understand right now. She emotionally and physically cannot take any more. The man she loves, he's fighting for his life. She's lost. Don't confuse her, Sebastian. Give her time. Even if it hurts you. Do it for her."

"Everything I've done has been for her. Yet I still end up fucked. Anthony, tell me this – do you think it'll ever go back to normal? Her and I?"

"Only she knows that, Sebastian."

4:30pm –

This is crazy. I can't do this. It's like...illegal, right? Oh my god, what the hell am I getting myself into?

Sebastian stood in front of the ICU double doors, waiting. He nervously glanced down the hall, making sure there were no security guards nearby to haul him away if he was caught. Just as he turned back around, he was met with Tom's small figure.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Tom scratched the back of his neck as he looked up at Sebastian, noticing just how nervous he was.

"Well, you said you needed to do this. If you were gonna really follow through on what you said. So yeah, I'd say this is the right thing to do." Tom slipped the ID card in his hand to Sebastian, patting his shoulder as he stepped out of the way. Just as Sebastian moved to open the doors, he heard Tom clear his throat.

"Seb-Sebastian, just promise me one thing."

"Yeah?"

"You know I love her, too. It's weird and crazy, but there'll be other times to talk about it. Just, promise me that she won't get hurt. I've watched her suffer through so much because of you, and it kills me. She could lose all she has and I can't bear to see her suffer through the worst of it all."

"I love her, Tom. I've hurt her by trying to make her happy. It's going to stop. I'll make it stop."

Sebastian watched Tom nod as he turned his back to him. He opened the doors, making his way down the winding hall of the ICU. Finally finding the room, he peered through the glass doors.

There she was – sleeping peacefully next to his bed, her hand holding his. Sebastian moved to the windows, just watching her. Then, she moved. He froze, not wanting to get caught. But he had to see her. He had to see her eyes.

Just as she moved her hand up to her face, her eyes met his gaze, and for a second, he could've sworn he saw a twinkle of light in them. And then they were gone. Just like him.