guardian ➸ trevante rhodes

nine

i'm sorry

Toya

"Can we see him?" Elijah asked the doctor. They had just finished operating on Trevante from the knife wound. It hit his chest area and barely missed his heart vessels. I wanted to cry when they told me that he barely made it out alive because this was all my fault.

"You may, but he is in a deep sleep. He will most likely wake up in a few hours," he said and motioned us to follow him. We all stood up quickly and followed to his room.

ReRe rubbed my back as we entered. He had a bruise on his forehead that turned into a knot and his arm was also slightly bruised. He was shirtless so you could easily see the bandages on top of his chest.

I sobbed and cupped my mouth. ReRe pulled me into a hug and I let myself hug her back. I pulled away and hesitantly walked over to Trevante. His eyes seemed like they were glued shut and his lips were slightly chapped. I pulled the chair closer to him and grabbed his hand.

This is all my fault. I had to be stubborn and stupid. He was trying to protect me and again I pushed him away.

"We'll be in the hallway," Elijah said. The two left and closed the door behind them. I wiped the tear that slid down my cheek and rested my head on the side of his bed.

I don't understand why he'd risk his life for me, he doesn't even know me that well. He tricked me but yet he'd save me.

I ran my fingers through his calloused palm. I squeezed it hard multiple times hoping he'd feel it and open his eyes or make a movement.

"Please wake up, Tre," I mumbled. He didn't respond.

-

I don't know how long I stayed there until I finally did fall asleep in the chair next to him. I woke up from a noise coming from his bed, and my eyes shot open. He was tapping on his bed post and then turned to me quickly.

"You're awake!" I smiled. He brightly smiled back at me and chuckled. "Why are you laughing when you were literally on your death bed?"

He shook his head, "It's just it's like midnight and you're still here. Visitors cannot be allowed at this time, right?" His voice was raspy so I quickly handed him my water bottle.

"No, but I literally begged the doctor to stay and she let me. Elijah and ReRe had to leave though."

Tre slowly smiled and gently rubbed my cheek. "Why were you crying?"

"Why did you risk my life for me, are you retarded?" I asked. I didn't mean to come off mad or angry, but I did want to know since he really was putting himself in danger.

Instead of answering, he adjusted his bed so that he was sitting up. He looked at me and sighed, "You're welcome. And answer my question first and then I'll explain to you why."

I sighed, "I honestly don't know what I would've done if you didn't wake up, and I was too blind to see the ways you were helping me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being so stubborn and naive."

Instead of responding, he leaned into me and kissed me. Both of his hands, even the one wired up, found the back of my necks and pulled me in. I felt safe with this sudden contact. It was like my lips were craving for his.

He pulled back but kept his hands around my face. I leaned my face down on his and he said, "I did it because I wanted to protect you. I would rather it'd be me on this bed than you, because I know I can get through this but your body is weak. If this happened to you, you'd probably be dead by now. This isn't the first time I've been wounded, Bambi." He chuckled at the end and then slowly leaned against the bed. "Stay with me, baby girl."

I nodded my head slowly. I could feel my lips becoming swollen. "I just want to leave here, out of Chicago, out of Illinois and just be with you." I felt another tear quickly slip away.

Trevante wiped it and pulled me closer to him. He kissed my forehead and then let me lie my head down on his stomach. His fingers roamed through my hair while he let out a heavy sigh, "We do need to get out of here permanently, all of us. Hell, even including Q and his family. They're gonna search for all of us and when they find us, they'll most likely kill us."

I closed my eyes not wanting to worry about everything he said. I'm just glad to have my teddy bear with me.

"T, you awake?" He asked.

"Shut up and go to sleep," I groaned.

He chuckled, "You're not even gonna give me a goodnight kiss?"

"No," I said and opened my eyes to look at him. He frowned and stopped massaging my head. "No, don't stop."

"I'll start again once you gimme a kiss," he puckered up his lips. I sat up and pecked them. He smiled and then continued to massage my scalp. "Goodnight, T, I love you."

I softly smiled and fell asleep.

-

I felt someone rub my back and softly shake me.

"Toya, wake up," Tre whispered. I didn't see him on the bed but instead standing next to me. He wore regular clothes instead of those ugly hospital clothes. "C'mon, let's go."

"Why didn't you wake me?" I said looked at the clock, it was already noon. I stood up slowly and he put his hands on my waist to guide me.

"Because I know you needed to sleep while I cleared myself out. The doctor left me an extra toothbrush for you in the bathroom, go freshen up. I'll be here, hurry up." He said and pushed me into the bathroom. I sure did just want to go back to sleep because my eyelids felt extremely heavy.

I grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste and quickly brushed my teeth. I also washed my face with the bar soap knowing it'd ruin my light makeup and dry the hell out of my face, but I didn't care.

I walked back into the room seeing Tre holding out my jacket for me. He wrapped it around me and hugged me. I hugged him tightly back and buried my face in his shoulder. I felt safe, like no one could hurt me. His giant frame made me feel giddy inside, and I just wanted to stay this way forever.

"By the way, you look beautiful with no makeup on," he said. I chuckled causing him to join in. "I'm being serious."

"Shut up and let's get out of here. I can't stand looking at that big ass ugly knot on your forehead," I snorted and pulled away from the hug. He laughed and followed me out of the room.

Elijah and ReRe stood outside the room and quickly sprung up when they saw us. ReRe pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, "I wonder why you look like you're glowing." I laughed and shrugged.

"C'mon, let's get out of here," Elijah said and grabbed ReRe's hand. Tre smiled and walked towards me. He put his arm around me and kissed my forehead while we followed them out.

Apparently, Elijah and ReRe had drove Tre's car here so we could go our separate ways. We thanked them and got inside the car. As soon as both doors shut, Trevante yelled.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I said scared.

He laughed and banged his head back as if it were the funniest thing he had ever done. "Nothing, I'm just glad to finally be out of there."

"You're crazy," I sighed. He for real was about to make me have a heart attack.

"Crazy for you," he cheesed and pulled out of the parking lot. I shook my head and chuckled.

"I don't think you should be driving."

"I'll be fine, I promise," he laughed again. He patted my thigh and then rested his hand on it. "We're gonna go home and eat, and then fall asleep, and then pack, and then get out this motherfücker!"

"Tre!" I exclaimed. "Calm down and just drive safely. You're going nuts from being in that hospital bed all night."

He cheesed and then drove silently. He's such a goofball.