Stay A Little Longer: A Short Story

•Thirteen•

I wake up to the sound of a sigh. I open my eyes slowly, coming face-to-face with a wide-awake Greyson. I jump back, his closeness to my face startling me this early in the morning.

"For fuck's sake, Greyson, you scared me!"

"Sorry," he sighs again. "It's just... today's the day."

I smile at his excitement. "Yeah, so it is."

Can you believe, in 12 hours, more or less, Greyson and I are going to be married and even happier than either of us ever imagined to be?

"I'm so pumped," he says, hopping out of bed and doing five jumping jacks. "Don't wanna get too sweaty."

"Oh, no, please. I love it when you're sweaty. Makes me feel like I'm dating a real badass."

"I'm not a badass already?"

I pretend to think. "Nah, not entirely."

He rolls his eyes and flops his heavy body on top of mine. Lowering his voice to the sexy morning one I love so much, he whispers in my ear, "Just know that, in the right setting, I can be whatever you want me to be."

He places a hard kiss on my mouth and gets up. I quickly sit up and grab a pillow.

His eyes grow wide, and his smirk even bigger.

"Oh my God, Andy--"

"Shut up, don't say a word," I cut him off, scooting off the side of the bed and struggling to exit the room while keeping the pillow in front of me. I hear him laugh as I make my way down the hall to the bathroom.

"Andy--" Mom says, coming from the kitchen. When she sees my position, her face grows pink and she fits her lips into a thin line, holding back an embarrassed smile.

"Andy, sweetheart... do you, erm... you know what, nevermind, breakfast will be ready in five."

She hurried off down the hall, shaking her head and covering her mouth. I feel my face grow hot as I throw open the bathroom door.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon," I rush the shower as I wait for the cold water to flow through the pipes. As soon as it comes on, I don't even bother taking off my pajamas before I hop in and let the ice cold liquid fall over me.

A moment later, the bathroom door opens and in steps JoJo.

"Andy, are you gonna use up all the hot-- Oh my God, what were you two doing in there?" She giggles and runs out yelling Greyson's name. I sigh and try to finish up the shower before Dad walks in next. Oh, what a conversation that would be.

2 long minutes later, I get out of the shower and walk back to my room soaking wet and fully clothed.

"Andy?" Dad says from his doorway. I slowly turn towards him, ice water dripping from every part of my body onto the floor.

"Uh... I don't want to know. Carry on."

I silently thank him and slip into my room, immediately going for the towels in my closet. I strip down first, then dry of my actual body. Seeing as though there's still several hours until the wedding, I throw on a plain grey tee, jeans and a raggedy cardigan. Just normal clothes.

I exit into the hall and drop a towel onto the big puddle that I created. Then, I make my way to the kitchen, where JoJo and Greyson are hyucking it up on the counter and Mom is chuckling along with them.

"I said 'not a word', Greyson," I glare at him, but he just sticks out his tongue.

"Oh, Andy, it's nothing to be embarrassed about," Mom tries to help. "It happens all the time to boys your age. It's completely natural."

"For the love of-- Mom!" I groan and cover my face with my hands. "Please, please, please never say that again."

Greyson and JoJo laugh some more. I roll my eyes.

Dad walks in and takes one good look at the activity. Then he just shakes his head and walks out, into the dining room.

"Alright, let's get breakfast started."
•••
"Max just texted me," Greyson says, holding up his phone. "They said, 'Don't know what colour dress pants to wear with this blouse. Need help, don't have Joanna's number.' Joanna, you heard them."

"Give them my number and I'll help," she says. "Don't want Max looking like a fiery train wreck. Best to just be a regular one."

"Ouch," I groan, grabbing at my neck. Everyone turns to me, wide-eyed and worried. I turn it side to side, until I feel satisfied with the little pop! I get.

"Calm down, just a knot," I smile. They all let out a collective breath and continue eating. I'm about to shove a bite of omelet into my mouth when a pain behind my eyes makes everything go black and startled me out of my seat.

"Andy? Andrew!" Dad yells. Mom and JoJo scream and I feel Greyson's familiar touch, grabbing at my arms.

My head starts to pound, as if my brain and my heart switched places, and the blood were being produced more loudly and rapidly. I can't open my mouth to speak because moving any part of my face hurts, but I get out a heavy grunt.

"Joanna, call the ambulance," Dad instructs.

"No, they'll get here too late. Let's just drive him there again," JoJo protests.

"She's right, get him in the car," Mom agrees, not waiting for Dad to argue back. I'm grateful when I'm cradled in Greyson's arms and being carried out of the door. I listen as car doors open and shut, and I'm placed in the car with Greyson at my side, him cradling my head so I don't double over and potentially make it worse.

It's the longest ride of my life.

A ringing in my ears pierces through my skull and makes my brain beat even more rapidly, and my vision fades in and out so when I get glimpses of the light my head reacts.

But finally we reach the hospital and I'm hoisted up once more, and rushed into the cool atmosphere of the ER. Mom and Dad hysterically describe the situation and I'm placed on what I assume to be a gurney. More, unfamiliar, voices appear and my brain threatens to burst out of my head.

And then I'm no longer in my own body. I'm floating through darkness, listening from a million miles away as doctors and nurses try to help keep me going.